in those days King Nebuchadnezzar made war with King Arphaxad in the great plain. This plain is on the borders of Ragau.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 5. Nabuchodonosor. Not the king of Babylon, who took and destroyed Jerusalem, but another of the same name, who reigned in Nivine; and is called by profane historians Saosduchin. He succeeded Asarhaddon in the kingdom of the Assyrians, and was contemporary with Manasses, king of Juda. Challoner.—He might be the same with Asarhaddon, who resided at Ninive in the 20th year of his reign. After the defeat at Bethulia, the Medes recovered part of their power, under Cyaxares I. who was succeeded by Astyages and Cyaxares II. with whom Cyrus was associated in the empire. Xenophon.—Asarhaddon spent the latter years of his life at Babylon, of which he had made himself master. Houbigant.—The Jews frequently give names to foreign princes different from those by which they are known in profane history. See Tob. ult. Bible.—Him. Greek afterwards (verse 12) insinuates, that he prevented any from mounting the throne of Media, till this work was written, “he transfixed him with his darts, and destroyed him till this day.” Houbigant.