Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
was overthrown by the Persians under Cyrus, B.C. 558, who captured its king, Astyages. The
treatment of the Medes by the victorious Persians was not that of an ordinary conquered nation.
Medes were appointed to stations of high honor and importance under Cyrus and his successors.
The two nations seem blended into one, and we often find reference to this kingdom as that of the
“Medes and Persians.” (Daniel 5:28; 6:8,12,15) The references to the Medes in the canonical
Scriptures are not very numerous, but they are striking. We first hear of certain “cities of the
Medes,” in which the captive Israelites were placed by “the king of Assyria” on the destruction
of Samaria, B.C. 721 (2 Kings 17:6; 18:12) Soon afterward Isaiah prophesies the part which the
Medes shall take in the destruction of Babylon, (Isaiah 13:17; 21:2) which is again still more
distinctly declared by Jeremiah, (Jeremiah 51:11,28) who sufficiently indicates the independence
of Media in his day. ch. (Jeremiah 25:25) Daniel relates the fact of the Medo-Persia conquest,
(Daniel 5:25,31) giving an account of the reign of Darius the Mede, who appears to have been
made viceroy by Cyrus. (Daniel 6:1-58) In Ezra we have a mention of Achmetha (Ecbatana), “the
palace in the province of the Medes,” where the decree of Cyrus was found, (Ezra 6:2-5)—a notice
which accords with the known facts that the Median capital was the seat of government under
Cyrus, but a royal residence only, and not the seat of government, under Darius Hystaspis. Finally,
in Esther the high rank of Media under the Persian kings, yet at the same time its subordinate
position, is marked by the frequent composition of the two names in phrases of honor, the
precedence being in every ease assigned to the Persians.
Median, The
Darius, “the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes,” (Daniel 9:1) or “the Mede,” ch.
(Daniel 11:1) is thus denoted in (Daniel 5:31)
Medicine
Egypt was the earliest home of medical and other skill for the region of the Mediterranean
basin, and every Egyptian mummy of the more expensive and elaborate sort involved a process of
anatomy. Still we have no trace of any philosophical or rational system of Egyptian origin; still
medicine in Egypt was a mere art or profession. Compared with the wild countries around them,
however, the Egyptians must have seemed incalculably advanced. Representations of early Egyptian
surgery apparently occur on some of the monuments of Beni-Hassan. Those who have assisted at
the opening of a mummy have noticed that the teeth exhibited a dentistry not inferior in execution
to the work of the best modern experts. This confirms the statement of Herodotus that every part
of the body was studied by a distinct practitioner. The reputation of Egypt’s practitioners in historical
times was such that both Cyrus and Darius sent to that country for physicians or surgeons. Of
midwifery we have a distinct notice, (Exodus 1:1) and of women as its Practitioners, which fact
may also be verified from the scriptures. The scrupulous attention paid to the dead was favorable
to the health of the living. The practice of physic was not among the Jews a privilege of the
priesthood. Any one might practice it, and this publicity must have kept it pure. Rank and honor
are said to be the portion of the physician, and his office to be from the Lord. Ecclus. 38:1,3,12.
To bring down the subject to the period of the New Testament, St. Luke, “the beloved physician,”
who practiced at Antioch whilst the body was his care, could hardly have failed to be convenient
with all the leading opinions current down to his own time. Among special diseases named in the
Old Testament is ophthalmia, (Genesis 29:17) which is perhaps more common in Syria and Egypt
than anywhere else in the world; especially in the fig season, the juice of the newly-ripe fruit having
the power of giving it. It may occasion partial or total blindness. (2 Kings 6:18) The “burning boil,”
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William Smith