Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

134 HISTORY OF PERSIA chap.
is intensified by the knowledge that it is the traditions of
this kingdom which have come down to us from the
classical and other writers.
The Campaign of ISecho 11.— Nabopolassar had resigned
the active direction of affairs to Nebuchadnezzar during
the campaign against Assyria, and after its fall he appar-
ently arranged with Cyaxares that the western provinces
should be
joined to Babylon. Their inhabitants were unable,
of themselves, to offer any resistance but Necho II.
;
of Egypt had first to be reckoned with. While Nineveh
was being besieged,
this
energetic monarch had marched
north and had taken possession of Palestine and Syria,
being opposed only by Josiah, king of Judah, who in spite
of friendly warnings, threw himself across the formidable
Egyptian army at Megiddo near Mount Carmel and there
met his fate.^ Necho continued his march as far as the
Euphrates, where he halted at Carchemish. This was his
farthest
point. Hearing, probably, of the fall of Nineveh
and not wishing to try conclusions with the victors, he
marched leisurely back, receiving tribute and posting
garrisons at important centres. Upon his return to Egypt
he received the acclamations of his people, who were
delighted at the revival of the military glory of Egypt.
This triumph was hardly justifiable as Necho had not met
the forces of Babylon. Two years later Nebuchadnezzar,
who had been engaged in securing
his position nearer
home, marched towards Carchemish, and thereupon Necho
again set out, this time really to try
the fortunes of war.
The Victory of Nebuchadnezzar over Necho 11,—The
two armies met at Carchemish and, in spite of the bravery
of the Greek contingent,
the Egyptians were defeated.
Their disaster formed the theme of a mordant passage
in
Jeremiah, who, describing the campaign, wrote
"
: Come
up, ye horses ; and rage, ye chariots ; and let the mighty
men come forth ; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that
handle the shield ; and the Lydians that handle and bend
the bow. . . . For the Lord God of hosts hath a sacri-
fice in the north country by the river Euphrates.'*^
1 Vide 2 Chronicles xxxv. 20-24 > ^^so 2 Kings xxiii. 29. Josiah was acting in the
interests of Assyria.
2
Jeremiah xlvi. 9, lo. 1