WHO WAS DARIUS THE MEDE?

Daniel reports that when Babylon was overthrown, a king named "Darius the Mede" began to rule. (Daniel 5:31) Darius the Mede has not yet been found by name in secular or archaeological sources.  Thus, The New Encyclopedia Britannica asserts that this Darius is "a fictitious character."

Some scholars have been cautious. After all, critics labeled Belshazzar "fictitious" as well.  Undoubtedly, the case of Darius will prove similar. Already, cuneiform tablets  have revealed that Cyrus the Persian did not assume the title "King of Babylon" immediately after the conquest.  One researcher suggests:  "Whoever bore the title of  'King of Babylon' was a  vassal king under Cyrus himself." Could Darius have been the ruling name, or title, of a powerful Median official left in charge of Babylon?  Some suggest that Darius may have been a man named Gubaru.  Cyrus installed Gubaru as governor in Babylon, and secular records confirm that he ruled with considerable power.  One cuneiform tablet says that he appointed  sub-governors over Babylon.  Interestingly, Daniel notes that Darius appointed 120 satraps to govern the kingdom of Babylon. -Daniel 6:1.

In time, more direct evidence of the precise  identity of this king may come to light.  In any case, the seeming silence of archaeology in this regard is hardly grounds to label Darius "fictitious," much less to dismiss the entire book of Daniel as fraudulent.  It is far more reasonable to see Daniel's account  as eyewitness testimony that is more detailed than surviving records. 

Next time:THE REIGN OF JEHOIAKIM

From the Book: PAY ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECY! 1999