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INSCRIPTION
OF DARIUS
ON THE ROCK OF BEHISTUN
Connecting
the House of Israel with European tribes.
Excerpt
from Records Of The Past, Vol. 1, pages 109-132
Samuel Bagster & Sons, London, 1875
Translated by Sir Henry Rawlinson
The editor of Records Of The Past comments, “The great
triumphal tablet of Darius Hystaspes, exhibiting the figures of the
victorious king and his attendants and of ten vanquished chiefs, and
accompanied by a record in three languages, which extends to nearly a
thousand lines of Cuneiform writing, is engraved on the face of a
precipitous rock at Behistun near the town of Kermanshah on the Western
frontiers of Media.” (p.109)
The Bible Research Handbook, published in 1972 by the Covenant
Publishing Company (currently out of print) has this to say, “The rock
carries on its face an important cuneiform inscription of Darius
Hystaspes (Darius the Great). This inscription, which was cut circa 516
B.C., records in three languages – Persian, Susian (Median), and
Babylonian – the names of twenty-three provinces subject to him. In
the Persian and Susian versions one of these provinces is called Scythia,
the root of which is, phonetically, Sak. In the Babylonian text this
province is called “(matu) Gi-mi-ri”, translated “land of the
Cimmerians.” Sir Henry Rawlinson, who first copied and translated
the inscription – although not disposed definitely to identify these
Gimiri with the Cimmerians (Kimmerii or Cumri) – was prepared to
accept the probability of a connection between them. The Behistun Rock
inscription establishes that the Sacae lived in the land of the
Cimmerians (modern north-west Persia) and that they formed part of the
agglomeration of peoples known to the ancients as Scythians (or
Skythians or Skuths).” (Bible Research Handbook, Volume II, Serial
572.9355)
As discussed by Mr. W.H. Bennett in the main body of this book, we find
the House of Israel referred to in Scripture as the House of Isaac or Saka,
and known to popular history as the Scythians who
overspread Europe. They are called Sacae, Sacan,
and Sacians in the following translation of Darius’
inscription.
The importance of the Behistun Rock is that it connects the people known
in Persian and Median as Saka or Scythians,
the House of Isaac or Israelites, with the tribes known in Babylonian as
Cimmerian or Gimiri. The Bible Research
Handbook also points out that, “The name ‘Gimiri’
…is phonetically close to ‘Khumri’, the name by
which the Ten Tribes were known to the Assyrians… According to
[Assyrian scholar] Pinches the kh was pronounced -g.”
To summarize, it is a well-proven fact that the people known in
Assyrian as Khumri (which is phonetically the same as Gimiri
or Cimmerian) were the House of Israel. (see
Appendix 2) The Behistun Rock further proves that these ‘Gimiri’
were the same people as the ‘Saka’ (which is
phonetically the same as both ‘Isaac’ and ‘Scythians’).
Therefore, all five of these ancient tribal names, Saka, Scythian,
Cimmerian, Gimiri, and Khumri are identified as Israelites, as they were
known in other languages. Following is an important excerpt from
Darius’ long inscription.
KEY
NAMES:
Assyrian name for Israel on Shalmaneser’s Black Obelisk was Khumri
Babylonian equivalent pronounced similar to Assyrian Khumri
was Gimiri
Behistun Rock inscription identifies the people called Gimiri as the Sak
or Sacae
Bible refers to Israel as the House of Isaac, phonetic equivalent to Sak
or Sacae
Historians identify the Sak or Sacae who overspread Europe as the Scythians
Historians identify the Gimiri who overspread Europe as the Cimmerians
The ancient words of
Darius on the Behistun Rock
Translation of the Inscription
Column 1
I
am Darius, the great King, the King of Kings, the King of Persia, the
King of the provinces, the son of Hystaspes, the grandson of Arsames,
the Achaemenian.
Says Darius the King: My father was Hystaspes; of Hystaspes the father
was Arsames; of Arsames the father was Ariyaramnes; of Ariyaramnes the
father was Teispes; of Teispes the father was Achaemenes.
Says Darius the King: On that account we are called Achaemenians; from
antiquity we have descended; from antiquity those of our race have been
Kings.
Says Darius the King: There are eight of my race who have been Kings
before me, I am the ninth; for a very long time we have been Kings.
Says Darius the King: By the grace of Ormazd I am King; Ormazd has
granted me the empire.
Says Darius the King: These are the countries which belong to me, by the
grace of Ormazd I have become King of them, Persia, Susiana, Babylonia,
Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, those which are of the sea, Sparta, Ionia,
Media, Armenia, Cappadocia, Parthia, Zarangia, Aria, Chorasmia, Bactria,
Sogdiana, Gandara, the Sacae, the Satagydes, Arachosia,
and Mecia, in all twenty-three countries.
Says Darius the King: These are the countries which belong to me; by the
grace of Ormazd they have become subject to me, they have brought
tribute to me. That which has been said unto them by me, both by night
and by day it has been performed by them.
Says Darius the King: Within these countries whoever was good, him have
I cherished and protected; whoever was evil, him have I utterly
destroyed. By the grace of Ormazd these countries have obeyed my laws.
As to them it has been said by me, thus has it been done by them.
Says Darius the King: Ormazd granted me the empire. Ormazd brought help
to me so that I gained this empire. By the grace of Ormazd I hold this
empire.
Says Darius the King: This is what was done by me, before I became King.
He who was named Cambyses the son of Cyrus of our race, he was here King
before me. There was of that Cambyses a brother named Bardes; he was of
the same father and mother as Cambyses. Afterwards Cambyses slew this
Bardes. When Cambyses slew Bardes it was not known to the state that
Bardes was killed. Then Cambyses proceeded to Egypt. When Cambyses had
gone to Egypt, the state became wicked; then the lie became abounding in
the land, both in Persia and in Media, and in the other provinces.
Says Darius the King: Afterwards there was a certain man, a Magian,
named Gomates. He arose from Pissiachada, the mountain named Arakadres,
from thence; on the 14th
day of the month Viyakhana then it was that he arose. To the state he
thus falsely declared: “I am Bardes the son of Cyrus, the brother of
Cambyses.” Then the whole state became rebellious; from Cambyses it
went over to him, both Persia and Media, and the other provinces. He
seized the empire; on the 9th
day of the month Garmapada [the 5th
month], then it was he thus seized the empire. Afterwards Cambyses
killing himself died.
Says Darius the King: The empire, of which Gomates, the Magian,
dispossessed Cambyses, that empire had been in our family from the olden
time. After Gomates the Magian had dispossessed Cambyses of Persia and
Media and the dependent provinces, he acted with his own party, he
became king.
Says Darius the King: There was not a man, neither Persian, nor Median,
nor any one of our family, who could dispossess of the empire that
Gomates, the Magian. The state feared him exceedingly. He slew many
people who had known the old Bardes; for that reason he slew the people
“Lest they should recognize me that I am not Bardes the son of
Cyrus.” There was not any one bold enough to say aught against Gomates
the Magian until I arrived. Then I prayed to Ormazd; Ormazd brought help
to me. On the 10th day
of the month Bagayadish [first month] then it was, with my faithful men
I slew that Gomates, the Magian and the chief men who were his
followers. The fort named Sictachotes, in the district of Media, named
Nisaea, there I slew him; I dispossessed him of the empire. By the grace
of Ormazd I became King; Ormazd granted me the scepter.
Says Darius the King: The empire that had been wrested from our race,
that I recovered, I established it in its place; as in the days of old;
thus I did . The temples which Gomates the Magian had destroyed, I
rebuilt; I reinstituted for the state the sacred chaunts and
(sacrificial) worship, and confided them to the families which Gomates
the Magian had deprived of those offices. I established the kingdom in
its place, both Persia and Media, and the other provinces; as in the
days of old; thus I restored that which had been taken away. By the
grace of Ormazd I did this. I laboured until I had established our
family in its place as in the days of old. I laboured, by the grace of
Ormazd, (in order) that Gomates the Magian might not supersede our
family.
Says Darius the King: That is that which I did after that I became king.
Says Darius the King: When I had slain Gomates the Magian, then a
certain man, named Atrines, the son of Opadarmes, he arose; to the state
of Susiana he thus said: “I am King of Susiana.” Then the people of
Susiana became rebellious; they went over to that Atrines; he became
King of Susiana. And a certain man, a Babylonian, named Nadinta-belus
the son of Aenares, he arose. The state of Babylonia he thus falsely
addressed: “I am Nabochodrossor the son of Nabonidus.” Then the
entire Babylonian state went over to that Nadinta-belus. Babylon became
rebellious. He seized the government of Babylonia.
Says Darius the King: Then I sent to Susiana; that Atrines was brought
to me a prisoner. I slew him.
Says Darius the King: Then I proceeded to Babylon against that
Nadinta-belus, who was called Nabochodrossor. The forces of
Nadinta-belus held the Tigris; there they had come, and they had boats.
Then I divided my army; one portion I supplied with camels; the other I
mounted on horses; Ormazd brought help to me; by the grace of Ormazd I
succeeded in passing the Tigris. Then I entirely defeated the army of
that Nadinta-belus. On the 27th
day of the month of Atriyatiya [9th
month] then it was that we thus fought.
Says Darius the King: Then I marched against Babylon. When I arrived
near Babylon, the city named Zazana, upon the Euphrates, there that
Nadinta-belus who was called Nabochodrossor, came with a force before me
offering battle. Then we fought a battle. Ormazd brought help to me; by
the grace of Ormazd, I entirely defeated the force of Nadinta-belus. A
part of the army was driven into the water; the water destroyed them. On
the 2nd day of the
month Anamaka [10th
month], then it was that we thus fought the battle.
[End of Column No. 1, which extends to
ninety-six lines, and the writing of which is generally in good
preservation.]
COLUMN
2
Says Darius the King: Then Nadinta-belus with a few horsemen fled to
Babylon. Then I proceeded to Babylon; I both took Babylon and seized
that Nadinta-belus. Afterwards I slew that Nadinta-belus at Babylon.
Says Darius the King: Whilst I was at Babylon these are the countries
which revolted against me: Persis, Susiana, Media, Assyria, Armenia,
Parthia, Margiana, Sattagydia, and Sacia…
COLUMN
5
A. Repetition of the first four
paragraphs of Column 1 above.
B. Tablet attached to the
prostrate figure on which the victor King tramples:
“This Gomates, the Magian, was an imposter; he thus declared, ‘I am
Bardes, the son of Cyrus. I am the King.’”
C. Adjoining the first standing
figure:
“This Atrines was an impostor; he thus
declared; ‘I am King of Susiana.’”
D. Adjoining the second standing
figure:
“This Nadinta-belus was an impostor; he
thus declared, ‘I am Nabochodrossor, the son of Nabonidus; I am King
of Babylon.’”
E. Adjoining the third standing
figure:
“This Phraortes was an impostor; he thus
declared, ‘I am Xathrites, of the race of Cyaxares; I am King of
Media.’”
F. Above the fourth standing
figure:
“This Martes was an impostor; he thus
declared, ‘I am Imanes, the King of Susiana.’”
G. Adjoining the fifth standing
figure:
“This Sitratachmes was an impostor; he
thus declared, ‘I am King of Sagartia, of the race of Cyaxares.’”
H. Adjoining the sixth standing
figure:
“This Veisdates was an impostor; he thus
declared, ‘I am Bardes, the son of Cyrus. I am the King.’”
I. Adjoining the seventh
standing figure:
“This Aracus was an impostor; he thus
declared, ‘I am Nabochodrossor, the son of Nabonidus. I am the King of
Babylon.’”
J. Adjoining the eighth
standing fugure:
“This Phraates was an impostor; he thus
declared, ‘I am the King of Margiana.’”
K. Above the ninth or supplemental
figure with the high cap:
“This is Sakuka, the Sacan.’”
CONCLUSION
Sir Henry
Rawlinson comments on the final column above as follows: “Of the
thirty-five lines which compose a supplementary half column, divided
into 6 paragraphs, it is impossible to give a complete translation, one
side of the tablet being entirely destroyed. From such portions as are
decipherable it appears to contain an account of two other revolts; one
in Susiana, conducted by a man named, …..imim; and the other by Saku’ka,
the chief of the Sacae, who dwelt upon the Tigris.”
“We have reasonable grounds for regarding the Gimirri,
or Cimmerians, who first
appeared on the confines of Assyria and Media in the seventh century
B.C., and the Sacae of
the Behistun Rock, nearly two centuries later, as identical with the Beth-Khumree
of Samaria, or the Ten Tribes of the House of Israel.”
-George Rawlinson, note in his translation of History of Herodotus,
Book VII, p. 378
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