bloodiest of all Cyaxares' wars. After five years' desperate fighting
the Medes and Lydians were once more engaged in conflict when an eclipse
of the sun took place. Filled with superstitious dread the two armies
ceased to contend, and showed a disposition for reconciliation, of which
the Babylonian monarch was not slow to take advantage. Having consulted
with Syennesis of Cilicia, the foremost man of the allies on the other
side, and found him well disposed to second his efforts, he proposed
that the sword should be returned to the scabbard, and that a conference
should be held to arrange terms of peace. This timely interference
proved effectual. A peace was concluded between the Lydians and the
Medes, which was cemented by a royal intermarriage: and the result
was to give to Western Asia, where war and ravage had long been almost
perpetual, nearly half a century of tranquillity.

Successful in his mediation, almost beyond his hopes, Nabopolassar
returned from Asia Minor to Babylon. He was now advanced in years,
and would no doubt gladly have spent the remainder of his days in
the enjoyment of that repose which is so dear to those who feel the
infirmities of age creeping upon them. But Providence had
ordained otherwise. In B.C. 610--probably the very year of the
eclipse--Psammetichus died, and was succeeded by his son Neco, who was
in the prime of life and who in disposition was bold and enterprising.
This monarch very shortly after his accession cast a covetous eye upon
Syria, and in the year B.C. 608, having made vast preparations, he
crossed his frontier and invaded the territories of Nabopolassar.
Marching along the usual route, by the _Shephilah_ and the plain of
Esdraelon, he learned, when he neared Megiddo, that a body of troops was
drawn up at that place to oppose him, Josiah, the Jewish king, regarding
himself as bound to resist the passage through his territories of an
army hostile to the monarch of whom he held his crown, had collected his
forces, and, having placed them across the line of the invader's march,
was calmly awaiting in this position the approach of his master's enemy.
Neco hereupon sent ambassadors to persuade Josiah to let him pass,
representing that he had no quarrel with the Jews, and claiming a
divine sanction to his undertaking. But nothing could shake the Jewish
monarch's sense of duty; and Neco was consequently forced to engage with
him, and to drive his troops from their position. Josia