In the unexpected entry of the army of the Persian conqueror into the heart of the Babylonian capital by way of the channel of the river whose waters had been turned aside, and through the inner gates that in careless security had been left open and unprotected, the Jews had abundant evidence of the literal fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy concerning the sudden overthrow of their oppressors. And this should have been to them an unmistakable sign that God was shaping the affairs of nations in their behalf; for inseparably linked with the prophecy outlining the manner of Babylon's capture and fall were the words:

Den persiske erobrers hær banede sig uventet vej ind i den babyloniske hovedstads hjerte gennem flodlejet, efter at vandet var ledt bort. Soldaterne gik gennem de inderste porte, som babylonerne i deres ubekymrede tryghedsfølelse havde ladet stå åbne og ubevogtede. Jøderne havde heri et tydeligt bevis på den bogstavelige opfyldelse af Esajas profeti om deres undertrykkeres pludselige nederlag. De burde også have betragtet det som et umiskendeligt tegn på, at Gud ledede nationernes historie for deres skyld, for i tilknytning til den profeti, som skildrede Babylons indtagelse og fald, stod der følgende ord: