Nebuchadnezzar II - Ancient History Encyclopedia Nebuchadnezzar II by Joshua J. Mark published on 20 July 2010 King Nebuchadnezzar II (634-562 BCE) was the greatest king of ancient Babylon , succeeding his father, Nabopolassar. King Nabopolassar had defeated the Assyrians with the help of the Medes and liberated Babylonia from Assyrian rule. In this way he provided for his son (as Philip II would do for his son Alexander later) a stable base and ample wealth on which to build; an opportunity for greatness which Nebuchadnezzar took full advantage of. He married Amytis of Media (630-565 BCE) and so secured an alliance between the Medes and the Babylonians (Amytis being the daughter or granddaughter of Cyaxerxes, the king of the Medes) and, according to some sources, had the Hanging Gardens of Babylon built for her to remind her of her homeland in Persia .

Upon ascending to the throne, Nebuchadnezzar spoke to the gods, in his inaugural address, saying, “O merciful Marduk , may the house that I have built endure forever, may I be satiated with its splendor, attain old age therein, with abundant offspring, and receive therein tribute of the kings of all regions, from all mankind” and it would seem the gods heard his prayer in that, under his reign, Babylon became the most powerful city-state in the region and Nebuchadnezzar II himself the greatest warrior-king and ruler in the known world. He is portrayed in unflattering light in the Bible , most notably in the Book of Daniel and the Book of Jeremiah (where he is seen as an 'enemy of God’ and one whom the deity of the Israelites intends to make an example of or, conversely, the agent of God used as a scourge against the faithless followers of Yahweh ).

Those portraits notwithstanding, Nebuchadnezzar II was most certainly responsible for the so-called Babylonian Exile of the Jews and, so, for the formation of modern-day Judaism (in that, the temple destroyed, the Priestly class of the Levites of the Jews had to re-create their religion “in a foreign land” as recounted famously in Psalm 137 from the Bible, and elsewhere). Nebuchadnezzar II defeated the Egyptians and the Assyrians at Carchemish, subdued Palestine and Syria and controlled all the trade routes across Mesopotamia . Nebuchadnezzar II defeated the Egyptians and their allies the Assyrians at Carchemish, subdued Palestine and the region of Syria and, consolidating his power, controlled all the trade routes across Mesopotamia from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea.

Remaining true to the vision of his inaugural address, the great king spent the tolls he collected and the taxes he gathered in creating a city which, he hoped, would be recognized as a wonder of the world (and, indeed, his hopes were realized in later writers adding the walls of Babylon and, in particular, the Ishtar gate to the list of the Seven Wonders of the World). In the forty-three years of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar II made the most of the time employing a vast army of slave labor to surround his city with walls so thick that chariot races were conducted around the tops and which stretched fifty-six miles in length, encircling an area of two hundred square miles. The bricks of the walls were faced with a bright blue and bore the inscription, “I am Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon.” NEBUCHADNEZZAR - JewishEncyclopedia.com JewishEncyclopedia.com The unedited full-text of the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia - Phrase search: The son of Nabopolassar; became king of Babylon in 604 B.C.

as Assyria was on the decline; died 561.His name, either in this spelling or in the more correct form, Nebuchadrezzar (from the original, "Nabu-kudurri-uṣur" = "Nebo, defend my boundary"), is found more than ninety times in the Old Testament. Slays Jehoiakim. Nebuchadnezzar's first notable act was the overthrow of the Egyptian army under Necho at the Euphrates in the fourth year of Jehoiakim (Jer. xlvi. 2). It is entirely reasonable to suppose that at the same time he descended upon Palestine and made Jehoiakim his subject (II Kings xxiv. 1). This campaign took place in 605. The next year Nebuchadnezzar became king of Babylon; and he ruled for forty-three years, or until 561. Jehoiakim served him for three years, and then rebelled. He doubtless incited the neighboring tribes (ib. verse 2) to persecute Judah and bring its king to respect his oath.

In 598 Nebuchadnezzar himself came westward, took Jehoiakim (II Chron. xxxvi. 6) and probably slew him, casting out his dead body unburied (Jer. xxii. 19, xxxvi. 30), and carried captive to Babylon 3,023 Jews (Jer. lii. 28). He placed Jehoiachin, the dead king's son, on the throne. Three months were sufficient to prove Jehoiachin's character (Ezek. xix. 5-9). He was taken with 10,000 of the best of the people of Jerusalem and carried to Babylon. His uncle Mattaniah, whose name was changed to Zedekiah, was put on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar in 597. Egypt was continually intriguing with southwestern Asia, and was now courting the friendship of Zedekiah. This became so noticeable that Judah's king made a journey to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign (Jer. li. 59), probably to assure Nebuchadnezzar of his loyalty to him.

But by the ninth year of his reign Zedekiah became so friendly with the Egyptians that he made a league with them and thereupon rebelled against the King of Babylon. With due despatch Nebuchadnezzar and his army left for the Westland. He placed his base of action at Riblah in the north, and went southward and laid siege to Jerusalem. By some message the Egyptians learned of the siege and hastily marched to the relief of the beleaguered ally. The Babylonians raised the siege (Jer. xxxvii. 3-5) long enough to repulse the Egyptian arms, and came back and settled about Jerusalem. At the end of eighteen months (586) the wall yielded. Zedekiah and his retinue fled by night, but were overtaken in the plains of the Jordan. The king and his sons were brought before Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah; the sons were slain, and the king's eyes bored out; and he was carried in chains to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar caused Jerusalem to be destroyed, and the sacred vessels of the Temple to be carried to Babylon. He placed Gedaliah in authority over the Jews who remained in the land.

In the twenty-third year of his reign Nebuchadnezzar's captain of the guard carried away 745 Jews, who had been gathered from those scattered through the land. Nebuchadnezzar entered Egypt also (Jer. xlvi. 13-26; Ezek. xxix. 2-20), according to his own inscriptions about 567, and dealt a severe blow to its supremacy and power. The representations in the Book of Daniel of Nebuchadnezzar's greatness are doubtless correct; and there is reason for believing that he was the great builder and glorifier of his capital. He was succeeded by his son Evil-merodach. E. —In Rabbinical Literature: Nebuchadnezzar, the "wicked one" ("ha-rasha'"; Meg. 11a; Ḥag. 13b; Pes. 118a), was a son—or descendant?—of the Queen of Sheba by her marriage with Solomon ("Alphabet Ben Sira," ed. Venice, 21b; comp. Brüll's "Jahrb." ix.

9), and a son-in-law of Sennacherib (Targ. to Isa. x. 32; Lam. R., Introduction, 23, says "a grandson"), with whom he took part in the expedition of the Assyrians against Hezekiah, being one of the few who were not destroyed by the angels before Jerusalem (Sanh. 95b). He came to the throne in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim of Judah, whom he subjugated and, seven years later, killed after that king had rebelled. Nebuchadnezzar did not on this occasion go to Jerusalem, but received the Great Sanhedrin of Jerusalem at Daphne, a suburb of Antioch, informing that body that it was not his intention to destroy the Temple, but that the rebellious Jehoiakim must be delivered to him, which in fact was done (Seder 'Olam R. xxv.; Midr. 'Eser Galuyyot, ed. Grünhut, "Sefer ha-Liḳḳuṭim," iii.; Lev. R. xix.; comp. Jehoiakim in Rabbinical Literature ). Holds No Oath Sacred.

According to Josephus ("Ant." x. 6, § 3), the King of Judah voluntarily received Nebuchadnezzar and his army in the city; but Nebuchadnezzar treacherously broke the compact between them, and massacred the king together with the strongest and most beautiful inhabitants of Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar then carried away into captivity 5,000 Judeans and 7,000 of the other tribes, including all the nobles and scholars of the city (Josephus, l.c.; Seder 'Olam R. l.c.; Midr. 'Eser Galuyyot, l.c.). When he celebrated his triumph in Babylon and told his subjects how he had made Jehoiachin king in the place of his rebellious father Jehoiakim, they reminded him of the proverb: "A poor dog has no good progeny." Nebuchadnezzar then returned to Daphne, where he received the Great Sanhedrin and told it that he desired to take King Jehoiachin to Babylon. When it delivered the king to him, Jehoiachin was cast into prison for life (Lev. R. xix.

6; comp. Seder 'Olam R. l.c.; Yer. Sheḳ. vi. 49a; and Jehoiachin in Rabbinical Literature ). The King of Babylon again showed how little sacred an oath was to him; for, although he had pledged his word that he would not harm the city, he carried captive to Babylon a large number of the inhabitants (Josephus, l.c. x. 7, § 1) together with the Ark of the Covenant (Seder 'Olam R. l.c.). Although a voice from heaven uttered for eighteen years these words in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar, "O wicked servant; go and destroy the house of your master, since his children no longer obey him," yet the king was afraid to obey the command, remembering the defeat which Sennacherib had suffered in a similar attempt. Nebuchadnezzar asked the advice of different oracles, all of which warned him not to undertake the expedition against Jerusalem (Lam. R. l.c.).

Furthermore the Ammonitesand the Moabites, Israel's "wicked neighbors," gave inducements to Nebuchadnezzar to come by saying that the Prophets announced Judah's downfall. They allayed the king's fear lest God might send the same fate upon him that He had upon Sennacherib, by saying that God had now abandoned Israel, and that there were left among the people no pious ones able to turn away God's anger (Sanh. 96b). Nebuchadnezzar decided on his expedition against Jerusalem only after God showed him how He had bound the hands of Michael, Israel's guardian angel (Midr. Ekah Zuṭa, p. 70); and even then Nebuchadnezzar did not lead the expedition himself, but gave it into the hands of Nebuzar-adan (Pesiḳ. R. 26 [ed. Friedmann, p. 130b]; Sanh. 96b, above; comp. Eccl. R. on Eccl. x. 7, to the effect that Nebuchadnezzar, seated on a horse which was led by Michael, entered the Holy of Holies.

At Daphne, from which place Nebuchadnezzar followed the operations before the walls of Jerusalem, he received the Sanhedrin of Jerusalem with great honors, asking the members to read and explain to him the Torah. Sitting on seats of honor, they began their explanations. When, however, they came to the section on the dispensation from vows (Num. xxx. 2 et seq.), the king cried out in anger: "I believe it was you who released King Zedekiah from his oath to me." He then commanded that the scholars leave their seats and sit on the ground (Lam. R. ii. 10; Ned. 65a; comp. Zedekiah in Rabbinical Literature ; "Chronicles of Jerahmeel," x. 10: "the great Sanhedrin . . . who were slain by Nebuchadnezzar").

Zedekiah, the captive king, was also brought to Daphne, where Nebuchadnezzar took him to task, saying that, according to divine and human law, Zedekiah had merited death, since he had sworn falsely by the name of God, and had rebelled against his suzerain (Pesiḳ. R. l.c. [ed. Friedmann, p. 131a]). Nebuchadnezzar's Cruelty. Nebuchadnezzar was most merciless toward the conquered people. By his command the exiles on their way to Babylon were not allowed to stop even for a moment, as the king feared that they would pray during the respite granted them and that God would be willing to help them as soon as they repented (Lam. R. to v. 6; Pesiḳ. R. 28 [ed. Friedmann, p. 135a]). Nebuchadnezzar did not feel safe until the exiles reached the Euphrates, the boundary-line of Babylon. Then he made a great feast on board his ship, while the princes of Judah lay chained and naked by the river.

In order to increase their misery he had rolls of the Torah torn and made into sacks, which, filled with sand, he gave to the captive princes to carry (Pesiḳ. R. l.c. [ed. Friedmann, p. 135a]; Midr. Teh. cxxxvii.; comp. Buber's remark ad loc. and Lam. R. v. 13). On this occasion Nebuchadnezzar ordered the singers of the Temple to add their music to his feast; but they preferred to bite off their fingers, or even to be killed, rather than to play their sacred music in honor of the Babylonian idols (Pesiḳ. R. 31 [ed. Friedmann, p. 144a], 28 [136a]; comp. Moses, Children of ). He heartlessly drove the captives before him, entirely without clothing, until the inhabitants of Bari induced him to clothe them (Pesiḳ. R. l.c. [ed. Friedmann, p. 135b]).

But even after the heavily burdened Jews finally reached Babylonia they had no rest from the tyrant, who massacred thousands of youths whose beauty had inflamed the passion of the Babylonian women—a passion which did not subside until the corpses were stamped upon and mutilated (Sanh. 92b; comp. Ezekiel in Rabbinical Literature ). Nebuchadnezzar carried to Babylon, together with the Jews, cedar-trees which he had taken from Lebanon (Lam. R. i. 4), and millstones which he made the captive youths bear (l.c. v. 13). Even the Jews who had sought refuge from the Babylonians in Ammon and Moab or in Egypt did not escape Nebuchadnezzar, who, on conquering Egypt, carried all the Jews in that country, including Baruch and Jeremiah, to Babylonia (Midr. 'Eser Galuyyot, ed. Grünhut, l.c. iii. 14; Seder 'Olam R. xxvi.).

Nebuchadnezzar was equally victorious in his expedition against Tyre, whose king, Hiram , his stepfather, he dethroned and put to a painful death (Lev. R. xviii. 2; Yalḳ., Ezek. 367). Nebuchadnezzar, moreover, not only was a cosmocrat, ruling all the earth (Meg. 11a et passim), but he subdued the world of animals also, his charger being a lion, on whose neck a snake hung quietly (Shab. 150a, above). His godlessness was commensurate with his power; he was given, among other vices, to pederasty, which he, as with the other kings, also tried to commit with the pious Zedekiah, but was prevented by a miracle from doing so (Shab. 149b; see also Jerome on Hab. ii. 16). He was so greatly feared that as long as he was alive no one dared laugh; and when he went down to hell the inmates trembled, asking themselves whether he would rule them also (Shab. l.c.).

In his arrogance he considered himself to be a god, and spoke of making a cloud in order to enthrone himself like God on high (Mek., Beshallaḥ, Shirah, 6 [ed. Weiss, p. 47a, b]); but a heavenly voice cried to him: "O thou miscreant, son of a miscreant, and grandson of the miscreant Nimrod! Man lives seventy years, or at most eighty (Ps. xc. 10). The distance from the earth to heaven measures 500 years; the thickness of heaven measures as much; and not less the distance from one heaven to the other" (Pes. 94a, below; Ḥag. 13a et passim). Behavior Toward Israelites. The lot of the Jews was naturally a very sad one during Nebuchadnezzar's reign; and even Daniel , as well as his three friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, who were pages at court, were often in peril of their lives.

This was especially the case when the king tried to force the three pages to worship the idol at Durah, and they, upon their refusal to do so, were thrown into the fiery furnace. However, the miracle performed in their behalf ( comp. Azariah in Rabbinical Literature ; Ezekiel in Rabbinical Literature ) induced Nebuchadnezzar to join in praising God; and he was so carried away by his songs that had he continued he would have surpassed David, but an angel forced him to desist (Sanh. 92b). Yet this did not prevent him from massacring all the 600,000 Jews who had obeyed his command and worshipedthe idol, and whom he reproached for not having followed the example of the three pious men and trusted in God (Pirḳe R. El. xxxiii.). He finally received his well-merited punishment; for God changed him into an animal, as far as his appearance, intellect, and language were concerned. He appeared to the people with his upper half as an ox and the lower half as a lion, and as such he killed many villains.

Through Daniel's prayers the seven years of punishment decreed for Nebuchadnezzar were changed to seven months; and after the king had lamented his sins for forty days, had lived in the caves for another period of forty days, and had herded for the same length of time with the beasts of the forest, God took mercy upon him and allowed him to return to his throne. He repented and did penance for the next seven years, subsisting, on the advice of Daniel, on vegetable food. The affairs of the government he gave into the hands of seven judges, who held office for one year each. At the expiration of this period he wished to make Daniel one of his heirs; but the latter refused with the words: "Far be it from me to exchange the heritage of my fathers for that of one uncircumcised" ("The Chronicles of Jerahmeel," ed. Gaster, lxvi. 1-2; see also the passage quoted in the introduction, p. 106). Among the Animals.

According to another version, Nebuchadnezzar really spent seven years among the animals, during which time his son Evil-merodach ruled as king (see, however, Josephus, l.c. x. 10, § 6); but when he returned he cast this son into prison for life. Therefore after Nebuchadnezzar had died and the nobles of the realm came to the son to swear fealty to him as their king, he did not dare listen to them until they brought the corpse of his father, so that he could convince himself that the latter really was dead (Lev. R. xviii. 12). Others say that Evilmerodach himself exhumed the body of his father, because the people believed that Nebuchadnezzar was not really dead—that he had simply disappeared as he had once before, and that they would be severely punished by him if at his return he found that they had invested another king. The body of the dead monarch was therefore dragged through the city so that the people might see it (Targ. Sheni, beginning; Jerome on Isa. xiv. 19; see also "The Chronicles of Jerahmeel," lxvi.

6; a shorter version is given in Seder 'Olam R. xxviii.). This was the shameful end of Nebuchadnezzar, after a reign of forty years (Seder 'Olam R. l.c. 45; Pesiḳ. R., ed. Buber, xxvii. [ed. Friedmann, p. 168b, 40]; Josephus, l.c. x. 11, §§ 1, 43). That Nebuchadnezzar, in spite of all his wickedness, was chosen by God to rule over Israel and all the earth, was due, according to some, to the fact that he was a descendant of Merodach-baladan, to whom God granted, as a reward for a pious deed, that three of his descendants, namely, Nebuchadnezzar, his son Evil-merodach, and Belshazzar, should become world-rulers (Pesiḳ. R., ed. Buber, ii. 14a; comp. Merodach-Baladan . According to another rabbinical legend, Nebuchadnezzar was the secretary of Baladan.

The latter wrote a letter to Hezekiah (II Kings xx. 12) in Nebuchadnezzar's absence, who, on his return, was informed of its contents, which began as follows: "Greetings to the king Hezekiah, to the city of Jerusalem, and to the great God." "What!" exclaimed Nebuchadnezzar, "you call Him the great God, and yet you mention His name at the end, whereas it should be at the beginning!" Nebuchadnezzar then ran after the messenger, to take the letter and rewrite it. God, therefore, rewarded him with the rulership of the world; and if the angel Gabriel had not kept Nebuchadnezzar from overtaking the messenger, his power would have become still greater, and the Jews would in consequence have suffered still more at his hands. Ancient Mesopotamia: Biography of Nebuchadnezzar II Biography of Nebuchadnezzar II Born: c. 634 BC in Babylon Died: c. 562 BC in Babylon Reign: c.

605 - 562 BC Best known for: Building the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and conquering the Jews Biography: Nebuchadnezzar II was the greatest king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire . He is known for rebuilding much of Babylon and restoring it to its former glory. He also built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon which is considered one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. Early Life Nebuchadnezzar was born around 634 BC in the city of Babylon. His father was Nabopolassar, the king of Babylon. Growing up, Nebuchadnezzar was raised as the crown prince of the nation. He learned about the Babylonian gods, the laws of Babylon, and how to fight and lead an army. When Nebuchadnezzar was born, Babylon was ruled by the Assyrian Empire. However, while still a boy his father led a revolt against the Assyrians. He allied with the Medes and defeated the Assyrians sacking the city of Nineveh in 612 BC. Going to War As Nebuchadnezzar grew older he took on more responsibility. He became the general of his father's army.

In 605 BC he took a great army and marched against the armies of Egypt and Assyria. He fought them at the Battle of Carchemish where he crushed them removing the last resistance to the Babylonian Empire in the Middle East. Becoming King Nebuchadnezzar's father died while he was away at battle. He quickly returned to Babylon and claimed his crown. He was now king of the Babylonian Empire. Restoring Babylon With his enemies defeated, Nebuchadnezzar went about restoring the city of Babylon. He rebuilt and improved many of the temples of the gods. He also built an enormous palace that included the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon which were considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Nebuchadnezzar also improved the defenses of the city of Babylon with an enormous double wall that stretched for 10 miles around the city. Conquests Nebuchadnezzar continued to expand the reach and control of the Babylonian Empire. He conquered the city of Jerusalem and took many of the Hebrew people captive, taking them into exile to Babylon. He also conquered the Cimmerians and the Scythians.

Nebuchadnezzar II in the Bible Nebuchadnezzar was a major figure in the Bible, especially the Book of Daniel. In the book he asks Daniel to interpret his dreams when no one else can. He also tries to burn Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace for not bowing down to him, but miraculously they survive. The book describes how Nebuchadnezzar is humbled by God for boasting. He is stricken with insanity and lives like an animal for seven years. Death Nebuchadnezzar died around 562 BC. He was succeeded by his son Amel-Marduk. Interesting Facts about Nebuchadnezzar II His name means "Oh god Nabu, defend my firstborn son." Archeologists aren't sure if the Hanging Gardens really existed or are just a legend. He married the daughter of the Median king to seal an alliance with them. It is said he built the Hanging Gardens for his homesick wife. The former dictator of Iraq , Saddam Hussein, considered himself the reincarnation of Nebuchadnezzar.

Learn More about Ancient Mesopotamia: Overview Ancient Babylonia - Nebuchadnezzar II Timelines & Charts Ancient Babylonia - Nebuchadnezzar II Nebuchadnezzar II marched back to Babylon and was crowned king, which inaugurated one of the most powerful periods in Babylonian history. Nebuchadnezzar continued his brilliant campaigns focusing his military maneuvers on the west, which he effectively brought under his control. It was the kingdom of Judah who had called upon Egypt to assist them against the Babylonians. King Nebuchadnezzar continued his attacks and on his second conquest the conquered Jerusalem in 586 BC taking the survivors as prisoners back to Babylon. This was known in Jewish history has "the Babylonian captivity" and "the exile". After he destroyed Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar focused his attacks upon Egypt and he conquered it in 568 BC though there has been no detailed account of this invasion ever discovered, it remains a tremendous success for the king of Babylon and the first time any Chaldean king had ever conquered Egypt.

After Nebuchadnezzar's death his successors remained obscure until Nabonidus (555-539 BC), the last of the dynasty, ascended the throne. According to history Nabonidus, for some reason, lived throughout 10 of the 17 years that he ruled, at an Arab desert oasis called Tema, which was a vast distance from Babylon. In Babylon he left his son Belshazzar, to rule on his behalf. Nabonidus and his mother were from Harran and claimed to have been a loyal subject to the last of the Assyrian kings. Both he and his mother were zealous worshipers of the moon-god Sin, the tutelary deity of Harran, but when Nabonidus tried to promote this cult in Babylonia, the native priests, especially those who followed Marduk, became enraged. This religious controversy split Babylonia in two. Some of this literary propaganda of the time has been recovered. Babylonian culture flourished during the pax Assyriaca of the 7th century BC and again under the Chaldean dynasty of the sixth century BC.

Their god Nabu, son of Marduk and god of writing and learning became very popular throughout that period. The practice of astrology permeated the Babylonian society to the point that there were nightly watches by the astrologers throughout the kingdom. Archeologists have recently recovered massive detailed records of the movements of heavenly bodies. Literature was copied and studied and many new compositions were created. In art and architecture the most impressive remains that have been unearthed by archeologists are in Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon. The city apparently had not changed much when the Greek historian Herodotus wrote about it less than a century later and called its Hanging Gardens one of the 7 wonders of the world. In 539 BC Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar | Resources | American Bible Society Audience: Adult Youth Format: Web The Babylonian king described in the Bible is Nebuchadnezzar II, the longest reigning and most successful king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. He ruled from 605-562 B.C. during the time when the Babylonian kingdom reached the peak of its power and influence in the region.

Babylonia's major competition for power during this time came from Media to the north (northwest Iran) and Egypt to the west. The Egyptians were interested in ports and trade in Syria and Palestine so they stirred up rebellion against Babylonia whenever they could. At the Battle of Carchemish in 605 B.C., King Neco of Egypt was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar and driven back to his country (2 Kgs 24.7). Nebuchadnezzar sponsored many building projects in his capital city, Babylon. He fortified the city walls and built the famous Ishtar Gate as a grand entrance into his proud city. He also devoted himself to Marduk, the patron god of that city, and rebuilt Marduk's temple. See also the mini-article called “Babylon.” Nebuchadnezzar stopped at nothing when it came to conquering or punishing rebellious peoples. He invaded Judah twice. In 598 B.C., he punished Judah for refusing to pay tribute money to Babylonia (a kind of bribe tax to keep Babylonia from invading).

Nebuchadnezzar deported Judah's King Jehoiachin and many of the nobles and craftsmen back to Babylonia. In 587 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar responded to King Zedekiah's rebellion (2 Kgs 24.18-20) by surrounding Jerusalem and destroying many of the smaller towns in Judah. Judah's King Zedekiah tried to escape from Jerusalem in secret, but he and his family were arrested. Zedekiah was forced to watch as his sons were executed. Then his own eyes were poked out and he was dragged off to Babylon (2 Kgs 25.1-7). In August of 586 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar's army smashed through the walls of Jerusalem, and destroyed the city (see 2 Kgs 25.8-21). They burned down the temple, the king's palace, and much of the rest of the city. They also robbed the temple of many of its holy treasures, and carried them back to Babylonia.

Finally, still more of the Jewish people were sent to Babylonia, where they lived as exiles until Babylonia fell and Cyrus of Persia set them free in 539 B.C. The prophet Jeremiah recognized two things about Nebuchadnezzar. For one, God was using him as an instrument of judgment for the sins of Judah. So, before Jerusalem fell, Jeremiah advised its leaders to give in to Nebuchadnezzar and surrender, in order to save the country and the city from horrible destruction. Secondly, after the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiah foresaw that Babylonia too would come under the judgment of God. Nebuchadnezzar's empire would face its day of reckoning as well (Jer 50, 51). Thanks to the support of our faithful financial partners, American Bible Society has been engaging people with the life-changing message of God’s Word for nearly 200 years. Help us share God's Word where needed most. Sign up to receive regular email updates from the Bible Resource Center. Also receive Bible-reading tips, tools and resources. Who was Nebuchadnezzar? Who was Nebuchadnezzar?

Subscribe to our Question of the Week : Question: "Who was Nebuchadnezzar?" Answer: Nebuchadnezzar II, sometimes alternately spelled Nebuchadrezzar, was king of Babylonia from approximately 605 BC until approximately 562 BC. He is considered the greatest king of the Babylonian Empire and is credited with the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar is mentioned by name around 90 times in the Bible, in both the historical and prophetic literature of the Hebrew Scriptures. Nebuchadnezzar receives the most attention in the book of Daniel, appearing as the main character, beside Daniel , in chapters 1–4. In biblical history, Nebuchadnezzar is most famous for the conquering of Judah and the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem in 586 BC. Judah had become a tribute state to Babylon in 605 BC but rebelled in 597 BC during the reign of Jehoiachin and then again in 588 BC during the reign of Zedekiah.

Tired of the rebellions, and seeing that Judah had not learned its lesson when he invaded, conquered, and deported Judah in 597, Nebuchadnezzar and his general, Nebuzaradan, proceeded to completely destroy the temple and most of Jerusalem, deporting most of the remaining residents to Babylon. In this, Nebuchadnezzar served as God’s instrument of judgment on Judah for its idolatry, unfaithfulness, and disobedience (Jeremiah 25:9). Secular history records Nebuchadnezzar as a brutal, powerful, and ambitious king, and the Bible, for the most part, agrees. However, the book of Daniel gives additional insight into his character. Daniel chapter 2 records God giving Nebuchadnezzar a dream about what kingdoms would arise after his own. In the dream, Nebuchadnezzar was a “head of gold” on a statue, with the descending parts of the body, comprised of silver, bronze, iron, and iron mixed with clay, representing the less powerful kingdoms that would come after him.

Nebuchadnezzar demanded the astrologers and wise men to interpret his dream without him telling it to them and, when they were unable to, Nebuchadnezzar ordered all of the astrologers and wise men to be killed. Daniel spoke up and, through a miracle from God, interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The king then promoted Daniel to be one of his most influential advisors. Interestingly, when Daniel interpreted his dream, Nebuchadnezzar declared, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery” (Daniel 2:47). In Daniel 3, Nebuchadnezzar created a gold statue of himself and required all the people to bow down to it whenever the music played. Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego , refused, and the king had them thrown into a blazing furnace.

Miraculously, God protected them, and when they came out of the furnace, Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way” (Daniel 3:28–29). In Daniel chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar is given another dream by God. Daniel interpreted the dream for Nebuchadnezzar and informed him that the dream was a warning to the king to humble himself and recognize that his power, wealth, and influence were from God, not of his own making. Nebuchadnezzar did not heed the warning of the dream, so God judged him as the dream had declared.

Nebuchadnezzar was driven insane for seven years. When the king’s sanity was restored, he finally humbled himself before God. In Daniel 4:3, Nebuchadnezzar declares, “How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.” Nebuchadnezzar continued in Daniel 4:34–37, “For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’ … “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” The exclamations of Nebuchadnezzar recorded in the book of Daniel have led some to consider the possibility that Nebuchadnezzar became a believer in the one true God.

History records Nebuchadnezzar being a follower of the Babylonian gods Nabu and Marduk. Is it possible that Nebuchadnezzar renounced these false gods and instead only worshipped the one true God? Yes, it is possible. If nothing else, Nebuchadnezzar became a henotheist , believing in many gods but worshipping only one God as supreme. Based on his words recorded in Daniel, it definitely seems like Nebuchadnezzar submitted himself to the one true God. Further evidence is the fact that God refers to Nebuchadnezzar as “my servant” three times in the book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6; 43:10). Was Nebuchadnezzar saved? Ultimately, this is not a question that can be answered dogmatically. Whatever the case, the story of Nebuchadnezzar is an example of God’s sovereignty over all men and the truth that “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will” (Proverbs 21:1).

Nebuchadnezzar facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about Nebuchadnezzar COPYRIGHT 2004 The Gale Group Inc. Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar (reigned 605-562 B.C.) was a king of Babylon during whose long and eventful reign the Neo-Babylonian Empire attained its peak and the city of Babylon its greatest glory. Nebuchadnezzar—more properly Nebuchadrezzar—is the biblical form of the name Nabukudur-utsur (Nabu has set the boundary). He was the son of Nabopolassar, a Chaldean chief who in 626 B.C. led a revolt against Assyrian rule, proclaimed himself king of Babylon, and, in alliance with the Medes and Scythians, succeeded in overthrowing the vast Assyrian Empire and destroying Nineveh in 612 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar, as crown prince, was given command of the Babylonian army harrying the remainder of the Assyrians in northern Syria. Early in 605 B.C.

he met Necho, the king of Egypt, in battle and defeated him at Carchemish. A few months later Nabopolassar died, and Nebuchadnezzar hastened home to claim his throne. He soon returned to the west in order to secure the loyalty of Syria and Palestine and to collect tribute; among those who submitted were the rulers of Damascus, Tyre, Sidon, and Judah. Nebuchadnezzar's Conquests In 601 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar attempted the invasion of Egypt but was repulsed with heavy losses. Judah rebelled, but Jerusalem fell in March 597 B.C., and the ruler, Jehoiakim, and his court were deported to Babylon. Eight years later another Jewish rebellion broke out; this time Jerusalem was razed and the population carried into captivity. Expeditions against the Arabs in 582 B.C. and another attempt at invading Egypt in 568 B.C. receive brief mention in Nebuchadnezzar's later records.

Nebuchadnezzar built temples in many of the cities of his kingdom, but the main achievement of his reign was the rebuilding of Babylon, on a scale and with a magnificence never before envisaged. The city covered some 500 acres and was protected by massive double fortifications. The Euphrates River, which bisected it, was spanned by a bridge. In the great palace, built to replace Nabopolassar's, he created the terraced cloister known to the Greeks as the Hanging Gardens and reckoned among the Seven Wonders of the World. It was said that he built it to please his mountain-born wife, Amytis, daughter of Cyaxares, the Median king. The last years of Nebuchadnezzar's life were clouded by family strife, and he left no strong successor: his son was overthrown by a usurper after reigning only 2 years. Babylon, however, survived and was seen by the Greek historian Herodotus, who described its marvels. Further Reading Tablets containing new information about Nebuchadnezzar's military activities were translated by D. J.

Wiseman in Chronicles of Chaldaean Kings (1956). These texts supplement the account of R. Campbell Thompson in J. B. Bury and others, eds., The Cambridge Ancient History (12 vols., 1923-1939). For a description of Babylon in Nebuchadnezzar's time see James G. Macqueen, Babylon (1964), based on Robert Koldewey's excavations before World War I. □ Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. MLA The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright The Columbia University Press Nebuchadnezzar (nĕb´əkədnĕz´ər), d. 562 BC, king of Babylonia (c.605–562 BC), son and successor of Nabopolassar. In his father's reign he was sent to oppose the Egyptians, who were occupying W Syria and Palestine. At Carchemish he met and defeated (605 BC) Pharaoh Necho , thus becoming the undisputed master of Western Asia.

The sudden death of his father caused Nebuchadnezzar to return home to safeguard his inheritance, permitting Necho to escape to Egypt with part of his army. Three years later (601 BC) Necho defeated Nebuchadnezzar in battle. This event may have encouraged the revolt of Judah under Jehoiakim . Jehoiakim died shortly after the siege began and was succeeded by his son, Jehoiachin. In Mar., 597 BC, Nebuchadnezzar crushed the revolt and carried off the young Jehoiachin and many of his nobles to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar then placed the puppet king Zedekiah on the throne of Judah. A new revolt occurred (588–587 BC) in Judah. After a siege of about a year, Jerusalem was finally destroyed in 586 BC Nebuchadnezzar was a splendid builder, and Babylon with its hanging gardens was then the greatest city of the ancient world. However, Babylon was shortly to fall under conquest when Nabonidus was king.

The book of Daniel depicts Nebuchadnezzar as a conceited and domineering king and tells of his going mad and eating grass. He is also called Nebuchadrezzar or Nebuchodonosor. See G. R. Tabouis, Nebuchadnezzar (1977). Cite this article The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable © The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. Nebuchadnezzar (c.630–562 bc), king of Babylon 605–562 bc. He rebuilt the city with massive walls, a huge temple, and a ziggurat, and extended his rule over neighbouring countries. In 586 bc he captured and destroyed Jerusalem and deported many Israelites in what is known as the Babylonian Captivity .

Allusive uses of his name often refer to the biblical story in Daniel 4, which recounts how Nebuchadnezzar's pride and wickedness were punished by his being driven mad ‘and he was driven from men, and did eat the grass as oxen.’ The name Nebuchadnezzar is given to a very large wine bottle, equivalent in capacity to about twenty regular bottles. Cite this article What was the Babylonian captivity/exile? What was the Babylonian captivity/exile? Subscribe to our Question of the Week : Question: "What was the Babylonian captivity/exile?" Answer: The Babylonian captivity or exile refers to the time period in Israel’s history when Jews were taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. It is an important period of biblical history because both the captivity/exile and the return and restoration of the Jewish nation were fulfillments of Old Testament prophecies. God used Babylon as His agent of judgment against Israel for their sins of idolatry and rebellion against Him. There were actually several different times during this period (607-586 B.C.) when the Jews were taken captive by Babylon.

With each successive rebellion against Babylonian rule, Nebuchadnezzar would lead his armies against Judah until they laid siege to Jerusalem for over a year, killing many people and destroying the Jewish temple, taking captive many thousands of Jews, and leaving Jerusalem in ruins. As prophesied in Scripture, the Jewish people would be allowed to return to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile. That prophecy was fulfilled in 537 B.C., and the Jews were allowed by King Cyrus of Persia to return to Israel and begin rebuilding the city and temple. The return under the direction of Ezra led to a revival among the Jewish people and the rebuilding of the temple. Under the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian Empire spread throughout the Middle East, and around 607 B.C., King Jehoiakim of Judah was forced into submission, becoming a vassal to Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:1).

It was during this time that Nebuchadnezzar took many of the finest and brightest young men from each city in Judah captive, including Daniel, Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) and Azariah (Abednego). After three years of serving Nebuchadnezzar, Jehoiakim of Judah rebelled against Babylonian rule and once again turned to Egypt for support. After sending his army to deal with Judah’s revolt, Nebuchadnezzar himself left Babylon in 598 B.C. to deal with the problem. Arriving in Jerusalem around March of 597 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem, taking control of the area, looting it, and taking captive with him Jehoikim’s son, Jehoiachin, his family, and almost all of the population of Judah, leaving only the poorest people of the land (2 Kings 24:8-16).

At that time Nebuchadnezzar appointed King Zedekiah to rule as his representative over Judah, but after nine years and still not having learned their lesson, Zedekiah led Judah in rebellion against Babylon one final time (2 Kings 24–25). Influenced by false prophets and ignoring Jeremiah’s warnings, Zedekiah decided to join a coalition that was being formed by Edom, Moab, Ammon and Phoenicia in rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 27:1-3). This resulted in Nebuchadnezzar again laying siege to Jerusalem. Jerusalem fell in July 587 or 586 BC, and Zedekiah was taken captive to Babylon after seeing his sons killed before him and then having his eyes plucked out (2 Kings 25). At this time Jerusalem was laid to waste, the temple destroyed and all the houses burned. The majority of the Jewish people were taken captive, but, again, Nebuchadnezzar left a remnant of poor people to serve as farmers and vinedressers (2 Kings 25:12).

The books of 2 Chronicles and 2 Kings deal with much of the time leading up to fall of both the Northern Kingdom and Judah. They also cover the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and the beginning of the Babylonian captivity. Jeremiah was one of the prophets during the time leading up to the fall of Jerusalem and the exile, and Ezekiel and Daniel were written while the Jews were in exile. Ezra deals with the return of the Jews as promised over 70 years before by God through the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah. The book of Nehemiah also covers the return and rebuilding of Jerusalem after the exile was over. The Babylonian captivity had one very significant impact on the nation of Israel when it returned to the land—it would never again be corrupted by the idolatry and false gods of the surrounding nations. A revival among Jews took place after the return of the Jews to Israel and the rebuilding of the temple. We see those accounts in Ezra and Nehemiah as the nation would once again return to the God who had delivered them from their enemies.

Just as God had promised through the prophet Jeremiah, God judged the Babylonians for their sins, and the Babylonian Empire fell to the armies of Persia in 539 B.C., once again proving God’s promises to be true. The seventy-year period of the Babylonian captivity is an important part of Israel’s history, and Christians should be familiar with it. Like many other Old Testament events, this historical account demonstrates God’s faithfulness to His people, His judgment of sin, and the surety of His promises. expositorswiki - Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar References Introduction Nebuchadnezzar was the reigning Babylonian king during the Minor Prophets Habakkuk, Daniel, and Ezekiel. He was also the ruler during the reigns of the Israelite kings, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. He was one of the greatest rulers in the history of Babylon. His pride in his great accomplishments led to his later downfall and humiliation recorded in Daniel. He also played a major in the downfall of Jerusalem. God used Nebuchadnezzar to accomplish His plan and conquer Israel, sending them into exile.

Historical Setting Nebuchadnezzar was the oldest son of Nabopolassar, who was the founder of the Chaldean Empire. He was not of royal birth, but was instead a governor who was popularly voted to the position of leadership during unrest in the Assyrian Empire. During his reign as well as the reign of his son, he built many temples and ziggurats in addition to rebuilding the older ones. He also made Babylon the new capital of the newly formed Chaldeans in 625 BC, from which they were henceforth called Babylonians. His reign took place after the fall of Nineveh as prophesied in Nahum. Biography As a young Prince The year of Nebuchadnezzar’s birth is uncertain, yet it is not likely he was born before 630 BC because according to tradition, he began his military career at a young age appearing as a military administrator in 610 BC. He is first mentioned by his father as a laborer in the restoration of the temple of Marduk, who was the chief god of the Babylonians.

At around 607 BC, young Nebuchadnezzar, now the crown prince, led an army with his father to the mountains near Assyria, there performing many independent operations after his father returned to Babylon. Later, when Egypt invaded, he took his father’s place as head of the army and defeated the Egyptians, securing the whole region of Syria. When His father died in 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon and assumed the throne three weeks later.[[#_edn1|[i]]] As leader of Babylon As Nebuchadnezzar grew his empire, he made expeditions in Syria and Palestine from June to December of 604, and conquered many local states, including Judah. He began to hire Greek mercenaries into his armies[[#_edn2|[ii]]], which allowed him to further his campaigns and extend Babylonian control in Palestine throughout the next three years.

On the last occasion, between 601-600 BC, “Nebuchadnezzar clashed with an Egyptian army, with heavy losses; this reverse was followed by the defection of certain vassal states, Judah among them.”[[#_edn3|[iii]]] This brought an intermission in the series of annual campaigns in 600 BC, while Nebuchadnezzar retreated to Babylonia to repair his losses of chariots. He began again in the beginning of 599 BC from December to March. Nebuchadnezzar’s strategic planning appeared in his attack on the Arab tribes of northwestern Arabia, in preparation for the occupation of Judah.

As conqueror of Jerusalem Jehoiakim Jehoiakim was one of the sons of Josiah who assumed the throne after his father died and his older brother was taken to captivity in Egypt by Pharaoh Necho.[[#_edn4|[iv]]] When the new Chaldean Empire, under the newly crowned Nebuchadnezzar II, later defeated Egypt at the Battle of Carchemish (605 BC), Jehoiakim changed his allegiance from the Egyptian king to Nebuchadnezzar. He remained loyal for three years and revolted against Nebuchadnezzar despite Jeremiah the prophet’s warnings who saw events much more clearly. After several battles and invasions, Nebuchadnezzar led the final invasion against Judah and besieged Jerusalem (598 BC). King Jehoiakim died before the siege began and was succeeded by his son.[[#_edn5|[v]]] Jehoiachin - End of the Davidic dynasty Once Jehoiakim died, Jehoiachin succeeded his father’s throne in the midst of the Babylonian siege.

He then surrendered the capital to the Babylonians on March 16, 597 BC, and was taken to Babylon with many of his subjects. This was the deportation described in Jeremiah 39 and 52. After Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, he pillaged the city as well as the temple, which suffered at his hands as he removed the temple treasures and destroyed the building. Later, in 587 or 586 BC Nebuchadnezzar returned and completely destroyed the city and Temple, and the Hebrew captivity began. “This destruction and the deportations of Jews to Babylonia in 586 and 582 were seen as fulfillments of prophecy and, therefore, strengthened Judaic religious beliefs and awakened the hope for the reestablishment of the independent Jewish state.”[[#_edn6|[vi]]] Zedekiah Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, was placed on the throne by the Babylonians after the death of Jehoiachin. His name was then changed to Zedekiah(reign lasted from 597–586 BC).

His reign ended the Davidic line, which seemed to the Israelites that God had abandoned them. Zedekiah was just a puppet leader, who did the bidding of the Babylonians. “Under his rule the rebuilding of the city began and a new hope for the future grew among the inhabitants.”[[#_edn7|[vii]]] During this time, some became convinced that the exiles were going to return soon, but Jeremiah said otherwise (Jeremiah 28:10). Zedekiah was also more inclined to follow Jeremiah’s counsel than Jehoiakim had been but was weak and vacillating and whose court was torn by conflict between pro-Babylonian and pro-Egyptian parties. After paying Babylonia tribute for nearly 10 years, the King made an alliance with Egypt. A second time Nebuchadnezzar sent an army to Jerusalem, which he captured in August 586.

Zedekiah was then taken to Nebuchadnezzar, and after watching his sons executed, he was blinded and taken prisoner to Babylon.[[#_edn8|[viii]]] Association with Prophets in the Exile Daniel The prophet Daniel was a significant figure in Babylonian history as well as Nebuchadnezzar’s (Daniel 1-4:37). Chapters 4 and 5 deal with Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s son, as well as the fall of Babylon. Chapter 1 verses 1 and 2 are a brief description of Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest of Jerusalem. Verses 3-7 tell how Daniel and his friends were attempted to be indoctrinated by the Babylonians as they tried to erase the Jew’s culture. In chapter two, Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream after none of his advisors could. In chapter three Nebuchadnezzar forces his nation to worship an idol he had made, but Daniel’s friends would not. In chapter four, the climax of Daniel’s ministry under Nebuchadnezzar is seen when God humbles the great king after warning him against his pride.

In the end, he admits that Yahweh is ruler over all. Ezekiel “Ezekiel’s ministry was conducted in Jerusalem and Babylon in the first three decades of the 6th century BC”[[#_edn9|[ix]]] He prophesied the fall of Tyre, which after a short while, Nebuchadnezzar leveled (Ezekiel 26). He also prophesied the abominations the Babylonians were going to commit against both the city and the temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 8:1-11:25). For Ezekiel and his people, these years were bitter ones because the remnant of the Israelite domain was eliminated by the rising Babylonian empire under Nebuchadnezzar (reigned 605–562 BC). Though Jerusalem surrendered in 597 BC, Israelite resistance was renewed, and in 587–586 BC the city was finally destroyed after a lengthy siege. In both downfalls, large numbers of the surviving population were forcibly deported to Babylonia.

Jeremiah “The era in which Jeremiah lived was one of transition for the ancient Near East.”[[#_edn10|[x]]] The Assyrian empire, which had been dominant for two centuries, declined and fell. Its capital, Nineveh, was captured in 612 BC by the Babylonians and Medes. Egypt had a brief period of resurgence under the 26th dynasty (664–525 BC) but did not prove strong enough to establish an empire. The world now belonged to the Neo-Babylonian empire, ruled by a Chaldean dynasty whose best-known king was Nebuchadnezzar. The small and comparatively insignificant state of Judah had been a vassal of Assyria and, when Assyria declined, asserted its independence for a short time. Subsequently Judah vacillated in its allegiance between Babylonia and Egypt and ultimately became a province of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.[[#_edn11|[xi]]] Despite the fateful part he played in Judah’s history, Nebuchadnezzar is seen in Jewish tradition in a predominantly favorable light.

It was claimed that he gave orders for the protection of Jeremiah, who regarded him as God’s appointed instrument whom it was impiety to disobey. In Jeremiah 27 he tells the nations to submit to Nebuchadnezzar, and the prophet Ezekiel expressed a similar view at the attack on Tyre (Jeremiah 29).[[#_edn12|[xii]]] Connection to Minor Prophets Micah Although Micah lived long before Nebuchadnezzar (Micah lived in the 700s BC, Nebuchadnezzar lived from 630-561 BC), he prophesied when the circumstances of when the kingdom would fall. An outside source says, “Some of the promises (In Micah) seem to presuppose the fall of Jerusalem and the subsequent Babylonian Exile (6th century BC)”[[#_edn13|[xiii]]]. In Micah 5:1 the capture of king Zedekiah is referred to when Micah prophesies, “they have laid siege against us; with a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek”.

Zedekiah was not a real king even though he sat on the throne. He was set up by the Babylonians and was not from the Davidic line. The exile had begun. Habakkuk Habakkuk prophesied during the final days of the Assyrian Empire and the beginning of the Babylonian’s Empire, during the early reign of Nabopolassar and his son Nebuchadnezzar.[[#_edn14|[xiv]]] The fall of Jerusalem had not occurred, yet Habakkuk combines lamentation and oracle in these three chapters as he prophesies of the future. In the first chapter, he cries out for Yahweh to help his people: “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and thou wilt not hear?” (1:2). Though Yahweh will send mighty nations (e.g., the neo-Babylonians will be the executors of his judgment), Habakkuk wonders who will then stop these instruments of God’s justice, who use great force.

The answer comes in a brief, almost cryptic verse, “but the righteous shall live by his faith.” Conclusion Although Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, ransacked the temple, and killed thousands of Israelites, he was still used by God to accomplish His purpose of judgment against His people. And at the end of his life, Nebuchadnezzar had not only accomplished God’s will, but he also gave God the glory when he stated in Daniel 4:17, “In order that the living may know that the most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whom He wishes, and sets over it the lowliest of men.” References Britannica, Encyclopedia. "Ezekiel (Hebrew Prophet)." Encyclopedia Britannica. 2010. . Goodspeed, George Stephen. A history of the Babylonians and Assyrians. New York, New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1902. Healy, Mark. Nebuchadnezzar: scourge of Zion. New York, New York: Firebird Books, 1989. Larue, Gerald A. Babylon and the Bible.

Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1969. Mount, Ralph Holmes. Babylon. 2. Mansfield, Ohio: Mount Publications, 1966. Saggs, Henry W.F. "Nebuchadnezzar II (king of Babylon)." Encyclopeida Brittanica. 1994-2010. (accessed November 1, 2010). Schwantes, Siegfried J. A Short History of the Ancient Near East. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1976. [[#_ednref|[i]]] (Goodspeed 1902)

Question: What nation was ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar II?
Answer: Babylon