Page 59 - Daniel

April 2, 604 B.C. to March 21, 603 B.C.; and his “second year” would have
been March 22, 603 B.C. to April 9, 602 B.C. The events of chapter 2

occurred at the end of the three-year course of study mentioned in 1:5,
shortly after Daniel entered the king’s service. But it was officially the
“second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.”

The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that the dreams occurred “two
years after the destruction of Egypt” (Antiquities 10.10.3). While this
could be an instance where Josephus misquoted the Bible or
misunderstood history, it’s also possible he was referring to the battle of
Carchemish in 605 B.C. that immediately preceded the events of Daniel 1.

The Babylonian Chronicle describes this battle as a total annihilation

of the Egyptian army: “[Nebuchadnezzar] crossed the river [to encounter
the army of Egypt] which was encamped at Carchemish…. They did
battle together. The army of Egypt retreated before him. He inflicted a
[defeat] upon them (and) finished them off completely. In the district of
Hamath the army of Akkad overtook the remainder of the army of
[Egypt which] managed to escape [from] the defeat and which was not
overcome. They … inflicted a defeat upon them (so that) a single

1
(Egyptian) man [did not return] home.” In either case, the events of
Daniel 2 probably took place three years after the events of Daniel 1:1–
16.

According to Wiseman, “The effect on Judah was that King Jehoiakim,
a vassal of Necho, submitted voluntarily to Nebuchadrezzar, and some
Jews, including the prophet Daniel, were taken as captives for hostages
to Babylon.” This was June–August 605 B.C. Daniel and his companions,
2
therefore, entered their training at Babylon soon thereafter, probably

after Nebuchadnezzar had been made king on September 7, 605 B.C., at
the death of his father, Nabopolassar.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S “SECOND YEAR” (DANIEL 2:1)

May—June 605
Babylonian victory over the Egyptians at

Carchemish.