Page 79 - Biblical Backgrounds

Internally, Nebuchadnezzar devoted his efforts to the religious and cultural revival of southern
Mesopotamia, combined with extensive architectural activity. Apart from raising Babylon to its
grandeur, Nebuchadnezzar and his successors launched reconstruction programs in all the main cities of
Sumer and Akkad. Undoubtedly, Hebrew exiles, especially artisans, contributed significantly to the
rebuilding programs. Hebrew artisans (2 Kings 24:14–16) undoubtedly made significant contributions
during building programs when exiled in Babylonia.

Unlike the Assyrian era, Nebuchadnezzar gave a sizable amount of power to priests in the temples. He
appointed royal revenue officers to work alongside priests and collect taxes. Since temples occupied
much of the land in Babylon, this won him a considerable amount of authority. Things looked different
the farther you moved away from Babylon, the seat of authority. In distant territories, Nebuchadnezzar
ensured military success. He appointed officials in those territories to rule on his behalf without religious
restrictions while retaining all revenue. Though the power of the crown was checked by the temple, the
king had control of the political, military, and legal machinery of the state. 106 This can be evidenced by
the King’s handling of the case of Daniel and his colleagues (Dan. 3:8-30).

Nebuchadnezzar died of an illness late in 562 BCE (total reign 605–562). His death marked the beginning
of the end of the splendor and power of the Babylonian empire. He was succeeded by his son Amel-
Marduk (Evil-Merodach of 2 Kings 25:27), who carelessly handled the legacy of his father. He only ruled
for two years. He so badly managed the affairs of state that his sister’s husband, Neriglisaros
(Neriglissar, Nergal-Sharezer, Jeremiah 39:3, 13), rebelled against him and killed him. Nergal-Sharezer
then ruled for four years (559–556), carrying out some public works and winning a short war in
southeast Asia Minor. He was succeeded by his incompetent young son Labashi-Marduk, who was killed
by a group of conspirators after a nine-month rule (556). One of the conspirators, Nabunaid

(Nabonidus), was installed as king. This ended a series of short stints but was simply another step toward
the collapse of the Babylonian dominance.

Nabonidus (556–539) was considered to have had an interesting character, unpredictable and difficult to
discern. Though himself a worshiper of Babylonian gods, he is known for his attempt to strip power from
the temple priests and gather it to himself. This paralyzed his relationship with some of the priestly lines
and probably cost him some influence. He also weakened his rule and influence in the kingdom by
spending almost a decade in Arabia during the latter days of his tenure. “It now appears that he was
trying to gain control of trade routes with South Arabia to compensate for those lost to the Medo-
Persians farther north. During those years, he made his son Belshazzar the ruler in Babylon. Belshazzar is
remembered as the king who saw the handwriting on the wall and had Daniel explain it.” 107

In the same period, Cyrus established himself as King of Persia, heavily concerned with expanding his
kingdom. Altogether, the indifference, incompetence, and extravagance of the kings of the weakening
Babylonian empire made it easy for Cyrus to conquer and take over the empire in 539 BCE.

106 Vos, H. F. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible manners & customs: how the people of the Bible really lived (p.
306). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson Publishers.

107 Vos, H. F. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible manners & customs: how the people of the Bible really lived (p.
306). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson Publishers.

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