Page 83 - Advanced Biblical Backgrounds Revised

Nebuchadnezzar defeated Egypt (Jer. 46:2-12) around 605 BCE and took control of the Palestinian coast
from the Pharaoh of Egypt. (2 Kgs. 23:34-35). The detailed account of 2 Kings 24:1-2 informs us that
Judah fell under the control of Babylon during the reign of Jehoiakim. After three years, Jehoiakim
attempted to rebel against Babylon’s rule. Consequently, Jerusalem was besieged (698-697 BCE), and
the temple was raided. King Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim, was captured as a king in exile along with the
nobles, prominent officials of the land, and the army (2Kgs. 24:10-17). Nebuchadnezzar appointed
Zedekiah over Judah. Against the protests of Jeremiah but with promises of Egyptian aid, Zedekiah
revolted against Babylon in 589 BCE. In the resultant Babylonian campaign, Judah was ravaged, and
Jerusalem besieged. An ill-advised campaign by the Pharaoh Hophra against the attacking Babylonian
forces gave Jerusalem a short respite, but the Babylonian attack was renewed (Jer. 37:4–10). The city fell
in August of 587 BCE, and Zedekiah was captured, Jerusalem burned, and the temple destroyed (Jer.
52:12–14). 114

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. He1brew 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. 115 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.

114 Browning, D. C., Jr. (2003). Babylon. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler
(Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 158). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

115 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.

82