2 Kings 24:1
- In his days Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon came up
Cuneiform
tablet with part of the Babylonian Chronicle.
British Museum.
Brick
of Nebuchadnezzar II Neo-Babylonian dynasty,
about 604-561 BC From Babylon, southern Iraq.
British Museum.
This
door-slab comes from the lower part of a flight
of steps in the Temple of Ezida in Borsippa.
The inscription reads: Nebuchadnezzar, King
of Babylon. British Museum.
Cylinder
of Nebuchadnezzar II.Neo-Babylonian dynasty,
604-562 BC From Babylon, southern Iraq. British
Museum.
History
Nebuchadrezzar II (also Nebuchadnezzar; reigned 605 BC - 562 BC) is perhaps the
best known ruler of Babylon in the Chaldean Dynasty. He is famous for his
conquests of Judah and Jerusalem, his monumental building within his capital
of Babylon, his role in the Book of Daniel, and his construction of the Hanging
Gardens of Babylon, which as legend has it, he made for his wife because
she was homesick for the mountain springs where she grew up.
He is traditionally called "Nebuchadnezzar
the Great", but his destruction of temples
in Jerusalem and the conquest of Judah caused
his vilification in Judaic tradition and in
the Bible, causing him to be interpreted very
differently by western Christians and Jews
than in contemporary Iraq, where he is glorified
as a historic leader.
Babylonia
The most spectacular evidence of Nebuchadnezzar's military successes are his
building works in Babylonia. All the great old cities were extensively rebuilt.
Most notable was the development of Babylon. The remains were revealed by German
excavations early this century and much material is now in the Vordersaistiche
Museum Berlin. After 594 BC little is known about the political events of Nebuchadnezzar's
reign.
Dedicatory
Inscription on the Ishtar Gate, Babylon Part of the inscription
reads: "Nebuchadnezzar,
King of Babylon, the faithful prince appointed
by the will of Marduk, the highest of princely
princes, beloved of Nabu, of prudent counsel,
who has learned to embrace wisdom, who fathomed
their divine being and reveres their majesty,
the untiring governor, who always takes to heart
the care of the cult of Esagila and Ezida and
is constantly concerned with the well-being of
Babylon and Borsippa, the wise, the humble, the
caretaker of Esagila and
Ezida, the firstborn son of Nabopolassar, the
King of Babylon."
Scriptures 2 Kings 24:1 In his
days Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became
his servant three years: then he turned and
rebelled against him.
Jeremiah 28:3 Within two full years will I bring
again into this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar
king of Babylon took away from this place, and
carried them to Babylon:
Daniel 3:9 They spake and said to the King Nebuchadnezzar
