25
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
mLine 1:
Line 1: − [[Image:Nebuchadnezzar-cameo.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Cameo of Nebuchadnezzar in the Florence Museum]]+ − '''Nebuchadnezzar II''', also called '''King Nebuchadnezzar the Second''' (635 BC-vr. 607 BC-r. 605 BC-562 BC) (''Nabu-Kudduri-Usur'' Nebo, Protect My Eldest Son or Nebo, Protect the Border),<ref name=Nisbett>Nisbett, Michael John. "[http://www.nisbett.com/people/bp-nebuchadnezzar.htm Entry for Nebuchadnezzar]." ''[http://www.nisbett.com/ The Christian Resource Centre]'' (Bermuda). Retrieved July 15, 2007.</ref><ref name=WebBible>Authors unknown. "[http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/nebuchadnezzar.html Entry for Nebuchadnezzar]." WebBible Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 15, 2007.</ref> or "Nebuchadrezzar" as the Prophet [[Jeremiah (Prophet)|Jeremiah]] spelled his name, was King of the Chaldeans and final conqueror of the [[Southern Kingdom]] of [[Israel]], called "Judah."<ref name=Ussher>[[James Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World]]'', [[Larry Pierce]], ed., Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2003 (ISBN 0890513600), pghh. 740, 755, 770, 775, 782, 787, 832, 881-2, 886, 890-1.</ref><ref name=keyway>[http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/roadsign.htm Wayne Blank], "[http://www.keyway.ca/htm2002/nebuch.htm Entry for King Nebuchadnezzar]," ''Church of God Daily Bible Study'', retrieved July 15, 2007.</ref><ref name=ColumbiaH>Author unknown. "[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Nebuchad.html Entry for Nebuchadnezzar]." ''The Columbia Encyclopedia'', 6th ed., 2007. Retrieved July 15, 2007, from the [http://www.encyclopedia.com/ Highbeam Encyclopedia].</ref><ref name=Gill>Gill, N. S. "[http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/people/g/nebuchadnezzar.htm Entry for Nebuchadnezzar]." ''About.com''. Retrieved July 15, 2007.</ref><ref name=Lexicorient>[http://lexicorient.com/tore-eo.htm Kjeilen, Tore]. "[http://lexicorient.com/e.o/nebuchadnezzar_2.htm Entry for 'Nebuchadnezzar 2']." ''[http://lexicorient.com/e.o/index.htm Encyclopedia of the Orient],'' 2007. Retrieved July 15, 2007.</ref> He was the first of many heads-of-state of foreign superpowers to come to a possibly salvific knowledge of [[God]]. Ancient and modern historians have traditionally nicknamed him "The Great." The [[Septuagint]] spells his name as Ναβουχοδονοσορ (Nabouchodonosor). − == Early Life == − : ''Note: The chronology of [[James Ussher]] is assumed here. For details on how the alternative chronology of [[Edwin R. Thiele]] might affect the next series of dates, see the "Disputed chronology" section below.'' − Different sources variously report the year of Nebuchadnezzar's birth as 630 BC<ref name=keyway/> or 635 BC.<ref name=Lexicorient/> He was married, or at least betrothed, in 626 BC, to [[Amyitis]], daughter of [[Astyages]], who was the son of [[Cyaxeres I]], King of the [[Media|Medes]].<ref name=WebBible/><ref name=keyway/> This was part of a military treaty that his father [[Nabopolassar]] made with Astyages. This union produced at least one son, named Amal-Marduk or [[Evil-Merodach]], and a [[Daughter of Nebuchadnezzar|daughter]], whose name is unrecorded.+ − − In that year, the two allies attacked the [[Assyria|Assyrian]] capital of [[Nineveh]] and reduced it to a ruin, as the [[prophet|prophets]] [[Isaiah (Prophet)|Isaiah]] and [[Nahum]] had predicted. Afterward, [[Nabopolassar]] reigned in newly-independent [[Babylon]] for twenty-one years. − − == The Military Leader == − === General Staff === − In 610 BC, while still quite young, Nebuchadnezzar became a ranking staff officer, probably equivalent to a modern adjutant general.<ref name=Lexicorient/> He also actively supervised the restoration of the temple of [[Marduk]], king of the gods in the [[Babylonia]]n pantheon.<ref name=Nystrom>Nystrom, Nathaniel. "[http://www.allaboutarchaeology.org/babylon-and-the-ishtar-gate-faq.htm Babylon and the Ishtar Gate]." ''[http://www.allaboutarchaeology.org/ All About Archaeology],'' 2005. Retrieved July 15, 2007.</ref> − − === Viceroy === − In 607 BC, Nebuchadnezzar became viceroy of Babylonia. With that office came a major theater command.<ref name=Lexicorient/> The [[Babylonian Chronicle]] clearly states that this occurred in the nineteenth year of the reign of Nabopolassar, and backs this with an [[astronomical dating|astronomical reference]].<ref name=Nisbett/> − − Nabopolassar's first orders to his son was to head westward and recapture certain lands near [[Lebanon]], including the western provinces of [[Syria]], from the [[Egypt|Egyptians]]. This occurred after [[Pharaoh]] [[Necho II]] had met and vanquished an Assyrian army at [[Carchemish]] three years earlier, thus establishing Egyptian hegemony in the region.<ref name=WebBible/><ref name=ColumbiaH/><ref name=Gill/> (This was the campaign in which King [[Josiah]] of Judah unwisely tried to thwart Necho and was killed in action.) − − Nebuchadnezzar moved swiftly, met Necho and his forces at Carchemish, and routed them.<ref name=Nisbett><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=ColumbiaH/><ref name=Lexicorient/> Nebuchadnezzar marched on into Judea, and accepted the surrender of [[Jerusalem]] and the pledge of vassalage of [[Jehoiakim]].<ref name=Lexicorient/> This happened in the fourth year of Jehoiakim's reign.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Daniel|chap=1|verses=1-2}}, {{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=36|verses=6}}</ref> The prophet [[Daniel]] and three of his friends ([[Shadrach]], [[Meschach]], and [[Abednego]]) were taken hostage and sent back to [[Babylon]] at this time.<ref name=Nisbett/><ref name=keyway/> This is the beginning of the seventy-year exile, or "captivity," of Israel, also called the "desolation." − − === Lone Reign === − Nebuchadnezzar moved on and solidified his hold over the eastern Mediterranean lands, so that never again would Pharaoh Necho venture out of Egypt.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=24|verses=7}}</ref><ref name=WebBible/> In this year, on 8 Av ([[August 15]], 605 BC by the [[Julian calendar]]<ref name=Nisbett/>), Nabopolassar died.<ref name=keyway/><ref name=ColumbiaH/> Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon as swiftly as he could, to solidify his rule. With him he brought back a great many captives from Judah, Syria, Lebanon ([[Phoenicia]]), and Egypt. He left behind a token garrison in the region.<ref name=Nisbett/> − − On 1 Elul ([[September 7]], [[605 BC]]) he laid undisputed claim to his throne.<ref name=Nisbett/><ref name=Lexicorient/> He was anywhere from twenty-five to thirty years old at this time, and he might at this time have ceremonially consummated his marriage to Amyitis, who now would carry the title of "queen." Persistent legend credits him with building a magnificent garden, called the [[Hanging Gardens of Babylon]] to this day,<ref name=ColumbiaH/><ref name=Gill/><ref name=Lexicorient/><ref name=Nystrom/> but this legend has no archaeological warrant nor even any contemporary record.<ref name=Lexicorient/> The Hanging Gardens were supposed to be a present to Amyitis, who would at least have something to remind her of her girlhood in the hill country of the Medes. − − In any event, Nebuchadnezzar could confidently ignore his northern frontier, because Amyitis' grandfather [[Cyaxeres I]] would prove not only a faithful ally but also a powerful one. Ussher says that Cyaxeres had hundreds of Scythians slaughtered at a banquet, an act that sent the rest of them fleeing northward and, apparently, not attempting another invasion of the Middle East. Centuries would pass before their apparent descendants the [[Russia|Russians]] would attempt to hold any sway at all in the region. − − === Rebellion in Judea === − Jehoiakim, against the advice of the prophet [[Jeremiah (Prophet)|Jeremiah]], rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar in the second year of his, Nebuchadnezzar's, lone reign. Nebuchadnezzar dealt decisively with this upstart. His campaign did not proceed completely without problems; various sources say that he suffered a setback in his campaign against the Egyptians in 600 BC<ref name=Nisbett/><ref name=ColumbiaH/><ref name=Lexicorient/> (or perhaps two years earlier). In any case, in 599 BC, his army recaptured Jerusalem, and his theater commander took Jehoiakim<ref name=Nisbett/><ref name=Lexicorient/> off to prison and apparently executed him and denied him a proper burial.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Jeremiah|chap=22|verses=18-19}}, {{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=36|verses=30}}</ref> Three months later, Nebuchadnezzar had to come back personally to Jerusalem to deal with the rebellion of Jehoiakim's son [[Jehoiachin]]. Nebuchadnezzar took this man and all his family hostage to Babylon and placed his uncle [[Zedekiah]] on the throne in Judah.<ref name=Nisbett/><ref name=ColumbiaH/> − − === Destruction of Jerusalem === − : ''Main Article: [[Fall of Jerusalem]]'' − − Again, against the advice of the Prophet Jeremiah, Zedekiah himself rebelled after "reigning" for eleven years. Zedekiah had drawn a moral from the actions of Pharaoh [[Hophra]], or [[Apries]], who had attempted another invasion of [[Lebanon]] in 594 BC, in which he captured [[Sidon]]. Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem again at the head of an army and laid siege to Jerusalem in 590 BC. Aphris tried to raise the siege, but Nebuchadnezzar crushed his army and then returned to Jerusalem, which he eventually captured.<ref name=Nisbett/><ref name=ColumbiaH/> Nebuchadnezzar executed Zedekiah's offspring, blinded Zedekiah, tossed him into prison, and sent his chief of staff to burn the city and the [[Temple of Jerusalem|Temple]], exactly as Jeremiah predicted. [[James Ussher]] reckons this as happening in 588 BC, while [[Edwin R. Thiele]] believes it happened in 586 BC.<ref name=keyway/><ref name=ColumbiaH/><ref name=Gill/><ref name=Lexicorient/> − − === Further Campaigns === − Nebuchadnezzar then laid siege to [[Tyre]]<ref name=Nisbett/> beginning in 585 BC. Thirteen years later (572 BC) his troops took the city and sacked it. Nebuchadnezzar also, as he had done earlier at Jerusalem, removed the regnant king and placed a vassal king on the throne instead. A year later, in 570 BC (which was his thirty-seventh regnal year), Nebuchadnezzar completed the conquest of all of Egypt with a successful campaign against [[Pharaoh]] [[Amasis]].<ref name=Nisbett/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=Lexicorient/> − − == Final Years == − [[Image:IshtarGate.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Bas-relief from the Ishtar Gate]] − He then returned to Babylon and set about building it into the greatest capital city he could imagine.<ref name=ColumbiaH/> He might have built the famed Ishtar Gate at this time.<ref name=Gill/><ref name=Nystrom/> The image at the right shows lions, which Nebuchadnezzar had adopted as his symbol. − − But at about this time he dreamed of the tree destined to be cut down, and then suffered his seven-years of lycanthropy (see below) before finally being restored to his throne toward the end of his life.<ref name=NebProclaim>{{Bible ref|book=Daniel|chap=4}}</ref> − − He died in 562 BC (possibly in October<ref name=Lexicorient/>), after reigning forty-five years altogether, including his two-year viceroyship under his father.<ref name=Nisbett/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=ColumbiaH/><ref name=Lexicorient/> This date is universally accepted and attested, and remains the sole reliable benchmark for the synchrony of [[Biblical chronology|Biblical]] and secular [[chronology]]. His son [[Evil-Merodach]] reigned in his stead.<ref name=Nisbett/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=Lexicorient/> − − == Nebuchadnezzar's experiences with God and His servants == − [[Image:Blake.nebuchadnezzar.lycanthrope.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Nebuchadnezzar as lycanthrope, by William Blake]] − Nebuchadnezzar is highly regarded both in the Bible and by secular historians who "rate" the ancient superpower emperors. By all accounts he carved out and built up one of the largest, happiest, wealthiest, most advanced, and most powerful civilizations of his day. But the most remarkable thing about him is that he actually came to profess a belief in God. − − Prior to Nebuchadnezzar, God had never seen fit to remove the [[King David|Davidic]] dynasty completely from the throne of Judah--though the [[Northern Kingdom]] of "Israel" had gone through several different dynasties before [[Shalmaneser V]] of [[Assyria]] finally conquered [[Samaria]] and essentially replaced its population. But Nebuchadnezzar was the first king essentially to replace a Judaean dynasty as its governors--and ironically, Gentile though he was, was the first among them to "measure up" to God's desires. − − === The Dietary Incident === − Nebuchadnezzar had no idea what sort of hostages Daniel and his friends would prove to be. The first hint probably came when Daniel and his friends refused the rich foods that were the standard Royal diet. (This happened in the fourth year of Jehoiakim.) Daniel laid something of a wager with the chamberlains: that he and his three friends would do better on a diet following [[Leviticus|Levitican]] precepts than on the Royal diet. The nutritional value of the "Kosher diet" is well-known even today, and it must have served Daniel well enough, because when Daniel and his friends appeared at court, they proved more intelligent and better able than anyone else present. Nebuchadnezzar rewarded them with some ''very'' senior ministries in his kingdom.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Daniel|chap=1}}</ref> − − === The Statuary Dream === − : ''Main Article: [[Nebuchadnezzar's Statuary Dream]]'' − − Early in his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had a strange and troubling dream. [[James Ussher|Ussher]]<ref name=Ussher2>[[James Ussher|Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World|op. cit.]]'', pgh. 787</ref> dates this event in 604 BC, which is the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's lone reign; this is more likely because Nebuchadnezzar was definitely in Babylon at the time. This dream took place before Jehoiakim's rebellion (see above). − − In this dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw a great statue that had a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, loins and thighs of bronze, lower legs of iron, and feet of iron mixed with clay. As he was watching this, a great rock struck the statue, ground it into dust, and remained as a tall mountain. − − He then summoned his wise men--and at this point, some troublemakers in his administration suggested that he should execute any who presumed to interpret his dream, unless that person could repeat the dream back to the king without his telling him, and ''then'' interpret it! Daniel was up to the challenge. Daniel tells his side of the story, and Nebuchadnezzar himself backs the story up. The Second Chapter of Daniel tells the details of the statue with the head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belt and thighs of bronze, shins of iron, and feet of iron-mixed-with-clay--these are the original "feet of clay" that remain today a metaphor for a fatal failing in an ostensibly great hero or leader. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar with conviction that he was the antitype for the head of gold, and proceeded to give Nebuchadnezzar a summary of the future history of the world until what most evangelicals would describe as the Second Coming of Christ. <ref>{{Bible ref|book=Daniel|chap=2}}</ref> − − Nebuchadnezzar rewarded Daniel with a high council seat, and with similar high office for Daniel's three friends. − − === The Fiery Furnace Incident === − : ''Main Article: [[The Burning Fiery Furnace]]'' − − Nebuchadnezzar was not convinced so easily. A number of years later (Ussher gives no firm date for this) he set up a golden statue. This was either of the god [[Marduk]] (which we may infer from his earlier activity in rebuilding Marduk's temple), or it was an all-gold replica of the statue he had seen in his earlier dream. He then commanded that whosoever would not worship that image would be thrown into a brick kiln--literally, "burning fiery furnace." Daniel was away from the city at the time, but [[Shadrach]], [[Meschach]], and [[Abednego]] fell neatly into the trap. Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown in--and they walked out alive. Witnesses, furthermore, described a fourth man in the furnace with him--probably the [[Angel of the Lord]] Himself.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Daniel|chap=3}}</ref><ref name=WebBible/> − − === The Lycanthrope === − In 570 BC, Nebuchadnezzar, having completed his wars of conquest, returned to Babylon to concentrate on making it his showcase. At this time he dreamed of a tree destined to be cut down. Daniel tried to tell him that Nebuchadnezzar himself was that tree, but the king did not listen. Very soon thereafter, Nebuchadnezzar came to suffer the delusion that he was an animal, and to eat grass.<ref name=ColumbiaH/> (Some secular sources claim that this actually happened to [[Nabonidus]], his second son-in-law.) This extreme humbling was the final lesson Nebuchadnezzar needed to convince him of the LORD's Truth. He held Daniel in the highest esteem until the day of his death, and trusted him implicitly. Daniel includes, as the fourth chapter of his work, Nebuchadnezzar's testimony to his people about his experiences as a lycanthrope.<ref name=NebProclaim/><ref name=WebBible/> − − This incident has very little extra-Biblical corroboration, unless one can cite a fragmentary [[cuneiform]] inscription in which an anonymous court official, possibly the king's own [[physician]], testifies to symptoms in Nebuchadnezzar that seem remarkably like those of major depressive disorder.<ref name=Nisbett/> − − == Disputed chronology of Nebuchadnezzar's early career == − The dating of the events in Nebuchadnezzar's career up to and a year after the [[Fall of Jerusalem]] is in sharp dispute. This dispute arises from the same source as does the ongoing [[Biblical chronology dispute]] between the opposing followers of [[James Ussher]] and [[Edwin R. Thiele]]. The probable source of the confusion concerns exactly what one means by the phrase "first year of Nebuchadnezzar." By tradition, the "first year" is the year that a king was granted the office of ''viceroy''. But if, as seems likely, Thiele interpreted "first year of Nebuchadnezzar" as the year that Nebuchadnezzar reigned ''alone'', then he could be forgiven for surmising that a key intersection of Nebuchadnezzar's career with the history of the Southern Kingdom occurred in 605 BC, which was in fact the year that Nabopolassar died. − − == Nebuchadnezzar in modern culture == − === In the news === − Beginning in 1979, [[Saddam Hussein]], the long-time dictator of the [[Iraq|Republic of Iraq]], began to [[Propaganda|propagate]] the notion that he was a direct lineal descendant of Nebuchadnezzar.<ref name=Knish>[http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2005/03/about-me.html Knish, Sultan]. "[http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2007/01/nebuchadnezzarsaddam.html Nebuchadnezzar-Saddam]." Sultan Knish Blog, January 1, 2007. Retrieved July 15, 2007.</ref> He went so far as to call himself "Nebuchadrezzar III" and to have coins struck showing his likeness and that of the actual Babylonian king. These coins showed the two likenesses to be uncannily similar, though that might have resulted from slight alteration in the two likenesses to ''make'' them similar, at Hussein's orders. − − In 1982 Saddam Hussein began to "restore" the ancient capital of Babylon. He did this in part by rebuilding Nebuchadnezzar's palace directly over the site of the old one, using bricks glorifying Saddam himself as the "heir" to Nebuchadnezzar. [[Archaeology|Archaeologists]] were aghast, but also powerless to stop him. By one account, the bricks began to crack within ten years.<ref name=Craven>Craven, Jackie. "[http://architecture.about.com/cs/countriescultures/a/saddamspalace.htm Saddam's Babylonian Palace]." ''About.com'', retrieved July 15, 2007.</ref> − − In addition to rebuilding the palace, Saddam sought to restore the entire city as a tourist attraction. He even created a special unit of his army and outfitted it with the same ancient weapons and uniforms that Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers might have borne and worn. − − Saddam Hussein also built his grandest palace directly adjacent to his "restored" palace of Nebuchadnezzar.<ref name=Craven/> In the ensuing invasion of Iraq by the [[United States]], United States Marines used the sprawling palace as a barracks.<ref name=OConnell>O'Connell, Daniel, Gun. Sgt., USMC. "[http://architecture.about.com/library/bl-babylon.htm Ancient Architecture of Babylon: A Photo Tour]." ''About.com'', retrieved July 15, 2007.</ref> − − On July 10, 2007, Prof. Michael Jursa ([[University of Vienna]]), while working at the [[British Museum]], succeeded in translating a cuneiform tablet, dating to the tenth reign of Nebuchadnezzar II, that makes a direct reference to one Nabu-sharrussu-ukin.<ref>Alberge, Dalya. "[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2056362.ece Museum’s tablet lends new weight to Biblical truth]." ''The Times'' ([[London]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]]), July 11, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.</ref><ref>Reynolds, Nigel. "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/11/ntablet111.xml Tiny tablet provides proof for Old Testament]." ''The Daily Telegraph'' ([[London]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|United Kingdom]]), July 13, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.</ref><ref name=Arutz7>Fendel, Hillel. "[http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/123041 Babylonian King's Eunuch Really Existed]!" ''[http://www.israelnationalnews.com/ Arutz-Sheva Israel National News]'', July 11, 2007. Retrieved July 15, 2007.</ref> This Nabu-sharrussu-ukin made a payment of 1.5 minas<ref name=Arutz7/> of [[gold]] (an amount that would weigh 0.75 [[kilogram|kg]] today), to the temple of Esangila in [[Babylon]].<ref name=BCC>Barney, Kevin. "[http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2007/07/evidence-for-the-historical-existence-of-nebo-sarsekim/ Evidence for the Historical Existence of Nebo-Sarsekim]." ''By Common Consent'', July 11, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.</ref> Nabu-sharrussu-ukin is also none other than the man named by the [[prophet]] [[Jeremiah (prophet)|Jeremiah]] and variously identified as Nebo-Sarsekim<ref name=NIV>{{Bible ref|book=Jeremiah|chap=3|verses=3|version=NIV}}</ref> and Sarsechim,<ref name=KJV>{{Bible ref|book=Jeremiah|chap=3|verses=3|version=KJV}}</ref> one of three ranking generals who were present at the [[Fall of Jerusalem|siege of Jerusalem]] by Nebuchadnezzar.<ref>Mariottini, Claude. "[http://www.claudemariottini.com/blog/2007/07/book-of-jeremiah-and-new-archaeological.html The Book of Jeremiah and A New Archaeological Discovery]." ''Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament'', July 10, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.</ref> − − === In popular fiction, drama, and [[motion picture|cinema]] === − The most popular reference to Nebuchadnezzar today is in a [[motion picture]] titled ''The Matrix''. In it, a rebel force builds a hovercraft that they use as a pirate [[television]] station. They name their craft after Nebuchadnezzar, on the theory that Nebuchadnezzar had a "great awakening," which they hope to achieve.<ref name=Matrix>Authors unknown. "[http://www.angelfire.com/mt/matrix/neb.html Entry for a ship named ''Nebuchadnezzar'']." ''[http://www.angelfire.com/mt/matrix/mai.html The Matrix],'' November 21, 1999. Retrieved July 15, 2007. This is an unofficial fan site devoted to the [[motion picture]] of that title.</ref> − − Nebuchadnezzar also figures often in [[Christian]] [[fiction]], usually in reference to his "statuary dream," the place of Babylon in ancient prophecy, and the alleged place of Babylon in prophecies said to be yet-unfulfilled. − − == Related References == − {{reflist|2}} − − == See Also == − − [[Category:Biblical Persons]] − [[Category:Babylon]]
Replaced content with 'Imperial25 was here. MUHAHAHAHAHHA....'
Imperial25 was here.
MUHAHAHAHAHHA....