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=== The Coming of Babylonia ===

=== The Coming of Babylonia ===

In 607 BC, a new, brilliant general named [[Nebuchadnezzar II|Nebuchadnezzar]] marched toward the [[Euphrates]] River at the head of an army. Jeremiah marked this as "in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebucadrezzar."<ref name=synchrony1>{{Bible ref|book=Jeremiah|chap=25|verses=1|version=NASB}}</ref> This has occasioned often vociferous scholarly debate as to the proper dating of the last of the kings of the [[Southern Kingdom]]--about which, see below. [[James Ussher|Ussher]] reconciled the apparent contradictions by presuming that Nebuchadnezzar had at that time become [[viceroy]] of [[Babylonia]]. Wood specifically states that [[Nabopolassar]], still on the throne in [[Babylon]], was ailing at the time.

In 607 BC, a new, brilliant general named [[Nebuchadnezzar II|Nebuchadnezzar]] marched toward the [[Euphrates]] River at the head of an army. Jeremiah marked this as "in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebucadrezzar."<ref name=synchrony1>{{Bible ref|book=Jeremiah|chap=25|verses=1|version=NASB}}</ref> This has occasioned often vociferous scholarly debate as to the proper dating of the last of the kings of the [[Southern Kingdom]]--about which, see below. [[James Ussher|Ussher]] reconciled the apparent contradictions by presuming that Nebuchadnezzar had at that time become [[viceroy]] of [[Babylonia]]. Wood specifically states that [[Nabopolassar]], still on the throne in [[Babylon]], was ailing at the time.<ref name=Wood2>Wood, ''op. cit.'', p. 317</ref>

Nebuchadnezzar's mission was simple: reassert Babylonian dominance against a troublesome Egypt and a rebellious governor of [[Phoenicia]]. Nebuchadnezzar first met [[Necho II]] in battle in a rematch at [[Carchemish]].<ref name=Britannica1/><ref name=Britannica2/> Nebuchadnezzar cut off Necho's forces and routed them.<ref>Ussher, ''op. cit.'', pghh. 769-770</ref>

Nebuchadnezzar's mission was simple: reassert Babylonian dominance against a troublesome Egypt and a rebellious governor of [[Phoenicia]]. Nebuchadnezzar first met [[Necho II]] in battle in a rematch at [[Carchemish]].<ref name=Britannica1/><ref name=Britannica2/> Nebuchadnezzar cut off Necho's forces and routed them.<ref>Ussher, ''op. cit.'', pghh. 769-770</ref>