Topical Encyclopedia Introduction:Nebuchadnezzar II, also known as Nebuchadrezzar, was one of the most prominent kings of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, reigning from approximately 605 to 562 BC. He is a significant figure in the Bible, particularly in the books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. His reign is marked by military conquests, architectural achievements, and interactions with the Kingdom of Judah. Historical Background: Nebuchadnezzar was the son of Nabopolassar, the founder of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. He ascended to the throne after his father's death and quickly established himself as a powerful ruler. His military campaigns expanded Babylonian influence across the Near East, including the conquest of Jerusalem. Biblical Accounts: 1. Conquest of Jerusalem: Nebuchadnezzar is most famously known for his conquest of Jerusalem. In 2 Kings 24:10-14 , it is recorded: "At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched up to Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. And King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it. Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his officials, and his eunuchs surrendered to the king of Babylon. So in the eighth year of Jehoiachin’s reign, the king of Babylon took him captive." 2. Destruction of the Temple: Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroyed Solomon's Temple in 586 BC, a pivotal event in Jewish history. 2 Kings 25:9 states, "He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building." 3. The Exile: The Babylonian Exile, initiated by Nebuchadnezzar, was a period of profound significance for the Jewish people. Many were taken captive to Babylon, as described in 2 Chronicles 36:20 : "He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power." 4. Dreams and Daniel: Nebuchadnezzar's dreams and their interpretations by the prophet Daniel are central narratives in the Book of Daniel. In Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a great statue, which Daniel interprets as a prophecy of successive kingdoms. Daniel 2:37-38 records Daniel's words: "You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory. Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold." 5. The Fiery Furnace: Nebuchadnezzar's decree to worship a golden image and the subsequent trial of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace is another key event. Daniel 3:28 highlights Nebuchadnezzar's acknowledgment of God's power: "Nebuchadnezzar declared, 'Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him.'" 6. Madness and Restoration: Nebuchadnezzar's pride led to a period of madness, as foretold in a dream interpreted by Daniel. Daniel 4:33-34 describes his restoration: "At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled, and he was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I blessed the Most High and praised and glorified Him who lives forever." Legacy: Nebuchadnezzar's legacy is multifaceted. He is remembered as a formidable ruler who expanded Babylon's empire and left a lasting impact on Jewish history through the Babylonian Exile. His interactions with the God of Israel, as recorded in the Book of Daniel, highlight themes of divine sovereignty and human humility. Smith's Bible Dictionary Nebuchadnezzar or Nebuchadrezzar(may Nebo protect the crown), was the greatest and most powerful of the Babylonian kings. His name is explained to mean "Nebo is the protector against misfortune." He was the son and successor of Nabopolassar, the founder of the Babylonian empire. In the lifetime of his father Nebuchadnezzar led an army against Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt, defeated him at Carchemish, B.C. 605, in a great battle (Jeremiah 46:2-12) recovered Coele-Syria, Phoenicia and Palestine, took Jerusalem, (Daniel 1:1,2) pressed forward to Egypt, and was engaged in that country or upon its borders when intelligence arrived which recalled him hastily to Babylon. Nabopolassar, after reigning twenty-one years, had died and the throne was vacant. In alarm about the succession Nebuchadnezzar returned to the capital, accompanied only by his light troops; and crossing the desert, probably by way of Tadmor or Palmyra, reached Babylon before any disturbance had arisen and entered peaceably on his kingdom, B.C. 604. Within three years of Nebuchadnezzar's first expedition into Syria and Palestine, disaffection again showed itself in those countries. Jehoiakim, who, although threatened at first with captivity, (2 Chronicles 36:6) had been finally maintained on the throne as a Babylonian vassal, after three years of service "turned and rebelled" against his suzerain, probably trusting, to be supported by Egypt. (2 Kings 24:1) Not long afterward Phoenicia seems to have broken into revolt, and the Chaldean monarch once more took the field in person, and marched first of all against Tyre. Having invested that city and left a portion of his army there to continue the siege, he proceeded against Jerusalem, which submitted without a struggle. According to Josephus, who is here our chief authority, Nebuchadnezzar punished Jehoiakim with death, comp. (Jeremiah 23:18,19) and Jere 36:30 But placed his son Jehoiachin upon the throne. Jehoiachin reigned only three months; for, on his showing symptoms of disaffection, Nebuchadnezzar came up against Jerusalem for the third time, deposed the son's prince whom he carried to Babylon, together with a large portion of the population of the city and the chief of the temple treasures), and made his uncle, Zedekiah, king in his room. Tyre still held out; and it was not till the thirteenth year from the time of its first investment that the city of merchants fell, B.C. 585. Ere this happened, Jerusalem had been totally destroyed. Nebuchadnezzar had commenced the final siege of Jerusalem in the ninth year of Zedekiah --his own seventeenth year (B.C. 588)--and took it two years later, B.C. 586. Zedekiah escaped from the city, but was captured near Jericho, (Jeremiah 39:5) and brought to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah in the territory of Hamath, where his eyes were put out by the king's order while his sons and his chief nobles were slain. Nebuchadnezzar then returned to Babylon with Zedekiah, whom he imprisoned for the remainder of his life. The military successes of Nebuchadnezzar cannot be traced minutely beyond this point. It may be gathered from the prophetical Scriptures and from Josephus that the conquest of Jerusalem was rapidly followed by the fall of Tyre and the complete submission of Phoenicia, Ezek 26-28 after which the Babylonians carried their arms into Egypt, and inflicted severe injuries on that fertile country. (Jeremiah 46:13-26; Ezekiel 23:2-20) We are told that the first care of Nebuchadnezzar, on obtaining quiet possession of his kingdom after the first Syrian expedition, was to rebuild the temple of Bel (Bel-Merodach) at Babylon out of the spoils of the Syrian war. The next proceeded to strengthen and beautify the city, which he renovated throughout and surrounded with several lines of fortifications, himself adding one entirely new quarter. Having finished the walls and adorned the gates magnificently, he constructed a new palace. In the grounds of this palace he formed the celebrated "hanging garden," which the Greeks placed among the seven wonders of the world. But he did not confine his efforts to the ornamentation and improvement of his capital. Throughout the empire at Borsippa, Sippara, Cutha, Chilmad, Duraba, Teredon, and a multitude of other places, he built or rebuilt cities, repaired temples, constructed quays, reservoirs, canals and aqueducts, on a scale of grandeur and magnificence surpassing everything of the kind recorded in history unless it be the constructions of one or two of the greatest Egyptian monarchs. The wealth greatness and general prosperity of Nebuchadnezzar are strikingly placed before us in the book of Daniel. Toward the close of his reign the glory of Nebuchadnezzar suffered a temporary eclipse. As a punishment for his pride and vanity, that strange form of madness was sent upon him which the Greeks called Lycanthropy, wherein the sufferer imagines himself a beast, and, quitting the haunts of men, insists on leading the life of a beast. (Daniel 4:33) (This strange malady is thought by some to receive illustration from an inscription; and historians place at this period the reign of a queen to whom are ascribed the works which by others are declared to be Nebuchadnezzar's. Probably his favorite wife was practically at the head of affairs during the malady of her husband. Other historians, Eusebius and Berosus also confirm the account. See Rawlinson's "Historical Illustrations." --ED.) After an interval of four or perhaps seven years, (Daniel 4:16) Nebuchadnezzar's malady left him. We are told that "his reason returned, and for the glory of his kingdom his honor and brightness returned;" and he "was established in his kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to him." (Daniel 4:36) He died in the year B.C. 561, at an advanced age (eighty-three or eighty-four), having reigned forty-three years. A son, Evilmerodach, succeeded him. Strong's Hebrew 5019. Nebukadnetstsar -- "Nebo, protect the boundary," a Bab. king... Word Origin of foreign origin Definition "Nebo, protect the boundary," a Bab. king NASB Word Usage Nebuchadnezzar (60). Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar. ... /hebrew/5019.htm - 6k Library Footnotes The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire Resources Who was Nebuchadnezzar? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did Nebuchadnezzar change Daniel's name to Belteshazzar? | GotQuestions.org What was the Babylonian captivity/exile? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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