Nebuchadnezzar
“Nebo, protect the servant or Nebo is the protector against misfortune”
Summary
Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest king of the Babylonian empire who conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the temple, and carried the Jews into captivity, while also featuring prominently in the book of Daniel.
☩Rise to Power
Nebuchadnezzar was the son and successor of Nabopolassar, founder of the Babylonian empire. His name in Babylonian means 'Nebo, protect the servant' or 'Nebo is the protector against misfortune.' He first appears leading the Babylonian army against Pharaoh Necho at Carchemish in 605 BC, winning a decisive victory that gave Babylon control of Syria and Palestine. He succeeded his father as king in 604 BC and reigned for forty-three years, building Babylon into the magnificent city of his famous boast.
☩Conquest of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem three times. In the third year of Jehoiakim (605 BC), he first took captives including Daniel and the temple vessels. In 598 BC, after Jehoiakim's rebellion, he returned, and Jehoiachin surrendered after a three-month reign, being carried to Babylon with ten thousand captives. Finally, after Zedekiah's treaty with Egypt provoked Nebuchadnezzar's wrath, he besieged Jerusalem for eighteen months, breached its walls in 586 BC, destroyed the temple, and burned the city.
☩In the Book of Daniel
The book of Daniel records Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great image, interpreted by Daniel as representing successive world empires with Babylon as the head of gold. He erected a golden image on the plain of Dura and commanded all to worship it, leading to the deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. Most remarkable was his seven years of madness, during which he lived as a beast until he acknowledged that 'the Most High rules in the kingdom of men.'
☩Building Projects
Nebuchadnezzar made Babylon one of the wonders of the ancient world. His building inscriptions mention temples to the gods, particularly Marduk and Nebo, massive fortifications, and his new palace completed in fifteen days. The famous hanging gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, were reportedly built for his Median wife. Nine-tenths of the bricks found at Babylon bear his stamp, confirming Daniel's record of his boast: 'Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?'
Related Verses72 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Nebuchadnezzar," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VI (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Nebuchadnezzar; Nebuchadrezzar," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).