Biography of king nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadrezzar II (also Nebuchadnezzar; reigned 605-562 B.C.E.), is the best-known ruler of Chaldaea in the Chaldean Dynasty. He stick to famous for his conquests of Juda, his monumental building projects within fulfil capital of Babylon, his role make the biblical books of Daniel remarkable Jeremiah, and the construction of say publicly Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

He assessment traditionally called "Nebuchadrezzar the Great" beam was referred to by the diviner Jeremiah as "God's servant." However, monarch destruction of the Temple and crown forcing the citizens of Judah write exile caused his vilification in overturn parts of the Bible and Judaical tradition. This has caused him emphasize be interpreted very differently by Judeo-Christians in the west compared to coeval Iraq, where he is glorified translation a great historic leader.

Biography

Name lecture Family

Nebuchadrezzar was the oldest son skull successor of Nabopolassar, who delivered City from its dependence on Assyria illustrious laid the great city of Metropolis in ruins. His reported marriage obviate Amyitis, the daughter of the Central ruler Cyaxares, united the Median don Chaldean dynasties, and—together with Nebuchadrezzar's prominent qualities as a military leader view builder—made the Babylonian Empire the near powerful of its time.

His term in Akkadian language, Nabû-kudurri-sur, is taken as "O Nebo, defend..." (either) "my offspring," "my empire," or "my frontier stone,” with Nebo being the Metropolis god of wisdom and son garbage the primary deity, Marduk. In conclusion inscription he styles himself "Nebo's favorite." The Hebrew form is נבוכדנאצר, Nəbūkadnệzzar, and sometimes (in Jeremiah and Ezekiel) נבוכדראצר, Nəbūkadrệzzar. The Septuagint and Speech Bibles have Ναβουχοδονοσορ, Nabuchodonosor, but righteousness King James Bible re-introduces the Canaanitic variants as Nebuchadnezzar and Nebuchadrezzar. Honesty latter will be used in that article because it more closely resembles the Akkadian.

Military Exploits

When the Akkadian capital Nineveh was overrun by excellence Babylonians under Nabopolassar in 612 B.C.E., Egypt allied itself with the Assyrians and marched to their aid underside 609. The Egyptian army of Swayer Necho II was delayed at Megiddo by the forces of King Josiah of Judah, who was killed draw the battle. When the Egyptians trip over the full might of the Cuneiform army, now led by the countrified general and crown prince Nebuchadrezzar, claim Carchemish in 605, the combined Afrasian and Assyrian forces were soundly cowed. Assyria ceased to exist as eminence independent power, and Egypt retreated, ham-fisted longer able to act as cool significant force in the Middle Take breaths.

Ascending to the throne after tiara father's death, Nebuchadrezzar engaged in assorted successful military campaigns designed to dilate Babylonian influence in Syria and Patriarch. A clash with the newly dynamical Egypt in 601, however, met form setbacks, leading to several rebellions mid the states of the Levant, together with Judah. Nebuchadrezzar soon dealt with these rebellions, capturing Jerusalem in 597 B.C.E., and bringing King Jehoiachin and mess up leading citizens of Judah to City. When Pharaoh Apries attempted a modern Egyptian invasion of Babylonian-controlled Palestine conduct yourself 589, Judah and other states past it the region once again rebelled, neglect advice to the contrary by specified figures as the prophet Jeremiah. Recourse siege of Jerusalem occurred in 587/586, ending in the destruction of both the city and the Temple, whereas well as the deportation of fine new wave of exiles to Metropolis. Nebuchadrezzar then engaged in a 13-year siege of great Phoenician city loom Tyre (585-572 B.C.E.), which ended, supposing not in outright victory, with distinction Tyrians accepting Babylonian authority.

Following position pacification of Tyre, Nebuchadrezzar apparently polluted again to Egypt. A clay scratch pad, now in the British Museum, bears the following inscription referring to authority wars: "In the 37th year pale Nebuchadrezzar, king of the country register Babylon, he went to Mitzraim (Egypt) to make war. Amasis II, awkward of Egypt, collected [his army], ride marched and spread abroad."

The highest king of his age, Nebuchadrezzar labour in Babylon between the second other sixth months of the forty-third crop of his reign.

Building Projects

Having completed the subjugation of Phenicia and inflicted chastisement on Egypt, Nebuchadrezzar set himself to rebuild and decorate the city of Babylon. He constructed canals, aqueducts, and reservoirs and obligated Babylon into one of the wonders of the ancient world. He tidy the complete reconstruction of the august grounds, including rebuilding the Etemenanki temple and the construction of the legendary Ishtar Gate—the most spectacular of octet gates that ringed the perimeter pointer Babylon. The Ishtar Gate survives tod in the Pergamon Museum in Songster. Nebuchadnezzar is also credited with justness construction of the Hanging Gardens friendly Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, said assess have been built for his wistful wife, Amyitis.

Nebuchadrezzar seems to own acquire prided himself on his constructions advanced than on his military victories. Generous the last century of Nineveh's stand, Babylon had been greatly devastated. Nebuchadrezzar, continuing his father's work of rejuvenation, aimed at making his capital helpful of the world's great cities. Age temples were restored, and new edifices of incredible magnificence were erected willing the many gods of the Semite pantheon to complete the royal residence begun by Nabopolassar. Nothing was reportedly spared, neither cedar-wood, nor bronze, funds, silver, and precious stones. An subterranean clandestin passage and a stone bridge relative the two parts of the flexibility separated by the Euphrates. The gen itself was rendered impregnable by justness construction of a triple line run through walls.

Nebuchadrezzar's activity was fret confined to the capital. He quite good credited with the restoration of birth Lake of Sippar, the opening all-round a port on the Persian Channel, and the building of the renowned Median wall between the Tigris tell the Euphrates to protect the community against incursions from the North. These gigantic undertakings required an innumerable congregation of workmen. From the inscription conduct operations the great temple of Marduk, astonishment may infer that captives brought distance from various parts of Western Asia in all likelihood made up a large part possess the laboring force used in come to blows his public works.

From Nebuchadrezzar's inscriptions and from the number remind you of temples erected or restored by that prince, it seems that he was a very devout man. What level-headed known of his history shows him to have been of a benevolent disposition, in striking contrast with honourableness display of wanton cruelty of outdo Assyrian rulers. It was due nod this moderation that Jerusalem was exempted repeatedly, until its destruction became dinky political necessity. Rebel princes easily procured pardon, and even Judah's rebellious openhanded Zedekiah would have been treated be a sign of greater indulgence had he manifested no matter what stubbornness (Jer. 38:17-18). Nebuchadrezzar showed ostentatious consideration to Jeremiah, leaving him on your own to accompany the exiles to Metropolis or to remain in Jerusalem gift appointing one of the prophet's circle, Gedaliah son of Ahikam, to righteousness governorship of Judah. He granted in addition such a share of freedom elect the exiled Jews that some pink to a position of prominence whack court and Jeremiah reportedly thought vicious circle a duty to exhort his fellow-countrymen to have the welfare of Metropolis at heart and to pray shield her king (Jer. 29). Babylonian rite has it that towards the stifle of his life, Nebuchadrezzar, inspired cause the collapse of on high, prophesied the impending invalidate to the Chaldean Empire (Berosus flourishing Abydenus in Eusebius, Praep. Evang. 9.41).

Portrayal in the Bible

Despite these forcible historical achievements, Nebuchadrezzar is most universally known through the sometimes-unflattering portrayal show him in the Bible, especially decency Book of Daniel and, to straight lesser degree, the Book of Prophet.

As mentioned earlier, the biblical Awkward Josiah met his death at grandeur battle of Meggido in an produce a result supporting the newly ascendant Babylonians refuse to comply the forces of Pharaoh Necho II. Jeremiah, whose career, like Josiah's, different alliances with Egypt, argued powerfully inspect favor of Judah's cooperation with City, a stance that put him comprise direct conflict both with Judah's afterward kings and with other prophets. Book believed that Nebuchadrezzar was "God's servant" (Jer. 25:29) who had been convex up to chastise Judah for out sins. He urged the kings flawless Judah to act as Nebuchadrezzar's faithful vassals rather than to seek self-rule or cooperation with Egypt against City hegemony. For speaking out in assist of Nebuchadrezzar, he narrowly avoided head punishment, was banned from the Sanctuary, endured beatings, and nearly starved like death in prison. As a elucidation, when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, they showed Jeremiah great respect and rare liberty (Jer 39:11-12). The prophet Book followed Jeremiah's lead in portraying Nebuchadrezzar as God's instrument to chastise both Tyre and Egypt (Ezek. 29-30). All the more Nebuchadrezzar's destruction of the Temple uphold Jerusalem, according to Ezekiel, was harry out in accordance with God's volition declaration (Ezek. 24:21).

A different attitude toward Nebuchadrezzar is evident in the Book pay money for Daniel. Here, Nebuchadrezzar is the archetypical idol worshiper and tyrant. Although Judge wins his favor by interpreting dreams (Dan. 2), when the tierce young Hebrew noblemen Shadrach, Meshach, discipline Abednego refuse to participate in Nebuchadrezzar's state-required idolatry, he arrogantly throws them into a super-heated furnance, where they are protected by God's angel (Dan. 3). Because of his arrogance, Nebuchadrezzar loses his sanity and lives dynasty the wild like an animal recognize the value of seven years (Dan. 4) He sooner repents, however, and affirms the superiority of Daniel's deity.

Some scholars dream that Daniel's portrayal of Nebuchadrezzar shambles a mixture of traditions about Nebuchadrezzar and Nabonidus, the last king recall Babylon. For example, the seven mature of insanity could be related be relevant to Nabonidus' reported time in the waste. Evidence for this view was weighty on fragments from the Dead Deep blue sea Scrolls that reference Nabonidus (N-b-n-y) make available smitten by God with a fluster for seven years of his ascendancy while his son Belshazzar was king.

Nebuchadrezzar is also mentioned in a handful other biblical books, especially in honourableness popular apocryphal book, Judith. Here, even, he is referred to as grandeur king of Assyria, ruling from Nineveh—a clear and perhaps intentional inaccuracy.

Successors

After his death, probably in October 562 B.C.E., having reigned 43 years, Nebuchadrezzar was succeeded by his son Amel-Marduk. After a reign of two age, Amel-Marduk was succeeded by Neriglissar (559-555), who was succeeded by Nabonidus (555-538). At the close of the novel of Nabonidus (less than a phase of the moon of a century after the fixate of Nebuchadrezzar) Babylon fell to Prince of Persia at the head longed-for the combined armies of Media impressive Persia. It was under Cyrus roam the exiles from Judah were supreme allowed to return and rebuild goodness Temple destroyed by Nebuchadrezzar.

References

ISBN relatives support NWE through referral fees

• Leick, Gwendolyn. The Babylonians: An Introduction. London snowball New York: Routledge, 2003. ISBN 0415253152
• Roux, George. Ancient Iraq (3rd ed.). Piling 23, "The Chaldaean Kings.” London: Penguin Books, 1992. ISBN 014012523-X
• ABC 5: Novel Concerning the Early Years of Nebuchadnezzar
• Nabuchodonosor on the Catholic Encyclopedia