Illustration created for this project.
Nebuchadnezzar
The king of Babylon who destroyed Jerusalem and carried Judah into exile, and was humbled before God.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2
Archaeology — physical evidence · 1
Ancient writers — non-biblical testimony · 1
Life, role & deeds
BibleHe besieged Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and carried Judah into exile in Babylon.
2 Kings 25:8–11
Unknown artistUnknown artist — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
ArchaeologyThe Babylonian Chronicle independently records Nebuchadnezzar's capture of Jerusalem in 597 BC — the very event of 2 Kings 24; his name is stamped on countless bricks from Babylon.
Babylonian Chronicle ABC 5 ('Chronicle concerning the early years of Nebuchadnezzar II', BM 21946, British Museum), recording the capture of Jerusalem on 2 Adar (16 March) 597 BC; ed. D. J. Wiseman, 'Chronicles of Chaldaean Kings (626–556 B.C.) in the British Museum' (British Museum, 1956).
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Babylon
Scan by NYPL — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ancient writersThe Babylonian priest Berossus, quoted by Josephus, credits Nebuchadnezzar with rebuilding Babylon and raising its famous terraced gardens.
Berossus, Babyloniaca (Book 3), quoted in Josephus, Against Apion 1.19 §139–141 (rebuilding of Babylon and the terraced gardens); cf. Josephus, Antiquities 10.11.1
Death & legacy
BibleDaniel records him humbled to live like a beast until he acknowledged God.
Daniel 4:33
Where in scripture
2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJeremiahEzekielDanielIn his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.
2 Kings 24:1
At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
2 Kings 24:10
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it,
2 Kings 24:11
In the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it around it.
2 Kings 25:1 — Besieges Jerusalem
Jehozadak went into captivity, when Yahweh carried Judah and Jerusalem away by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
1 Chronicles 6:15
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him in fetters to carry him to Babylon.
2 Chronicles 36:6
Also Cyrus the king brought out the vessels of Yahweh’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods;
Ezra 1:7
Now these are the children of the province, who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city;
Ezra 2:1
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
2 Kings 24:12 Kings 24:102 Kings 24:112 Kings 25:11 Chronicles 6:152 Chronicles 36:6Ezra 1:7Ezra 2:1Ezra 5:12Ezra 5:14Ezra 6:5Nehemiah 7:6Esther 2:6Jeremiah 21:2Jeremiah 21:7Jeremiah 22:25Jeremiah 24:1Jeremiah 25:1Jeremiah 25:9Jeremiah 27:6Jeremiah 28:3Jeremiah 29:1Jeremiah 29:3Jeremiah 29:21
…and 27 more mentions
In their own words — 14 recorded sayings
“Take him and keep an eye on him and see that no evil comes to him; but do with him whatever he says to you.” — Jeremiah 39:12
“And the king said to them, I have had a dream, and my spirit is troubled by the desire to have the dream made clear to me.” — Daniel 2:3
“The king made answer and said to the Chaldaeans, This is my decision: if you do not make clear to me the dream and the sense of it, you will be cut in bits and your houses made waste. But if you make clear the dream and the sense of it, you will have from me offerings and rewards and great honour: so make clear to me the dream and the sense of it.” — Daniel 2:5-6
“The king made answer and said, I am certain that you are attempting to get more time, because you see that my decision is fixed; That if you do not make my dream clear to me there is only one fate for you: for you have made ready false and evil words to say before me till the times are changed: so give me an account of the dream, and I will be certain that you are able to make the sense of it clear.” — Daniel 2:8-9
“The king made answer and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make clear to me the dream which I saw and its sense?” — Daniel 2:26
“And the king made answer to Daniel and said, Truly, your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings, and an unveiler of secrets, for you have been able to make this secret clear.” — Daniel 2:47
“Nebuchadnezzar made answer and said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that you will not be servants of my god or give worship to the image of gold which I have put up? Now if you are ready, on hearing the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all sorts of instruments, to go down on your faces in worship before the image which I have made, it is well: but if you will not give worship, that same hour you will be put into a burning and flaming fire; and what god is there who will be able to take you out of my hands?” — Daniel 3:14-15
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar, full of fear and wonder, got up quickly, and said to his wise men, Did we not put three men in cords into the fire? and they made answer and said to the king, True, O King. He made answer and said, Look! I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not damaged; and the form of the fourth is like a son of the gods. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near the door of the burning and flaming fire: he made answer and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, you servants of the Most High God, come out and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came…” — Daniel 3:24-26
…and 6 more recorded sayings.
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Events
Places in their life
Photo: David Stanley — CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
In art
