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Home , Nebuchadnezzar II

Babylonian and Persian

Left: A Persian horse and rider KINGS from the late Persian period (the time of BY CALDWELL Nehemiah). ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ ROGERS/ JOSEPH A. CALLAWAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM/ THE INGDOMS RISE AND FALL. With the SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGI- CAL SEMINARY, LOUISVILLE, KY rise of each new kingdom, changes take (13/7/18) place that not only affect the kingdom but Right: The tomb K of , also the surrounding territories. These changes can who died in 424 be positive or negative. The rise of the Neo- B.C. of natural Babylonian Empire (625-539 B.C.) and the Persian causes. His wife perportedly died Empire (539-331 B.C.) had a tremendous impact on the same day. the in both positive and negative ways. Nehemiah had been the cup- bearer to Judah and the Neo-Babylonian Empire Artaxerxes. Experiencing only a few brief periods of rebellion by a small number of kings in , the Babylonians dominated Jehoiachin surrendered Jerusalem and was taken cap- Judah from 605 B.C. and until the fall of Jerusalem around tive to along with many chief officials and treasures 587 B.C. The Babylonians took many Judeans captive to from the temple (vv. 12-15). ascended Judah’s Babylon, Judeans who would never return to their homes. throne and soon rebelled against the Babylonians. His rebel- One primary strength of a successful empire is its lead- would lead to the destruction of Jerusalem and the tem- ership. Of all the Babylonian kings mentioned in the Old ple. The Babylonians executed Zedekiah’s sons before his Testament, Nebuchadnezzar II is the most prominent eyes and then out his eyes as well. Once the Babylonians and the most important. The Books of 2 Kings, 2 overtook and destroyed the city, they took Zedekiah and the Chronicles, , , and Daniel give accounts of remaining people of Jerusalem to Babylon as captives (25:7). his conquering activities. Nebuchadnezzar’s reign was marked by military victo- The Judean territory experienced Babylon’s influence in ries and by elaborate building projects. Throughout Babylon 609 B.C. The Egyptians were making their way north Nebuchadnezzar II built temples and shrines to pagan gods. through Judah. They were heading to to join He constructed a great new palace, designed the Hanging forces with and to engage the Babylonians in battle. Gardens of Babylon for his wife, and rebuilt an old palace of King Josiah of Judah attempted to stop the Egyptian army. his father, . Nebuchadnezzar II also built roads Josiah was killed by Pharaoh Neco at Megiddo (2 Kings paved with bricks, fortified walls, and dug canals that could be 23:29). Jehoahaz, Josiah’s son, was placed on the throne for flooded purposefully to protect the city from attack. His a brief period. The Babylonians eventually defeated both the building projects were so vast that the even Assyrians and the Egyptians. Jehoahaz’s brother, records his boastings about them (4:30). (Eliakim), was placed on the throne by the Egyptians (v. 34). Nebuchadnezzar II was succeeded by his son Evil-

ing 2004 As time passed, Jehoiakim became a vassal to the merodach. He was responsible for releasing Jehoiachin from r Babylonians until his rebellion (24:1). Jehoiakim’s rebellion Sp resulted in the Babylonians, under the leadership of their (23/1/54) LESSON REFERENCE BI new king, Nebuchadnezzar II, marching west to regain con- trol of the territory. Jehoiakim died before the Babylonians 74 1 FBSC: Daniel 3:1-30 arrived and was succeeded by his son, Jehoiachin. ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO

76 BI Spring 2004 l ftekndm i eg akdteedo the Ne His marked reign theend of thekingdom. ple of and thepeo- leaders, themilitary alienated thepriesthood, he focus, hisreligious As aresult , of and Tema (orTeima). worship atHaran, at the centers of Sin, the moongod, hegave specialdevotion to , ing theBabylonian god, honor- Instead of pagangodsfromeral surrounding cities. M thekingdomwasweak wasrampant. anddivision leader, insomeways Though hewasanable placed onthethrone. Fo ple. H decreed thattheJews could return to theJudean territory. Cyrus his rule, In thefirstyear of the captives inBabylon. 9:1-20). the 70weeks (Dan. the prophecy of 6:1-28)andalsoreceived was placed inthe lion’s (Dan. under Cyrus. may Darius simplyhave beenalesser leader Daniel, Book of Since hisnamedoesn’t appear anywhere butinthe Darius. Scholars differ ontheexact role of Babylon to Darius. Cyrus initiallydelegatedof therule empire placed onhim, 13:17-22). (Isa. Gomorrah ov Babylon would be had prophesied of thatthegreat city Isaiah 200years earlier defeating thepeoplein539B.C. hehadlittledifficulty , Persia, of entered theterritory of ruler When Cyrus theGreat, positive manner. Ju W J Je himtopermitting eatattheking’s table(2Kings 25:27-30; and settinghimabove theotherkings, clothinghim, prison, udah andthePersian Empire r. is decree also included the opportunity to rebuild thetem-is decree alsoincludedtheopportunity enpol,thePersian Empire would impactthemina dean people, kn atr os, brought to Babylon sev- aking matters worse, hile theBabylonian Empire hadanegative impactonthe erthrown thesamewayerthrown Godoverthrew Sodomand lwn w hr n ntberin,Nabonidus was andunstablereigns, twollowing short o-Babylonian Empire. 4 52:31-34). Babylon didn’t exist longafter conquering Judah. Cyrus de Cyrus thetremendous responsibilities thenew Because of Cy ru rcosyrtre ayo thetemple items returned manys graciously of 3 monstrated unprecedentedmonstrated toleration towards W ieDru a vrtekndm Daniel wasoverhile Darius thekingdom, 2 Persepolis. the reliefs at one appearin animals asthis with stylized scabbard chape Below: Bronze about 550B.C. throne ofPersia assumed the to Cyrus,who script, ascribed in OldPersian with inscription Right: Column 522-486 B.C. king ofPersia Darius, whowas ing homageto of alllandsbring- showing people Iran, modern Persepolis, in Above: Panelsat freconstruction. of alargegroup didreturn thetask to begin However, behind. re ac nteacetNa at It and mentionedtheprinces nance intheancientNear East. hisdomi- boasted of Thisinscription accomplishments. y For almosttwo hundred throughout theancient Near East. thePersian Empire maintainedpeace generally 539 B.C., as thePersians any challenge. reigned without significant ears, mained in Babylon with theexiles whochosemained inBabylon to with stay An In

h er olwn h erw’return from exile in the years theHebrews’ following

inscription onaclayinscription documentsCyrus’s barrel

ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO (23/1/49) ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO (23/1/1) w for them to build homes and to carry on for themto buildhomesandto carry t hi ie Jr 941) Daniel 29:4-10). ith theirlives (Jer. they followedthey Jeremiah’s encouragement o eiet eunt aetn.Perhaps not desire to return to . been destroyed 1:7-11). (Ezra that were taken whenJerusalem had so successful did inBabylon thatthey Ma ny

ftheHebrews had become of

ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ DAVID ROGERS/ METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART/ NYC. (6/8/13) Nh :–:1 5:14). 1:1–2:11; (Neh. sent to Judah andappointed asgovernor over theregion Ar 20thyear of In the in Jerusalem 7:11-26). (Ezra God obtainedthe neededtreasureEzra forthetemple of re hefaced nopolitical Though Longimanus. was called Ar Xerxes wasmurdered in465andwassucceeded by Babylon. andabolishedthekingdomof suppressed arevolt inEgypt Xerxes stating thatJerusalem wasbeingrebuilt 4:6). (Ezra He re . theBookof was likely theKing of htCrswskn ftheworld. that Cyrus waskingof It alsodeclared himby kissinghisfeet. of their adoration brought greattreasuresThey to honorhimandshowed great joy andwelcominghim with hisnewreign over them. theconquered before down nationsbowing governors of B. In 516-515 thetemple. people to complete therebuilding of Hy Darius During faced oppositionto theirrebuilding efforts. TheIsraelites Judah wasnoexception. quered territories. rebellion anddisharmony intherecently con- pockets of suicide in522. re Onhis Cambyses wasunsuccessful insubduingEthiopia. c His continued suc- in525. whoconquered Egypt Cambyses, s rv i epit h tipa ertr.Yet ess drove himdeepinto theEthiopian territory. v ce unjunyt esa Cambyses probably committed to Persia, journey turn .thetemple wascompleted. C. aexsIsrin eeih h igscperr was theking’s cupbearer, Nehemiah, taxerxes I’s reign, taxerxes I(465-424B.C.). tsi’ eg,Hga n ehra norgdthe encouraged andZechariah staspis’s reign, l,Atxre a ekrlr Under hisreign Artaxerxes Iwasaweak ruler. olt, iv Ar Ar aiswssceddb exs(8-6 ...Xerxes wassucceededDarius by Xerxes (486-464B.C.). Cy Wh dalte rmuietfe naiat fPalestine ed aletter from unidentifiedinhabitantsof taxerxes handand Ihadanunusually longright aexsIde n44 He wasfollowed by hisson, taxerxes Idiedin424. ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO r nDru ytsi ucee abss hefaced Hystaspisen Darius succeeded Cambyses, sde n50andwas followed by hisson, us diedin530 / DAVIDROGERS(7/6/19) 5 the reign of Built during god ofBabylon. Marduk, themain animal of and istheonly Muschchusch is called Street. Dragon Prosession along the gate andpanels built intothe enameled tiles magnificent Right: Detailof marble. Made ofblack achche-irba. tocrat Bel- Babylonian aris- grants withthe ing toland Babylon, pertain- Iddin II,kingof of Marduk-Apal- Left: Documents Nebuchadnezzar II.

ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ DAVID ROGERS (7/6/10) University Press, 1959),204,206-208. Anthology ofTexts andPictures, Company, 1980),295-297. Wi Missions andBiblical Studies, theCooper School of dean of church relations and Daniel Caldwell president isvice of 5. Foracompletereview ofthisinscription,pleasesee 4. Forareview oftheedict,see2Chronicles 36:22-23andEzra1:1-4. 3. Ibid.,299-300,formore informationonthe actualrole ofDarius. 2. Ibid.,300. 1. Edward J.Young, la ae olg,Htisug Mississippi. Hattiesburg, lliam Carey College, mu Xe the samefate—each rose andultimately fell. Yet onthesuccessive bothempiresits mark met generations. Each kingdomwould attempt to leave power. the empires’ andfeared Individuals andnationsmarveled nating forces. Both theNeo-Babylonian andPersian Empires were domi- Fa domination. arose astheGreeks of beganalongperiod Anewempire thePersian Empire fell. less thanthree years, In Thissoundedthedeathknell. in334. into theterritory Alexander theGreat entered In itsweakened state, power. r to dominate waswaninginitsability thesur- and powerful, once splendid ThePersian Empire, dered inbattle. orkilled last three to thePersian kings rule Empire were eithermur- The wasmurdered ruler but cruel This spirited in338B.C. damage lingered. re hisyounger brother becameruler, When Artaxerxes II . Pe hmt ned u twl tefedr oee”(NIV). endure forever” itself butitwill them to anend, to itbeleft norwill never bedestroyed, up akingdomthatwill tr w kingdomscome Earthly andeventually fall. nate foratime, udn ain.Thisopenedthedoorforanewworld ounding nations. e,“ntetm ftoekns h o fheaven set will theGodof thosekings, “In thetimeof uer, t ogaate hsmkstewrso Daniel2:44ring makes This thewords of ith noguarantee. eldaanthm Therebellion butthe wasputdown belled againsthim. another people. It will crush allthosekingdomsandbring crush It will anotherpeople. sa mieetrdit eido continuous rebel- rsian Empire entered of into aperiod llen Empires rx rd sI.Less thantwo monthsinto Xerxes hisrule IIwas es II. H Ar rdb i afbohr Following hisdeaththe ered by hishalf-brother. soyhswtesdmn ra mie ie domi- many greatempires haswitnessed rise, istory taxerxes IIwassucceeded by hisson Artaxerxes III. The Prophecy ofDaniel James B.Pritchard, ed.,vol.1(Princeton:Princeton (Grand Rapids:WilliamB.Eerdmans Publishing The AncientNearEast:An 77 i BI Spring 2004