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Nabû-kudurri-usur
Nabû-kudurri-usur
King of Babylon; King of Sumer and Akkad; King of the Universe;
	An engraving with a royal inscription of Nebuchadnezzar II. Anton Nyström, 1901.
King of the Neo-Babylonian Empire
Reign	c. 605 – c. 562 BC
Predecessor	Nabopolassar
Successor	Amel-Marduk
Born	c. 634 BC
Died	c. 562 BC (aged 71–72)
Spouse	Amytis of Media
House	Chaldean
Father	Nabopolassar

Nebuchadnezzar II (/ˌnɛbjʊkədˈnɛzər/; from Akkadian 𒀭𒀝𒆪𒁺𒌨𒊑𒋀 ^dNabû-kudurri-uṣur; Hebrew: נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר, Modern: Nəvūkádne’ṣar, Tiberian: Neḇukáḏné’ṣār, meaning "O god Nabu, preserve/defend my firstborn son"), king of Babylon c. 605 BC – c. 562 BC, was the longest-reigning and most powerful monarch of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.^[2]^[3]

His father Nabopolassar was an official of the Neo-Assyrian Empire who rebelled in 620 BCE and established himself as the king of Babylon.^[4]^[5] Nebuchadnezzar ascended the throne in 605 BCE and subsequently fought several campaigns in the West, where Egypt was trying to organise a coalition against him. His conquest of Judah is described in the Bible's Books of Kings and Book of Jeremiah.^[6] His capital, Babylon, is the largest archaeological site in the Middle East.^[7]

The Bible remembers him as the destroyer of Solomon's Temple and the initiator of the Babylonian captivity. He is an important character in the Book of Daniel, a collection of legendary tales and visions dating from the 2nd century BC.^[8]

Life

Nebuchadnezzar was the eldest son and successor of Nabopolassar, an Assyrian official who rebelled against the Assyrian Empire and established himself as the king of Babylon in 620 BC.^[4]^[5] Nebuchadnezzar is first mentioned in 607 BC, during the destruction of Babylon's arch-enemy Assyria, at which point he was already crown prince.^[9] In 605 BC he and his ally Cyaxares, ruler of the Medes, led an army against the Assyrians and Egyptians, who were then occupying Syria, and in the ensuing Battle of Carchemish, Pharaoh Necho II was defeated and Syria and Phoenicia were brought under the control of Babylon.^[10] Nabopolassar died in August 605 BC, and Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon to ascend the throne.^[11] For the next few years, his attention was devoted to subduing his eastern and northern borders, and in 595/4 BC there was a serious but brief rebellion in Babylon itself.^[12] In 594/3 BC, the army was sent again to the west, possibly in reaction to the elevation of Psammetichus II to the throne of Egypt.^[12] King Zedekiah of Judah attempted to organize opposition among the small states in the region but his capital, Jerusalem, was taken in 587 BC (the events are described in the Bible's Books of Kings and Book of Jeremiah).^[6] In the following years, Nebuchadnezzar incorporated Phoenicia and the former Assyrian provinces of Cilicia (southwestern Anatolia) into his empire and may have campaigned in Egypt.^[13] In his last years he seems to have begun behaving irrationally, "pay[ing] no heed to son or daughter," and was deeply suspicious of his sons.^[14] The kings who came after him ruled only briefly and Nabonidus, apparently not of the royal family, was overthrown by the Persian conqueror Cyrus the Great less than twenty-five years after Nebuchadnezzar's death.

The ruins of Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon are spread over two thousand acres, forming the largest archaeological site in the Middle East.^[7] He enlarged the royal palace (including in it a public museum, possibly the world's first), built and repaired temples, built a bridge over the Euphrates, and constructed a grand processional boulevard (the Processional Way) and gateway (the Ishtar Gate) lavishly decorated with glazed brick.^[15] Each spring equinox (the start of the New Year), the god Marduk would leave his city temple for a temple outside the walls, returning through the Ishtar Gate and down the Processional Way, paved with colored stone and lined with molded lions, amidst rejoicing crowds.^[14]

Portrayal in the Bible

The Babylonian king's two sieges of Jerusalem (in 597 and 587 BCE) are depicted in 2 Kings 24–25. The Book of Jeremiah calls Nebuchadnezzar the "destroyer of nations" (Jer. 4:7) and gives an account of the second siege of Jerusalem (587 BC) and the looting and destruction of the First Temple (Jer. 39:1–10; 52:1–30).

Nebuchadnezzar is an important character in the Book of Daniel, a collection of legendary tales and visions dating from the 2nd century BC.^[8] Daniel 1 introduces Nebuchadnezzar as the king who takes Daniel and other Hebrew youths into captivity in Babylon, to be trained in "the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans". In Nebuchadnezzar's second year, Daniel interprets the king's dream of a huge image as God's prediction of the rise and fall of world powers, starting with Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom (Daniel 2). Nebuchadnezzar twice admits the power of the God of the Hebrews: first after Yahweh saves three of Daniel's companions from a fiery furnace (Daniel 3) and secondly after Nebuchadnezzar himself suffers a humiliating period of madness, as Daniel predicted (Daniel 4). The consensus among critical scholars is that the book of Daniel is historical fiction.^[16]^[17]^[18]

His name is sometimes recorded in the Bible as "Nebuchadrezzar" (in Ezekiel and parts of Jeremiah), but usually as "Nebuchadnezzar". The form Nebuchadrezzar is more consistent with the original Akkadian, and some scholars believe that Nebuchadnezzar may be a derogatory pun used by the Israelites, meaning "Nabu, protect my jackass".^[19]

References

^ Anton Nyström, Allmän kulturhistoria eller det mänskliga lifvet i dess utveckling, bd 2 (1901)
^ Freedman 2000, p. 953.
^ "Nebuchadnezzar II". ancient.eu. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
^ ^a ^b Bertman 2005, p. 95.
^ ^a ^b Oates 1997, p. 162.
^ ^a ^b Wiseman 1991a, p. 233–234.
^ ^a ^b Arnold 2005, p. 96.
^ ^a ^b Collins 2002, p. 2.
^ Wiseman 1991a, p. 182.
^ Wiseman 1991a, p. 182–183.
^ Wiseman 1991a, p. 183.
^ ^a ^b Wiseman 1991a, p. 233.
^ Wiseman 1991a, p. 235–236.
^ ^a ^b Foster 2009, p. 131.
^ Bertman 2005, p. 96.
^ Collins 1999, p. 219.
^ Redditt 2008, p. 180.
^ Collins 1984, p. 41: "Conversely, most critical scholars take for granted that the genre is not History."
^ Hayim Tawil, An Akkadian Lexical Companion for Biblical Hebrew, p. 461.

Bibliography

Arnold, Bill T. (2005). Who Were the Babylonians?. Brill. ISBN 9004130713. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Bertman, Stephen (2005). Handbook to Life in Ancient Mesopotamia. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-518364-1. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Cline, Eric H.; Graham, Mark W. (2011). Ancient Empires: From Mesopotamia to the Rise of Islam. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-88911-7. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Dalley, Stephanie (1998). The Legacy of Mesopotamia. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-814946-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Foster, Benjamin Read; Foster, Karen Polinger (2009). Civilizations of Ancient Iraq. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-13722-6. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Freedman, David Noel (2000). "Nebuchadnezzar". In Freedman, David Noel; Myers, Allen C. (eds.). Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Eerdmans. ISBN 9789053565032. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Lee, Wayne E. (2011). Warfare and Culture in World History. NYU Press. ISBN 978-0-8147-5278-4. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Oates, J (1991). "The Fall of Assyria (635–609 BC)". In Boardman, John; Edwards, I. E. S. (eds.). The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume III Part II. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-22717-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Sweeney, Marvin A. (1996). Isaiah 1–39: With an Introduction to Prophetic Literature. Eerdmans. ISBN 978-0-8028-4100-1. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Wiseman, D.J. (1991a). "Babylonia 605–539 BC". In Boardman, John; Edwards, I. E. S. (eds.). The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume III Part II. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-22717-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Wiseman, D.J. (1991b). Nebuchadrezzar and Babylon: The Schweich Lectures of The British Academy 1983. OUP/British Academy. ISBN 978-0-19-726100-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Bandstra, Barry L. (2008). Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. Wadsworth Publishing Company. ISBN 0-495-39105-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Bar, Shaul (2001). A letter that has not been read: dreams in the Hebrew Bible. Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College Press. ISBN 978-0-87820-424-3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Boyer, Paul S. (1992). When Time Shall Be No More: Prophecy Belief in Modern American Culture. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-95129-8. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Brettler, Mark Zvi (2005). How To Read the Bible. Jewish Publication Society. ISBN 978-0-8276-1001-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Carroll, John T. (2000). "Eschatology". In Freedman, David Noel; Myers, Allen C. (eds.). Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Eerdmans. ISBN 9789053565032. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Cohn, Shaye J.D. (2006). From the Maccabees to the Mishnah. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 978-0-664-22743-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Collins, John J. (1999). "Daniel". In Van Der Toorn, Karel; Becking, Bob; van der Horst, Pieter Willem (eds.). Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible. Eerdmans. ISBN 978-0-8028-2491-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Collins, John J. (1984). Daniel: With an Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature. Eerdmans. ISBN 978-0-8028-0020-6. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Collins, John J. (1993). Daniel. Fortress. ISBN 978-0-8006-6040-6. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Collins, John J. (1998). The Apocalyptic Imagination: An Introduction to Jewish Apocalyptic Literature. Eerdmans. ISBN 978-0-8028-4371-5. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Collins, John J. (2001). Seers, Sibyls, and Sages in Hellenistic-Roman Judaism. Brill. ISBN 978-0-391-04110-3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Collins, John J. (2002). "Current Issues in the Study of Daniel". In Collins, John J.; Flint, Peter W.; VanEpps, Cameron (eds.). The Book of Daniel: Composition and Reception. Brill. ISBN 9004116753. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Collins, John J. (2003). "From Prophecy to Apocalypticism: The Expectation of the End". In McGinn, Bernard; Collins, John J.; Stein, Stephen J. (eds.). The Continuum History of Apocalypticism. Continuum. ISBN 978-0-8264-1520-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Collins, John J. (2013). "Daniel". In Lieb, Michael; Mason, Emma; Roberts, Jonathan (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of the Reception History of the Bible. Oxford UNiversity Press. ISBN 978-0-19-164918-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Crawford, Sidnie White (2000). "Apocalyptic". In Freedman, David Noel; Myers, Allen C. (eds.). Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Eerdmans. ISBN 9789053565032. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Cross, Frank Leslie; Livingstone, Elizabeth A. (2005). The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-280290-3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Davies, Philip (2006). "Apocalyptic". In Rogerson, J. W.; Lieu, Judith M. (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Studies. Oxford Handbooks Online. ISBN 978-0-19-925425-5. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
DeChant, Dell (2009). "Apocalyptic Communities". In Neusner, Jacob (ed.). World Religions in America: An Introduction. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 978-1-61164-047-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Doukhan, Jacques (2000). Secrets of Daniel: Wisdom and Dreams of a Jewish Prince in Exile. Review and Herald Pub Assoc. ISBN 978-0-8280-1424-3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Dunn, James D.G. (2002). "The Danilic Son of Man in the New Testament". In Collins, John J.; Flint, Peter W.; VanEpps, Cameron (eds.). The Book of Daniel: Composition and Reception. Brill. ISBN 0-391-04128-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Godden, Malcolm (2013). "Biblical Literature" The Old Testament". In Godden and, Malcolm; Lapidge, Michael (eds.). The Cambridge Companion to Old English Literature. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-46921-1. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Grabbe, Lester L. (2002a). Judaic Religion in the Second Temple Period: Belief and Practice from the Exile to Yavneh. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-203-46101-3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Grabbe, Lester L. (2002b). "A Dan(iel) For All Seasons". In Collins, John J.; Flint, Peter W.; VanEpps, Cameron (eds.). The Book of Daniel: Composition and Reception. Brill. ISBN 9004116753. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Grabbe, Lester L. (2010). An Introduction to Second Temple Judaism: History and Religion of the Jews in the Time of Nehemiah, the Maccabees, Hillel, and Jesus. Continuum. ISBN 978-0-567-55248-8. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Hammer, Raymond (1976). The Book of Daniel. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-09765-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Harrington, Daniel J. (1999). Invitation to the Apocrypha. Eerdmans. ISBN 978-0-8028-4633-4. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Hill, Andrew E. (2009). "Daniel". In Garland, David E.; Longman, Tremper (eds.). Daniel—Malachi. Zondervan. ISBN 978-0-310-59054-5. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Hill, Charles E. (2000). "Antichrist". In Freedman, David Noel; Myers, Allen C. (eds.). Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Eerdmans. ISBN 9789053565032. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Horsley, Richard A. (2007). Scribes, Visionaries, and the Politics of Second Temple Judea. Presbyterian Publishing Corp. ISBN 978-0-664-22991-7. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Knibb, Michael (2002). "The Book of Daniel in its Context". In Collins, John J.; Flint, Peter W.; VanEpps, Cameron (eds.). The Book of Daniel: Composition and Reception. Brill. ISBN 9004116753. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Levine, Amy-Jill (2010). "Daniel". In Coogan, Michael D.; Brettler, Marc Z.; Newsom, Carol A. (eds.). The new Oxford annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books : New Revised Standard Version. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-937050-4. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Lucas, Ernest C. (2005). "Daniel, Book of". In Vanhoozer, Kevin J.; Bartholomew, Craig G.; Treier, Daniel J. (eds.). Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible. Baker Academic. ISBN 978-0-8010-2694-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Matthews, Victor H.; Moyer, James C. (2012). The Old Testament: Text and Context. Baker Books. ISBN 978-0-8010-4835-7. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
McDonald, Lee Martin (2012). Formation of the Bible: the Story of the Church's Canon. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers. p. 57. ISBN 978-1-59856-838-7. Retrieved 22 July 2014. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Miller, Steven R. (1994). Daniel. B&H Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-8054-0118-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Niskanen, Paul (2004). The Human and the Divine in History: Herodotus and the Book of Daniel. Continuum. ISBN 978-0-567-08213-8. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Provan, Iain (2003). "Daniel". In Dunn, James D. G.; Rogerson, John William (eds.). Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible. Eerdmans. ISBN 978-0-8028-3711-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Redditt, Paul L. (2009). Introduction to the Prophets. Eerdmans. ISBN 978-0-8028-2896-5. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Reid, Stephen Breck (2000). "Daniel, Book of". In Freedman, David Noel; Myers, Allen C. (eds.). Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Eerdmans. ISBN 9789053565032. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Rowland, Christopher (2007). "Apocalyptic Literature". In Hass, Andrew; Jasper, David; Jay, Elisabeth (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of English Literature and Theology. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-927197-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Ryken,, Leland; Wilhoit, Jim; Longman, Tremper (1998). Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. InterVarsity Press. ISBN 978-0-8308-6733-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
Sacchi, Paolo (2004). The History of the Second Temple Period. Continuum. ISBN 978-0-567-04450-1. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Schwartz, Daniel R. (1992). Studies in the Jewish Background of Christianity. Mohr Siebeck. ISBN 978-3-16-145798-2.
Seow, C.L. (2003). Daniel. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 978-0-664-25675-3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Schiffman, Lawrence H. (1991). From Text to Tradition: A History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism. KTAV Publishing House. ISBN 978-0-88125-372-6. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Spencer, Richard A. (2002). "Additions to Daniel". In Mills, Watson E.; Wilson, Richard F. (eds.). The Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Mercer University Press. ISBN 978-0-86554-510-6. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Towner, W. Sibley (1984). Daniel. Westminster John Knox Press. ISBN 978-0-664-23756-1. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
VanderKam, James C. (2010). The Dead Sea Scrolls Today. Eerdmans. ISBN 978-0-8028-6435-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
VanderKam, James C.; Flint, Peter (2013). The meaning of the Dead Sea scrolls: their significance for understanding the Bible, Judaism, Jesus, and Christianity. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-224330-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Waters, Matt (2014). Ancient Persia: A Concise History of the Achaemenid Empire, 550–330 BC. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-65272-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Weber, Timothy P. (2007). "Millennialism". In Walls, Jerry L. (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Eschatology. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-974248-6. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Wesselius, Jan-Wim (2002). "The Writing of Daniel". In Collins, John J.; Flint, Peter W.; VanEpps, Cameron (eds.). The Book of Daniel: Composition and Reception. Brill. ISBN 0-391-04128-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

External links

Inscription of Nabuchadnezzar. Babylonian and Assyrian Literature – old translation
Nabuchadnezzar Ishtar gate Inscription
Jewish Encyclopedia on Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar II on Ancient History Encyclopedia

Preceded by Nabopolassar	King of Babylon 605 BC – 562 BC	Succeeded by Amel-Marduk

[1] Anton Nyström, Allmän kulturhistoria eller det mänskliga lifvet i dess utveckling, bd 2 (1901)

[FOOTNOTEFreedman2000953-2] Freedman 2000, p. 953.

[3] "Nebuchadnezzar II". ancient.eu. Retrieved December 22, 2017.

[FOOTNOTEBertman200595-4] Bertman 2005, p. 95.

[FOOTNOTEOates1997162-5] Oates 1997, p. 162.

[FOOTNOTEWiseman1991a233–234-6] Wiseman 1991a, p. 233–234.

[FOOTNOTEArnold200596-7] Arnold 2005, p. 96.

[FOOTNOTECollins20022-8] Collins 2002, p. 2.

[FOOTNOTEWiseman1991a182-9] Wiseman 1991a, p. 182.

[FOOTNOTEWiseman1991a182–183-10] Wiseman 1991a, p. 182–183.

[FOOTNOTEWiseman1991a183-11] Wiseman 1991a, p. 183.

[FOOTNOTEWiseman1991a233-12] Wiseman 1991a, p. 233.

[FOOTNOTEWiseman1991a235–236-13] Wiseman 1991a, p. 235–236.

[FOOTNOTEFoster2009131-14] Foster 2009, p. 131.

[FOOTNOTEBertman200596-15] Bertman 2005, p. 96.

[FOOTNOTECollins1999219-16] Collins 1999, p. 219.

[FOOTNOTERedditt2008180-17] Redditt 2008, p. 180.

[FOOTNOTECollins198441-18] Collins 1984, p. 41: "Conversely, most critical scholars take for granted that the genre is not History."

[tawil-19] Hayim Tawil, An Akkadian Lexical Companion for Biblical Hebrew, p. 461.

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@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 Nebuchadnezzar was the eldest son and successor of [[Nabopolassar]], an [[Neo-Assyrian Empire|Assyrian]] official who rebelled against the Assyrian Empire and established himself as the king of Babylon in 620&nbsp;BC.{{sfn|Bertman|2005|p=95}}{{sfn|Oates|1997|p=162}} Nebuchadnezzar is first mentioned in 607&nbsp;BC, during the destruction of Babylon's arch-enemy Assyria, at which point he was already crown prince.{{sfn|Wiseman|1991a|p=182}} In 605&nbsp;BC he and his ally [[Cyaxares]], ruler of the [[Medes]], led an army against the Assyrians and [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptians]], who were then occupying Syria, and in the ensuing [[Battle of Carchemish]], [[Necho&nbsp;II|Pharaoh Necho&nbsp;II]] was defeated and Syria and [[Phoenicia]] were brought under the control of Babylon.{{sfn|Wiseman|1991a|p=182–183}} [[Nabopolassar]] died in August 605&nbsp;BC, and Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon to ascend the throne.{{sfn|Wiseman|1991a|p=183}} For the next few years, his attention was devoted to subduing his eastern and northern borders, and in 595/4&nbsp;BC there was a serious but brief rebellion in Babylon itself.{{sfn|Wiseman|1991a|p=233}} In 594/3&nbsp;BC, the army was sent again to the west, possibly in reaction to the elevation of [[Psammetichus II]] to the throne of Egypt.{{sfn|Wiseman|1991a|p=233}} King [[Zedekiah]] of [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]] attempted to organize opposition among the small states in the region but his capital, [[Jerusalem]], was taken in 587&nbsp;BC (the events are described in the Bible's [[Books of Kings]] and [[Book of Jeremiah]]).{{sfn|Wiseman|1991a|p=233–234}} In the following years, Nebuchadnezzar incorporated [[Phoenicia]] and the former Assyrian provinces of [[Cilicia]] (southwestern Anatolia) into his empire and may have campaigned in Egypt.{{sfn|Wiseman|1991a|p=235–236}} In his last years he seems to have begun behaving irrationally, "pay[ing] no heed to son or daughter," and was deeply suspicious of his sons.{{sfn|Foster|2009|p=131}} The kings who came after him ruled only briefly and [[Nabonidus]], apparently not of the royal family, was overthrown by the Persian conqueror [[Cyrus the Great]] less than twenty-five years after Nebuchadnezzar's death.
-The ruins of Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon are spread over two thousand acres, forming the largest archaeological site in the [[Middle East]].{{sfn|Arnold|2005|p=96}} He enlarged the royal palace (including in it a public museum, possibly the world's first), built and repaired temples, built a bridge over the [[Euphrates]], and constructed a grand processional boulevard (the Processional Way) and gateway (the [[Ishtar Gate]]) lavishly decorated with glazed brick.{{sfn|Bertman|2005|p=96}} Each spring [[equinox]] (the start of the New Year), the god [[Marduk]] would leave his city temple<!--clarify – unlikely that a fictitious deity went for a walk--> for a temple outside the walls, returning through the Ishtar Gate and down the Processional Way, paved with colored stone and lined with molded lions, amidst rejoicing crowds.{{sfn|Foster|2009|p=131}} Nebuchadnezzar was born in febuary.
+The ruins of Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon are spread over two thousand acres, forming the largest archaeological site in the [[Middle East]].{{sfn|Arnold|2005|p=96}} He enlarged the royal palace (including in it a public museum, possibly the world's first), built and repaired temples, built a bridge over the [[Euphrates]], and constructed a grand processional boulevard (the Processional Way) and gateway (the [[Ishtar Gate]]) lavishly decorated with glazed brick.{{sfn|Bertman|2005|p=96}} Each spring [[equinox]] (the start of the New Year), the god [[Marduk]] would leave his city temple<!--clarify – unlikely that a fictitious deity went for a walk--> for a temple outside the walls, returning through the Ishtar Gate and down the Processional Way, paved with colored stone and lined with molded lions, amidst rejoicing crowds.{{sfn|Foster|2009|p=131}}
 == Portrayal in the Bible ==

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Nabû-kudurri-usur
King of Babylon King of Sumer and Akkad King of the Universe
An engraving with a royal inscription of Nebuchadnezzar II. Anton Nyström, 1901.^[1]
King of the Neo-Babylonian Empire
Reign	c. 605 – c. 562 BC
Predecessor	Nabopolassar
Successor	Amel-Marduk

Born	c. 634 BC
Died	c. 562 BC (aged 71–72)
Spouse	Amytis of Media
House	Chaldean
Father	Nabopolassar