NEBUCHADNEZZAR ( neb-u-kad-nez'zar), (Help. neb-oo-kad-nets-Esar' and also neb-oo-kad-rets-tsar'. Gr. Nafiouxo3v6eop, Naboztehodnosor; and also Nagotwooplxropos, Nabou korlrosoros,. Kings, Chronicles, and Daniel; Jer. xxvii; xxviii; xxxiv:i; xxxix:i; Ezek. xxvi:7; and Ezra v:t2; written also "4877.1:.,:, neb-oo-kad-re bar', Nehuchathezzar, generally in Jeremiah, and in Ezek. xxx3o).
(1) Xing of Babylon. The name of the Chal dxan monarch of Babylon by whom Judah was conquered, and the Jews led into their seventy years' captivity. In the Septuagint version he is called NaPovxo6ov6aop, Nabuchodonosor. This name, Nabuchodonosor, has passed from the Sep tuagint into the Latin Vulgate, and into the au thorized English version of the books of Judith and Tobit. Nabu or Nebo (Is. xlvi:1) was the name of a Chaldman deity, supposed to be Mer cury, and enters frequently into the composition of Chaldxan proper names, as Nabopolassar (Can. Ptol); Nabuzar-adan (2 Kings xxv :8, etc.) ; Samgar-Nebu and Nehushasban (Jer. xxxix :3, 13). The name Nebuchadnezzar has been com monly explained to signify the treasure of Nebo, but, according to Lorsbach (Archiv. f. Morgent. Literatur), it signifies Nebo, the prince of gods.
The only notices which we have of this monarch in the canonical writings are found in the books of Kings, Chronicles, Daniel, and Ezra, and in the allusions of the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
From 2 Kings xxiii :29, and 2 Chron. XXXV :20, we gather that in the reign of Josiah (B. C. 6io). Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt, having approached by sea the coast of Syria, made a friendly appli cation to King Josiah to be allowed a passage through his territories to the dominions of the Assyrian monarch, with whom he was then at war. The design of Pharaoh-necho was to seize upon Carehemish (Circesium or Cercusium), a strong post on the Euphrates ; but Josiah, who was tributary to the Babylonian monarch, op posed his progress at Megiddo, where he was de feated and' mortally wounded. (See Josian.) Necho marched upon Jerusalem, and the Jews be came tributary to the King of Egypt.
(2) In the Field. Upon this, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon (2 Kings XXiV ; 2 Chron. xxxvi :6, where this monarch's name is for the first time introduced), invaded Judah, retook Car chemish, with the territory which had been wrest ed from him by Necho. seized upon Jehoiakim, the vassal of Pharaoh-necho, and reduced him to submission (B. C. 6o7). Jehoiakim was at first loaded with chains, in order to be led captive to Babylon, but was eventually restored by Nebu chadnezzar to his throne, on condition of paying an annual tribute. Nebuchadnezzar carried off part of the ornaments of the temple, together with sev eral hostages of distinguished rank, among whom were the youths Daniel and his three friends, Ha naniah, Azariah, and Mishael (Dan. i). These
were educated at court in the language and sci ences of the Chaldeans, where they subsequently filled offices of distinction. The sacred vessels were transferred by Nebuchadnezzar to his tem ple at Babylon (Is. xxxix ; 2 Chron. xxxvi :6, 7). (See BABYLON.) (3) Opposes Egypt. After the conquest of Judma, Nebuchadnezzar turned his attention to wards the Egyptians, whom he drove out of Syria, taking possession of all the land between the Eu phrates and the river (2 Kings xxiv :7) ; which some suppose to mean the Nile, but others a small river in the desert, which was reckoned the boundary between Palestine and Egypt (Pri deatix's Connection).
(4) Capture of jerusalem. The fate of Jeru salem was now rapidly approaching its consum mation. After three years of fidelity Jehoiakim renounced his allegiance to Babylon, and renewed his allegiance with Necho. when Nebuchadnezzar sent incursions of Ammonites, Moabites and Syrians, together with Chaldceans, to harass him. At length, in the eleventh year of his reign, he was made prisoner, and slain (Jer. xxii). (See JEHotaxim.) He was succeeded by his son Jc hoiachin, who, after three months' reign, sur rendered himself with his family to Nebuchad nezzar, who had come in person to besiege Jeru salem, in the eighth year of his reign (2 Kings xxiv:10-12). (See JEHotacHIN.) Upon this oc casion all the most distinguished inhabitants, in cluding the artificers, were led captive. (See CAPTIVITY.) Among the captives, who amounted to no less than 5o,000, were Ezekiel (Ezek. ) and Mordecai. (See ESTHER.) The golden ves sels of Solomon were now removed, with the royal treasures, and Mattaniah, the brother of Jehoia chin, placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar, who gave him the name of Zedekiah, and bound him by an oath not to enter into an alliance with Egypt. Zedekiah. however, in the ninth year of his reign, formed an alliance with Pharaoh-ho phra, the successor of Necho. Hophra, comin7; to the assistance of Zedekiah, was driven back into Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar, who finally cap tured Jerusalem in the eleventh year of Zede kiah's reign (B. C. 588). (See ZEDEKIAH.) The Temple, and the whole city, with its towers and walls, were all razed to the ground by Nebuzara dan, Nebuchadnezzar's lieutenant, and the princi pal remaining inhabitants put to death by Nebu chadnezzar at Riblah. Jeremiah was, however, spared, and Gedaliah appointed governor. He was shortly after murdered by Ishmael, a mem ber of the royal family, who was himself soon obliged to take refuge among the Ammonites. Many of the remaining Jews fled into Egypt, ac companied by Jeremiah; those who remained were soon after expatriated by Nebuchadnezzar, who depopulated the whole country.