The history ofBabylonenters the Biblical chronology from Nebuchadnezzar
II. His father, Nabapolassar marked the beginning of the Neo-Babylonian
Empire which ended with Nabonidus and his son Belshazzar when Cyrus
overthrew Babylon. Thus enters the destruction of Jerusalem and the 70 year
exile.
Jeremiah 52:28says that it was in the seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar
(Nebuchanrezzar) when the first Jewish exiles were taken to Babylon. A
cuneiform inscription of theBabylonian Chronicle(British Museum 21946)
says: "The seventh year: In the month Kislev the king of Akkad mustered his
army and marched to Hattu. He encamped against the city of Judah and on
the second day of the month Adar he captured the city (and) seized (its) king
[Jehoiachin]. A king of his own choice [Zedekiah] he appointed in the city
(and) taking the vast tribute he brought it into Babylon." (Assyrian and
Babylonian Chronicles, by A. K. Grayson, 1975, p. 102; compare2 Kings
24:1-17/2 Chronicles 36:5-10.) For the final 32 years of Nebuchadnezzar's
reign there is no historical records of the chronicle except a fragmentary
inscription of a campaign against Egypt in his 37th year.
Tablets dated up to the second year of the rule of Awil-Marduk (Evil-
merodach2 Kings 25:27-28) have been found. Neriglissar is thought to have
been his successor and there are tablets dated to his fourth year.
