Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar in the Bible is the king of Babylon who comes against Jerusalem, takes Jehoiachin captive, and is associated with Judah's exile. He is first named at 2 Kings 20:12 and is named in at least 108 verses across 9 books, in two recorded name forms.

In the account of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar comes up and Jehoiakim becomes his servant before rebelling against him (2 Kings 24:1). His servants go up to Jerusalem, and the city comes under siege; Nebuchadnezzar himself then comes against it while his servants lay siege (2 Kings 24:10; 2 Kings 24:11). Jehoiachin goes out to the king of Babylon with members of his household and court, and the king of Babylon takes him captive (2 Kings 24:12). The passage also says that the king of Babylon brings men of valor, craftsmen, and smiths into captivity in Babylon (2 Kings 24:16).

Nebuchadnezzar appoints Mattaniah to reign in Jehoiachin's place and changes his name to Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:17). Later, he comes with all his forces against Jerusalem, encamps against it, and builds siegeworks around it (2 Kings 25:1). The text says that the king of Babylon appoints Gedaliah over the people remaining in Judah (2 Kings 25:22).

Other passages recall that Nebuchadnezzar carried articles from the house of the LORD to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:7; Ezra 1:7). Ezra describes returned exiles as people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile to Babylon (Ezra 2:1). In Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar pays homage to Daniel and commands that an offering and incense be presented to him; he also makes an image of gold in the plain of Dura (Daniel 2:46; Daniel 3:1).