Nebuchadnezzar I (r. 1125-1104) was one of the more significant and successful kings to rule Babylonia in the intervening period between the demise of the Kassite Dynasty in the 12th century at the end of the Late Bronze Age, and the emergence of a new, independent Babylonian monarchy in the last quarter of the 7th century. His dynamic reign saw Nebuchadnezzar active on both domestic and foreign fronts. He tended to the needs of the traditional cult sanctuaries and their associated priesthoods in the major cities throughout Babylonia and embarked on military campaigns against both Assyria in the north and Elam to the east. Yet later Babylonian tradition celebrated him for one achievement that was little noted in his own royal inscriptions: the return of the statue of Marduk, Babylon’s patron deity, from captivity in Elam. The Reign of Nebuchadnezzar reconstructs the history of Nebuchadnezzar I’s rule and, drawing upon theoretical treatments of historical and collective memory, examines how stories of his reign were intentionally utilized by later generations of Babylonian scholars and priests to create an historical memory that projected their collective identity and reflected Marduk’s rise to the place of primacy within the Babylonian pantheon in the 1st millennium BCE. It also explores how this historical memory was employed by the urban elite in discourses of power. Nebuchadnezzar I remained a viable symbol, though with diminishing effect, until at least the 3rd century BCE, by which time his memory had almost entirely faded. This study is a valuable resource to students of the Ancient Near East and Nebuchadnezzar, but is also a fascinating exploration of memory creation and exploitation in the ancient world.

*Includes pictures of Babylonian artifacts and historic art depicting Nebuchadnezzar and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. *Includes ancient accounts of Nebuchadnezzar's reign and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. *Discusses the legends and mysteries surrounding the Babylonian King, the Hanging Gardens, and the mentions of him in the Bible. Alongside Hammurabi, Nebuchadnezzar II is remembered as one of Ancient Babylon's most influential kings. Nearly 1,000 years after his famous predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar oversaw the expansion of the Neo-Babylonian Empire during the 7th and 6th centuries B.C., which placed him in conflict with Egypt and the ancient kingdom of Judah. His ruthless conquest of Judah resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and the entire kingdom, and it ultimately earned him notoriety in the Old Testament, where he is mentioned in the books of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. In addition to being depicted in the Bible, Nebuchadnezzar was well known among ancient historians and contemporary writers because of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the ancient wonders of the world. According to ancient accounts, Nebuchadnezzar constructed the Hanging Gardens for his homesick wife by creating terraced and cultivated orchards that were built over a series of buildings made of glazed ceramic. An estimated several thousands of gallons of water was drawn from a reservoir through a network of reeds and bricks, held together by asphalt and cement, with lead used as a sealant. The Gardens were built on a citadel 80 feet high with walls 22 feet thick. To this day, Nebuchadnezzar is associated with the Hanging Gardens, even as scholars continue to question whether the Hanging Gardens were actually built in Babylon or even existed at all. While Nebuchadnezzar's name lives on mostly due to the Bible and the Hanging Gardens, behind it all was a man documented by the Babylonians and his contemporaries as a competent and successful king. While his success was unfortunate for his enemies, and there are questions surrounding his association with the Hanging Gardens, there is no question that Nebuchadnezzar greatly reformed the ancient city of Babylon and maintained its supremacy throughout Mesopotamia and the Middle East during his time. Plenty of uncertainty about Nebuchadnezzar's life remains, but there is no question he was a great military commander and a competent administrator who managed to hold together his burgeoning empire for nearly half a century. Legends of the Ancient World: The Life and Legacy of King Nebuchadnezzar II chronicles the life, legends, and legacy of the famous Babylonian king. Along with pictures depicting important people and places, you will learn about Nebuchadnezzar like you never have before, in no time at all.

This study of Nebuchadnezzar's madness in Daniel 4 demonstrates how the elements which the biblical author borrowed from Ancient Near Eastern myth commanded the attention of early Jewish and Christian exegetes.

In 1099, the soldiers of the First Crusade took Jerusalem. As the news of this victory spread throughout Medieval Europe, it felt nothing less than miraculous and dream-like, to such an extent that many believed history itself had been fundamentally altered by the event and that the Rapture was at hand. As a result of military conquest, Christians could see themselves as agents of rather than mere actors in their own salvation. The capture of Jerusalem changed everything. A loosely defined geographic backwater, comprised of petty kingdoms and shifting alliances, Medieval Europe began now to imagine itself as the center of the world. The West had overtaken the East not just on the world's stage but in God's plans. To justify this, its writers and thinkers turned to ancient prophecies, and specifically to one of the most enigmatic passages in the Bible the dream King Nebuchadnezzar has in the Book of Daniel, of a statue with a golden head and feet of clay. Conventional interpretation of the dream transformed the state into a series of kingdoms, each less glorious than the last, leading inexorably to the end of all earthly realms-- in short, to the Apocalypse. The First Crusade signified to Christians that the dream of Nebuchadnezzar would be fulfilled on their terms. Such heady reconceptions continued until the disaster of the Second Crusade and with it, the collapse of any dreams of unification or salvation-any notion that conquering the Holy Land and defeating the Infidel could absolve sin. In Nebuchadnezzar's Dream, Jay Rubenstein boldly maps out the steps by which these social, political, economic, and intellectual shifts occurred throughout the 12th century, drawing on those who guided and explained them. The Crusades raised the possibility of imagining the Apocalypse as more than prophecy but actual event. Rubenstein examines how those who confronted the conflict between prophecy and reality transformed the meaning and memory of the Crusades as well as their place in history.

Everything you need to effectively defend the truths of the Bible and the beliefs of the Christian faith. Winner of the 2018 ECPA Christian Book award for Bible Reference Works. The truth of the Bible doesn't change, but its critics do. Now with his son, Sean McDowell, speaker and author Josh McDowell has updated and expanded the modern apologetics classic for a new generation. Evidence That Demands a Verdict provides an expansive defense of Christianity's core truths, rebuttals to some recent and popular forms of skepticism, and insightful responses to the Bible's most difficult and misused passages. It invites readers to bring their doubts and doesn't shy away from the tough questions. Topics and questions are covered in four main parts: Evidence for the Bible Evidence for Jesus Evidence for the Old Testament Evidence for Truth Also included, you'll find: An introduction about the biblical mandate to defend one's faith and why our faith is built on facts. A prologue describing why we live in a theistic universe. A closing response to the specific challenges of atheist New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman. Two reflections: "How to Know God Personally" and "He Changed My Life." Serving as a go-to reference for even the toughest questions, Evidence that Demands a Verdict continues to encourage and strengthen millions by providing Christians the answers they need to defend their faith against the harshest critics and skeptics. "Here's a treasure trove of apologetic gems! This is an indispensable book that all Christians should keep within reach." —Lee Strobel, bestselling author of The Case for Christ

Enjoy Having a Highly Visual Overview of the Statue in the Book of Daniel Packed with Time Lines, Maps, Charts, and More! The Statue in the Book of Daniel pamphlet ventures into the fascinating dream of King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2 and Daniel’s vision in Daniel 7. This bestselling, full-color pamphlet includes:A full-color illustration of the statue (based on an authentic Babylonian carving of the era)Simple overviews exploring each of the statue’s four parts, as well as the four kingdoms they representMaps of ancient civilizations outlining the geographical areas of the relevant kingdomsA time line of events and rulersA comparison chart help explain the statue’s parts and their meaning12 panels, fits into most Bibles, 8.5 x 5.5 inches, unfolds to 33” long. The Statue in the Book of Daniel is an excellent resource for presenting Daniel’s prophecy of God’s everlasting Kingdom. Daniel’s interpretation draws correlations between the elements of the statue:The Head of Fine GoldThe Chest and Arms of SilverThe Belly and Thighs of BronzeThe Feet of Iron and ClayThe rock—not cut out by human hands—which struck and felled the statueWhat does the statue represent in King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in the second chapter of Daniel? What is it saying about earthly empires and heavenly kingdoms? The Statue in the Book of Daniel pamphlet describes the meaning of the Head of Fine Gold, Chest and Arms of Silver, Belly and Thighs of Bronze, and Feet of Iron and Clay. A map of the ancient world provides context for the kingdoms that are represented by the statue segments, and a time line reveals the rise and fall of kingdoms between 600 BC to 100 AD. Daniel’s interpretation speaks to the Scriptural truth that rulers and empires come and go, but God’s kingdom, ruled by the Son of Man, will be everlasting. The Statue in the Book of Daniel also provides information on the most powerful nations in the Middle East represented in Daniel’s dream:BabyloniaMedo-PersiaGreeceA Divided Kingdom (often considered Rome)A chart compares the remarkable similarities between King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in Daniel 2 with Daniel’s vision in Daniel 7. Here is a sample from the chart: Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream (Daniel 2):Head of the StatueChest and Arms of StatueBelly and Thighs of StatueThe Feet of Iron and ClayDaniel’s Vision (Daniel 7):Vision of Beasts — LionVision of Beasts — BearVision of Beasts — LeopardVisions of Beasts — Beast with 10 hornsAn illustration of the statue is based on an authentic Babylonian carving. Comparisons between each part include bulleted observations with interesting facts or connections to other Scripture references. A time line from 600 BC to 100 AD reveals the events related to the ruling kingdoms that clarify the interpretations. Events include:The Babylonian Kingdoms and their rulers during biblical timesThe fall of Babylonia to Darius the Mede, who was succeeded by Cyrus the Great.Alexander the Great’s conquest of Persia and its fulfillment of prophecyThe rise of Rome and the Caesars.