Images of Nebuchadnezzar attempts to probe the diversity of cultural attitudes reflected in the characterizations of this famous king through an examination of both the original cuneiform sources as well as the accounts of chronographers written in Greek, Roman, and medieval times. Included in this revised and expanded second edition are two new chapters that examine both Nebuchadnezzar's administrative policies and the impact that his death had on both contemporary and later cultures. Both the positive and negative images of the king are explored, with conclusions being developed as to what the authors of the various surviving accounts actually thought the king really was. In the process, the whole nature of historiography in the ancient world is analyzed, and a number of broad conclusions are developed. Anyone who has ever read Second Kings or the books of Daniel and Jeremiah of the Old Testament is familiar with the name of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon who conquered the kingdom of Judah and destroyed Solomon's temple. As the second member of the Chaldean dynasty of Mesopotamia (626-539 B.C.), he ruled for forty-three years (605-562 B.C.), during which time he also led military campaigns into Syria and Lebanon. He also organized a number of building projects that were to transform Babylon into one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Among his noteworthy achievements were the construction of massive fortification walls around Babylon, the refurbishing of Marduk's temple in the city, and the building of huge palaces that served as the king's residences. Tales of these legendary achievements, as well as those of his father, Nabopolassar (626-605 B.C.), also found their way into the narratives of a number of Greek, Roman, and medieval historians and chronographers many centuries later. Unfortunately, much of the record of Nebuchadnezzar's achievements that was written in his own time has not survived. Instead, only secondary accounts of his military campaigns or his construction projects in Babylon written in Greek, Latin, Hebrew, or Arabic are available for analysis. These stories vary greatly in content and emphasis and, in many cases, distort much of what we know from Nebuchadnezzar's own sources. The Hebrews, for example, described Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem in such a way as to consider it something that should never again be repeated. The Greeks, on the other hand, saw the building projects in Babylon as evidence of almost superhuman achievements, as monuments that were the result of efforts by a king who was almost godlike. Why, then, is there such diversity in the characterizations of Nebuchadnezzar? This book proposes answers to these questions.

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.

Encapsulating as it does research that has been undertaken on the sociological, anthropological and political aspects of the history of ancient Israel, this important book is designed to follow in the tradition of works in the series sponsored by The Society for Old Testament Study which began with the publication of The People and the Book in 1925. The World of Ancient Israel is especially concerned to explore in greater depth than comparable studies the areas and degrees of overlap between approaches to the subject of Old Testament research adopted by scholars and students of theology and the social sciences. Increasing numbers of scholars have recognised the valuable insights that can be gained from a cross-disciplinary approach, and it is becoming clear that the early biblical traditions about the formation of the Israelite state must be examined in the light of comparative anthropology if useful historical conclusions are to be drawn from them.

This new examination of the region of Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon (605-562 BC) includes revised interpretations of the Babylonian Chronicles for his reign, especially for the years of the campaigns against the West and the capture of Jerusalem. Excavations at Babylon are used to give a view of the city in Neo-Babylonian times, including the royal `Hanging Gardens' and the ziggurat. The varied literary genres current in this city of learning in the sixth century BC (including dreams and prophecies) and the role of hostages, exiles, and prisoners of war are used to throw light on the life of the Jewish exiles there. An assessment of the character of Nebuchadrezzar as a military and political leader, religious devotee and legal administrator is attempted on the basis of textual evidence.

Gold told Daniel that He would set up a kingdom that would destroy all of the other kingdoms and would never come to an end. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is at hand." This is a great reference for all ages. Easy-to-understand text for young people and for people with no Bible background, yet clear and scholarly enough for Bible students and seminarians.