The Neo-Babylonian Empire

Last week, we observed that the royal princes Daniel, Hananiah, MIshael & Azariah’s tragic captivity in Babylon had been prophesied by the prophet, Isaiah, in the year 714 B.C.E. , their ancestor, King Hezekiah, ‘s extraordinary Fourteenth Year.

In 714 B.C.E. the Assyrian Empire ruled the world but as our learned teacher, Co-Co, always used to stress, ‘THE LORD WHO SITTETH UPON THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH bringeth The Princes to Nothing’ (Isaiah 40:22 & 23).

The mighty Sennacherib, King of Assyria, (as Isaiah had prophesied in Hezekiah’s Fourteenth Year,) lost One Hundred and Fourscore and Five Thousand soldiers when he attempted to seize Jerusalem in the year 701 B.C.E. (Isaiah 37:36). This act of The Angel of Death is immortalized by Lord Byron:

By the time Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah were captured and taken to Babylon in the year 606 B.C.E. the Assyrian Empire had indeed been brought to nothing. The Neo-Babylonian Empire with its seven kings now ruled the world:

• In 612 Nabopolassar (626 B.C.E. – 605 B.C.E.) a Chaldean chieftain who seized Babylon in 626 B.C.E. conquered the Assyrian capital city of Nineveh in alliance with Cyaxares the Mede.
• In 605 Nebuchadnezzar, his son (605 B.C.E. – 562 B.C.E.) defeated Egypt at the Battle of Carchemish. He twice besieged Jerusalem 698/97 B.C.E. & 587/86 B.C.E.
• In 562 B.C.E. Evil-Merodach, his son (562 -560 B.C.E.) freed Jehoiachin, King of Judah ( 2 Kings 25:27 – 30)
• In 560 B.C.E. Neriglissar ( 560 B.C.E.- 556 B.C.E.) seized power. He was a son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar and was most likely present at the final siege of Jerusalem ( Jeremiah 39:3).
• In 556 B.C.E. after a three month reign Labashi-Marduk, the son of Neriglissar, was removed by Nabonidus.
• In 556 Nabonidus (556 B.C.E. – 539 B.C.E.) became ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire but he spent considerable time outside of Babylon. His son, Belshazzar served as regent in his absence.
• In 539 B.C.E. Babylon surrendered to Cyrus, commander of the Medo-Persian army, the Crown Prince, and Heir of his uncle, Cyaxares II [Darius], The Median Ruler, who now became the ruler also of Babylon at the age of sixty two:

The Neo – Babylonian Empire lasted only from 626 B.C.E. until 539 B.C.E. Its kings ruled absolutely. Nebuchadnezzar was its greatest king – its most brilliant warrior, its most magnificent builder and ultimately a humble worshipper of THE GOD OF DANIEL, HANANIAH, MISHAEL AND AZARIAH.

The Medo-Persian Empire, envisioned in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream now became the most powerful empire in the world:

Daniel lived under all seven of the Babylonian kings and was honoured by Nebuchadnezzar, Evil-Merodach, Darius The Mede and Cyrus, The Persian.

Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah were honoured by Nebuchadnezzar:

The Royal Eunuchs, as THE LORD had promised in Isaiah 56:5, have ‘an everlasting name‘.

Next Week: Cyaxares II [Darius The Mede] and Cyrus The Great.