Mary Buck – The Babylonian Period
Episode: In this second of our “Second Temple Series,” Mary Buck discusses the Neo-Babylonian period. Of particular interest is the impact of the Babylonian Empire on the Kingdom of Judah.
Babylonian Period. This short-lived “flash-in-the-pan” empire has an outsized impact on history. Learn how and why in this episode!
Key BCE dates discussed:
627 – Nabopolassar (rebels against Assyria)
612 – Nineveh falls, capital moves to Haran
606 – Nebuchadnezzar II (famous from Daniel, etc.). Egyptians and Assyrians unite against Babylon. Battle of Carchemish – Nebuchadnezzar II defeats the Assyrian-Egyptian coalition.
605 – Nebuchadnezzar II pursues Egyptian army back to the brook of Egypt. (but don’t take territory there)
599-597 – Jehoiakim rebels against Babylon (dies in 597), then Jehoiakin exiled to Babylon. Finally, Zedekiah appointed as vassal king.
588 – Judah relies on Egypt to resist Babylon
587/6 – Nebuchadnezzar II returns to Jerusalem a final time, laying siege to the city. Jerusalem falls, partial deportation.
586-573 – 13yr. siege of Tyre.
549 – Cyrus the Great comes to power in Elam
538 – Fall of Babylon (without battle?)
Other references:
- Al-Yahudu tablets – over 100 cuneiform tablets about the lives of Judean exiles, in the Bible Lands Museum (Israel)
- Ration texts related to Jehoiakin and his five sons
Host: Mary Buck is hosting this series!! Listen to the Assyrian episode HERE.
Image Attribution: By Robert Koldewey (10 September 1855 – 4 February 1925) – Die Tempel von Babylon und Borsippa : nach den Ausgrabungen durch die Deutsche Orient-Gesellschaft, 1911, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87505819
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