597 BCE

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia Attacks Jerusalem

Read while you listen

The events of the Babylonian attacks on Jerusalem are recorded in the Books of Jeremiah, 2 Chronicles and 2 Kings.

2 Kings 24:10

At that time the troops of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon marched against Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. Fascinatingly, the Babylonians also recorded their version of the events, inscribed on clay tablets.

The use of the Cuneiform, one of the oldest styles of writing enters history at this time. Cuneiform means “wedge-shaped,” because people wrote it using a reed stylus cut to make a wedge-shaped mark on a clay tablet.

This inscription, now displayed in the British Museum, is known as the Nebuchadnezzar Chronicle. It highlights the conquest of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II and the surrender of Jehoiachin in 597 BCE, stating:

“(Nebuchadnezzar) encamped against the city of Judah and on the second day of the month Adar he captured the city (and) seized (its) king. A king of his own choice he appointed in the city (and) taking the vast tribute he brought it into Babylon.”

Nebuchadnezzar Chronicle
The British Museum, London
© The Trustees of the British Museum

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Overview

Chronicle of Nebuchadnezzar II

“The seventh year... He (Nebuchadnezzar) encamped against the city of Judah (Jerusalem) and on the second day of the month Adar he captured the city (and) seized (its) king. A king of his own choice he appointed in the city (and) taking the vast tribute he brought it into Babylon.”