King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia Attacks Jerusalem
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
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.”
In the Bible
At that time (of King Jehoaichin) the troops of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon marched against Jerusalem, and the city came under siege.
"בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא (שֶׁל הַמֶּלֶךְ יְהוֹיָכִין) עָל֗וּ עַבְדֵ֛י נְבֻֽכַדְנֶאצַּ֥ר מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַתָּבֹ֥א הָעִ֖יר בַּמָּצֽוֹר."