Name of a Babylonian Official Mentioned in the Bible Found on a Cuneiform Tablet

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The name “Nebosarsekim” was found in this Babylonian cuneiform inscription. According to the Book of Jeremiah, Nebosarsekim was one of the head officers who entered Jerusalem when the walls were breached.

Jeremiah 39:3

‍Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-sarsekim the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.

Nebosarsekim Tablet
The British Museum, London
© The Trustees of the British Museum

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Overview

Nebosarsekim Tablet

This receipt from Sippar reports that Nebosarsekim delivered 1.5 mina of gold to Marduk's temple in 594 BCE.

In the Bible

Jeremiah 39:3

Then all the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-sarsekim (Sarsechim) the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.

יִרְמְיָהוּ ל"ט, ג:

"וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ כֹּ֚ל שָׂרֵ֣י מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֔ל וַיֵּֽשְׁב֖וּ בְּשַׁ֣עַר הַתָּ֑וֶךְ נֵֽרְגַ֣ל שַׂ֠רְאֶצֶר סַֽמְגַּר־נְב֞וּ שַׂר־סְכִ֣ים רַב־סָרִ֗יס נֵֽרְגַ֤ל שַׂרְאֶ֨צֶר֙ רַב־מָ֔ג וְכָ֨ל־שְׁאֵרִ֔ית שָׂרֵ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל. "