D. J. Wiseman

This new examination of the region of Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon (605-562 BC) includes revised interpretations of the Babylonian Chronicles for his reign, especially for the years of the campaigns against the West and the capture of Jerusalem. Excavations at Babylon are used to give a view of the city in Neo-Babylonian times, including the royal `Hanging Gardens' and the ziggurat. The varied literary genres current in this city of learning in the sixth century BC (including dreams and prophecies) and the role of hostages, exiles, and prisoners of war are used to throw light on the life of the Jewish exiles there. An assessment of the character of Nebuchadrezzar as a military and political leader, religious devotee and legal administrator is attempted on the basis of textual evidence.

The Schweich Lectures of The British Academy 1983

Nebuchadrezzar and Babylon

J. A. Motyer

Donald Guthrie

Alan M. Stibbs

Introduction and outline of each book of the Bible.

Nuevo Comentario Biblico

A. R Millard

Today, there is renewed interest in the history and traditions of the patriarchal period. Recent publications have sought, among other things, to show that the biblical patriarchs were a literary, even fictional, creation of the first millennium BC, produced to provide the nation of Israel, which came into prominence only then, with "founding fathers." Much of this new writing is helpful in distinguishing what are traditional or speculative interpretations from the basic texts of Genesis. Sometimes archaeological evidence has been adducted in support of the historicity of the patriarchs and their cultural background in the second millennium BC which can no longer be sustained. Sometimes, however, the value of such evidence is ignored or belittled. -- from the preface

Essays on the Patriarchal Narratives

Today, there is renewed interest in the history and traditions of the patriarchal period. Recent publications have sought, among other things, to show that the biblical patriarchs were a literary, even fictional, creation of the first millennium BC, produced to provide the nation of Israel, which came into prominence only then, with founding fathers. Much of this new writing is helpful in distinguishing what are traditional or speculative interpretations from the basic texts of Genesis. Sometimes archaeological evidence has been adducted in support of the historicity of the patriarchs and their cultural background in the second millennium BC which can no longer be sustained. Sometimes, however, the value of such evidence is ignored or belittled. -- from the preface

When Tukulti-Ninurta I had abducted Kashtiliash in fetters to Ashur the way was open once again for direct Assyrian control of Babylonian affairs. Resistance, however, continued and Babylon itself was surrounded, the city-wall being breached by siege-apparatus. Entry was resolutely opposed until the troops had robbed the temples and city treasury. Yet the greatest blow to Babylonian morale was the removal of the statue of Marduk to Ashur as a mark of the complete subjugation of the country to Assyria. According to the Chronicle P ‘Tukulti-Ninurta installed his governors in the land of Babylon and for seven years he gave orders to Babylonia (Karduniash)’. This source lists as the next ruler Adad-shuma-usur whom the Babylonian nobles ‘seated on his father's throne’ after a country-wide rising against their Assyrian overlords. On the other hand, the King List A follows Kashtiliash by three names; Enlil-nādin-shumi, to whom a reign of ‘1 year 6 months’ is ascribed; Kadashman-Kharbe (one year six months) and Adad-shuma-iddina (six years). From this it has been assumed that these were vassal-kings who followed an Assyrian interregnum of seven years for which Tukulti-Ninurta's name was not given for political reasons. However, if the chronological entries are to be interpreted as ‘1 year (that is of) 6 months (only)’ then these rulers comprised the seven years of Tukulti-Ninurta on whose behalf they exercised power. On this theory the Babylonian chronicler, not wishing to acknowledge the Assyrian domination, entered the names of his puppet rulers, much as was later done for Kandalanu and other Babylonians who held similar positions under northern masters.

D. J. Wiseman

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