Nebuchadnezzar (נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר, nevukhadnetstsar; נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר, nevukhadretstsar; in Jeremiah and Ezekiel). Second king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, who reigned for 43 years (605–562 bc). He succeeded his father, Nabopolassar, and was followed by his son, Evil-Merodach. He is sometimes referred to as “Nebuchadnezzar II” to distinguish him from a 12th-century bc Babylonian king of the same name.

In the Old Testament, Nebuchadnezzar is best known for conquering Jerusalem and initiating the Babylonian exile, and as the Babylonian king in the book of Daniel. In addition to the biblical writings, an important contemporary source for Nebuchadnezzar is the Babylonian Chronicle, which narrates the first 11 years of his reign (Glassner, Mesopotamian Chronicles, 228–31).

Nebuchadnezzar was the son of Nabopolassar, the founder of what later came to be called the Chaldean or Neo-Babylonian dynasty. While he was still crown prince, Nebuchadnezzar gained prestige as a military commander by defeating the Egyptians under Pharaoh Neco at the Battle of Carchemish (2 Kgs 24:7; 2 Chr 35:20; Jer 46:2). This battle, which occurred in the spring of 605 bc, brought Syria and Phoenicia under Babylonian control. After his father’s death in August of that year, Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon to become king.

Nebuchadnezzar spent the next several years campaigning in the west, and he subjugated Judah and its king, Jehoiakim, during this time (2 Kgs 24:1). In 601 bc, he fought Egypt again but suffered setbacks, being forced to return to Babylon and spend a year strengthening his army. This led to uprisings in Babylon’s conquered territories, including Judah (2 Kgs 24:1–2). In 598–597 bc, Nebuchadnezzar fought against Jerusalem, at which time Jehoiakim either died or was taken by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon (2 Kgs 24:6; 2 Chr 36:6–7; for more details see the article Jehoiakim, King of Judah). Three months later, Nebuchadnezzar deported Jehoiakim’s son Jehoiachin to Babylon, and left Jehoiachin’s uncle Zedekiah as a puppet ruler (2 Kgs 24:10–17; 2 Chr 36:9–10). Many prominent residents of Judah were deported at this time, including the prophet Ezekiel (2 Kgs 24:14–16; Ezek 1:1–3). It is possible that Daniel and his companions were also brought to Babylon at this time, though some date this event to Nebuchadnezzar’s initial subjugation of Judah in 605 bc instead (Dan 1:1; cf. Jer 25:1). In 589, Zedekiah rebelled. Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem for a final time, conquering it, destroying the temple, and carrying the people into exile in 586 bc.

In Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar gained a reputation as a great builder. He is credited by the Babylonian priest Berossus (ca. 290 bc) with creating the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world (cited in Josephus, Against Apion 1.134–41). One example of his building projects is the Ishtar Gate, which was excavated in the early 20th century and reconstructed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 bc and was succeeded by his son, Evil-Merodach.