Siege of Jerusalem (597 BC)
Victory by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The siege of Jerusalem (597 BC) was a military campaign carried out by Nebuchadnezzar II, king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, in which he besieged Jerusalem, then capital of the Kingdom of Judah. The city surrendered, and its king Jeconiah was deported to Babylon and replaced by his Babylonian-appointed uncle, Zedekiah. The siege is recorded in both the Hebrew Bible (2 Kings 24:10–16) and the Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar Chronicle.
Siege of Jerusalem | |||||||
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Part of Judah's revolts against Babylon (601–587 BC) | |||||||
The siege of Jerusalem is mentioned in the Early Years of Nebuchadnezzar chronicle (ABC 05) | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Kingdom of Judah | Neo-Babylonian Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Jehoiakim † Jeconiah | Nebuchadnezzar II | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Much fewer | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Many slain, others taken to captivity | Unknown | ||||||
In 601 BC, Nebuchadnezzar II unsuccessfully attempted to take Egypt and was repulsed with heavy losses. Jehoiakim—the king of Judah—seized this opportunity to revolt against Babylonian rule, taking a pro-Egyptian position, despite the strong remonstrances of the prophet Jeremiah.[1][2][3] The circumstances of Jehoiakim’s death are not clear. He was succeeded by his young son, Jeconiah.[4][5]
The Babylonians besieged Jerusalem, and in March 597 BC the city surrendered. Jeconiah, his court and other prominent citizens and craftsmen, were deported to Babylon.[6] This event is considered to be the start of the Babylonian captivity and of the Jewish diaspora. Jeconiah's uncle, Zedekiah, was installed as vassal king of Judah.
A decade later, Zedekiah launched another rebellion against the Babylonians, which was brutally crushed by Nebuchadnezzar II. In 587 BC, a second siege of Jerusalem culminated in the destruction of the city and Solomon's Temple, bringing an end to the Kingdom of Judah.[1]