IN the seventh century, B.C., the sovereignty of western Asia was a matter of the fiercest contention between the monarchies of Egypt and Babylon, and Palestine, being between the two antagonists, did not occupy either an enviable position or one of comfort. On the contrary, the position held by the children of Israel was one of peculiar difficulty; for either the monarch to the north of them, or the one on the south, had to pass through their territory or meet in combat upon it. When, at last, Pharaoh-nechoh moved northward, the Jewish king tried to prevent his passing; but his forces were routed and he himself was slain. The descendants of Abraham thus became the vassals of the Egyptians. About three years later, the Assyrian emperor, Nabopolassar, gave a portion of his great army to his son Nebuchadnezzar, who marched against the Egyptians, defeated them, and drove Pharaoh-nechoh out of Asia. This victory on the part of Nebuchadnezzar was followed by a siege against Jerusalem, which was soon taken. Jehoiakim, who was king at that time, was fettered and carried away to Babylon, together with a few captives and most of the costly vessels that were in the temple. But the young conqueror soon restored the crown to Jehoiakim, retaining him as a vassal to his empire.
Not many years thereafter, the Jewish king rebelled, as did his successor a little later, thus necessitating two expeditions on the part of Nebuchadnezzar, that he might retain the Jews as his subjects. After this, something like quiet reigned for nearly ten years, when the Jewish ruler of that time, Zedekiah, rebelled, bringing upon himself and his subjects a most severe punishment, the victor destroying the holy city and otherwise venting his wrath upon the rebellious Jews. The destruction at this time is summed up by the writer of the Chronicles as follows: "They burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. And them that escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia." It was at this time that Daniel was removed to Babylon, — Daniel, a man "greatly beloved," and who was to become so conspicuous in the history of the wonderful city to which He was carried.
Nebuchadnezzar, who had brought about the destruction of "the pride and glory of the Jews," was an active, vigorous, scheming, unscrupulous man. He rose to his proud preeminence through the crushing force of physical power which he brought to bear upon his rivals; but notwithstanding his success in overcoming his enemies, it may truthfully be said of him that he was a greater builder of cities than general of armies. He built or rebuilt at least a hundred different cities, erected and repaired numerous temples, constructed miles of quays, huge reservoirs, canals, and aqueducts on a scale of grandeur and magnificence surpassing everything of its kind in any other nation, with the possible exception of Egypt. Babylon's hanging gardens were the marvel of the ancients, and comprise one of the seven wonders of the world. But the growth of Nebuchadnezzar's pride kept pace with the greatness and extensiveness of his accomplishments. Added to this, was the worship of colossal graven images, and feats of brutality which in some instances might have been done by the Roman emperor, Nero. Nevertheless, as subsequent history proves, his pride, idolatrous practices, and evil deeds did not sum up the man; for, when the wickedness of his ways was pointed out to him, he seems to have turned readily from evil to good.
