Writer’s Diary June 2020

The Writer’s Diary is restarting after quite a long absence. However, it helps me to get the research organised and the work done, so here it is. I hope it is also of interest to those who receive it.

There is one niggling plot hole in the series Terror on Every Side! that I am aware of and want to fix. It relates to the introduction of Shaphan to the story as one of the “six mysterious men” in Volume 1 – Early Days, Chapter 9 “Judah’s Nobles”.

I have written about the connections between the Hilkiah’s family and Shaphan’s family several times (including the article “Family friendships”), but when Shaphan is introduced, Jeremiah seems almost completely ignorant of him. I am content that it is reasonably that Jeremiah should not know him well, since he would have spent most of his life growing up in Anathoth, while Shaphan and his family probably lived in Jerusalem. But I feel that he should know more about him. Unfortunately, I had not fully recognised the connection myself before publishing Volume 1.

Since I am about to publish a second edition of Volume 1 to include family trees, maps and a timeline, now seems a good time to change the wording a little to improve things.

The existing text says:

So this was Shaphan, newly appointed secretary to King Josiah. I had seen him briefly last year when Josiah had announced to the crowd his plans to cleanse Jerusalem of all the high places and the images which had still adorned many houses and open places in the city. Shaphan had stood on the platform with King Josiah and passed him the scroll from which he had read his proclamation. He was known as a godly man, loyal and true – just the sort of man Josiah wanted by his side. I too would be very grateful for his loyalty and that of his family in later years.

“Anyway, we wanted to talk to you about your message,” he continued. “We have heard it several times now, and feel that we understand the thrust of your message. We have also made some enquiries about you, Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah. You are the son of a priest to be sure, but can you tell us on what authority you are making these announcements? How can we be sure it is the word of God?”

“Yes, I am Jeremiah,” I said, “the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. The word of Yahweh came to me in the night, just two nights ago. He gave me no sign or miracle to prove I am his messenger. All he gave me was his word, a command that I should not worry about being too young to do the work, and a promise that he would be with me as long as I obeyed.”

“ ‘One of the priests’ – shouldn’t you say the High Priest?” Shaphan’s question was put with a wry smile. “Is that humility on your part, young man, or are you belittling his position? Some of your words have suggested that you don’t have a high opinion of our priests.”

The modifications I have made are shown bold or struck though in the paragraphs below which is intended to end up close to the same length so that pagination in the books is not changed.

So this was Shaphan, newly appointed secretary to King Josiah – and an increasingly close friend of my father’s, although I had never met him personally. I had seen him briefly last year when Josiah had announced to the crowd his plans to cleanse Jerusalem of all the high places and the images which had still adorned many houses and open places in the city. Shaphan had stood on the platform with King Josiah and passed him the scroll from which he had read his proclamation. He was known as a godly man, loyal and true – just the sort of man Josiah wanted by his side. I too would be very grateful for his loyalty and that of his family in later years.

“Anyway, we wanted to talk to you about your message,” he continued. “We have heard it several times now, and feel that we understand the thrust of your message. We have also made some enquiries about you, Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah. You are the son of a priest to be sure, but can you tell us on what authority you are making these announcements? How can we be sure it is the word of God?”

“Yes, I am Jeremiah,” I said, “the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. The word of Yahweh came to me in the night, just two nights ago. He gave me no sign or miracle to prove I am his messenger. All he gave me was his word, a command that I should not worry about being too young to do the work, and a promise that he would be with me as long as I obeyed.”

“ ‘One of the priests’ – shouldn’t you say the High Priest?” Shaphan’s question was put with a wry smile. “Is that humility on your part, young man, or are you belittling his your father’s position? Some of your words have suggested that you don’t have a high opinion of our priests.”

This will satisfy my objections at least, and no readers have complained about it anyway!

Work continues on the final preparations for publishing the second edition in both 9.5pt and 10.5pt variations. This must be ready for publication before the end of June.

Work on “Daniel, Man of Light” continues and I have decided that he needs at least one enemy of roughly his own age from Judah. This person will be popular with people like Immer and will oppose him at various times in Babylon too.

 

Timing in the life of Daniel the prophet is uncertain in many ways since very few events can be tied to times in history, and none at all can be tied to Daniel’s age.

We first hear of Daniel when he was taken into captivity in Daniel 1 but we don’t know what age he was except that he was a youth (Daniel 1:3-6).

In Daniel 1:1 we are told that the siege began in the 3rd year of Jehoiakim, the king of Judah which was the first year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.

In Jeremiah, we are told that Jehoiakim’s 4th year was Nebuchadnezzar’s 1st year (Jeremiah 25:1). Other history suggests that one of Nebuchadnezzar’s first acts as king was to defeat Pharaoh Neco in the Battle of Carchemish which Jeremiah also says was in the 4th year of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 46:2).

This difference is probably explained by the Babylonian method of counting the accession year of a king which is the time between their coronation and the end of the year. The first year of a king’s reign then started with the new calendar year.

Subsequent reference points in Daniel’s life are as follows:

• 3 years’ education (did it not take so long?) (see Daniel 1:5 & 2:1)
• “was there” until 1st year of Cyrus (Daniel 1:21). Probably means in the court.
• 2nd year of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:1)
• the Mede began to reign at 62 (Daniel 5:31)
• 1st year of Belshazzar (Daniel 7:1)
• 3rd year of Belshazzar (Daniel 8:1)
• 1st year of Darius, son of Ahasuerus, the Mede (Daniel 9:1)
• 3rd year of Cyrus (Daniel 10:1)
• 1st year of Darius (Daniel 11:1)

The statement is also made that Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and Cyrus the Persian (Daniel 6:28).

To describe the events of Daniel’s life with confidence and realism, we need to connect the timeline of his life with that of Nebuchadnezzar, so here goes…..

According to archaeology/history/guesswork (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar_II), Nebuchadnezzar was born in about 634BC which meant that he was roughly 29 years old when he became king in 605BC just before the battle of Carchemish.

As well as the details given from Daniel yesterday, we also find some details of events in Nebuchadnezzar’s reign in other places to help us link Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar:

• Nebuchadnezzar went to Jerusalem in 605BC during the 3rd/4th years of Jehoiakim king of Judah (2 Chronicles 36:5) and took away captives, including Daniel and his friends. We know that Daniel was a youth at that time but we do not know his exact age. Let’s assume he was 15-17 (and thus born in 622-620BC, in about the 18th-20th year of Josiah), or 12-14 years younger than Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar also took away vessels from the temple and put them in a temple in Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:7; Ezra 5:14).
• Jehoiakim rebels against Nebuchadnezzar 3 years later (2 Kings 24:1) in the 6th/7th year of Jehoiakim (4th/5th year of Nebuchadnezzar). Daniel 18-20 / Nebuchadnezzar 32.
• 3,023 captives taken in 7th year of Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 52:28). This may be in the same set of events as the next below using different counting methods. Daniel 22-24 / Nebuchadnezzar 36.
• Jehoiakim dies and his son Jeconiah replaces him (2 Kings 24:6; 2 Chronicles 36:8). The time when this happened can be guessed at from context.
• Jeconiah and others taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:10-12) in the 8th year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign (2 Kings 24:12). Daniel 23-25 / Nebuchadnezzar 37.
• Nebuchadnezzar sends for Jeconiah to be taken to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:10; Jeremiah 24:1).
• Nebuchadnezzar makes Jeconiah’s uncle Zedekiah swear an oath of service and then makes him king of Judah (2 Chronicles 36:10-13).
• Jeremiah prophesied that Nebuchadnezzar would take away the rest of the vessels from the temple, but that they would be brought back eventually (Jeremiah 27:19-22).
• Nebuchadnezzar attacks Jerusalem in 9th year of Zedekiah (17th year or Nebuchadnezzar) (2 Kings 25:1; Jeremiah 34:1; 39:1; 52:4). Daniel 32-33 / Nebuchadnezzar 46.
• 832 captives sent to Babylon in 18th year of Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 52:29). Daniel 33-35 / Nebuchadnezzar 47.
• After the fall of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar gave orders that Jeremiah be looked after (Jeremiah 39:11-14).
• Jerusalem destroyed by fire in 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25:8; Jeremiah 52:12). Daniel 34-36 / Nebuchadnezzar 48. Nebuchadnezzar in Riblah for some time (Jeremiah 39:5).
• 745 captives sent to Babylon by Nebuzaradan in 23rd year of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 38-40 / Nebuchadnezzar 52.
• Ezekiel prophesied that Nebuchadnezzar would attack Tyre, particularly the mainland settlements (Ezekiel 26:7-8), but that he would get nothing from it (Ezekiel 29:18), so God would give him Egypt instead (Ezekiel 29:19-20).
• Prophesied that Nebuchadnezzar would attack and defeat Egypt (Jeremiah 40:8-13; 44:30; 46:13, 25-26; Ezekiel 29:19-20; 30:10-12).

After beginning his reign in Jehoiakim’s 3/4th year, we find that Nebuchadnezzar reigned for about 43/44 years. We calculate this from Jeremiah 52:31 which tells us that his son Evil-merodach (Amel Marduk), in the first year of his reign, freed Jeconiah from prison in the 37th year of his exile which began in the 7th/8th year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. It is suggested that Nebuchadnezzar died in about 562BC at the age of 71/72 at which time Daniel would have been about 58-60.

The impression given in the book of Daniel is that Daniel stayed in Babylon from the time he arrived, while Nebuchadnezzar led his army to many different places during his reign, although he was not always with them.
Nebuchadnezzar would have needed to be in the following places in the first 35 years of his reign:

1. Campaign against Assyria and its allies (610-605BC)
2. Returned to Babylon for his coronation (August 605BC)
3. Back to Carchemish for the decisive battle with Egypt and Assyria (605BC)
4. Reinforcing northern borders of empire (about 604-601BC)
5. Reinforcing eastern borders of empire (about 601-598BC)
6. Jerusalem for seige with Jehoiakim/Jeconiah (597BC)
7. In Babylon to put down a rebellion (maybe 595/594BC)
8. Siege and destruction of Jerusalem (588-586BC)
9. Destruction of Jerusalem (586BC)
10. Besieging Tyre (about 586-573BC – Nebuchadnezzar probably not there all of the time)
11. Attacking Egypt (maybe 573BC) [Ed NB: Nebuchadnezzar’s annals affirm his invasion of Egypt in his 37th year (568-567 BC).]

From late in 605BC, Daniel would probably have been in Babylon or nearby. The book of Daniel indicates that there are various times when Nebuchadnezzar was also in Babylon:

• Daniel 1:5, 8, 10 the king appointed the food to be eaten by the captive Judean youths. This would have been in Nebuchadnezzar’s first year after he returned from defeating Jehoiakim.
• Daniel 1:18 Youths presented to Nebuchadnezzar “at the end of the time” (originally specified as 3 years (Daniel 1:5)). Daniel and his 3 friends “stood before” Nebuchadnezzar from that time (Daniel 1:19).
• Daniel 2:1 Nebuchadnezzar has a dream in the second year of his reign and Daniel interprets it. Daniel’s 3 friends promoted in province while he stays in Nebuchadnezzar’s court (Daniel 2:49).
• Daniel 3 Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold in a plain in the province of Babylon (where Daniel’s 3 friends had been appointed). Daniel is not mentioned. His 3 friends refused to bow down to the image and are miraculously saved.
• Daniel 4 Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a tree. Daniel interprets it and warns Nebuchadnezzar to be more humble. One year later, Nebuchadnezzar was boasting, went mad and stayed mad for 7 periods of time (probably 7 years). This is a long time to be incapacitated, yet the dream said that no-one would try to take over the kingdom. This may have happened some time around during the protracted siege of Tyre (586-573BC) or near the end of his life after attacking Egypt (570-562BC). Maybe Daniel was involved in looking after the kingdom during that time. Interestingly, his son and successor, Evil Merodach (Amel Marduk), is said by different ancient historians to have reigned for anywhere between 2 and 23 years. Maybe the uncertainty arises because he was the temporary leader during Nebuchadnezzar’s madness and some records included that time in his reign.

That is the end of Nebuchadnezzar in the Biblical records.

I have looked at the time spent by Daniel and his 3 friends in education in Babylon before to fit the events of Daniel chapters 1 and 2 together and concluded that they must have finished their education much more quickly than was expected.

Now it is necessary to consider the timing of Daniel chapters 3 and 4.

Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon and insisted that everyone nearby should worship it. Daniel is not mentioned at all. It is interesting to note that Daniel’s 3 friends had been promoted in the province of Babylon after God provided the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream while Daniel stayed at the king’s court (Daniel 2:49). These locations seem to explain why Daniel’s 3 friends were involved in this episode, but he wasn’t.

We have no idea of when this happened, but it may well have been somewhere in the years 604-598BC during or after Nebuchadnezzar’s success in extending the empire in various directions.
Daniel 4 includes quite a long period of time and a time which starts with Nebuchadnezzar being extremely proud. This may well be after he had won a particular victory, or simply as the result of ongoing success. Overall, it seems most likely to have happened in the time when his army was besieging Tyre in about 586-573BC.

Worked on tidying up and finalising a table of the book of Jeremiah in chronological order that I wrote a couple of years ago.

Published newsletter with article on a suggested chronological order of Jeremiah. Created a new post with the table (https://www.bibletales.online/chronological-order-of-jeremiah/).

Entered information for ToESVol1 2nd Edition on IngramSpark.

Finished covers for 9.5pt and 10.5 versions of the 2nd Edition.

Worked on putting the actual text of Jeremiah in order using the World English Bible and the table of passages in order. It is a slow process.

More work on creating the text of the book of Jeremiah in chronological order. Copied all of the text up to Chapter 43 into a document. Then need to copy the pericopes from 16 on.

Check print PDFs of Early Days 2nd Edition and make some small corrections in the DOCX of the 10.5pt version and the PDF of the 9.5pt version. Internet speeds are too slow. Leave uploading until tomorrow.

Continued work on the 2nd edition of Terror on Every Side Volume 1 – Early Days. Used the InDesign book templates to generate PDF files for book covers (9.5pt and 10.5pt versions). Generated EPUB file using Calibre. 9.5pt variant needs 4 files: book cover, contents, EPUB and eBook front cover. 10.5pt variant requires 2 files: the cover and the contents. Uploaded all of the files. Now waiting for the proofs.

I have already set the timeline for the story about Daniel, but this exercise in the past week has been intended to confirm that my earlier conclusions were right.

The events and Daniel’s age are shown below.

1. Passover (18th year of Josiah). Massive attendance.
2. Birth of Daniel, his three friends and Ezekiel (about 19th-21st year of Josiah).
3. Feast continue, but national dedication fades.
4. In 30th year, Josiah’s sons: Eliakim (Jehoiakim) about 24 years old (2 Kings 23:36); Jehoahaz about 22 years old (2 Kings 23:31), Zedekiah about 9 years old (2 Kings 24:18). Jehoiakim’s son Jehoiachin/Jeconiah about 6 years old). Daniel, 3 friends and Ezekiel about 9-11 years old.
5. After death of Josiah (reigned 31 years). Daniel & 3 friends plus Ezekiel about 10-12 years old.
6. Jehoahaz reigns 3 months, then Pharaoh Neco deposes him.
7. Jehoiakim’s reign begins. Very different from Josiah.
8. Nebuchadnezzar comes in 4th year. Daniel and 3 friends all about 14-16 years old when taken into captivity.
9. Jeremiah was about 39 years old by that time.
10. Selection and deportation. About 3-5 months travel.
11. Arriving in Babylon: presentation of them as slaves.
12. Food confrontation.
13. Uni and learning. Religious confrontations.
14. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about 1-2 years later when Daniel is 15-18 years old.
15. Rewards, appointments as a result. Still very young.
16. Some time later (1-4 years later): golden statue and Daniel’s friends. Furnace. Daniel’s friends famous while still only about 20 years old. Daniel less so.

Daniel spoke to the kings of Babylon, Media and Persia over a long career in the king’s court.

How should he address the kings?

The Bible gives us quite a few examples to work with – from Daniel and others – in the book of Daniel:

• Daniel 2:4 Chaldeans said to Nebuchadnezzar: “O king, live forever”.
• Daniel 2:7 Chaldeans continue the conversation with Nebuchadnezzar in the third person “Let the king…”.
• Daniel 2:10-11 Chaldeans continue in the third person: “the king’s demand” and “The thing that the king asks…” and “no-one can show it to the king…”.
• Daniel 2:28 Daniel uses the third person when speaking to Nebuchadnezzar: “made known to King Nebuchadnezzar…”.
• Daniel 2:29, 31 & 37 Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar: “O king”.
• Daniel 2:45 Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar: “made known to the king”.
• Daniel 3:9-10, 12 Others to Nebuchadnezzar: “O king, live forever” and “O king”.
• Daniel 3:12 Others to Nebuchadnezzar: “Jews whom you have appointed”.
• Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego say to Nebuchadnezzar: “O Nebuchadnezzar” and “O king” (twice).
• Daniel 3:24 Counsellors to Nebuchadnezzar: “True, O king.”
• Daniel 4:19 Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar: “My lord,…”.
• Daniel 4:22 Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar: “you, O king,…”.
• Daniel 4:23 Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar: “because the king saw…”.
• Daniel 4:24 Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar: “this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king”.
• Daniel 4:25-26 Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar: “that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know…”.
• Daniel 4:26 Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar: “your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know…”.
• Daniel 4:27 Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar: “O king”, “you”, “your” (3 times).
• Daniel 5:10 Queen (mother) to Belshazzar: “O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your colour change.”
• Daniel 5:11-12 Queen (mother) to Belshazzar continues using “you” and “your”. In referring to Nebuchadnezzar, she uses “the king” twice.
• Daniel 5:17 Daniel to Belshazzar: “your”, “yourself”, “your”, “the king”.
• Daniel 5:18 Daniel to Belshazzar: “O king” and also names Nebuchadnezzar.
• Daniel 5:21-28 Daniel to Belshazzar: lots of “you”, “your” and also says “Belshazzar”.
• Daniel 6:6 The presidents and satraps said to Darius: “O King Darius, live forever!”
• Daniel 6:7-8 The presidents and satraps said to Darius: “the king”, “you, O king”, “O king”.
• Daniel 6:12 The presidents and satraps said to Darius: “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”
• Daniel 6:13 The presidents and satraps said to Darius: “pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed”.
• Daniel 6:15: The presidents and satraps said to Darius: “Know, O king,” and “that the king establishes”.
• Daniel 6:21 Daniel to Darius: “O King, live forever”.
• Daniel 6:22 Daniel to Darius: “O King”.

“O king” seems to be the most popular expression, particularly at the start of addressing a king. After that, “you” and suchlike are alright as long as the third person is tossed in from time to time.

Printed copies of the second edition of Terror on Every Side! Volume 1 – Early Days looked good and the paperback is now available in 9.5pt and 10.5pt versions. Work has started on the hard cover version of Volume 1 also.

Need to make the second edition the default version. EPUB/MOBI/AZW3 formats all produced. The PDF is not yet ready. There is also still some existing stock of paperbacks to be disposed of.

Much of the time has been spent in improving the post detailing the chronological ordering of Jeremiah and producing a chronologically ordered version of the text of Jeremiah. Fortunately, there are translations of the Bible that are in the public domain so that I can do this freely and publish the results. Most translations of the Bible are encumbered with claims of copyright – even the King James Version (Authorised Version) which, despite its age is still under special copyright in the United Kingdom (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_James_Version#Copyright_status).

I chose the US edition of the World English Bible (WEB) which is based on the American Standard Version published in 1901 – the American edition of the Revised Version. The World English Bible has been released into the public domain (https://worldenglish.bible).

Back to the timing of the life and times of Daniel the prophet…

As stated before, after beginning his reign in Jehoiakim’s 3/4th year, Nebuchadnezzar reigned for about 43/44 years. We calculate this from Jeremiah 52:31 which tells us that his son Evil-merodach (Amel Marduk), in the first year of his reign, freed Jeconiah from prison in the 37th year of his exile which began in the 7th/8th year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. It is suggested that Nebuchadnezzar died in about 562BC at the age of 71/72 at which time Daniel would have been about 58-60.

The impression given in the book of Daniel is that Daniel stayed in Babylon from the time he arrived, while other records (Kings, Chronicles and Ezekiel) show that Nebuchadnezzar led his army to many different places during his reign, although he was not always with them.

We need to fit Daniel chapters 1 and 2 together. Daniel 1 happens in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar. Using Babylonian reckoning, Nebuchadnezzar’s inaugural year (you might call it year 0, but you could also call it his first year) would have gone from about August 605 until around March/April 604. His first year would then begin and continue until March/April 603. However, all of that time could also have been spoken of as his first year. Assuming that Nebuchadnezzar attacked and defeated Jerusalem before the end of 605BC, Daniel and his friends may well have arrived in Babylon at about the time when his inaugural year was ending. Nebuchadnezzar’s “first year” therefore could have lasted for about 19 or 20 months. Maybe the friends stood before Nebuchadnezzar as part of their first annual review at the end of his “first year”. At that time, Daniel and his friends may have been considered to have already reached the standard necessary to complete their education. From that time, they “stood before” the king in his court. Since Daniel’s 3 friends seem to have gone into the administration of the province of Babylon at the end of chapter 2 (in the second year of the king), it seems likely that the “standing before” Nebuchadnezzar happened before that time.

Let’s combine all of the events and times of the lives of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar and subsequent kings. The following items are probably in chronological order:

• Nebuchadnezzar’s campaign against Assyria and its allies (610-605BC).
• Nabopolassar, Nebuchadnezzar’s father, dies and Nebuchadnezzar returns to Babylon to be crowned king (August 605BC).
• Nebuchadnezzar returns to Carchemish for the decisive Battle of Carchemish against Egypt and Assyria (August/September 605BC).
• Nebuchadnezzar goes to Jerusalem in 605BC during the 3rd/4th years of Jehoiakim king of Judah (2 Chronicles 36:5) and takes away captives, including Daniel and his friends. We know that Daniel was a youth at that time but not his exact age. Let’s assume he was 15-17 (and thus born in 622-620BC, in about the 18th-20th year of Josiah), or 12-14 years younger than Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar also took away vessels from the temple and put them in a temple in Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:7; Ezra 5:14).
• Daniel and his friends arrive in Babylon in early 604BC.
• Daniel 1:5, 8, 10 Nebuchadnezzar appoints the food to be eaten by the captive Judean youths. In Nebuchadnezzar’s first year after he returned from defeating Jehoiakim.
• Nebuchadnezzar reinforces the northern borders of empire (about 604-601BC).
• 3 years’ education specified for Daniel and his friends (did it not take so long?) (see Daniel 1:5 & 2:1).
• Daniel 1:18 Youths presented to Nebuchadnezzar “at the end of the time” (originally specified as 3 years (Daniel 1:5). Daniel and his 3 friends “stood before” Nebuchadnezzar from that time (Daniel 1:19). Suggest that this was around March/April 603BC.
• Daniel 2:1 Nebuchadnezzar has a dream in the second year of his reign and Daniel interprets it (about 603BC).
• Daniel’s 3 friends promoted in province while he stays in Nebuchadnezzar’s court (Daniel 2:49).
• Daniel “was there” until 1st year of Cyrus (Daniel 1:21). Probably means in the court of the king(s).
• Nebuchadnezzar reinforces eastern borders of empire (about 601-598BC).
• Jehoiakim rebels against Nebuchadnezzar after 3 years of service (2 Kings 24:1) in the 6th/7th year of Jehoiakim (4th/5th year of Nebuchadnezzar) (about 600BC). Daniel 18-20 / Nebuchadnezzar 32.
• Daniel 3 Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold in a plain in the province of Babylon (where Daniel’s 3 friends had been appointed). Daniel is not mentioned. His 3 friends refused to bow down to the image and were miraculously saved. (599BC?)
• Nebuchadnezzar goes to besiege Jerusalem while Jehoiakim is king (597BC).
• Jehoiakim dies and his son Jeconiah replaces him (2 Kings 24:6; 2 Chronicles 36:8). The time when this happened can be guessed at from context as occurring during the siege (597BC).
• 3,023 captives taken in 7th year of Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 52:28). This may be in the same set of events as the next below using different counting methods to arrive at the 8th year of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 22-24 / Nebuchadnezzar 36. Ezekiel was probably one of these (Ezekiel 1:1-3).
• Jeconiah and others taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:10-12) in the 8th year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign (2 Kings 24:12). Daniel 23-25 / Nebuchadnezzar 37.
• Nebuchadnezzar “sends for Jeconiah” to be taken to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:10; Jeremiah 24:1). This suggests that Nebuchadnezzar was not near Jerusalem when it was decided that Jeconiah would go to Babylon as a captive.
• Nebuchadnezzar makes Jeconiah’s uncle Zedekiah swear an oath of service and appoints him king of Judah (2 Chronicles 36:10-13).
• Jeremiah prophesied that Nebuchadnezzar would take away the rest of the vessels from the temple, but that they would be brought back eventually (Jeremiah 27:19-22).
• Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon to put down a rebellion (maybe 595/594BC).
• Nebuchadnezzar attacks Jerusalem before withdrawing to meet the threat of an Egyptian army.
• Nebuchadnezzar attacks Jerusalem in 9th year of Zedekiah (17th year or Nebuchadnezzar) (2 Kings 25:1; Jeremiah 34:1; 39:1; 52:4). Daniel 32-33 / Nebuchadnezzar 46.
• Nebuchadnezzar returns to besiege and finally take Jerusalem (588-586BC).
• 832 captives sent to Babylon in 18th year of Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 52:29). Daniel 33-35 / Nebuchadnezzar 47.
• After the fall of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar gave orders that Jeremiah be looked after (Jeremiah 39:11-14).
• Nebuchadnezzar goes to Riblah, blinds Zedekiah and kills his sons along with many leading men and priests. Orders the destruction of Jerusalem (586BC).
• Jerusalem destroyed by fire in 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25:8; Jeremiah 52:12). Daniel 34-36 / Nebuchadnezzar 48. Nebuchadnezzar stayed in Riblah for some time (Jeremiah 39:5).
• Ezekiel prophesied that Nebuchadnezzar would attack Tyre, particularly the mainland settlements (Ezekiel 26:7-8), but that he would get nothing from it (Ezekiel 29:18), so God would give him Egypt instead (Ezekiel 29:19-20).
• Babylon besieges Tyre (about 586-573BC – Nebuchadnezzar probably not there all of the time and the 8 years of Daniel 4 may fit into this time).
• 745 captives sent to Babylon by Nebuzaradan in 23rd year of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 38-40 / Nebuchadnezzar 52.
• It was prophesied that Nebuchadnezzar would attack and defeat Egypt (Jeremiah 40:8-13; 44:30; 46:13, 25-26; Ezekiel 29:19-20; 30:10-12).
• Nebuchadnezzar successfully attacks Egypt (maybe 573BC). [Ed NB: Nebuchadnezzar’s annals affirm his invasion of Egypt in his 37th year (568-567 BC).]
• Daniel 4 Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a tree. Daniel interprets it and warns Nebuchadnezzar to be more humble. One year later, Nebuchadnezzar was boasting, went mad and stayed mad for 7 periods of time (probably 7 years). This is a long time to be incapacitated, yet the dream said that no-one would try to take over the kingdom. This may have happened some time around during the protracted siege of Tyre (586-573BC) or near the end of his life after attacking Egypt (570-562BC). Maybe Daniel was involved in looking after the kingdom during that time. Interestingly, his son and successor, Evil Merodach (Amel Marduk), is said by different ancient historians to have reigned for anywhere between 2 and 23 years. Maybe the uncertainty arises because he was the temporary leader during Nebuchadnezzar’s madness and some records included that time in his reign while others didn’t.
• Death of Nebuchadnezzar (562BC).
• Evil-merodach (Amel Marduk) becomes king and frees Jeconiah(Jeremiah 52:31).
• 1st year of Belshazzar (Daniel 7:1).
• 3rd year of Belshazzar (Daniel 8:1).
• Darius the Mede began to reign at 62 (Daniel 5:31).
• 1st year of Darius, son of Ahasuerus, the Mede (Daniel 9:1).
• 1st year of Darius (Daniel 11:1).
• Daniel in the lions’ den (Daniel 6).
• Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius (Daniel 6:28).
• Cyrus the Persian becomes king and issues decree for return of the Jews in his first year.
• Daniel does not go to Israel with the returning exiles. Why not?
• Daniel prospered during the reign of Cyrus the Persian (Daniel 6:28)
• 3rd year of Cyrus (Daniel 10:1). Daniel had retired from the court by this time (Daniel 1:21).