TESTED - BUT TRUE TO JEHOVAH! Chapter Three

THE curtain rises in the prophetic book of Daniel at at a time of momentous change on the international scene.  Assyria had just suffered the loss of its capital, Nineveh.  Egypt had been restricted to a position of minor importance south of the land of Judah. And Babylon was rapidly rising as the major power in the struggle for world domination.

In 625 B.C.E., Egyptian Pharaoh Necho made a last-ditch effort to block Babylonian expansion southward.  To that end, he led his army to Carchemish, located  on the banks of the upper Euphrates River.  The battle of Carchemish, as it came to be called, was a decisive, historic event.  The Babylonian Army, led by Crown Prince Nebuchadnezzar, inflicted a devastating blow on Pharaoh Necho's forces. (Jeremiah 46:2) Riding on the momentum of his victory, Nebuchadnezzar swept over Syria and Palestine and, for all practices and purposes, put an end to Egyptian domination in this region.  It was only the death of his father, Nabopolassar, that brought a temporary halt to his campaign.  

The next year, Nebuchadnezzar - now enthroned as king of Babylon-once again turned his attention to his military campaigns in Syria and Palestine. It was during this period that he came to Jerusalem for the first time.  The Bible reports:  "In his days Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came up, and so Jehoiakim became his servant for three years. However, he turned back and rebelled against him." -2 Kings 24:1.

Next time: NEBUCHADNEZZAR IN JERUSALEM

From the book: PAY ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECY! 1999