Did the Gentile Times start in 607 BC? – Part 2

Arranging Summaries of Key Bible Chapters in Chronological Order:^[1]

Theme Scripture: Luke 1:1-3

Did the Gentiles Times start in 607 BC? That is a question that needs answering carefully and methodically. In our introductory article, we laid the groundwork rules and mapped out the destination of our “Journey of Discovery Through Time”.

Establishing Signposts and Landmarks

In every journey, there are signposts, landmarks, and way pointers. To succeed in reaching the correct destination it is imperative that we follow them in the correct order, otherwise, we could end up lost or at the wrong place. Therefore, before starting on our “Journey of Discovery”, we will need to identify the signposts and landmarks, and their correct order. To cover this subject comprehensively we need to evaluate material from a number of Bible books in depth. In addition, as touched on in our first article, the Book of Jeremiah in particular is grouped by subject, rather than written predominantly in chronological^[2] order. We, therefore, need to extract the signposts (in the form of summaries of key Bible chapters (our source material)) and ensure they are correctly sorted into chronological (or relative time) order. If we do not do this, then it would be very easy to misread the signposts and go in the wrong direction. In particular, it would be easy to go in circles and confuse a signpost with one we already followed and make the assumption it is the same, when it is different because of the surroundings it is in (the context).

One benefit of putting things in chronological or relative time order is that we do not need to worry about assigning modern dates. We only need to record the relationship of one event date to another event date. All those dates or events relating to one King or a line of Kings, put in relative order, can be described as a timeline. We also need to extract the links between different timelines. For example, such as between the Kings of Judah and the Kings of Babylon, and between the Kings of Babylon and the Kings of Medo-Persia. These are described as synchronisms^[3]. An example of a synchronism is Jeremiah 25:1 which links the 4^th year of Jehoiakim, a King of Judah with the 1^st Year of Nebuchadnezzar, a King of Babylon. This means at least some part of the 4^th year of Jehoiakim coincides with or is simultaneous with the 1^st year of Nebuchadnezzar. This enables different and discontinuous timelines to be arranged in the correct relative position time-wise.

It is not just a coincidence that many Bible passages concerning this subject record not only the year but often the month and even the day of the prophecy or the event, such as the year of the reign of the King. For example, Daniel 1:1 opens with the statement “In the third year of the kingship of Je·hoiʹa·kim the king of Judah, Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and proceeded to lay siege to it”. It is therefore possible to build up a considerable picture of the sequence of events solely on this basis. This picture is then able to assist the writer (and any readers) in getting all the important scriptures^[4] in their proper context. This picture of events is also able to act as a reference source (like a map) using a summary of the relevant key Bible Chapters in time order as compiled. The summary that follows was created by using the reference to the dating of events to a month and/or year of a King’s reign found in many chapters and examining the context and contents of other chapters. The result of this compilation follows in abbreviated form.

The diagram below is a simplified diagram of the succession of Kings for this period constructed in the main from the Bible record. Those Kings with a bold frame are mentioned in the Bible text. The remaining ones are those known from secular sources.

Figure 2.1 – Simplified Succession of Kings of the Period – Neo-Babylonian Empire.

Figure 2.2 – Simplified Succession of Kings of the Period – Post Babylon.

These summaries are ordered in time of writing as much as is practical, while dealing with whole chapters, using the information within the chapter, or events which are referred to, which can be assigned a time based on the same event mentioned in another book or chapter which does have a time reference and the same context to the event which makes it clearly identifiable.

Conventions followed:

• Verse numbers are in brackets (1-14) and those in bold (15-18) indicate an important point.
• Time Periods with years in brackets such as “(3^th to 6^th Year of Jehoiakim?) (Crown Prince + 1^st to 3^rd Year Nebuchadnezzar)” indicate calculated years. These are based on events in this chapter matching or clearly continuing on as part of one narrative following other chapters which are clearly dated.
• (Important Point: the original text was not separated into chapters as we know them today until the 12^th Century (AD) by Stephen Langton in the Latin Vulgate. However, some form of chapter division existed in manuscripts dating back to the 4^th Century (AD. Verses were added starting in 1551 by Robert Estienne (a.k.a. Stephanus). Thus the chapters as we have them are somewhat artificial, and the text has to be examined to see the change of time and/or topic)
• Time Periods with years not in brackets such as “Fourth (4th) year of Jehoiakim, 1^st Year of Nebuchadrezzar” shows both years are mentioned in the Bible text and hence are a solid, reliable synchronism. This synchronism is a matching of regnal years between two Kings, Jehoiakim and Nebuchadnezzar. Therefore any events stated as occurring in the 4^th year of Jehoiakim in other scriptures could be said to have also occurred in the 1^st Year of Nebuchadnezzar because of this link, and vice-versa, any event stated or linked to the 1^st year of Nebuchadnezzar could be said to have occurred in the 4^th year of Jehoiakim.

Let us make a start on our journey of discovery.

Summary of Isaiah 23

Time Period: Written after the attack of King Sargon of Assyria on Ashdod (c. 712 BCE)

Main Points:

• (1-14) Pronouncement against Tyre. Jehovah to cause the downfall of Tyre and use Chaldeans (Babylonians) to cause destruction and ruination.
• (15-18) Tyre to be forgotten for 70 years before being allowed to rebuild itself.

Summary of Jeremiah 26

Time Period: Beginning of rule of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 26:1, Before Jeremiah 24 and 25).

Main Points:

• (1-7) Plea to Judah to listen because of the calamity Jehovah is intending to bring.
• (8-15) Prophets and Priests turn against Jeremiah for prophesying doom and want to put him to death.
• (16-24) Princes and people defend Jeremiah on basis that he is prophesying for Jehovah and some older men speak on behalf of Jeremiah, giving examples of the same message from previous prophets.

Summary of Jeremiah 27

Time Period: Beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, (Jeremiah 27:1) Repeats Message to Zedekiah (Jeremiah 27:12, Same as Jeremiah 24).

Main Points:

• (1-4) Yoke bars and Bands sent to Edom, Moab, sons of Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon.
• (5-7) Jehovah has given all these lands to Nebuchadnezzar, they will have to serve him and successors, until the time of his land comes.
• (5-7) … I have given it to whom it has proved right in my eyes, … even the wild beasts of the field I have given him to serve him. (See Jeremiah 28:14 and Daniel 2:38^[5]).
• (8) Nation that does not serve Nebuchadnezzar will be finished off with sword, famine, and pestilence.
• (9-10) Do not listen to false prophets who are saying ‘you will not have to serve the King of Babylon’.
• (11-22) Keep serving the King of Babylon and you will not suffer devastation.
• (12-22) The message of the first 11 verses repeated to Zedekiah at a later date.

Verse 12 as v1-7, Verse 13 as v8, Verse 14 as v9-10,

Remainder of temple utensils to go to Babylon if Zedekiah does not serve Nebuchadnezzar.

Summary of Daniel 1

Time Period: Third (3^rd) year of Jehoiakim. (Daniel 1:1)

Main Points:

• (1) In the 3^rd Year of Jehoiakim, King Nebuchadnezzar comes and lays siege to Jerusalem.
• (2) At a future time, (likely Jehoiakim’s 4^th year), Jehovah gives Jehoiakim over to Nebuchadnezzar and some of the utensils of the temple. (See 2 Kings 24, Jeremiah 27:16, 2 Chronicles 35:7-10)
• (3-4) Daniel and his friends taken to Babylon

Summary of Jeremiah 25

Time Period: Fourth (4th) year of Jehoiakim, 1^st Year of Nebuchadrezzar^[6]. (Jeremiah 25:1; 7 years before ).

Main Points:

• (1-7) Warnings have been given for the previous 23 years, but no note was taken.
• (8-10) Jehovah bringing Nebuchadnezzar against Judah and surrounding nations to destroy, make object of astonishment, devastated.
• (11)^[7] Nations will have to serve Babylon for 70 years.
• (12) When seventy years have been fulfilled, King of Babylon will be called to account, Babylon to become a desolate waste.
• (13-14) servitude and destruction of nations will happen for certainty because of Judah and the nations’ actions in disobeying warnings.
• (15-26) Cup of wine of Jehovah’s rage to be drunk by Jerusalem and Judah – make them a devastated place, an object of astonishment, whistle at, malediction – (as at time of Jeremiah writing the prophecy^[8]). Pharaoh, Kings of Uz, Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, Ashdod, Edom, Moab, Sons of Ammon, Kings of Tyre and Sidon, Dedan, Tema, Buz, Kings of the Arabs, Zimri, Elam, and Medes.
• (27-38) No escape from Jehovah’s judgment.

Summary of Jeremiah 46

Time Period: 4^th Year of Jehoiakim. (Jeremiah 46:2)

Main Points:

• (1-12) Records Battle between Pharaoh Necho and King Nebuchadrezzar at Carchemish in 4^th year of Jehoiakim.
• (13-26) Egypt to lose to Babylon, to be prepared for devastation by Nebuchadrezzar. Egypt would be given into the hands of Nebuchadrezzar and his servants for a period of time, and later she would have residents once again.

Summary of Jeremiah 36

Time Period: 4^th Year of Jehoiakim. (Jeremiah 36:1), 5^th Year of Jehoiakim. (Jeremiah 36:9)

Main Points:

• (1-4) 4^th year of Jehoiakim Jeremiah commanded to write down all the prophecies and proclamations he had made since the days of Josiah in the hope they would repent, and Jehovah would be able to forgive them.
• (5-8) Baruch reads what he had recorded of Jeremiah’s proclamations at the temple.
• (9-13) 5^th year of Jehoiakim (9^th Month) Baruch repeats the reading at the temple.
• (14-19) Princes get a private reading of Jeremiah’s words.
• (20-26) Jeremiah’s scrolls read before the King and all the Princes. They were then thrown into the brazier and burnt. Jehovah keeps Jeremiah and Baruch hidden from the King’s anger.
• (27-32) Jehovah tells Jeremiah to write a fresh copy, and Jehoiakim’s lack of burial at death foretold. Jehovah promises to bring Jehoiakim and his supporters to account for their actions.

Summary of 2 Kings 24

Time Period: (4^th to 7^th Year of Jehoiakim?) (1^st to 4^th Year Nebuchadnezzar), (11^th year Jehoiakim (2 Kings 24:8)), (8^th Nebuchadnezzar), 3 months reign of Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:8) and reign of Zedekiah.

Main Points:

• (1-6) Jehoiakim serves Nebuchadnezzar 3 years, then rebels (against Jeremiah’s warnings).
• (7) Babylon ruled from the Torrent Valley of Egypt to the Euphrates by the end of this period.
• (8-12) (11^th Year of Jehoiakim), Jehoiachin rules for 3 months during siege by Nebuchadnezzar (8^th Year).
• (13-16) Jehoiachin and many others were taken to exile in Babylon. 10,000 taken, only lowly class remaining. 7,000 were valiant men, 1,000 craftsmen.
• (17-18) Nebuchadnezzar puts Zedekiah on the throne of Judah who rules for 11 years.
• (19-20) Zedekiah was a bad king and rebelled against the King of Babylon.

Summary of Jeremiah 22

Time Period: Late in the reign of Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 22:18, Reigned 11 Years,).

Main Points:

• (1-9) Warning to render Justice if he is to remain king. Disobedience and failing to exercise justice will lead to end of the house of King of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem.
• (10-12) Told not to weep for Shallum (Jehoahaz) who will die in exile in Egypt.
• (13-17) Repeats warning to exercise justice.
• (18-23) Jehoiakim’s death and lack of dignified burial are foretold, because of not listening to Jehovah’s voice.
• (24-28) Coniah (Jehoiachin) warned of his future. He would be given into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar and go into exile with his mother and die in exile.
• (29-30) Jehoiachin would go down as ‘childless’ because none of his offspring would rule on the throne of David and in Judah.

Summary of Jeremiah 17

Time Period: Not exactly clear. Potentially late in the reign of Josiah, but definitely at the latest by early in the reign of Zedekiah. Base on the references to the ignoring of the Sabbath it could be in the reign of Jehoiakim or the reign of Zedekiah.

Main Points:

• (1-4) Jews will have to serve their enemies in a land they have not known.
• (5-11) Encouraged to trust in Jehovah, who would then bless them. Warning about the treacherous heart of man.
• (12-18) All those hearing and ignoring Jehovah’s warnings will be put to shame. Jeremiah prays that shame will not fall on him, as he has trusted in and obeyed Jehovah’s requests and has been honest with Jehovah.
• (19-26) Jeremiah told to warn the Kings of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem in particular to obey the Sabbath Law.
• (27) Consequences of not obeying the Sabbath would be the destruction of Jerusalem by fire.

Summary of Jeremiah 23

Time Period: Likely Early in the reign of Zedekiah. (Jeremiah 23:7) (Likely with Jeremiah 24, Zedekiah Reigned 11 Years)

Main Points:

• (1-2) Woe to Shepherds, abusing and scattering the sheep of Israel / Judah.
• (3-4) Remnant of sheep to be gathered back with good shepherds.
• (5-6) Prophesy about Jesus.
• (7-8) Exiles will return. (Those already taken with Jehoiachin)
• (9-40) Warning: Do not listen to false prophets whom Jehovah did not send.

Summary of Jeremiah 24

Time Period: Very Early in Reign of Zedekiah when the deportation of Jehoiachin (a.k.a. Jeconiah), princes, craftsmen, builders, etc., had just finished. (Jeremiah 24:1) (Same as Jeremiah 27, 7 Years after Jeremiah 25).

Main Points:

• (1-3) Two Baskets of figs, good and bad (not edible).
• (4-7) Exiles that have been sent away are like good figs, will return from exile.^[9]
• (8-10) Zedekiah, princes, the remnant of Jerusalem, those in Egypt are bad figs – will get sword famine, pestilence until finished off.

Summary of Jeremiah 28

Time Period: 4^th Year of the reign of Zedekiah (Jeremiah 28:1, Just after as Jeremiah 24 and 27).

Main Points:

• (1-17) Hananiah prophesies that exile (of Jehoiachin et al) will end within 2 years, Jeremiah reminds all that Jehovah has said it will not. Hananiah dies within two months, as prophesied by Jeremiah.
• (11) Hananiah’s false prophecy that Jehovah would “break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon within two full years more from off the neck of all the nations.”
• (14) Yoke of iron to replace Yoke of wood put on the neck of all nations, to serve Nebuchadnezzar, they must serve him, even wild beasts of the field I will give him. (See Jeremiah 27:6 and Daniel 2:38^[10]).

Summary of Jeremiah 29

Time Period: (4^th Year of Zedekiah due to events following on from Jeremiah 28)

Main Points:

• Letter sent to Exiles with Zedekiah’s messengers to Nebuchadnezzar with Instructions.
• (1-4) Letter sent by the hand of Elasah to Judean Exiles (of the Jehoiachin Exile) in Babylon.
• (5-9) Exiles to build houses there, plant gardens, etc. because they would be there some time.
• (10) In accord with fulfilling of 70 years for Babylon I shall turn my attention and bring them back.
• (11-14) If they would pray and seek Jehovah, then he would act and return them. (See Daniel 9:3, 1 Kings 8:46-52^[11]).
• (15-19) The Jews not in exile will be pursued by sword, famine, pestilence, as they are not listening to Jehovah.
• (20-32) A message to the Jews in exile – do not listen to prophets saying you will return soon.

Summary of Jeremiah 51

Time Period: 4^th Year of Zedekiah (Jeremiah 51:59, Events following Jeremiah 28 & 29)

Main Points:

• Letter sent to Exiles in Babylon with Seraiah.
• (1-5) Destruction of Babylon foretold.
• (6-10) Babylon beyond healing.
• (11-13) Fall of Babylon at the hand of the Medes foretold.
• (14-25) The cause of Babylon’s destruction is their treatment of Judah and Jerusalem (e.g., destruction and exile of Jehoiachin, which had recently taken place.
• (26-58) More details on how Babylon will fall to the Medes.
• (59-64) Instructions were given to Seraiah to pronounce these prophecies against Babylon when he reaches there.

Summary of Jeremiah 19

Time Period: Just before the final siege of Jerusalem (9^th Year Zedekiah from events, 17^th Year of Nebuchadnezzar)^[12]

Main Points:

• (1-5) Warning to Kings of Judah of calamity because they have and are worshipping Baal and have filled Jerusalem with the blood of innocent ones.
• (6-9) Jerusalem will be the object of astonishment, its inhabitants will resort to cannibalism.
• (10-13) A Pot was broken in front of witnesses to show how the city of Jerusalem and its people would be broken.
• (14-15) Jeremiah repeats the warning of calamity on Jerusalem and its cities because they have hardened their neck.

Summary of Jeremiah 32

Time Period: 10^th Year of Zedekiah, 18^th Year of Nebuchadnezzar^[13], during the siege of Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 32:1)

Main Points:

• (1-5) Jerusalem under siege.
• (6-15) Purchase by Jeremiah of Land from his uncle to signify Judah would return from exile. (See Jeremiah 37:11,12 – while siege temporarily lifted while Nebuchadnezzar dealt with Egyptian threat)
• (16-25) Prayer of Jeremiah to Jehovah.
• (26-35) Destruction of Jerusalem confirmed.
• (36-44) Return from exile promised.

Summary of Jeremiah 34

Time Period: During the siege of Jerusalem (10^th – 11^th Year of Zedekiah, 18^th – 19^th Year of Nebuchadnezzar, based on events following on from Jeremiah 32 and Jeremiah 33).

Main Points:

• (1-6) Fiery destruction for Jerusalem foretold.
• (7) Only Lachish and Azekah remain of all fortified cities that had not fallen to King of Babylon.^[14]
• (8-11) Liberty proclaimed to servants in accord with 7^th Year Sabbath Year but soon retracted.
• (12-21) Reminded of the law of liberty and told would be destroyed for this.
• (22) Jerusalem and Judah would be made desolate.

Summary of Ezekiel 29

Time Period: 10^th month 10^th Year Jehoiachin’s Exile (Ezekiel 29:1, 10^th Year Zedekiah), and 27^th Year Jehoiachin’s Exile (Ezekiel 29:17, 34^th Regnal Year Nebuchadnezzar).

Main Points:

• (1-12) Egypt to be desolated and uninhabited for 40 years. Egyptians to be scattered.
• (13-16) Egyptians to be gathered back and will never again dominate other nations.
• (17-21) 27^th Year of Jehoiachin’s exile, Ezekiel prophesies that Egypt is to be given as plunder to Nebuchadnezzar.

Summary of Jeremiah 38

Time Period: (10^th or 11^th Year) of Zedekiah, (18^th or 19^th Year of Nebuchadnezzar^[15]), during the siege of Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 38:16)

Main Points:

• (1-15) Jeremiah put in a cistern for prophesying destruction, rescued by Ebed-Melech.
• (16-17) Jeremiah tells Zedekiah if he goes out to Babylonians, he will live, and Jerusalem will not be burned with fire. (destroyed, devastated)
• (18-28) Zedekiah secretly meets Jeremiah, but afraid of Princes so does nothing. Jeremiah under protective custody until the fall of Jerusalem.

Summary of Jeremiah 21

Time Period: (9^th to 11^th Year of Zedekiah), (17^th to 19^th Year of Nebuchadnezzar^[16]), during the siege of Jerusalem.

• Most Inhabitants of Jerusalem will die and the remainder including Zedekiah would be given into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

Summary of Jeremiah 39

Time Period: 9^th (Jeremiah 39:1) to 11^th (Jeremiah 39:2) Year of Zedekiah, (17^th to 19^th Year of Nebuchadnezzar^[17]), during the siege of Jerusalem.

Main Points:

• (1-7) Start of Siege of Jerusalem, escape and capture of Zedekiah.
• (8-9) Jerusalem burnt.
• (11-18) Nebuchadnezzar gives orders to rescue Jeremiah and Ebed-Melech given freedom.

Summary of Jeremiah 40

Time Period: 7^th to 8^th month 11^th Year Zedekiah (deposed), (19^th Year Nebuchadnezzar).(Follows on from Jeremiah 39)

Main Points:

• (1-6) Jeremiah allowed to choose where to live by Nebuzaradan (Nebuchadnezzar’s chief of the Bodyguard)
• (7-12) Jews gather to Gedaliah at Mizpah. Jews from Moab, Ammon, and Edom, etc. came to Gedaliah to care for the land.
• (13-16) Gedaliah warned of an assassination plot instigated by the King of sons of Ammon.

Summary of 2 Kings 25

Time Period: 9^th (2 Kings 25:1) to 11^th (2 Kings 25:2) Year of Zedekiah, (17^th to) 19^th (2 Kings 25:8) Year of Nebuchadnezzar^[18], during and immediately after the siege of Jerusalem.

Main Points:

• (1-4) Siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar from 9^th to 11^th year of Zedekiah.
• (5-7) Chase and capture of Zedekiah.
• (8-11) 19^th year of Nebuchadnezzar, Jerusalem, and Temple burned with fire, walls destroyed, exile for most remaining.
• (12-17) Lowly people left, Temple treasures remaining from the time of Jehoiachin taken to Babylon.
• (18-21) Priests Killed.
• (22-24) A small remnant left under Gedaliah.
• (25-26) The assassination of Gedaliah.
• (27-30) Release of Jehoiachin by Evil-Merodach in 37^th year of Exile.

Summary of Jeremiah 42

Time Period: (Approximately 8^th month 11^th Year Zedekiah (now deposed), 19^th Year Nebuchadnezzar), soon after the murder of Gedaliah.

Main Points:

• (1-6) Remnant in Judah ask Jeremiah to enquire of Jehovah and promise to obey Jehovah’s reply.
• (7-12) The reply given by Jehovah was to remain in the land of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar would not attack or remove them.
• (13-18) Warning was given that if they disobeyed Jehovah’s answer and instead went to Egypt then the destruction they feared, would find them there in Egypt.
• (19-22) Because they had asked Jehovah and then ignored his answer, they would be destroyed in Egypt.

Summary of Jeremiah 43

Time Period: Likely a month or so after the murder of Gedaliah and flight of remnant to Egypt. (19^th Year of Nebuchadnezzar)

Main Points:

• (1-3) Jeremiah was accused of falsehood by the people in giving instructions not to go to Egypt.
• (4-7) Remnant ignore Jeremiah and arrive in Tah’panhes in Egypt.
• (8-13) Jeremiah prophesies to Jews in Tah’panhes that Nebuchadnezzar will come there and destroy them and strike the land of Egypt, destroying their temples.

Summary of Jeremiah 44

Time Period: Likely a month or so after the murder of Gedaliah and flight of remnant to Egypt. (19^th Year of Nebuchadnezzar)

Main Points:

• (1-6) ‘today they [Jerusalem and cities of Judah] are in ruins, without an inhabitant. It is because of the evil things they did to offend me [Jehovah] … ’
• (7-10) Warns of calamity if they (Jews) continue in their wayward course.
• (11-14) The remnant that fled to Egypt would die there, by Jehovah’s punishment with only a handful of escapees.
• (15-19) All the Jewish men and women living in Pathros, Egypt, say they will continue sacrificing to the Queen of heaven, because they had no problems when they did that.
• (20-25) Jeremiah says it is precisely because they made those sacrifices that Jehovah brought the calamity upon them.
• (26-30) Only a few will escape the sword and return from Egypt to Judah. They will have to know whose word has come true, Jehovah’s or theirs. The sign that this will happen is the giving of Pharaoh Hophra^[19] into the hands of his enemies.

Figure 2.3 – From the Start of Babylonian World Power to 19^th Year Jehoiachin’s Exile.

Figure 2.4 – From 19^th Year Jehoiachin’s Exile to the Fall of Babylon to Cyrus and Darius the Mede.

Explanatory Notes on Figure 2.3/2.4

These charts are to give an overview of the main events we will be considering and how the regnal years fit in the current secular dating framework. This will help us to see if the existing secular timeline of the main events in the Bible record of this time are correct (as opposed to Julian calendar year number).

This section of summaries of relevant Bible chapters is concluded in our 3^rd article in the series, continuing on from the 19^th year of Jehoiachin’s Exile.

Please continue with us in our Journey of Discovery to ensure God is found true … Continue with part 3.

Click here if you missed Part 1

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Reference

1. Arranged chronologically as far as possible according to time written as recorded in the Bible text. ↑
2. “Chronologically” means “in a way that follows the order in time in which events or records occurred” ↑
3. “Synchronisms” means co-incidence in time, contemporaneous, simultaneous. ↑
4. All scriptures quoted are from the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures 1984 Reference Edition unless otherwise stated. ↑
5. Daniel 2:36-38 ‘This is the dream, and its interpretation we shall say before the king. You, O King, the king of kings, you to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the might and the strength and the dignity and into whose hand he has given, wherever the sons of mankind are dwelling, the beasts of the field and the winged creatures of the heavens, and whom he has made ruler over all of them, you yourself are the head of gold.’ ↑
6. In the Book of Jeremiah, the years of Nebuchadnezzar appears to be counted as per Egyptian reckoning. (This is likely because of the Egyptian influence around the end of King Josiah’s reign and into Jehoiakim’s reign and that Jeremiah completed writing his book in exile in Egypt.) Egyptian reckoning for Kings did not have a concept of regnal years like the Babylonians and did not have an accession year as year 0, but rather as a partial year One. Hence when reading Year 1 Nebuchadnezzar in Jeremiah this is understood to be equivalent to Year 0 Babylonian Regnal Year as found on cuneiform tablets. Any quotation from the Bible will use the Biblical Year recorded (or calculated). For reading any secular documents recording cuneiform data for Nebuchadnezzar we therefore need to deduct 1 Year from Nebuchadnezzar’s Biblical year of reign to obtain his cuneiform Babylonian Regnal Year Number. When we do this all years of Nebuchadnezzar in cuneiform tablets are able to match up with the Bible years of Jeremiah. Neither are wrong, just different perspectives. ↑
7. Scripture verses in BOLD are key verses. All scriptures will be discussed in detail later. ↑
8. See later discussion of Jeremiah 25:15-26 in the Section: Analysis of Key Scriptures. ↑
9. Jeremiah 24:5 NWT Reference 1984 Edition: “Like these good figs, so I shall regard the exiles of Judah, whom I will send away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans, in a good way”. The NWT 2013 Edition (Grey) “whom I have sent away from this place”. This revision means the NWT now agrees with all other translations and shows Jehovah through Jeremiah was referring to those who had just been taken into exile with Jehoiachin, as Nebuchadnezzar put Zedekiah on the throne. ↑
10. See Previous Footnote for Daniel 2:38. ↑
11. See 1 Kings 8:46-52. See Part 4, Section 2, “Earlier Prophecies Fulfilled by the events of the Jewish Exile and return”. ↑
12. See Previous footnote (vi) re Years of Nebuchadnezzar. Year 17 = Regnal Year 16. ↑
13. See Previous footnote (vi) re Years of Nebuchadnezzar. Year 18 = Regnal Year 17. ↑
14. Additional summary of Lachish Letters translation and background available from the author. ↑
15. See Previous footnote (vi) re Years of Nebuchadnezzar. Biblical Reign Year 19 = Babylonian Regnal Year 18. ↑
16. See Previous footnote (vi) re Years of Nebuchadnezzar. Biblical Reign Year 19 = Babylonian Regnal Year 18, Biblical Year 18 = Babylonian Regnal Year 17, Biblical Year 17 = Babylonian Regnal Year 16. ↑
17. See Previous footnote (vi) re Years of Nebuchadnezzar. Year 19 = Regnal Year 18, Year 18 = Regnal Year 17, Year 17 = Regnal Year 16. ↑
18. See Previous footnote (vi) re Years of Nebuchadnezzar. Year 19 = Regnal Year 18, Year 18 = Regnal Year 17, Year 17 = Regnal Year 16. ↑
19. It is understood that the 3^rd Year of Pharaoh Hophra was the 18^th Babylonian Regnal Year of Nebuchadnezzar. Pharaoh Hophra was defeated (by Nebuchadnezzar and Ahmose) and replaced in Hophra’s 19^th year, some 16 years later, equivalent to 34^th Babylonian Regnal Year of Nebuchadnezzar. This was the same year as the prophecy of Ezekiel 29:17 where Nebuchadnezzar would be given Egypt as recompense for Tyre. ↑