ANE:The Last Kings of Yehuda and Babylonian Sources/0

The Last Kings of Yehuda and Babylonian Sources

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Biblical Sources

The political events relating to the reigns of the last kings of Yehuda, from Yoshiyahu to Tzidkiyahu, are recounted in Melakhim II 23-25, and in Divrei HaYaMim II 35-36. Many of the prophecies of Yirmeyahu and Yechezkel relate to them as well.  Some of the key events are summarized below:

Yoshiyahu – Tanakh shares almost nothing about Yoshiyahu's foreign affairs, mentioning only that when Paroh Nekho of Egypt  headed towards Assyria, Yoshiyahu fought against him at Megiddo, where Yoshiyahu was killed by the Egyptians.¹ The verses  are obscure, leaving both kings' intentions ambiguous. It is not clear whether Egypt was approaching Assyria as foe or ally. Yoshiyahu's motives in attempting to stop Nekhoh are similarly left unstated.

Yehoachaz – Yehoachaz, Yoshiyahu's second son, is picked by "עַם הָאָרֶץ" to rule after his father's death.  He reigns for a mere three months before he is ousted by Egypt, who replace him with Yoshiyahu's eldest son, Yehoyakim.  Though not explicit, the fact that Yehoyakim was passed over by the nation, yet chosen by Egypt, suggests that he had pro-Egyptian politics, which were not shared by "עַם הָאָרֶץ". Tanakh, however, does not explain why Egypt waited three months before placing a loyal vassal on the throne.

Yehoyakim - Melakhim II 24 shares that in the middle of Yehoyakim's reign, the geo-political picture changed and Yehoyakim became a vassal of Nevuchadnezzer of Bavel rather than Egypt. After three years he rebelled, and was eventually taken prisoner by Bavel.²

Yehoyachin – Yehoyachin, Yehoyakim's son, reigned for only three months before Bavel besieged Yerushalyim, exiling both him and the higher classes. Nevuchadnezzer replaced him with his uncle, Tzidkiyahu.

Babylonian Chronicles

The Babylonian Chronicles are a series of tablets recording major events in Babylonian history, providing important background information for the end of the Monarchic period.

• "The Fall of Nineveh Chronicle" (ABC 3) – This chronicle speaks of the events of  616-608 BCE, during the reign of Nabopolassar.  Most of it focuses on Bavel's attempts to fatally destroy Assyria:
• Fall of Nineveh (612 BCE) – The most significant event of the period is the fall of Nineveh to Bavel in 612 BCE.  This marked the beginning of the end of the Assyrian empire.
• Egyptian-Assyrian alliance (609 BCE) – As the war continued, Egypt attempted to aid Assyria, hoping to prevent the Babylonian empire from succeeding in its conquests and changing the balance of power in the region.  The chronicles relate that in 609, the same year that Yoshiyahu died, Egypt allied with Assyria in a (failed) attempt to retake Charan from Bavel.
• The "Jerusalem Chronicle" (ABC 5) – This chronicles covers the years 605-595 BCE, the last year of Nabopolassar's rule through the 11th year of Nevuchadnezzer. Two events are significant for Biblical studies:
• Battle of Karkemish – In 605 BCE allied forces from Egypt and Assyria fought against Bavel in Karkemish where the two were decisively defeated.  After the battle Assyria ceased to exist as an independent empire and Egypt's power was significantly reduced.
• Siege of Jerusalem – In 598/7 BCE, the 7th year of Nevuchadnezzer's rreign, he besieged Jerusalem and captured the king, replacing him with a loyal vassal.  The Chronicles do not mention either king by name, but refer to Yehoyachin and Tzidkiyahu.

Relationship to Tanakh

The Baylonian history provided by the Chronicles helps elucidate several episodes in  Tanakh:

• Battle of Megiddo - Though the language of Melakhim, "בְּיָמָיו עָלָה פַרְעֹה נְכֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם עַל מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר" seems to imply that Paroh had gone to attack Assyria, from the Chronicles it  becomes obvious that his intent was instead to aid them against Bavel.  It is possible that Yoshiyahu recognized that Bavel was to be the ultimate victor, and preferred to side with them, hoping to be viewed favorably when Bavel assumed power over the region.   In addition, Yoshiyahu knew that if the Assyrian-Egyptian alliance was successful, Egypt would take control over Syria-Paelstine, including Yehudah.
• Delayed appointment of Yehoyakim – Apparently, after defeating Yoshiyahu, Paroh Nekhoh needed to rush to the aid of Assyria and did not have the time to focus on re-organizing Yehuda's administration. This allowed the anti-Egyptian faction in Israel to anoint Yehoachaz.  However, on Paroh's return from the battle against Bavel, just 3 months later,³ he deposes the king and anoints Yehoyakim in his place.
• "בְּיָמָיו עָלָה נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּר מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל" – The verses do not date when it was that Yehoyakim became a vassal to Bavel, but it is likely that this was a direct result of Egypt's defeat in the Battle of Karkemish (605). Egypt lost hegemony in the area, as Tanakh attests: "וְלֹא הֹסִיף עוֹד מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם לָצֵאת מֵאַרְצוֹ כִּי לָקַח מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל מִנַּחַל מִצְרַיִם עַד נְהַר פְּרָת כֹּל אֲשֶׁר הָיְתָה לְמֶלֶךְ מִצְרָיִם."
• Yirmeyahu's prophecy against Egypt – Yirmeyahu 47 constitutes a prophecy of destruction against Egyopt, explicitly mentioning the Battle of Karkemish.

¹ Divrei HaYamim adds that Paroh Nekhoh attempted to prevent the battle, telling Yoshiyahu that he sought war not with Israel, but with others.

² Daniel 1:1-2 also speaks of yehoyakim being taken captive, but dates this to third year of his reign. The verse is difficult for several reasons. As Yirmeyahu 25:1 claims that Nevuchadnezzer first reigned in the fourth year of Yeyokim's reign, he could not have attacked Yehoyakim beforehand.  In addition, if Yeyoakim was already taken prisoner in his third year, how did he reign for 11 years?  This leads Rashi to suggest that the verse refers to the third year of Yehoyakim's rebellion, rather than his reign, which would then identify this event with that described in Divrei HaYamim.

³ The Chronicles date the Egyptian-Assyrian attack to Tammuz, and say that the battle ended in Elul.  This corresponds to the three months of Yehoachaz' reign.