2001 Translation

612 BC

Fall of Nineveh

Babylonians, allied with Medes and Scythians, capture and destroy Nineveh, the Assyrian capital. This event fulfills prophecies of Nahum and marks the end of Assyrian dominance.

Nahum 1-3

609 BC

Fall of Harran

The last Assyrian stronghold falls to Babylonian and Median forces. Ashur-uballit II, the final Assyrian king, disappears from history. This marks the definitive end of the Assyrian Empire after more than a millennium of dominance.

The Babylonian Empire is now the dominant superpower in the ancient Near East and will remain so for the next 70 years.

Jeremiah 25:11-12; Jeremiah 29:10; Daniel 9:1-2

605 BC

Battle of Carchemish

Nebuchadnezzar II defeats Egyptian forces at Carchemish, establishing Babylonian dominance over the Levant.

Nebuchadnezzar becomes Babylonian king.

Jeremiah 46:2

604 BC

Judah Becomes Vassal State

Jehoiakim of Judah submits to Babylonian authority and begins paying tribute to Nebuchadnezzar.

2 Kings 24:1; Josephus, Antiquities 10.6.1

602 BC

Judah Rebels Against Babylon

After serving as Nebuchadnezzar’s vassal for three years, King Jehoiakim rebels against Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar’s army comes and takes Jehoiakim away to Babylon in chains.

Also, Nebuchadnezzar takes away some of the sacred objects from the temple.

Later, at some unspecified time, Daniel and other Judean nobles are recruited for training in Babylon. This is not one of the mass deportations, but rather a program only for the most elite young Judean men.

2 Kings 24:1; 2 Chronicles 36:5-7; Daniel 1:1-2

597 BC

First Siege of Jerusalem; First Deportation

Captured Jehoiakim dies in Babylon, so back in Judah, his son Jehoiachin automatically becomes king.

However, after just 3 months of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem. Jehoiachin surrenders and is taken to Babylon along with about 10,000 other captives, including Ezekiel. More Temple treasures and palace wealth are carried off to Babylon.

The Babylonians then take Jehoiachin’s uncle, MatThaniAh, rename him Zedekiah, and install him as king instead.

2 Kings 24:10-17; 2 Chronicles 36:9-10; Ezekiel 1:1-3; Jeremiah 29:1-2

593 BC

False Prophets Promise Quick Return

While Jeremiah warns of a long exile, false prophets in both Jerusalem and Babylon predict a quick return of the exiles and the Temple treasures. Jeremiah sends a letter to the exiles telling them to settle in Babylon for the long term.

Jeremiah 28:1-17; Jeremiah 29:1-23

589 BC

An Attack on Jerusalem

Pharaoh’s army marches out from Egypt, presumably in an attempt to assert control over Judah or the region in general. In response, Nebuchadnezzar attacks and possibly lays siege to Jerusalem, perhaps to ensure it will not rebel, but soon the Babylonians withdraw to meet Pharaoh’s army.

However, Jeremiah prophesied that the Egyptians would retreat and the Babylonians would later return to destroy Jerusalem. This earlier, brief siege marks the start of the 70 years of rage (Jeremiah 37:5-8).

588 BC

Zedekiah’s Rebellion

Despite Jeremiah’s warnings, Zedekiah rebels against Babylon, allying with Egypt’s Pharaoh Hophra.

Jeremiah 37:1-10; 2 Kings 24:20-25:2; Ezekiel 17:11-21

Over 18 months between 587 and 586 BC

Destruction of Jerusalem; Second Deportation

After an 18-month siege, the Babylonians breach Jerusalem’s walls on the 9^th of Tammuz.

Zedekiah attempts to flee but is captured near Jericho. His sons are killed before his eyes, then he is blinded and taken to Babylon.

A month later, Nebuzaradan burns the Temple, palace, and entire city. Most surviving Jews are deported to Babylon.

Gedaliah is appointed governor over the remnant.

2 Kings 25:3-21; Jeremiah 52:12-30; Jeremiah 39:1-10; 2 Chronicles 36:17-21

586-582 BC

Aftermath and Final Deportation

Some Jews flee to Egypt, forcing Jeremiah to go with them. After Gedaliah’s assassination by Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, Nebuchadnezzar orders a final deportation of the remaining Jews to Babylon.

Jeremiah 41-43; Jeremiah 52:30; 2 Kings 25:22-26; Josephus, Antiquities 10.9.7

562 BC

Death of Nebuchadnezzar

After a 43-year reign, Nebuchadnezzar dies. His son Evil-Merodach releases Jehoiachin from prison and gives him a place at the royal table.

2 Kings 25:27-30

556-539 BC

Babylon’s Decline

A series of weak rulers, including Nabonidus and his son Belshazzar, lead to internal instability and military vulnerability.

539 BC

Fall of Babylon

Cyrus the Great of Persia captures Babylon without a battle, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. He soon issues a decree allowing Jews to return to Jerusalem.

Daniel 5:1-6:3; Daniel 9:1-2; Ezra 1:1-4; Josephus, Antiquities 11.1.1-3

538 BC

70 Years Over; Cyrus’s Decree of Return

Daniel, now serving the Persians in Babylon, had been studying Jeremiah’s prophecies and understood that the 70 years foretold by Jeremiah had already ended because Babylon had fallen.

Jeremiah 25:11-12 says:

‘And you’ll serve that nation for 70 years…
As well as Babylon’s king.
And after the 70 years are fulfilled;
On the king of Babylon and his wicked nation,
I will then bring My vengeance’

Counting back 70 years from 539 BC, we get 609 BC, when the Babylonians finally defeated the last Assyrian king, Ashur-uballit II, at the city of Harran, ending the Assyrian Empire and beginning seven decades of Babylonian dominance.

The Persian king Cyrus issues his famous decree allowing Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. He returns the Temple vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken.

SasaBasar (Sheshbazzar) leads the first group of returnees.

Daniel 9:1-2; Ezra 1:1-11; 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Josephus, Antiquities 11.1.1-3

537 BC

The Return Under Zerubbabel

Zerubbabel and Joshua lead nearly 50,000 Jews back to Jerusalem. They rebuild the altar and restore daily sacrifices. Foundation of the Second Temple is laid amid mixed rejoicing and weeping.

Ezra 2:1-70; Ezra 3:1-13; Haggai 1:1-15

535-520 BC

Temple Construction Halted

Local opposition leads to construction being stopped. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah later urge the people to resume building despite opposition.

Ezra 4:1-24; Haggai 1:2-11; Zechariah 1:1-6

516 BC

Second Temple Completed

The Temple is finally completed in the sixth year of Darius I. The dedication is celebrated with joy, and Passover is observed.

Ezra 6:15-22; Josephus, Antiquities 11.4.7

458 BC

Ezra’s Return

Ezra leads a second group of returnees from Babylon. He brings with him the Law of Moses and begins religious reforms, particularly addressing the issue of intermarriage.

Ezra 7:1-8:36; Ezra 9:1-10:44

445 BC

Nehemiah Rebuilds Walls

Nehemiah arrives as governor and leads the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls in just 52 days, despite fierce opposition. Together with Ezra, he establishes religious and social reforms.

Nehemiah 1:1-7:73; Nehemiah 8:1-13:31; Ezra 10:45-11:12