2 Kings 24:1

Nebuchadnezzar. According to Dan. 1:1, Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem in the third year of Jehoiakim, which was the accession year of Nebuchadnezzar, or 605 B.C., if Jehoiakim’s 4th year is to be equated with Nebuchadnezzar’s 1st (Jer. 25:1; see p. 161 and note 7). According to the record in the Babylonian Chronicle, Nebuchadnezzar, the crown prince of Babylonia, defeated the Egyptians decisively in battles at Carchemish and near Hamath in the spring or early summer of 605 B.C., laying all Syria and Palestine open to the victorious Babylonians. Evidently this was when Jehoiakim of Judah became a vassal of Babylon and surrendered hostages, among them Daniel, to Nebuchadnezzar. Three years later he seems to have switched his allegiance back to Egypt, and his estimate of their renewed strength appeared in some degree correct when the Egyptians inflicted heavy losses on Nebuchadnezzar’s army in 601 B.C. But Jehoiakim’s rebellion showed a lack of political foresight, because the Babylonians quickly recovered from their setback, and returned to punish their disloyal vassals.