Nebuchadnezzar

King of Babylon during its time of greatest glory. He ruled from 605 to 562 BC. Nebuchadnezzar made the city of Babylon beautiful; his hanging gardens were one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. His armies invaded Judah three times—in 605, 597, and 586 BC. In 597, the armies came into the city of Jerusalem and took most of the furnishings of the temple back to Babylon. Thousands of Israelites were forced to leave their country and go to Babylon to live. These included the leaders of Judah.

Nebuchadnezzar was a proud, power-hungry king. He once set up a huge golden image and ordered everyone to worship it. In 586 BC, Nebuchadnezzar’s army destroyed Jerusalem and the famous temple Solomon had built. More Israelites were forced to leave Judah and go to Babylon to live. He died in 562 BC after reigning forty-three years.