Nebuchadnezzar and/ or Hitler

Watch the Youtube clip on Nebuchadnezzar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3dgarO_G-M

Under the Chaldean dynasty, and, arguably, throughout the rest of history, no king surpassed the glory and absolute power of Nebuchadnezzar II’s reign. He is considered the greatest king of the Babylonian empire and is credited with the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. As the crown prince (son of Nabopolassar), he defeated Pharaoh Necho II, who had come to the aid of the Assyrian army, winning for Babylonia the former Assyrian lands, including Israel. After being crowned king, Nebuchadnezzar forced King Jehoiakim of Judah to “become his vassal for three years. But then [Jehoiakim] changed his mind and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar” (2 Kings 24:1). The king of Babylon, who did not take kindly to being rebelled against, captured Jerusalem and took the king and other leaders, military men and artisans as prisoners to Babylon (2 Kings 24:12-16). This deportation marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile of the Jews.

Nebuchadnezzar appointed Zedekiah to rule Judah. However, Zedekiah, against the prophet Jeremiah’s counsel, joined the Egyptians in a revolt in 589 B.C. This resulted in Nebuchadnezzar’s return. The remaining Jews were deported, Jerusalem was burned, and the temple was destroyed in August of 587 B.C. (Jeremiah 52:1-30).

Babylon is the setting for the ministry of the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel, who were both deportees from Judah. Daniel became a leader and royal advisor to the Babylonian and Persian Empires. He had been captured after the battle of Carchemish in 605 B.C. (Jeremiah 46:2-12). The book of Daniel records Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2) and foretells the fall of Babylon to the Medes and the Persians (Daniel 5). Earlier, the prophet Isaiah had also foretold the fall of Babylon (Isaiah 46:1-2). There are 91 verses under the name Nebuchadnezzar  http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Nebuchadnezzar&qs_version=NIV

Let’s focus on Nebuchadnezzar (not Daniel) in Daniel 1-4 (Click audio if you just want us to listen) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%201&version=NIV

1)      Which instances show you that he is a powerful king?

2)      What other good and bad qualities did he have?

3)      What questions do you have about Nebuchadnezzar?

For more background reading: http://www.gotquestions.org/Nebuchadnezzar.html#ixzz2dEyt5Yy2

Youtube video Hitler and Dietrich Bonhoeffer  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-hS_90axHg

1)      Compare and contrast Nebuchadnezzar and Hitler

2)      What does Daniel and Bonhoeffer have in common?

Application