Siege of Jerusalem (597 BC)

Siege of Jerusalem
Part of Judah's revolts against Babylon (601–587 BC)
The siege of Jerusalem is mentioned in the Early Years of Nebuchadnezzar chronicle (ABC 05)
Date c. 597 BC Location Jerusalem 31°46′39″N 35°13′48″E / 31.77750°N 35.23000°E / 31.77750; 35.23000 Result Babylonian victory Babylon takes and despoils Jerusalem
Belligerents
Kingdom of Judah	Neo-Babylonian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Jehoiakim † Jeconiah	Nebuchadnezzar II
Strength
Much fewer	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Many slain, others taken to captivity	Unknown
class=notpageimage| Location within Jerusalem Show map of Jerusalem Siege of Jerusalem (597 BC) (Israel) Show map of Israel

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The siege of Jerusalem (597 BC) was a military campaign carried out by Nebuchadnezzar II, king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, in which he besieged Jerusalem, then capital of the Kingdom of Judah. The city surrendered, and its king Jeconiah was deported to Babylon and replaced by his Babylonian-appointed uncle, Zedekiah. The siege is recorded in both the Hebrew Bible (2 Kings 24:10–16) and the Babylonian Nebuchadnezzar Chronicle.

In 601 BC, Nebuchadnezzar II unsuccessfully attempted to take Egypt and was repulsed with heavy losses. Jehoiakim—the king of Judah—seized this opportunity to revolt against Babylonian rule, taking a pro-Egyptian position, despite the strong remonstrances of the prophet Jeremiah.^[1][2][3] The circumstances of Jehoiakim’s death are not clear. He was succeeded by his young son, Jeconiah.^[4][5]

The Babylonians besieged Jerusalem, and in March 597 BC the city surrendered. Jeconiah, his court and other prominent citizens and craftsmen, were deported to Babylon.^[6] This event is considered to be the start of the Babylonian captivity and of the Jewish diaspora. Jeconiah's uncle, Zedekiah, was installed as vassal king of Judah.

A decade later, Zedekiah launched another rebellion against the Babylonians, which was brutally crushed by Nebuchadnezzar II. In 587 BC, a second siege of Jerusalem culminated in the destruction of the city and Solomon's Temple, bringing an end to the Kingdom of Judah.^[1]