Jerusalem's ruling classs taken captive in first siege
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The Church Educational System's Old Testament Student Manual gives this background regarding the political situation at the time Daniel was taken captive into Babylon:
"Most scholars agree that Nebuchadnezzar, as a Babylonian prince, was in command of his father's troops in 605 B.C. when they soundly defeated the Egyptain forces at Carchemish. (Jer. 46:2). This defeat marked the beginning of the end of the Egyptian empire as a world power and put the known world on notice that it would now have to reckon with Babylon."Nebuchadnezzar pursued the Egyptians southward and dealt them a worse defeat near Hamath in Syria . . . thus securing Syria and Palestine for the expanded Babylonia empire.
"As seen in Daniel 1:1, this drive resulted in the siege of Jerusalem in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim and in Judah's being made a vassal to Babylon for the next three years. (2 Kings 24:1.) At that time many of the finest vessels of the temple were taken to Babylon as tribute. (2 Chron. 36:7.) Selected members of Judah's upper class, which included Daniel (2 Kings 20:14-18; Dan. 6:13), were carried captive to Babylon. Sometime during this campaign, Nebuchadnezzar learned of the death of his father, and within the year he returned to Babylon to be made king. (Jer. 25:1.)"
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(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
Articles on this page may be used in conjunction with the Gospel Doctrine course of study.
Information compiled by Gerry Avant
Sources: The Voice of Israel's Prophets, by Sidney B. Sperry; October 1985 and October 1986 general conference reports.
