and I never found any other legend than that of Nebuchadnezzar, son of
Nabopolassar, king of Babylon.” Nine-tenths of all the bricks amid the
ruins of Babylon are stamped with his name.
- NEBUCHADREZZAR =Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 21:2, 7; 22:25; 24:1,
etc.), a nearer approach to the correct spelling of the word. - NEBUSHASBAN adorer of Nebo, or Nebo saves me, the “Rabsaris,” or
chief chamberlain, of the court of Babylon. He was one of those whom the
king sent to release Jeremiah from prison in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 39:13). - NEBUZARADAN “the captain of the guard,” in rank next to the king, who
appears prominent in directing affairs at the capture of Jerusalem (2 Kings
25:8-20; Jeremiah 39:11; 40:2-5). He showed kindness toward Jeremiah, as
commanded by Nebuchadnezzar (40:1). Five years after this he again came
to Jerusalem and carried captive seven hundred and forty-five more Jews. - NECHO II an Egyptian king, the son and successor of Psammetichus
(B.C. 610-594), the contemporary of Josiah, king of Judah. For some
reason he proclaimed war against the king of Assyria. He led forth a
powerful army and marched northward, but was met by the king of Judah
at Megiddo, who refused him a passage through his territory. Here a fierce
battle was fought and Josiah was slain (2 Chronicles 35:20-24). Possibly,
as some suppose, Necho may have brought his army by sea to some port
to the north of Dor (comp. Joshua 11:2; 12:23), a Phoenician town at no
great distance from Megiddo. After this battle Necho marched on to
Carchemish (q.v.), where he met and conquered the Assyrian army, and
thus all the Syrian provinces, including Palestine, came under his dominion.
On his return march he deposed Jehoahaz, who had succeeded his father
Josiah, and made Eliakim, Josiah’s eldest son, whose name he changed into
Jehoiakim, king. Jehoahaz he carried down into Egypt, where he died (2
Kings 23:31; 2 Chronicles 36:1-4). Four years after this conquest Necho
again marched to the Euphrates; but here he was met and his army routed
by the Chaldeans (B.C. 606) under Nebuchadnezzar, who drove the
Egyptians back, and took from them all the territory they had conquered,
from the Euphrates unto the “river of Egypt” (Jeremiah 46:2; 2 Kings
24:7, 8). Soon after this Necho died, and was succeeded by his son,
Psammetichus II. (See NEBUCHADNEZZAR.)