First Kingdom
The Bible uses the following symbols to represent the first kingdom:
1) Lion beast,
2) Head of gold,
3) Hand writing on the wall,
4) Chariot of red horses.
The Bible prophesied that the first kingdom would reign over the nations for 70 years.
Lion Beast
Dan. 7:4 The first was like a lion and had eagle’s wings. I beheld till its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth. And it was made to stand upon two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
Interpretation
Beast/Animal = King/Kingdom
Lion = King/Kingdom
Wings = Kingdom
Earth = Peoples/Inhabitants/World
The first king will be like a lion and will have an expansive kingdom (eagle’s wings). Then his kingdom will be taken away from him (his wings plucked), and he will be driven from men (lifted up from the earth). And he will crouch on all fours like an animal (stood on two feet like a man) and will have a mind like an animal (given a man’s heart).
FULFILLED: 605-562 BC
Nebuchadnezzar
The prophecy of the lion beast was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian Empire.
Eagle’s Wings
The first king, Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian Empire, had an expansive kingdom (eagle’s wings) from 605-562 BC.
Dan. 4:22 it is thou, O king [Nebuchadnezzar], that art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
Wings Plucked
His kingdom was taken away from him (his wings plucked).
Dan. 4:31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from thee:
Lifted Up From Earth
He was driven from men (lifted up from the earth).
Dan. 4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
Stood on Two Feet Like a Man
He crouched on all fours like an animal (stood on two feet like a man).
Dan. 4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
Given a Man’s Heart
He had a mind like an animal (given a man’s heart).
Dan. 4:33-36 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation; and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added unto me.
Head of Gold
Dan. 2:1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him.
Dan. 2:31-32 Thou, O king [Nebuchadnezzar], sawest, and, behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee, and the aspect thereof was terrible. As for this image, its head was of fine gold
Interpretation
Dan. 2:36-38 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king [Nebuchadnezzar], are king of kings, unto whom the Gd of heaven hath given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory; and wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens hath he given into thy hand, and hath made thee to rule over them all: you are the head of gold.
FULFILLED: 605-562 BC
Nebuchadnezzar
The prophecy of the head of gold was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian Empire.
Hand Writing on the Wall
Dan. 5:1-6 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink therefrom. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of Gd which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. In the same hour came forth the fingers of a human hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.
Dan. 5:25 And this is the writing that was inscribed: Value, Value, Weight, and Half-Coins.
Dan. 5:26-28 This is the interpretation of the thing.
Value: Gd hath evaluated your kingdom and brought it to an end.
Weight: You are weighed in the balances and are found lacking.
Half-Coin: Your kingdom is halved and is given to the Medes and Persians [Halflings].
Interpretation
The Medes and Persians will conquer Belshazzar and the Babylonian Kingdom.
Value, Weight, Half-Coin
The three words used in the prophecy are all nouns that refer to types of money, which is fitting since the hand writing appeared as Belshazzar the king was praising the gods of money and valuable materials.
Daniel chapter 5 is written in Aramaic. The three Aramaic nouns written by the hand form wordplays with the verbs used to interpret them:
1) Value (mene): Gd has evaluated (mene’ed) your kingdom;
2) Weight (tekel): You are weighed (tekel’ed) in the balances;
3) Half-coin (peres): Your kingdom is halved (peres’ed) and is given to the Medes and Persians (peres’es).
The word “value” is listed twice because Gd would evaluate the kingdom and bring it to an end by the two kings of the Medes and Persians.
The word “weight” is only listed once because only Belshazzar the king of Babylon was weighed.
The word “half-coins” is listed in the plural because the kingdom would be halved into two half-coins and given to the two kings of the Medes and Persians.
FULFILLED: 539 BC
Darius and Cyrus
The prophecy of the hand writing on the wall was fulfilled when Darius the Mede (Cyaxares II) and Cyrus the Persian, the two co-rulers of the Medo-Persian Empire, conquered Belshazzar and the Babylonian Empire in 539 BC. Specifically, Darius the Mede (Cyaxares II) conquered the city of Babylon in 539 BC while Cyrus his co-ruler was outside the city.
Dan. 5:30-31 In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain. And Darius the Mede [Cyaxares II] received the kingdom, being about 62 years old.
Dan. 6:28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Dan. 1:21 And Daniel continued even unto the 1st year of king Cyrus.
Chariot of Red Horses
Zech. 6:1-8 And again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between the two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of bronze. In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; and in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot spotted, strong horses. Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four winds of heaven, which go forth from standing before the Lrd of all the earth. The chariot wherein are the black horses goeth forth toward the north country; and the white went forth after them; and the spotted went forth toward the south country. And the strong went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. Then cried he to me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, they that go toward the north country have given rest to my spirit in the north country.
Interpretation
Chariot = Army
Mountain = Kingdom/King
Copper/Bronze = Land of Israel
Four Winds/Corners = North, South, East, West
Wind = Destroying Power
Giving Rest to Spirit = Accomplishing Wrath
Four armies (chariots) will come out chronologically between the two kingdoms of the land of Israel (the two mountains of bronze), which are the Kingdom of Israel started by David and the Kingdom of Israel started by Jsus at his return. The four armies (chariots) will be destroying powers (winds) going forth toward the countries of the north, south, east, and west (four winds of heaven) to conquer the empire before them.
1) The first army (chariot of red horses) will go forth toward either the west or east country.
2) The second army (chariot of black horses) will go forth toward the north country.
3) The third army (chariot of white horses) will go forth toward either the west or east country.
4) The fourth army (chariot of spotted, strong horses) will go forth toward the south country.
FULFILLED: 586 BC
Babylon Conquering the West Country Israel
The prophecy of the first chariot of red horses coming out after the first mountain of bronze was fulfilled when the Babylonian Army (chariot of red horses) went forth toward the west country, the Kingdom of Israel in Judah started by David (first mountain of bronze) in 586 BC.
Since the first army (chariot of red horses) goes forth toward the west country, the second army (chariot of black horses) goes forth toward the north country, and the fourth army (chariot of spotted, strong horses) goes forth toward the south country, then the third army (chariot of white horses) must go forth toward the east country.
West Country
The land of Israel was previously the land of Canaan.
Canaan is north of Egypt, the south country, and it is south of Babylon, the north country. Therefore, Canaan is not considered to be the north country or the south country. When Abraham was in Canaan, he sent the sons of his concubines to the east country. Therefore, the land of Canaan must be due west of the east country.
Gen. 23:2 And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
Gen. 25:6 But unto the sons of the concubines, that Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts; and he sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
Seventy Years
Jer. 25:8-12 Therefore thus saith the Lrd of hosts: Because ye have not heard my words, behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lrd, and I will send unto Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about; and I will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations. Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp. And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon 70 years. And it shall come to pass, when 70 years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lrd, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it desolate for ever.
Jer. 29:10 For thus saith the Lrd, After 70 years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
2Chr. 36:14-21 Moreover all the chiefs of the priests, and the people, trespassed very greatly after all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of the Lrd which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. And the Lrd, the Gd of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling-place: but they mocked the messengers of Gd, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lrd arose against his people, till there was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or virgin, old man or hoary-headed: he gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels of the house of Gd, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lrd, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. And they burnt the house of Gd, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. And them that had escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia to fulfil the word of the Lrd by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths: for as long as it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfil 70 years.
Dan. 9:1-3 In the 1st year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus [539 BC], of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, in the 1st year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years whereof the word of the Lrd came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even 70 years. And I set my face unto the Lrd Gd, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
Zech. 1:12 Then the angel of the Lrd answered and said, O Lrd of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these 70 years?
Zech. 7:5 Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the 5th and in the 7th month, even these 70 years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?
Interpretation
The nation of Israel and all the nations around it will serve the king of Babylon for 70 years. After the 70 years, Gd will punish Babylon and make it desolate forever.
FULFILLED: 608-539 BC
Babylonian Empire
The prophecy of the 70 years for Babylon was fulfilled when the:
1) Babylonian Empire defeated the last king of the Assyrian Empire in 608 BC;
2) Babylonian Empire dominated Israel and all the nations around it;
3) Medo-Persian Empire defeated the last king of the Babylonian Empire in October 539 BC.
Map
Babylonian Empire c. 539 BC:
Inclusive Counting
When counting out the 70 years for Babylon, the Bible uses inclusive counting, whereas the modern world uses exclusive counting. Therefore, according to Biblical counting, 608 BC – 70 years = 539 BC.
| Years | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 608 BC (Babylon rise) | Aug 607 BC |
| 2 | Sep 607 BC | Aug 606 BC |
| 3… | Sep 606 BC | Aug 605 BC |
| …68 | Sep 541 BC | Aug 540 BC |
| 69 | Sep 540 BC | Aug 539 BC |
| 70 | Sep 539 BC | Oct 539 BC (Babylon fall) |
Babylon Conquering Assyria
In 608 BC, Babylon conquered Ashur-uballit II, the last king of the Assyrian Empire.
“The 17th year [Mar 609 – Mar 608 BC]: In the month Du’uzu [Jun/Jul 609 BC] Ashur-uballit, king of Assyria, with a large army from Egypt crossed the river Euphrates and marched against Harran to conquer it. They captured. … They defeated the garrison which the king of Akkad had stationed inside. When they had defeated it they encamped against Harran. Until the month Ululu [Aug/Sep 609 BC] they did battle against the city but achieved nothing.”
——Fall of Nineveh Chronicle, Y17, Written c. 600 BC.
“In the 18th year [Mar 608 – Mar 607 BC]: In the month Ululu [Aug/Sep 608 BC] the king of Akkad mustered his army and…”
——Fall of Nineveh Chronicle, Y18, Written c. 600 BC.
“What we do know is that Ashur-uballit was still in the field in 608, whereas 3 years later, at the time of the Battle of Carchemish, Assyria was no more. In 610 Ashur-uballit had to evacuate his capital Harran, and in 609 his attempt to retake it had failed disastrously, although he was reinforced by a strong contingent of Egyptian troops.”
——M.B. Rowton, Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Volume 10, Number 2, Page 128, Written 1951.
“The Babylonian king resumed the campaign at the very beginning of the year 608/7 [Mar 608 – Mar 607 BC], but, unfortunately, with the statement to that effect the tablet comes to an end. Nevertheless, this much is clear, that after the disastrous events of 609 the position of Ashur-uballit must have been to such an extent critical that it would be somewhat surprising if he survived the campaign of 608.”
——M.B. Rowton, Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Volume 10, Number 2, Page 128, Written 1951.
“The Egyptian pharaoh, Necho II, resolved on a supreme effort and in 608 led an army in person to the rescue of his ally, Ashur-uballit II. But although this expedition is mentioned in several sources, nowhere is it said that it culminated in a battle between the Egyptians and the Assyrians on one side, the Medes and the Babylonians on the other. Since this would have been a struggle between the four greatest military powers of the day, it would indeed be surprising that no mention of it had survived.”
——M.B. Rowton, Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Volume 10, Number 2, Page 128, Written 1951.
“The date 608 for Necho’s expedition, accepted nowadays by most scholars, can be considered virtually certain. If Necho himself had commanded the Egyptian contingent in 609, as some have assumed, his presence in the field would quite certainly have been mentioned in the chronicle. Necho’s expedition cannot therefore be identified with the campaign of 609.”
——M.B. Rowton, Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Volume 10, Number 2, Page 128, Written 1951.
At the time of Necho II’s campaign in 608 BC, the Bible refers to the Assyrian leader as the “king of Assyria,” which shows that the Babylonian Empire had not yet defeated the Assyrian Empire in 608 BC.
2Kings 23:29 In his days Pharaoh-necoh king of Egypt went up to the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and Pharaoh-necoh slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.
Medo-Persia Conquering Babylon
In 539 BC, Medo-Persia conquered Nabonidus and Belshazzar, the last kings of the Babylonian Empire.
Dan. 5:2 Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink therefrom.
Dan. 5:29-31 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain. And Darius the Mede [Cyaxares II] received the kingdom [in Oct 539], being about 62 years old.
“And now when the march had brought them into Media, Cyrus turned aside to visit Cyaxares [Cyaxares II, Darius the Mede]. After they had met and embraced, Cyrus began by telling Cyaxares [Darius the Mede] that a palace in Babylon, and an estate, had been set aside for him so that he might have a residence of his own whenever he came there, and he offered him other gifts, most rich and beautiful. And Cyaxares was glad to take them from his nephew, and then he sent for his daughter, and she came, carrying a golden crown, and bracelets, and a necklace of wrought gold, and a most beautiful Median robe, as splendid as could be. The maiden placed the crown upon the head of Cyrus, and as she did so Cyaxares said: ‘I will give her to you, Cyrus, my own daughter, to be your wife. Your father wedded the daughter of my father, and you are their son; and this is the little maid whom you carried in your arms when you were with us as a lad, and whenever she was asked whom she meant to marry, she would always answer “Cyrus.” And for her dowry I will give her the whole of Media: since I have no lawful son.'”
——Xenophon, Cyropaedia, Book 8, Chapter 5, Sections 17-19, Written 370 BC.
“[The 17th year of Nabonidus, Mar 539 – Feb 538 BC]: When Cyrus did battle at Opis on the [bank of] the Tigris against the army of Akkad, the people of Akkad retreated. He carried off the plunder (and) slaughtered the people. On the 14th day Sippar was captured without a battle. Nabonidus fled. On the 16th day, Ugbaru, governor of Gutium, and the army of Cyrus, without battle they entered Babylon. Afterwards, after Nabonidus retreated, he was captured in Babylon. Until the end of the month, the shield-(bearing troops) from Gutium surrounded the gates of Esagil. (But) interruption (of rites) in Esagil or the (other) temples there was not, and no date (for a performance) was missed. On the 3rd day of the month Arahsamna [Oct 539 BC], Cyrus entered Babylon.”
——Nabonidus Chronicle, Column 3, Written c. 500 BC.
Serving Babylon
The 70-years prophecy matches correctly with the 70 years of Babylonian domination because Jeremiah describes the 70 years by saying that “these nations shall serve the king of Babylon for 70 years,” which indicates that Babylon will dominate for 70 years.
Jer. 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon 70 years.
Focus on Babylon
Jeremiah says that the 70 years are “for Babylon.”
Jer. 29:10 For thus saith the Lrd, After 70 years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
Destruction of Babylon
Jeremiah says that Babylon will be destroyed at the end of the 70 years, which happened in 539 BC when Medo-Persia conquered Babylon.
Jer. 25:12 And it shall come to pass, when 70 years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lrd, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it desolate for ever.
Servants of Babylon
Second Chronicles says the Jews were servants to Babylon until the reign of the kingdom of Persia, which was in 539 BC.
2Chr. 36:20 And they [the Jews] that had escaped from the sword, he carried away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia.
Calculation of Daniel in 1st Year of Darius
Daniel says he calculated the end of the 70 years at the 1st year of Darius the Mede, which was in 539 BC.
Dan. 9:1-3 In the 1st year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus [539 BC], of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, in the 1st year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years whereof the word of the Lrd came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even 70 years. And I set my face unto the Lrd Gd, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.
“And when he was relating the acts of this king, he described to us how he sent his son Nabuchodonosor against Egypt, and against our land, with a great army, upon his being informed that they had revolted from him; and how, by that means, he subdued them all, and set our Temple that was at Jerusalem on fire; nay, and removed our people entirely out of their own country, and transferred them to Babylon; when it so happened that our city was desolate during the interval of 70 years, until the days of Cyrus king of Persia.”
——Josephus, Against Apion, Book 1, Chapter 19, Written c. 95 AD.
Burning of the Temple
The prophecy of the 70 years for Babylon was not fulfilled when:
1) Nebuzaradan of the Babylonian Empire burnt down the First Jewish Temple in 586 BC;
2) The Second Jewish Temple was completed in 516 BC.
2Kings 25:8-9 Now in the 5th month, on the 7th day of the month [Jul 586 BC], which was the 19th year of king Nebuchadnezzar [Mar 586 – Feb 585 BC], king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem. And he burnt the house of the Lrd, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burnt he with fire.
The prophecy of 70 years does not match correctly with the 70 years when the Temple was desolate because:
1) Jeremiah describes the 70 years by saying that “these nations shall serve the king of Babylon for 70 years,” which does not indicate the 70 years was directly connected to the Temple;
2) Jeremiah says the 70 years are “for Babylon” but does not say they are for the Temple;
3) Jeremiah says Babylon will be conquered at the end of the 70 years, but Babylon was conquered in 539 BC and not 516 BC when the Temple was completed;
4) Second Chronicles says the Jews were servants to Babylon until the reign of the kingdom of Persia in 539 BC, not until the completion of the the Temple in 516 BC;
5) Daniel says he calculated the end of the 70 years at the 1st year of Darius the Mede in 539 BC, but the Second Temple was completed in 516 BC.