Somewhat surprisingly, the scriptures found in the Bible may also provide more information about this lost king, Nebuchadnezzar V.
In the 2nd year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar
Chapter 2 of the book of Daniel begins:
’In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had several dreams, and he was troubled’
This verse has amazed many. Since the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II had begun long before the events described here, it has given rise to many different interpretations.
Jewish scholars have held that this was the 2nd year of Nebuchadnezzar II's rule since he conquered Jerusalem.
On the other hand, doesn't that biblical account give the impression that during the time the Jews were in Babylon, a new king named Nebuchadnezzar arose?
But can these chapters mean Nebuchadnezzar V? The book of Daniel does not give an absolute definition of which Nebuchadnezzar was in question, for it does not mention the names of the father of the kings of Babylon, as was the custom at the time of the talk of the kings of Judah. However, that mention of the 2nd year of Nebuchadnezzar seems to support the fact that the king mentioned here was Nebuchadnezzar V. It would also remove the contradictions associated with it.
Nebuchadnezzar, erratic king
The personality of Nebuchadnezzar described in Daniel chapters 2 and 3 seems very volatile.
When the Babylonian sages could not tell the king about his sleep, the king reacted very strongly to it.
Daniel chapter 2 says:
’At this the king flew into a violent rage and gave the order to destroy all the wise men of Babylon’
Such a radical attitude towards the scholars of the Babylonian religion was probably not very common in ancient Babylon. A few hours later, after Daniel had explained the dream, the king went to another extreme:
’Then King Neb·u·chad·nezʹzar fell down with his faceto the ground before Daniel and paid homage to him. And he gave the order to offer a present and incense to him.’
The end of Daniel chapter 2 tells of the exaltation of Daniel and his three companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in high places in Babylon. Such favoring of the Jews, at least, did not elevate the king's reverence among the Babylonians.
The third, very harsh command of the king is found in Daniel 3rd chapter. It first tells of the salvation of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace.
This impresses King Nebuchadnezzar and he declares:
’I am therefore issuing an order that any people, nation, or language group that says anything against the God of Shaʹdrach, Meʹshach, and A·bedʹne·go should be dismem-bered, and their houses should be turned into public latrines’
Such an order was very exceptional from the king of Babylon. This, too, shows the very extreme nature of the king going to extremes, swinging from side to side.
Because the Babylonian people strongly supported their own religion, which had a tradition of hundreds of years, they hated the fact that the king gave such a command that forced them to honor the God of the Jews.
Although the book of Daniel does not directly state which Nebuchadnezzar is in question in these chapters, the things mentioned here support the fact that he was Nebuchadnezzar V. Nebuchadnezzar II ruled for a long time and was highly revered, so it seems unlikely that he would have acted in that way.
Daniel and his three companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were approximately 55 years old in the2 and year of Nebuchadnezzar V, 577 BCE.
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