Nebuchadnezzar and his seven "mad" years (cuneiform tablets from Erech)

koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD)

Kyungpook National University

Sangju Campus

South Korea

Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College

Australia

12 May 2010

In the following description of the tablets we took the catalogue of Raymond P. Dougherty (1922) published as Coucher College Cuneiform Inscriptions vol. 1 by Yale University Press and supplied the Julian years to the information and rearranged it to be chronological. We are particularly interested to see how Biblical history and these texts breathes the same time.

The order of the information is the same as that given by Dougherty (1922: 57-67) except that we have added the Julian year in the beginning.

1. Julian Year; 2. number of tablet; 3. year of reign; 4. month; 5. day; 6. brief description of the content.

What we found is the following:

1. Nebuchadnezzar moved people to Babylon and Daniel and his friends went there as young boys, maybe 13 years old.

2. Erech was a  town near Babylon and under its control.

3. These texts are economic receipts of commodities ordered, bought, delivered, received and the kind of commodities indicate for us the vision and demand from Babylon and by Nebuchadnezzar.

4. Erech was known for its temple of Eanna and it was a metropolis of southern Babylonia. The tablets were kept at the temple which served as a bank and a court for legal affairs.

It was an archive but almost a library since about 50 documents were in Sumerian and had a longer history. There were bullae or labels which were attached to sacks of grain, bundles of produce. 262 tablets dated to the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.

Nabopolassar, the father of Nebuchadnezzar, with the help of the Medes captured  Niniveh from the Assyrians in 606 BCE and then the crown prince  Nebuchadnezzar rushed to  Carchemish to conquer the Mediterranean countries away from Assyria by defeating the Egyptians in  605 BCE. He had to rush back since his father died. He ruled for 43 years. We provide here the economic texts from this temple of Eanna in Erech year by year in chronological order.

5. One sees a high proportion of animal husbandry between 604-600 BCE.

6. Water channels were dug according to the text in 602 BCE and what followed is a series of barley texts which displays a focus on agricultural farming. This was to continue all through Nebuchadnezzar's reign.

7. After the arrival of exiles in 597 BCE, the commodities that came to the temple included fashion design and clothing industry as one can see in 596 BCE. Also blacksmiths arrive for iron metal works.

8. A very exceptional arrival of date wine arrived at the temple in 594. Highly exceptional and total abstinence of alcohol is the case throughout the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. One fails to see a bottle of wine in any year except 594 BCE. However. . . .

9. For the next decade or two the economy was pretty diversified with all levels well represented.

10. The year 586 BCE saw the destruction of Jerusalem. A number of texts dates from that year. One interesting text was an order to destroy a tablet recording an obligation and that happened after the campaign to destroy Jerusalem. Why was it necessary to destroy records in Erech's temple archive with the arrival of Hebrews from Israel?

11. In 581 BCE there were two receipts for honey. Also in 572 and 570 BCE honey was received.

12. In the 9th month of 570, there was suddenly a turn of events at the Temple. It appears that when the cat is gone the mouse is boss. They did not pay their debts. From this time until the end in 561, there were problems with debts, especially as one can see in 568 BCE. Then from 567 and also including 566 BCE, alcohol was a severe problem in society.  Suddenly, one can conclude that things went bad at Babylon. These were the last seven or eight years of Nebuchadnezzar's reign. It may have been that his Altzheimer disease is connected to these seven years of trouble and society corruption.

13. During these years of the king's madness (Daniel 4) it appears that the temple has wasted money on golden and silver accessories (565 BCE) and all kind of strange purchases.

14. It appears as if Nebuchadnezzar ended his reign after God gave him back his mind (Daniel 4:36).  The recovery was before or in 561 BCE, his last regnal year it seems.

Time of Nebuchadnezzar

YEAR  number     reign        month         day    CONTENT OF TABLET

604     1 1 3              Receipt for animals.

604     2 1 4 16          Itemized inventory of animals.

604     3 1 7 ?           Receipt for animals or hides.

603     4 2 3 7           Itemized receipt for wool.

603     121 2 7 21       Receipt for diseased and dead animals.

603     5  2 8 29         Report concerning animals.

603     6 2 9 24          Itemized statement concerning money.

602     7 3  1 8            Record concerning cattle.

602     232 3 9 4         Receipt for sheep hides.

602     9  3 12a 7        Iron placed at the disposal of blacksmiths.

602     10  3 10 7        Receipt for iron and iron wagons used in digging a canal.

601     20 4 3 19         Receipt for wool.

601     37 4 3 28         Silver paid for gold.

600     24 5 1 15         Receipt for sheep and goat hides.

600     19 5 2 23         Impost on barley.

600     11 5 4 10         Receipt for the bodies of dead animals.

600     32  5 4 16        Receipt for barley.

600     15 5 5 12         Three men become surety for another.

598     17 6 9 16         Record of interest to be paid.

597     18 7 2 6          Record of interest to be paid.

597     43 7 10 11       Temple record.

596     26 8 4 14         Delivery of garments to fullers.

596     194 8 9 11       Articles of iron delivered to a blacksmith for marking.

596     226 8 11 26      Record concerning food given to workmen.

595     12 9 5 14         Delivery of barley for flour.

594     174 10 (?) 4 3   Record concerning hides.

594     190 10 (?) 9 20 Receipt for barley and date wine.

593     25 11 8 13       Record concerning dates.

592     212 12 (?) 6 14 Itemized receipt for oil.

592     14 12 7 22       Record concerning barley.

592     39 12 ? 23       Itemized receipt for dates.

592     166 12 9 2 (?)   Record concerning barley and cattle.

591     61 13 9 12       Receipt for clothing.

590     28 14 6 3         Report of revenue in currency and grain.

590     22 14 8 13       Payment of money and barley to two men in the service of the king.

588     27 16 8 8         Receipt for barley.

587     257 17 2 2       Record concerning the disposal of money.

586     16 18 1 16       Receipt for dates.

586     38 18 1 5         Dates and wool paid to 'the chief consecrated servant.

586     41 18 7 2         Receipt for dates presented as an offering.

586     78 18 7 23       Money disbursed for the provender of fowls, etc

586     210 18 8 26      Receipt for dates and barley.

586     229 18 9 25      Statement of the destruction of a tablet recording an obligation.

585     163 19 5 13      Receipt for money in payment for food.

585     255 19 7 25      Receipt for barley.

584     60 20 5 15       Record concerning animals.

584     92 20 ? 22       Money received for various purposes.

584     244 20 (?) 9 10 Itemized record concerning various articles.

584     239 20 10 29    Itemized account concerning barley and dates.

583     140 21 3 28      Record concerning sacrificial animals.

583     46 21 7 16       Receipt for iron and hoes.

583     49 21 7 24       Delivery of iron to a blacksmith.

583     40 21 9 28       Receipt for honey.

583     243 21 11 24    Receipt for flour.

583     42 21 12a 26    Receipt for money, the price of dates.

582     31  22 3 11      Receipt for barley given to a sailor.

582     242 22 6 12      Record of the payment of money, etc.

582     23 22 6 22       Receipt for the bodies of dead fowls.

582     205 22 7 5       Record of the delivery of three tablets.

582     184 22 7 10      Money received for men who performed work for the king.

582     34 22 8 2         Delivery of money as impost.

582     48 22 9 1         Receipt for oil used for lighting on feast days.

582     33 22 9 10       Receipt for dates as part of impost.

582     188 22 10 3      Receipt for wool, etc.

582     69 22 10 11      Money given for a wooden instrument.

582     88 22 10 13      Temple receipt.

582     70 22 11 ?       Temple receipt

582     13 22 11 1       Receipt for wool.

582     178 22 11 14    Disbursement of revenue money.

582     21 22 11 15      Record of a transaction concerning sesame.

582     59 22 11 27      Record of barley paid to various artisans.

582     35 22 11 28      Lease of property from a woman for four years.

582     56 22 11 28      Revenue money paid for reeds.

582     111 22 12a 11   Dates substituted for flour in payment of messenger.

582     30 22 12a 26    Receipt for money.

581     29  23 2 13       Receipt for the body of a dead sheep.

581     246 23 4 4       Receipt for animals used in temple offerings.

581     79 23 4 10       Record concerning barley and flour.

581     170 23 6 16      Record concerning honey, etc.

581     44 23 7 ?         Record concerning oil for lighting purposes.

581     85 23 8 22       Barley from monthly revenue disbursed for food.

581     123 23(?) 9 13(?) Receipt for barley.

581     83 23 11 3       Statement concerning honey used on certain feast days.

581     45 23 12b 3      Receipt for money in payment for wood and salt.

580     158 24 2 5       Statement of money paid for wool.

580     96 24 2 16       Itemized record concerning barley.

580     53 24 3 24       Barley received for the use of cattle, and fowls.

580     165 24 6 5       Record concerning barley received for food.

580     181 24 10 16    Itemized statement of money paid to laborers.

580     54 24 10 17      Money paid to men detailed for a specific work.

579     180 25 6 5       Receipt for barley.

578     238 26 3 7       Articles of food supplied to the king.

578     81 26 3 21       Report concerning dates and barley.

578     258 26 4 23      Itemized statement of barley used as food.

578     55 26 9 23       Receipt for money paid for food to different persons.

578     36 26 12a 9      Payment of barley to workmen who perform special tasks.

578     216 26 12a 26   Receipt for animals.

578     62 26 ? 19       Receipt for barley used as food.

577     185 27 1 19      Receipt for goat's hair.

577     74 27 2 1         Barley paid for dates and remuneration of workmen sent for grass.

577     87 27 4 19       Receipt for barley used as food.

577     133 27 7 19      Barley received as the food of two men for a month.

576     200 28 8 7       Statement of grain brought as food for fowls.

575     204 29 4 20      Money paid for the rent of a ship, etc.

575     110 29 12a 18   Flour delivered to messengers sent to Babylon, etc

574     222 30 3 28      Inventory of animals.

574     250 30 (?) 5 7   Itemized statement of barley and money given to different individuals.

574     215 30 6 10      Temple record concerning hides.

574     80 30 11 10      List of workmen.

574     82 30 12b 27    Date wine paid to fullers of temple vestments

573     260 31 9 9       One man becomes surety for. another.

573     179 31 10 23    Barley paid to a laborer, who brought a basket to a priest.

573     217 31 12a 6    Receipt for various articles.

572     201 32 3 2       Document concerning barley.

572     109 32 3 26      Barley given as food for brickmakers, etc.

572     108 32 4 3       An order in the presence of witnesses.

572     47 32 7 21       Iron delivered to a blacksmith..

572     234 32 9 14      Itemized receipt for barley.

572     168 32 9 17      List of five soldiers.

572     241 32 11 19    Itemized receipt for barley paid for various purposes.

572     67 32 12a 16    Receipt for salt used in temple sacrifice.

571     186 33 3 4       Receipt for sesame.

571     125 33 12 b 4   Payment of wool, containing a reference to the seal of a consecrated servant.

571     117 33 12b 12   Record concerning the calculation of impost on barley.

570     173 34 2 29      Record of salt used in the temple.

570     193 34 6 30      Statement of honey used on feast days.

570     128 34 7 29      Hides received for royal use.

570     249 34 9 3       Salt, etc., disbursed for various purposes.

570     167 34 9 4       Record of a debt to be paid, with accompanying oath.

          50 ? 7 9          Receipt for the body of a dead animal.

569     211 35 2 22      Money received for precious stones.

569     192 35 4 24      Record concerning animals, garments and wool.

569     113 35 5 5       Promise to pay a debt.

569     236 35 7 6       Record of debt to be paid with provision for a fine in case of default.

569     237 35 7 24      A note promising to give 6000 reeds in payment for wool.

568     187 36 1 9       Document concerning iron and baskets of iron.

568     124 36 1 17 (?)  Receipt for the body of a dead animal.

568     114 36 4 9       Document concerning the price of a garment.

568     144 36 5 20      Receipt for the bodies of dead animals.

568     162 36 6 2       Receipt for honey used on feast days.

568     65 36 8 6         Record of debt to be paid.

568     89 36 9 29       Flour received for use in the temple.

568     161 36(?) 10 9 Garment delivered to a consecrated servant.

568     57 36 10 14      Document promising to pay the price of a dead ox.

568     66 36 11 5       Bailment with provision for a fine in case of default.

568     230 36 11 10    Itemized temple record.

568     51 36 11 21      Record concerning an implement of iron.

568     119 36 12a 9    Receipt for date wine.

568     71 36 12a 25    Record concerning iron sickles used in harvesting grass.

568     98 36 12b 13    Receipt for flour.

568     68 36 12b 19    Receipt for flour.

567     120 37 1 8       Flour received by the prison master.

567     8 37 1 28         Date wine received for workmen who burn bricks.

567     64 37 2 20       Receipt for date wine given to ox and sheep stables.

567     77 37 2 21       Date wine received for various artisans.

567     84 37 2 -         List of animals delivered to an individual.

567     148 37 3 8       Receipt for date wine.

567     143 37 3 19      Date wine received for priests.

567     52 37 6 7         Date wine received for priests.

567     156 37 5 30      Flour paid to a messenger.

567     112 37 6 26      Body of a dead fowl placed at the disposal of an individual.

567     100 37 7 12      Wine delivered to stable workmen.

567     262 37 ? 3       Promissory note with provision for fine in case of default

567     171 37 8 29      Date wine received for goldsmiths.

567     129 37 8 29      Date wine received for a coppersmith.

567     202 37 12a 12   Receipt for jugs of wine.

567     259 37 12a 13   Promissory note.

566     102 38 2 6       Receipt for date wine.

566     139 38 2 21      Date wine received for shearers.

566     220 38 3 6       Receipt for a jug of the best quality of date wine.

566     104 38 3 15      Receipt for date wine.

566     99 38 3 16?      Temple record.

566     261 38 3 18      Promissory note with provision for fine in case of default.

566     235 38 4 5       Itemized statement of wine given to workmen.

566     141 38 4 11      Oil received for sacred use and for the making of bricks.

566     90 38 4 18       Receipt for date wine.

566     136 38 4 22      Receipt for date wine.

566     233 38 4 26      Record of debt to be paid with provision for fine in case of default.

566     177 38 8 3       Record concerning animals.

566     115 38 8 27      Receipt for date wine.

566     116 38 9 6       Date wine received for various artisans.

566     103 38 9 11      Receipt for date wine.

566     207 38 11 3      Itemized account of dates paid for workmen.

566     224 38 11 22    Itemized receipt for date wine.

565     206 39 1 25.     Record of dates given as food to persons who took baskets to Babylon.

565     251 39 2 2       Gold given to goldsmiths to make articles for a goddess.

565     247 39 2 2       Receipt for salt, etc.

565     183 39 2 8       Receipt for date wine given to a shearer.

565     254 39 2 14      Itemized receipt.

565     154 39 2 17      Two coats of mail and sesame given to two men.

565     73 39 3 22       Oil delivered for a ship carrying temple vestments.

565     160 39 4 13      Receipt for barley.

565     118 39 5 24      Receipt for date wine,

565     132 39 8 2       Receipt for iron and other articles.

565     214 39 9 2       Money paid for wool..

565     145 39 11 9      Receipt for an article given to a fuller.

565     198 39 11 12    Itemized receipt for various articles.

565     182 39 11 20    Date wine received for stable workmen.

565     245 39 12a 26   Receipt for dates.

564     157 40 1 2       Receipt for the bodies of burned animals.

564     149 40 4 27      Receipt for an animal.

564     221 40 5 12      Money deposited for wool.

564     134 40 6 24      Receipt for dates.

564     137 40 7 7       Flour received for branders.

564     142 40 8 1       Receipt for date wine delivered to stable workmen.

564     101 40 8 8       Receipt for date wine.

564     209 40 9 2       Statement of honey used on feast days.

564     199 40 (?) 9 7   Statement of honey etc., used on various feast days

564     147 40 9 17      Receipt for flour.

564     106 40 11 15    Receipt for barley.

564     105 40 11 30    Flour received for various artisans.

563     203 41 1 7       Receipt for flour.

563     195 41 2 7       Inventory of animals.

563     131 41 2 13      Receipt for barley paid as hire for laborers, who carry gypsum.

563     252 41 3 13      Inventory of animals.

563     94 41 5 8         Record of debt to be paid.

563     223 41 5 28 (?) Receipt for iron.

563     126 41 6 a 6     Receipt for tithe.

563     227 41 6b 13    Hides placed at the disposal of shoemakers

563     176 42 6 16      Flour received for a messenger.

563     240 41 6a 23    Record of barley given to workmen and sailors.

563     231 41 6b 27    Record of debt to be paid.

563     248 41 6b _      Record of tax to be paid.

563     86 41 7 29       Barley reported as tax.

563     127 41 11 2      Receipt for honey used on feast days.

563     122 41 11 16    Record concerning an animal hide.

562     155 42 12b 11   Receipt for money paid for various purposes.

562     189 42 1 29      Promissory note.

562     213 42 4 11      Statement of oil delivered for wool.

562     175 42 5 19      Money paid for precious stones and clothing.

562     135 42 6 16      Gold received by goldsmiths for the making of articles of adornment.

562     169 42 6 24      Receipt for dates.

562     153 41 7 20      Receipt for barley, the maššartu of brewers.

562     75 42 8 11       Record concerning iron and hoes.

562     130 42 8 17      Document dealing with iron and baskets.

562     150 42 9 11      Flour received for a messenger.

562     97 42 9 23       Body of a dead animal received.

562     196 42 12a 5    Sheep placed at the disposal of an individual.

562     225 42 12b 2    Receipt for sixteen jugs, etc.

562     219 42 12b 22   Temple document.

562     138 42 12b 29   Date wine received for shoemakers.

561     218 43 1 2       Receipt for dates.

561     159 43 2 15 (?) Barley received for flour.

561     107 43 3 11      Receipt for date wine.

561     164 43 6 15      Record concerning an animal.

No-year dates tablets or non-assigned ones

          58 ? ? ?          Record of interest to be paid.

          63 ? 4 16         Transaction concerning sheep and goats.

          7.6 ? ? ?         Receipt for date wine.

          91 ? 11 ?         Receipt for flour.

          93 ? 2 9          Barley received for the food of shearers, etc.

          95 ? ? 24         Record of debt to be paid

          146 ? 5 (?) 22   Receipt for the body of a dead animal

          151 ? ? 2 (?)     Flour received for the men who delivered food to the king and his soldiers.

          152 ? 3 23       Receipt for barley and money.

          172 ? 8           Itemized statement of money paid for various purposes.

          191 ' 6 23        Money paid for the food of ten workmen, etc.

          208 7 13         Money paid for flour, oil, salt, etc.

          228 ? 8 25       Money paid for various articles.

          253 ? 2 17 4     Record concerning barley.

          256 ? 1 12       Money disbursed for various purposes.

          72 12a 26        Flour given to consecrated servants and the porter of the king.

          197 ? 9 9         Inventory of animals