In the Old Testament’s Book of Kings are described the exploits of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II who sieged Jerusalem in 587 BC. The scripture depicts the Babylonians as vicious and ruthless. But are these texts true and accurate?
Archaeology Says – Yes!
According to Tom Meyer, a professor in Bibles studies, there is ample archaeological evidence that validates the Holy Book’s claim of the merciless nature of the ancient Near Eastern armies. He points out wall inscriptions at the palace of the Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II, which speak of the cruel king’s actions against nobles who had rebelled against his rule.
Others Evidence Has Also Been Found
Over the years, archaeology experts have discovered both written and visual records that prove the described events as veracious. Bss-reliefs found at various Assyrian palaces depict vivid images of brutality, which include the skinning, burning, decapitating, impaling, and dismembering of their enemies.
Evidence can also be seen at the mortuary temple of the Pharaoh Ramses III at Medinet Habu. The wall reliefs show Egyptian scribes counting the severed hands that the Egyptian soldiers have brought from their war campaigns.
Records show that such acts were common in ancient times. They also prove that soldiers were rewarded with medals and slaves based on how many heads and hands they had brought with them.
The field of archaeology is constantly making discoveries that either validate or debunk scriptures in the Bible and other Holy Books. And this time, it showed the world the raw brutality of ancient warfare.