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Biblical History Atlas

Historical event dossier · Military

The final siege of Jerusalem begins (10/X of Zedekiah's ninth year)

Researched — not human reviewedRevision 1Last reviewed: not reviewed

Human review pending. 1 item from this dossier is awaiting the project owner's review: “Disputed: start of the final siege — January 589 or 588 BC” (queued 2026-10-13, status open). All classifications on this page are machine-proposed unless marked otherwise. Review happens offline. This site has no review controls.

Biblical references

Text: World English Bible (public domain). The ESV and NKJV are the preferred study translations and are referenced, not reproduced.

2 Kings 25:1–2Narration
1 In the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it around it. 2 So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
Jeremiah 52:4–5Parallel account
4 In the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it round about. 5 So the city was besieged to the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
Ezekiel 24:1–2Reference
1 Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the LORD’s word came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, write the name of the day, this same day. The king of Babylon drew close to Jerusalem this same day.

Ezekiel records the day the siege began.

Connection: Ezekiel is told to write down the very day the king of Babylon besieged Jerusalem. (confidence: high)

Biblical account

Layer: Biblical text

On 10/X of Zedekiah's ninth year Nebuchadnezzar and his army encamped against Jerusalem and built siege works; the siege lasted until his eleventh year.

Historical overview

Layer: Historical reconstruction · Period: c. 589/588 BC

No Babylonian chronicle survives for these years. Ezekiel 24:1–2 records the same day. Young (2004) dates the start to about January 589 on his reckoning; Wiseman (via Guzik) gives a siege of about a year and a half.[1, 2]

Kingdoms: Neo-Babylonian Empire, Kingdom of Judah

Date and chronology derivation

Ranges are computed by the project's deterministic chronology engine from the biblical statements and each model's reign anchors. They are reconstructions, not independent dates.

590 BC – 587 BC

Model-independent (applies under every chronology model) · precision: regnal year

How this range was derived

Earliest bound

  1. reign of Zedekiah began between 15 Mar 597 BC and 30 Apr 597 BC (model-independent) (2 Kings 24:18)[1, 3]Assumption: ABC 5: after capturing the city on 2 Adar year 7 (15/16 Mar 597) Nebuchadnezzar "appointed there a king of his own choice"; 2 Kgs 24:17. Upper bound (end of April 597) is an operator margin covering Nisan 597. End in summer 587 or 586 BC depending on reckoning (see the two chronology models).
  2. “In the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month” — The final siege of Jerusalem begins (10/X of Zedekiah's ninth year) years later reign of Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:1)Assumption: Zedekiah's ninth year counted from his installation in spring 597 by either Nisan or Tishri reckoning; margin 7–9 years after the start (operator).

Latest bound

  1. reign of Zedekiah began between 15 Mar 597 BC and 30 Apr 597 BC (model-independent) (2 Kings 24:18)[1, 3]Assumption: ABC 5: after capturing the city on 2 Adar year 7 (15/16 Mar 597) Nebuchadnezzar "appointed there a king of his own choice"; 2 Kgs 24:17. Upper bound (end of April 597) is an operator margin covering Nisan 597. End in summer 587 or 586 BC depending on reckoning (see the two chronology models).
  2. “In the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month” — The final siege of Jerusalem begins (10/X of Zedekiah's ninth year) years later reign of Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:1)Assumption: Zedekiah's ninth year counted from his installation in spring 597 by either Nisan or Tishri reckoning; margin 7–9 years after the start (operator).

589 BC – 587 BC

Fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC (accession-year count of Nebuchadnezzar's years) · precision: regnal year

How this range was derived

Earliest bound

  1. “which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar” — Nebuzaradan burns the Temple and Jerusalem (5th month of Nebuchadnezzar's 19th year) in regnal year reign of Nebuchadnezzar II (year 19) [reckoned accession, nisan new year] (2 Kings 25:8)[1, 4]Assumption: Babylonian accession-year counting: year 19 = Nisan 586 – Nisan 585.
  2. “Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month” — Nebuzaradan burns the Temple and Jerusalem (5th month of Nebuchadnezzar's 19th year) days later The breach of Jerusalem and Zedekiah's capture at Riblah (9/IV of Zedekiah's 11th year) (2 Kings 25:8)Assumption: From 9/IV to 7/V (Kings) or 10/V (Jer 52:12): 27–31 days with 29/30-day months.
  3. “So the city was besieged until the eleventh year … On the ninth day of the fourth month” — The breach of Jerusalem and Zedekiah's capture at Riblah (9/IV of Zedekiah's 11th year) months later The final siege of Jerusalem begins (10/X of Zedekiah's ninth year) (2 Kings 25:2–3)[1]Assumption: From 10/X of year 9 to 9/IV of year 11 is about 18 months with Nisan years and about 30 months with Tishri years; both are allowed (Young 2004 discusses the options).

Latest bound

  1. reign of Zedekiah began between 15 Mar 597 BC and 30 Apr 597 BC (model-independent) (2 Kings 24:18)[1, 3]Assumption: ABC 5: after capturing the city on 2 Adar year 7 (15/16 Mar 597) Nebuchadnezzar "appointed there a king of his own choice"; 2 Kgs 24:17. Upper bound (end of April 597) is an operator margin covering Nisan 597. End in summer 587 or 586 BC depending on reckoning (see the two chronology models).
  2. “In the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month” — The final siege of Jerusalem begins (10/X of Zedekiah's ninth year) years later reign of Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:1)Assumption: Zedekiah's ninth year counted from his installation in spring 597 by either Nisan or Tishri reckoning; margin 7–9 years after the start (operator).

590 BC – 588 BC

Fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC (non-accession count of Nebuchadnezzar's years in 2 Kings) · precision: regnal year

How this range was derived

Earliest bound

  1. “which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar” — Nebuzaradan burns the Temple and Jerusalem (5th month of Nebuchadnezzar's 19th year) in regnal year reign of Nebuchadnezzar II (year 19) [reckoned non-accession, nisan new year] (2 Kings 25:8)[1]Assumption: Non-accession counting in 2 Kings (Young 2004): year 19 = Nisan 587 – Nisan 586.
  2. “Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month” — Nebuzaradan burns the Temple and Jerusalem (5th month of Nebuchadnezzar's 19th year) days later The breach of Jerusalem and Zedekiah's capture at Riblah (9/IV of Zedekiah's 11th year) (2 Kings 25:8)Assumption: From 9/IV to 7/V (Kings) or 10/V (Jer 52:12): 27–31 days with 29/30-day months.
  3. “So the city was besieged until the eleventh year … On the ninth day of the fourth month” — The breach of Jerusalem and Zedekiah's capture at Riblah (9/IV of Zedekiah's 11th year) months later The final siege of Jerusalem begins (10/X of Zedekiah's ninth year) (2 Kings 25:2–3)[1]Assumption: From 10/X of year 9 to 9/IV of year 11 is about 18 months with Nisan years and about 30 months with Tishri years; both are allowed (Young 2004 discusses the options).

Latest bound

  1. “which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar” — Nebuzaradan burns the Temple and Jerusalem (5th month of Nebuchadnezzar's 19th year) in regnal year reign of Nebuchadnezzar II (year 19) [reckoned non-accession, nisan new year] (2 Kings 25:8)[1]Assumption: Non-accession counting in 2 Kings (Young 2004): year 19 = Nisan 587 – Nisan 586.
  2. “Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month” — Nebuzaradan burns the Temple and Jerusalem (5th month of Nebuchadnezzar's 19th year) days later The breach of Jerusalem and Zedekiah's capture at Riblah (9/IV of Zedekiah's 11th year) (2 Kings 25:8)Assumption: From 9/IV to 7/V (Kings) or 10/V (Jer 52:12): 27–31 days with 29/30-day months.
  3. “So the city was besieged until the eleventh year … On the ninth day of the fourth month” — The breach of Jerusalem and Zedekiah's capture at Riblah (9/IV of Zedekiah's 11th year) months later The final siege of Jerusalem begins (10/X of Zedekiah's ninth year) (2 Kings 25:2–3)[1]Assumption: From 10/X of year 9 to 9/IV of year 11 is about 18 months with Nisan years and about 30 months with Tishri years; both are allowed (Young 2004 discusses the options).

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What else was happening? (model-independent)

  • Daniel's refusal of the king's food and the ten-day test (Dan 1:8–16): 606 BC – ?
  • Nebuchadnezzar II (reign): 605 BC – 562 BC
  • Nebuchadnezzar's golden image on the plain of Dura (Dan 3:1–7): 603 BC – ?
  • Nebuchadnezzar's decree honouring the God of the three Judeans (Dan 3:28–30): 603 BC – ?
  • The refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace (Dan 3:8–27): 603 BC – ?
  • Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great tree and Daniel's interpretation (Dan 4:4–27): 605 BC – 563 BC
  • Nebuchadnezzar's boast, madness and restoration (Dan 4:28–37): 604 BC – 562 BC
  • Daniel's night vision of the four beasts and its interpretation (Dan 7): ? – 539 BC
  • Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat at Susa (Dan 8): ? – 539 BC
  • Gedaliah governs from Mizpah and is assassinated (2 Kgs 25:22–26): 589 BC – ?
  • Nebuzaradan burns the Temple and Jerusalem (5th month of Nebuchadnezzar's 19th year): 589 BC – 584 BC
  • The breach of Jerusalem and Zedekiah's capture at Riblah (9/IV of Zedekiah's 11th year): 589 BC – 585 BC
  • Zedekiah (reign): 597 BC – 586 BC

What else was happening? (Fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC (accession-year count of Nebuchadnezzar's years))

  • Daniel's refusal of the king's food and the ten-day test (Dan 1:8–16): 606 BC – ?
  • Nebuchadnezzar II (reign): 605 BC – 562 BC
  • Nebuchadnezzar's golden image on the plain of Dura (Dan 3:1–7): 603 BC – ?
  • Nebuchadnezzar's decree honouring the God of the three Judeans (Dan 3:28–30): 603 BC – ?
  • The refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace (Dan 3:8–27): 603 BC – ?
  • Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great tree and Daniel's interpretation (Dan 4:4–27): 605 BC – 563 BC
  • Nebuchadnezzar's boast, madness and restoration (Dan 4:28–37): 604 BC – 562 BC
  • Daniel's night vision of the four beasts and its interpretation (Dan 7): ? – 539 BC
  • Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat at Susa (Dan 8): ? – 539 BC
  • Zedekiah (reign): 597 BC – 586 BC

What else was happening? (Fall of Jerusalem in 587 BC (non-accession count of Nebuchadnezzar's years in 2 Kings))

  • Daniel's refusal of the king's food and the ten-day test (Dan 1:8–16): 606 BC – ?
  • Nebuchadnezzar II (reign): 605 BC – 562 BC
  • Nebuchadnezzar's golden image on the plain of Dura (Dan 3:1–7): 603 BC – ?
  • Nebuchadnezzar's decree honouring the God of the three Judeans (Dan 3:28–30): 603 BC – ?
  • The refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace (Dan 3:8–27): 603 BC – ?
  • Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great tree and Daniel's interpretation (Dan 4:4–27): 605 BC – 563 BC
  • Nebuchadnezzar's boast, madness and restoration (Dan 4:28–37): 604 BC – 562 BC
  • Daniel's night vision of the four beasts and its interpretation (Dan 7): ? – 539 BC
  • Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat at Susa (Dan 8): ? – 539 BC
  • Zedekiah (reign): 597 BC – 586 BC

Ancient and modern geography

Location confidence assumes the event as described. Whether it occurred is assessed in the claims below.

PlaceConnection to this eventLocation identification
JerusalemJerusalem (Old City / City of David)Besieged cityLocation confidence: certainPleiades representative point: certain[5]

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Claims, evidence and classifications

Each claim is classified on its own. A classification describes the evidence for that specific claim, not for the event as a whole.

The final siege of Jerusalem began about January 589 BC.

DisputedOwner review pendingHistorical reconstructionIn owner review queue

Young dates 10/X of Zedekiah's ninth year to January 589 (Tishri years); a Nisan-year count gives January 588 (Wiseman's "about a year and a half" fits the shorter siege). No Babylonian record survives.

Supporting

  • Ezek 24:1–2 and 2 Kgs 25:1: 10/X of the ninth year = Tebeth/January 589.[1]Strength: indirect·Table 2; pp. 31–33·Claim checked

Challenging

  • Wiseman: the siege lasted about a year and a half.[2]Strength: indirect·on 25:1–2·Claim checked

Research date 2026-10-13

Evidence by type

The same evidence regrouped by kind of source. Each item names the claims it bears on.

Archaeological evidence

None recorded for this event.

Scientific findings

None recorded for this event.

Ancient documents

None recorded for this event.

Modern news and announcements

None recorded for this event.

Reference works and summaries

Historical disputes and competing reconstructions

Disputed claims: The final siege of Jerusalem began about January 589 BC.

  • January 589 (siege about 30 months)

    R. C. Young (2004)

    Tishri years for Zedekiah.[1]

  • January 588 (siege about 18 months)

    D. J. Wiseman (via Guzik): "about a year and a half"

    Nisan years for Zedekiah.[2]

Related passages and events

FromRelationshipToBasis
this eventSame eventhigh · Biblical textJeremiah 52:4–5Parallel: same date.
this eventSame eventhigh · Biblical textJeremiah 39:1Parallel in Jeremiah 39.
this eventDirect referencehigh · Biblical textEzekiel 24:1–2Ezekiel is told to write down the very day the king of Babylon besieged Jerusalem.
this eventFollowed byhigh · Biblical textThe breach of Jerusalem and Zedekiah's capture at Riblah (9/IV of Zedekiah's 11th year)The siege ended with the breach.

Prophetic relationships

No prophecy or proposed-fulfillment relationships have been recorded for this event.

Commentary references

Layer: Interpretation. This is commentary, not historical evidence.

Guzik gives the siege dates in Zedekiah's regnal years and quotes Wiseman that it lasted about a year and a half.[2]

Unanswered questions and research gaps

  • No Babylonian chronicle for 594–557 survives.

Research process

2 logged searches
DateQueryWhereUseful
2026-10-13Young 2004 (JETS)web fetch1
2026-10-13Enduring Word 2 Kings 25web fetch1

Sources

  1. 1.
    Young, Rodger C.. When Did Jerusalem Fall?. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 47/1 (2004) 21–38. etsjets.orgClaim checkedScholarly commentaryVerification log
  2. 2.
    Guzik, David. 2 Kings 25 — Enduring Word Bible Commentary. Enduring Word. enduringword.comClaim checkedTheological commentaryInterpretive resource — not historical corroboration.Verification log
  3. 3.
    Lendering, Jona (ed.). ABC 5 (Jerusalem Chronicle / Chronicle of the early years of Nebuchadnezzar) — English translation on Livius.org. Livius.org. www.livius.orgClaim checkedAncient primary textFull translation page read (obverse 1–27, reverse 1′–13′). Cuneiform and the printed editions (Wiseman 1956; Grayson 1975; Glassner 2004) were not consulted directly. Julian equivalents on the page follow Parker & Dubberstein.Verification log
  4. 4.
    Parker, Richard A., Dubberstein, Waldo H.. Babylonian Chronology 626 B.C.–A.D. 45 (SAOC 24). University of Chicago Press (Oriental Institute). archive.orgClaim checkedAcademic monographRead through the Internet Archive OCR text of the Oriental Institute PDF; OCR has digit errors (e.g. "589" for 539) checked against context. The 1956 revised edition was not consulted.Verification log
  5. 5.
    Pleiades contributors. Ierusalem/Hierosolyma — Pleiades place 687928. Pleiades (pleiades.stoa.org). pleiades.stoa.orgClaim checkedInstitutional databaseRepresentative point read from the Pleiades JSON record: lon 35.234978, lat 31.7771895.Verification log