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Erich Lessing

A desire to unify the Chaldean tribes, along with the Arameans and native Babylonians, into a cohesive Babylonian empire motivated Nebuchadnezzar’s extensive construction projects (and those of his father, Nabopolassar). Author Bill Arnold suggests that this provides a compelling historical analogy to the unification of the Israelite tribes under sociologically similar conditions. This may parallel David and Solomon’s building efforts in Jerusalem. The elegant mosaic is from the façade of Nebuchadnezzar’s throne room in one of the palaces that he built.