24:1 In 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar commanded forces that defeated the remaining Assyrian army and an Egyptian contingent at Carchemish (see Jer 46:2). While he campaigned in the west, his father, Nabopolassar, died, and Nebuchadnezzar returned home to assume the throne as Nebuchadnezzar II (605–562 BC). When he rejoined his troops, they easily moved down the Mediterranean coast. Sometime during this campaign, he invaded the land of Judah and took much plunder and many captives to Babylon, including Daniel and his three friends (Dan 1:1-7). Jehoiakim was made a vassal to Nebuchadnezzar and paid him tribute for three years. When Pharaoh Neco defeated the Babylonians at the Egyptian border in 601 BC, Jehoiakim rebelled, seizing the opportunity to gain his independence.

24:13 As the Lord had said beforehand: See 20:16-17. A greater divine judgment still lay in the future (21:12-15; 22:15-20; 23:26-27). • all the treasures: In his earlier siege of Jerusalem in 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar had taken part of the Temple treasures as spoil (2 Chr 36:7; Dan 1:2). He now carried away all the treasures. Anything left behind on this occasion was taken in his final siege of Jerusalem in 586 BC (2 Kgs 25:15).