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THE CHALDEANS
BY DAVID SKELLY
The third human head was Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean (see Rev
17:9-11). He was called the HEAD of gold (Daniel 2:37, 38). The
people of the third head were the Chaldeans. The Chaldeans were
descendants of Arphaxad. Some the descendants of Arphaxad were
Israelites, Chaldeans, Ishmaelites, Ammonites, Moabites etc. According
to Josephus a first century Jewish historian the Arphaxadites
were called Chaldeans (Josephus's Jewish Antiquities 1.6.4).
Original Hebrew: 'arpakhsad ; English translation: arphaxad
(Genesis 10:22)
Original Hebrew: kasdiym ; English translation: chaldeans
(Genesis 11:28)
The English term 'Chaldea' comes from the term 'Kaldu' the
Assyrian Akkadian term used for the territory of Chaldea. The
chaldeans are called kasdiym in the original Hebrew text.
The term kasdiym (chaldeans) is an abbreviation of the term 'arpakhsadiym
(Arphaxadians). Terah a descendent of Arphaxad was born in Ur
of the Chaldeans (Gen 11:10-32). "And Terah took Abram his
son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter
in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from
Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came
unto Haran, and dwelt there" (Gen 11:31). Later God blessed
Abram (Abraham) and Abraham became the father of many nations.
The Israelites were the most important people who had descent
from Abraham. The Ur of the Chaldeans (Heb kasdiym) not the Ur
which archaeologists discovered in southern Iraq. This lower Mesopotamian
Ur was originally a Nimrodian Sumerian city. The Sumerians spoke
a non-Semitic language called Sumerian. The Sumerians occupied
Ur for quite some time after the flood. The phrase 'Ur of the
Chaldeans' can be rendered as 'the city of the Chaldeans' or 'Chaldee
city'. 'Ur' means city. I believe that the Ur of the Chaldeans
was located somewhere in northern Mesopotamia. The northern Ur
was called Ur of the Chaldeans to distinguish it from the southern
Sumerian Ur. In far northern Mesopotamia a city called 'Ura' on
the eastern side of the Euphrates river (Jos 24:2) and just north
of Haran has been found. 'Ura' means the city in Aramaic (p49-53
Taylor, p29-30 Gordon). Aramaic was the language of the Chaldeans.
This Ura may have been the city of the Chaldeans. In any case
I still believe that the Ur of the Chaldeans was located in northern
Mesopotamia.
The Chaldeans later spread out in many directions away from
their northern Mesopotamian heartland. The Chaldeans were mentioned
in the book of Job (Job 1:17). At about 1000 BC many Chaldeans
and Arameans migrated to southern Babylonia (p65-69, 89 Saggs).
After the Chaldeans established themselves in lower Mesopotamia
they became a threat to the Kassite dynasty ruling Babylon and
later to Assyria herself. In the 7th century Nabopolassar the
chaldean king of Babylon in an alliance destroyed Assyria. In
about 604 BC Nebuchadnezzar the son of Nabopolassar became the
king of Babylon. Later he defeated Pharoah Necho the king of Egypt
near Carchemish (in Syria) (Jeremiah 46:1-12). Nebuchadnezzar
then later took all the territory from the river Euphrates to
the river of Egypt that pertained to the king of Egypt (2 Kings
24:7).
God used Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean to severely punish the
kingdom of Judah for her sins. After the demise of Josiah the
good king of Judah, the succeeding kings of Judah refused to repent
and turn away from their sins. After Josiah died Jehoahaz his
son became the king of Judah. His reign only lasted 3 months.
After Jehoahaz was deposed Jehoiakim another son of Josiah became
the king of Judah. Jehoiakim did that which was evil in the sight
of the LORD and reigned for 11 years (2 Kings 23:28-37). "In
his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim
became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against
him. And the LORD sent against him bands of the Syrians [Arameans],
and bands of the Moabites. and bands of the children of Ammon,
and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word
of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets. Surely
at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove
them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to
all that he did; and also for the innocent blood that he shed:
for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would
not pardon (2 Kings 24:1-4). "In the third year of
the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave
Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the
vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of
Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into
the treasure house of his god. And the king spake unto Ashpenaz
the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the
children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful
in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science,
and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace,
and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans"
(Daniel 1:1-4). Daniel was one of the captives taken by Nebuchadnezzar
in about the third year of Jehoiakim (Dan 1:6). But Jehoikim still
continued on his evil ways. In response the LORD again sent Nebuchadnezzar
against him. Nebuchadnezzar in the 11th and last year of Jehoiakim
bound Jehoiakim in fetters and had him carried off to Babylon
(2 Chron 36:5,6). Jehoiakin was the next king of Judah. He did
evil in the sight of the LORD and only reigned three months and
ten days. Nebuchadnezzar had Jehoiakin taken to Babylon with vessels
of the temple (2 Chron 36:9, 10). Nebuchadnezzar later made Zedekiah
the next king of Judah. Zedekiah reigned for 11 years. He also
refused to repent and turn away from his sins. Zedekiah was a
vassal of Nebuchadnezzar. He had sworn an oath of loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar.
During his reign Zedekiah broke his oath and rebelled against
Nebuchadnezzar. He even sent ambassadors to Egypt to obtain help
against the Chaldeans (Ez 17:15). In response Nebuchadnezzar the
king of the Chaldeans besieged Jerusalem The Assyrians and others
were also involved in the siege of Jerusalem (Ez 23:4, 22, 23).
After of a siege of about 18 months the city was captured. Nebuchadnezzar
then spoiled Jerusalem and had her destroyed by fire. Jerusalem's
wall was also razed. Many Jews were killed. The great majority
of the Jews that were still alive in Judah were taken into captivity
to Babylon. One third of the inhabitants of Jerusalem were killed
by famine and plague. During the siege there was even cannibalism
(Ez 5:10). One third of Jerusalem's inhabitants were killed by
the sword (Ez 9:1-11). Another third were deported to Babylon
and went into captivity (Ez 5:5,12; 2 Chron 36:20). Later the
Jews were scattered into many various places. In Riblah the Chaldeans
slew Zedekiah's sons before his eyes and put out Zedekiah's eyes.
Zedekiah was then bound in brass fetters and taken to Babylon
(2 Kings 24,25; 2 Chron 36). The Chaldeans even raped many of
the women of Judah and Jerusalem (Lam 5:11). The house of Judah
was taken into captivity to Babylon. In captivity the Jews were
placed under a very heavy yoke (Lam 5:13-16). At some later time
Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt and slew multitudes of Egyptians
(Jeremiah 46:13-26; Ez 29:17-20; 30:10-26). The great Egyptian
city Memphis (Noph) was laid waste. The inhabitants of Memphis
were taken into captivity (Jer 46:14, 19). The Babylonian empire
was just a little bit bigger than the Assyrian empire. Nebuchadnezzar
controlled a large stretch of territory from northern Egypt to
the Persian gulf.
The Chaldeans like the ancient Assyrians were very nasty people.
In Habakkuk 1:6 the chaldeans are called a bitter and hasty nation.
They were a very impetuous people. The Chaldean horsemen flew
like eagles making hast to devour the prey (Hab 1:8) (comp Lam
4:19). Their horses were swifter than leopards (Hab 1:8). They
were fiercer than evening wolves (Hab 1:8). The Chaldeans had
a very quick and flashy mentality, dashing here and dashing there.
They were very very impatient. Today they would make very good
racing drivers. They were a very violent people (Hab 1:9). The
Chaldeans were a dreadful and terrible people indeed (Hab 1:7).
The Chaldeans came "for violence" (Hab 1:9).
They killed and murdered countless people. They gathered up "the
captivity as the sand" (Hab 1:9). Many people including the
Jews went into captivity. The Chaldeans scoffed at kings. The
leaders were just a scorn to them. They derided strongholds and
built earthen ramps and captured them (Hab 1:10). Sometimes a
Chaldean gave wine to a neighbour to make him very drunk so that
he might perversely gaze upon his nakedness (Hab 2:15) (comp Gen
9:20-29). The Chaldeans were full of sexual perverseness.
In Daniel chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean king of Babylon
manifested the typical Chaldean traits of hast, impetuousness
and impatience. The whole of Daniel chapter 2 is quoted below.
"And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar
dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep
was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. Then the king commanded
to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the Chaldeans,
for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before
the king. And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream,
and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. Then spake the Chaldeans
to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants
the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. The king answered
and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will
not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof,
ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made
a dunghill. But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof,
ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore
shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. They answered
again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and
we will shew the interpretation of it. The king answered and said,
I know of certainty that ye would gain time, because ye see the
thing is gone from me. But if ye will not make known unto me the
dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying
and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed:
therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew
me the interpretation thereof. The Chaldeans answered before the
king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew
the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord nor ruler,
that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none
other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose
dwelling is not with flesh. For this cause the king was angry
and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of
Babylon" (Dan 2:1-12). Nebuchadnezzar was very impatient.
He then wanted to straight away tell him the dream and the interpretation
and was not prepared to wait. He did not trust the wise men. He
thought that if he gave them time they would speak corrupt lying
words before him. In response Nebuchadnezzar hastily decreed that
all the wise were to be slain (Dan 2:12, 15). "And the decree
went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought
Daniel and his fellows to be slain. Then Daniel answered with
counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard,
which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: He answered
and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty
from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. Then
Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him
time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. Then
Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies
of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and fellows
should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then
was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel
blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be
the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
And he changed the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and
setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge
to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret
things; he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth
with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers,
who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me
now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto
us the king's matter. Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom
the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: bring
me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.
Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said
thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that
will make known unto the king the interpretation. The king answered
and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able
to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation
thereof? Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said,
The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the
astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh
known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.
Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy
bed, what should come to pass hereafter; and he that revealeth
secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. But as for
me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have
more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known
the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the
thoughts of thy heart.
Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great
image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and
the form thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold,
his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of
brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which
smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and
brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass,
the silver, and the gold, broken to pierces together, and became
like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried
them away, that no place was found for them; and the stone that
smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole
earth.
This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof
before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God
of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and
glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of
the field and fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand,
and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head
of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior
to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear
rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong
as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all
things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in
pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes,
part of potters' clay and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided;
but there shall be in it of the strength of iron, forasmuch as
thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of
the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall
be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron
mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed
of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron
is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the
God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed:
and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall
break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand
for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out
of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the
iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold: the great
God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter:
and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped
Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet
odours unto him. The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a
truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings,
and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great
gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon,
and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then
Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel
sat in the gate of the king (Dan 2:13-49). Later the Chaldean
empire was taken by the Persians. God's judgement fell on the
terrible Chaldeans. Where are the Chaldean peoples today?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gordon, C. H.; "Abraham and the Merchants of Ura",
Journal of Near Eastern Studies 17, p29-30; The University
of Chicago Press, 1958
Josephus; The Works of Josephus; Hendrickson Publishers,
Inc., 1987
Taylor, Charles; Rewriting Bible History; The House of
Tabor, South Australia, 1983
Editorial
In Brief
The Chaldeans
Celtic-Israelite Commonalities
The Origin of the Nations of S.E. Asia
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