The Gentile Times Reconsidered Chronology Christ

The Length of Reigns of the Neo-Babylonian Kings 107
THE URUK KING LIST
(obverse)
21 years K(anda)lanu
1 year Sin-shum-lishir and
Sin-shar-ishkun
21 years Nabopolassar
43 (ye)ars Nebuchadnezzar
2 (ye)ars Awel-Marduk
‘3’ (years) 8 months Neriglissar
(. . .) 3 months Labashi-Marduk
‘17[?]’ (years) Nabonidus
As is seen, the royal names and the preserved figures for the
Neo-Babylonian period agree with those of Berossus and the Royal
Canon: Nabopolassar is given 21 years, Nebuchadnezzar 43 years,
and Awel-Marduk (Evil-merodach) 2 years. The only deviation is
the length of Labashi-Marduk’s reign, which is given as 3 months
against Berossus’ 9 months. The smaller figure is without doubt
correct, as is proved by the economic documents unearthed. 35
In contrast to the Royal Canon, which always gives whole years
only, the Uruk King List is more specific in also giving months for
the reigns of Neriglissar and Labashi-Marduk. The damaged figures
for Neriglissar and Nabonidus may be restored (reconstructed) as
“3 years, 8 months,” and “17 years,” respectively. The economic
texts also indicate Neriglissar’s reign to have been three years and
eight months (August 560–April 556 B.C.E.). 36
Thus, once again, we find the figures of Berossus and the Royal
Canon confirmed by this ancient document, the Uruk King List.
Admittedly, this king list was composed (from older documents)
more than 300 years after the end of the Neo-Babylonian era. On
this basis it might be argued that scribal errors may have crept into
it.
35 See note 20 above. At any rate, Labashi-Marduk’s reign was swallowed up by
Neriglissar’s fourth year, which was also Nabonidus’ accession-year, and the total
length of the era is not affected.
36 J. van Dijk, UVB 18 (see note 33 above), page 57. As Neriglissar died in his fourth
regnal year, his reign would normally have been counted chronologically as four
years, according to the Babylonian accession-year system. The Uruk King List
deviates from this method at this point by giving more specific information. As van
Dijk points out, “the list is more precise than the [Royal] Canon and confirms
throughout the results of the research.”—Archiv fair Orientforschung, ed. E.
Weidner, Vol. 20 (Graz, 1963), p. 217. For further information on the month of
Neriglissar’s accession and the Uruk King List, see the Appendix for Chapter 3.