Editing Neriglissar (section)

=== Reign of Nebuchadnezzar ===
[[File:Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II.png|left|thumb|The [[Neo-Babylonian Empire]] under [[Nebuchadnezzar II]]]]
The [[Neo-Babylonian Empire]] reached the apex of its power during the reign of its second king, [[Nebuchadnezzar II]] ({{Reign}}605–562 BC). During his rule, the empire consolidated its territories and army and established its hegemony over territories that had once belonged to the [[Neo-Assyrian Empire]], defeated and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar's father [[Nabopolassar]] ({{Reign}}626–605 BC). Throughout his reign, Nebuchadnezzar spent much time and many resources on extensive building projects throughout [[Babylonia]], mostly focusing on his capital, [[Babylon]].{{Sfn|Mark|2018}} As the royal treasury became more and more strained under the weight of the expenditures, local businessmen would come to grow wealthier and, as a consequence, more influential in political matters.{{Sfn|Wiseman|1991|p=241}}

According to Neriglissar's own inscriptions,{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}} he was the son of a man by the name Bel-shum-ishkun{{Sfn|Wiseman|1991|p=241}} (''Bêl-šum-iškun'').{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}} This is probably the same person as Bel-shum-ishkun,{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}} son of Nabu-epir-la'a{{Sfn|Wiseman|1991|p=241}} (''Nabû-ēpir-la'î''), whose income is listed in a Babylonian economic document alongside the incomes of Nebuchadnezzar and one of the king's daughters, [[Kashshaya]]. Both Neriglissar and Bel-shum-ishkun are also listed in another royal document that records various officials of the empire, wherein Neriglissar is recorded as a [[Simmagir]] official and Bel-shum-ishkun is recorded as originating in the province Puqudu.{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}} Both Neriglissar and his father might have been from the [[Arameans|Aramean]] clan of the [[Puqudu]] (same name as the province from which Bel-shum-ishkun originated).{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}}{{Sfn|Beaulieu|2016|p=4}}

Neriglissar was an active businessman and landowner during Nebuchadnezzar's reign. He is recorded as having purchased properties from a bankrupt man by the name Nabu-ahhe-iddina and from a wealthy banker by the name Iddina-Marduk, both in [[Sippar]].{{Sfn|Wiseman|1991|p=241}} In addition to Sippar, Neriglissar also owned estates in [[Uruk]].{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}} Due to his presence at Sippar, and due to him being recorded as present at [[Opis]] in 565/564 BC, it is possible that Neriglissar was involved in the construction of Nebuchadnezzar's [[Median Wall]], meant to protect Babylon from attacks from the north. In addition to being a wealthy landowner, Neriglissar was also one of Nebuchadnezzar's leading officials as a Simmagir. During Nebuchadnezzar's military campaigns, Neriglissar served as an officer of the rank ''rab māg''.{{Sfn|Wiseman|1991|p=241}} He might be identical to a "Nergalšareṣer" which the [[Bible]] describes as present at Nebuchadnezzar's [[Siege of Jerusalem (597 BC)|siege of Jerusalem]] in 597 BC{{Sfn|Beaulieu|1998|p=199}} ([[Jeremiah 39:13]]).{{Sfn|Lendering|2006|p=}}