NEBUZARADAN

Chief Babylonian official and captain of the bodyguard during Nebuchadnezzar’s reign (605–562 BC). Nebuzaradan was one of the officials whom Nebuchadnezzar authorized to oversee Jerusalem and Judah and the deportations of Jewish exiles to Babylon (2 Kgs 25:8-20; Jer 39:9-10; 52:12-30). On the king’s orders, he appointed Gedaliah governor of Judah and Jeremiah’s guardian (Jer 39:11-13; 41:10; 43:6).