[Avodah] How long did Nevuchadnetzar reign?

[Akiva Blum]

> I think that what he is saying is this:
> I checked my notes, and my chavrusa and I did consider this 
> possibility. But consider this: When Achashverosh made his 
> calculation of when the 70 years would end, he dropped the 
> first eight years of Nevuchadnetzar's 45-year reign, and 
> looked only at the last 37. But since Yehoyachin got exiled 
> DURING Nevuchadnetzar's 8th year, and he figured that the 70 
> years began with Yehoyachin's exile, then he should have 
> counted the remained of that 8th year towards the 70 years. 
> Thus, he should have deducted only seven years, and the 
> remainder of Nevuchadnetzar's reign should have counted as 
> the first 38 according to Achashverosh.

Even though the gemora says that Achashverosh used Belshatzar calculation,
and knocked off the first years of Nevuchadnetzars reign, in truth he didn't
need Nevuchadnetzar at all. He could use the 37 years directly, as mentioned
in the possuk, as whole years.

Akiva