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What we see here is a defining moment in the history of the Neo-Babylonian Empire: Nabopolassar has died, and his son Nebuchadnezzar must return from campaign to claim his throne. He relies on heroic prowess: Nebuchadnezzar must cross a desert, a typical achievement of would-be world rulers (Haubold 2013a: 110 n.125). But he must also call on the help of the “friends” (φίλοι), a technical term for the military and administrative élites of the Seleucid Empire (Savalli-Lestrade 1998; Habicht 2006; Strootman 2007: 119–180, 2011: 70; Dillery 2013: 83–84). Berossos describes these philoi as men of action, who go on campaign with the king and help him extend and defend his empire. At this crucial moment of transition, they play an indispensable role in securing Nebuchadnezzar’s conquests. However, there is a second group on whom Nebuchadnezzar relies to stabilize his rule. This is how the text continues (BNJ 680 F 8a (138)):

καταλαβὼν δὲ τὰ πράγματα διοικούμενα ὑπὸ Χαλδαίων καὶ διατηρουμένην τὴν βασιλείαν ὑπὸ τοῦ βελτίστου αὐτῶν, κυριεύσας ὁλοκλήρου τῆς πατρικῆς ἀρχῆς …