(fake) Scholar
You are neither a scholar, nor do you suffer from the burden of intellectual honesty.
The evidence for 607 BCE is simply fact that 539 BCE fell in 539 BCE as attested by scholarship followed by the establishment of 537 BCE as the date for the Jewish Exiles under Cyrus as confirmed by Ezra and other archaeological evidence for the Decree of Cyrus in his first year. This Return ended the prophesied 70 year period of Exile-Desolation-Servitude in 607 BCE with the Destruction of Jerusalem in the 11th year of Zedekiak and the 18th year of Nebuchadnezzer. The facts concerning the 70 years are described by Ezra, Daniel, Jeremiah and Zechariah are attested by the testimony of Josephus. This is just a simple overview of the subject.
Your response lacks one important element: A reference by scholars to Jersualems destructioin as 607. Counting backward 70 years because it fits a pre conceived dogma proves nothing. All this proves is that JW's like yourself count backwards 70 years from 537 BCE. We already knew thats how they got it. It doesn't make it correct. We need an independant starting point
Josephus attested to the events described in the books of Ezra, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Zecheriah. Would you care to come up with a reference of his that gives 607 as the date of Jerusalems fall? Just one will do. Thanks.
As you acknowledge scholars including the 'celebrated' WT scholars need to rely on Pivotal Dates or Absolute in order to do chronology but the selection of such dates varies from scholar to scholar. Our scholars have selected 539 BCE as the best choicemuch to the chagrin of apostates. The use of 539 BCE is based on a selected methodology which is the basis of any scheme of chronology but provides surety for the determination of 607 BCE.
JW's as we are all aware are great at using their own lingo and being too impressed with it. In this case, archeologists and historians use the simple methodology of "When did this happen?" They do not suffer the severe impediment of religions and cults that must have a methodology that tries to fit square facts into round dogmatic holes.
In this case, there is no need for a pivotal date, thanks to the astrological records of the Babylonians and Egyptians, which (real) scholars are able to translate into the Gregorian calander thanks to the reliable movements of the stars. Thats how JW's got 539 right.
What makes them intellectually dishonest is that they accept 539 BCE because it fits their dogma, yet totally reject the very same materials they use for 539 when it points to 587 as the destruction of Jerusalem. Why? Because you can't get 1914 without 607 BCE.
But that is a small commentary. Your methodology is based on superstion and religious dogma. I gave you this challenge, but I need just one reference you imply exists that states Jerusalem was destroyed at 607 BCE. The caveat is that the reference must be sourced from a non JW scholar and non JW reference. Thats all. Just one. Should be easy.
Btw, this is from Wiki:
Nebuchadnezzar engaged in several military campaigns designed to increase Babylonian influence in Syria and Judah. An attempted invasion of Egypt in 601 BC was met with setbacks, however, leading to numerous rebellions among the states of the Levant, including Judah. Nebuchadnezzar soon dealt with these rebellions, capturing Jerusalem in 597 BC and deposing King Jehoiakim, then in 587 BC due to rebellion, destroying both the city and the temple, and deporting many of the prominent citizens along with a sizable portion of the Jewish population of Judea to Babylon. [2] These events are described in the Prophets (Nevi'im) and Writings (Ketuvim), sections of the Hebrew Bible. After the destruction of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar engaged in a thirteen year siege of Tyre (585-572 BC), which ended in a compromise, with the Tyrians accepting Babylonian authority.