When the gate of the Temple saw that an impure nation was standing opposite (poised to enter), it closed itself and was unwilling to open. All of the forces of the Chaldeans came and brought three hundred and sixty camels which were loaded with iron axes, but the outer precinct of the Temple absorbed them (i.e., their blows had no effect). The gates would not allow themselves to be opened until Parnitos (?) came, slaughtered a pig, and sprinkled some of its blood on the Temple and (thus) defiled it. After it had been defiled, the gate opened itself and the wicked Nebuchadnezzar entered the Temple. He came and turned into the courtyard of Zechariah b. Yehoyada the high priest, and Nebuchadnezzar saw his blood bubbling on the ground. He asked the elders of Israel, saying to them: ‘Whose blood is this?’ They responded, saying to him: ‘He was one of our prophets and he was rebuking us. We did not accept what he was saying, so we rose up and killed him in the Temple.’

When the wicked Nebuchadnezzar had heard about this matter, he said them: ‘Go and bring to me four thousand of "the flower of the priesthood" (cf. e.g. m. Middot 3.8)!’ He slaughtered them over that blood. Up to now it (Zechariah’s blood) had not been absorbed in the ground until Nebuchadnezzar got provoked at it. He addressed it (saying): ‘Must all of your nation be destroyed over you?!?’ After this (threat) it was absorbed.

 

This particular version of the legend is of interest because it features Nebuchadnezzar in the role of the one who allays the ‘bubbling blood’ with a gory human sacrifice, whereas the remainder of the rabbinic sources credit Nebuzaradan, the Chaldean general, with this outrage. Compare the Ta’rīkh of Tabarī (Leiden edition 1.713-16) which likewise has Nebuchadnezzar confront and attempt to quiet the boiling blood of the murdered ... John the Baptist!  For further discussion and references, see the article by Heinrich Schützinger, “Die arabische Legende von Nebukadnezar und Johannes dem Täufer,” Der Islam 40 (1965): 113-41.

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