Babylon

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Babylon

Meaning - The Greek form of BABEL meaining "The Gate of God" also "dispersion of the tribes"

Historical Significance

Babylon was one of the most important cities of the ancient world. Its list of kings reaches back to B.C. 2300, and includes Khammurabi, or Amraphel (q.v.), the contemporary of Abraham. It stood on the Euphrates, about 200 miles above its junction with the Tigris, which flowed through its midst and divided it into two almost equal parts. The Elamites invaded Chaldea (i.e., Lower Mesopotamia, or Shinar, and Upper Mesopotamia, or Accad, now combined into one) and held it in subjection. At length Khammu-rabi delivered it from the foreign yoke, and founded the new empire of Chaldea (q.v.), making Babylon the capital of the united kingdom. This city gradually grew in extent and grandeur, but in process of time it became subject to Assyria. On the fall of Nineveh (B.C. 606) it threw off the Assyrian yoke, and became the capital of the growing Babylonian empire. Under Nebuchadnezzar it became one of the most splendid cities of the ancient world.

After passing through various vicissitudes the city was occupied by Cyrus, "king of Elam," B.C. 538, who issued a decree permitting the Jews to return to their own land (Ezra 1). It then ceased to be the capital of an empire. It was again and again visited by hostile armies, till its inhabitants were all driven from their homes, and the city became a complete desolation, its very site being forgotten from among men.

At that time the Euphrates divided the city into two unequal parts-the old quarter, with most of the palaces and temples, on the east bank, and the New City on the west bank. A prominent place near the center of the city was occupied by Esagila, the temple of Marduk; just to the north of that was Etemenanki (the ziggurat), a seven-storied edifice sometimes linked in popular legend with the Tower of Babel. A cluster of palaces and fortifications was found at the northwest corner of the old city; the German excavators identified one ruin in this area with the foundations of the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, which Nebuchadnezzar II built for his Median wife. Nearby was located the Ishtar Gate, with its lions and dragons in brightly colored glazed brick. Through it passed the main Processional Way, the route followed by cultic and political leaders for the New Year's festival ceremonies. Through nine major gates of the massive inner fortification walls passed roads to the principal settlements of Babylonia.

Will Babylon rise again? In Rev. 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; and 18:2, "Babylon" is mentioned as the focal point of world trade and corruption. This could be figurative or literal.

Geography, Archaeology and Surrounding Area

The city became insignificant and almost disappeared before the coming of Islam in the 7th century AD. Early excavations began in the 1850's. The topography of Babylon is best known from the occupation levels of the Neo-Babylonian dynasty, as excavated by Robert Koldewey and other German archaeologists just before World War I.

Babylon is located on the bank of the Euphrates, about 50 miles south of Baghdad. The remains of which can be found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq. It was excavated during the 19th century. During the 1960's more excavations were done and restorations were made to the ancient city.

Scripture References

2Ki_17:24; 2Ki_17:30; 2Ki_20:12; 2Ki_20:14; 2Ki_20:17; 2Ki_20:18; 2Ki_24:1; 2Ki_24:7; 2Ki_24:10; 2Ki_24:11; 2Ki_24:12; 2Ki_24:15; 2Ki_24:16; 2Ki_24:17; 2Ki_24:20; 2Ki_25:1; 2Ki_25:6; 2Ki_25:7; 2Ki_25:8; 2Ki_25:11; 2Ki_25:13; 2Ki_25:20; 2Ki_25:21; 2Ki_25:22; 2Ki_25:23; 2Ki_25:24; 2Ki_25:27; 2Ki_25:28; 1Ch_9:1; 2Ch_32:31; 2Ch_33:11; 2Ch_36:6; 2Ch_36:7; 2Ch_36:10; 2Ch_36:18; 2Ch_36:20; Ezr_1:11; Ezr_2:1; Ezr_5:12; Ezr_5:13; Ezr_5:14; Ezr_5:17; Ezr_6:1; Ezr_6:5; Ezr_7:6; Ezr_7:9; Ezr_7:16; Ezr_8:1; Neh_7:6; Neh_13:6; Est_2:6; Psa_87:4; Psa_137:1; Psa_137:8; Isa_13:1; Isa_13:19; Isa_14:4; Isa_14:22; Isa_21:9; Isa_39:1; Isa_39:3; Isa_39:6; Isa_39:7; Isa_43:14; Isa_47:1; Isa_48:14; Isa_48:20; Jer_20:4; Jer_20:5; Jer_20:6; Jer_21:2; Jer_21:4; Jer_21:7; Jer_21:10; Jer_22:25; Jer_24:1; Jer_25:1; Jer_25:9; Jer_25:11; Jer_25:12; Jer_27:6; Jer_27:8; Jer_27:9; Jer_27:11; Jer_27:12; Jer_27:13; Jer_27:14; Jer_27:16; Jer_27:17; Jer_27:18; Jer_27:20; Jer_27:22; Jer_28:2; Jer_28:3; Jer_28:4; Jer_28:6; Jer_28:11; Jer_28:14; Jer_29:1; Jer_29:3; Jer_29:4; Jer_29:10; Jer_29:15; Jer_29:20; Jer_29:21; Jer_29:22; Jer_29:28; Jer_32:2; Jer_32:3; Jer_32:4; Jer_32:5; Jer_32:28; Jer_32:36; Jer_34:1; Jer_34:2; Jer_34:3; Jer_34:7; Jer_34:21; Jer_35:11; Jer_36:29; Jer_37:1; Jer_37:17; Jer_37:19; Jer_38:3; Jer_38:17; Jer_38:18; Jer_38:22; Jer_38:23; Jer_39:1; Jer_39:3; Jer_39:5; Jer_39:6; Jer_39:7; Jer_39:9; Jer_39:11; Jer_39:13; Jer_40:1; Jer_40:4; Jer_40:5; Jer_40:7; Jer_40:9; Jer_40:11; Jer_41:2; Jer_41:18; Jer_42:11; Jer_43:3; Jer_43:10; Jer_44:30; Jer_46:2; Jer_46:13; Jer_46:26; Jer_49:28; Jer_49:30; Jer_50:1; Jer_50:2; Jer_50:8; Jer_50:9; Jer_50:13; Jer_50:14; Jer_50:16; Jer_50:17; Jer_50:18; Jer_50:23; Jer_50:24; Jer_50:28; Jer_50:29; Jer_50:34; Jer_50:35; Jer_50:42; Jer_50:43; Jer_50:45; Jer_50:46; Jer_51:1; Jer_51:2; Jer_51:6; Jer_51:7; Jer_51:8; Jer_51:9; Jer_51:11; Jer_51:12; Jer_51:24; Jer_51:29; Jer_51:30; Jer_51:31; Jer_51:33; Jer_51:34; Jer_51:35; Jer_51:37; Jer_51:41; Jer_51:42; Jer_51:44; Jer_51:47; Jer_51:48; Jer_51:49; Jer_51:53; Jer_51:54; Jer_51:55; Jer_51:56; Jer_51:58; Jer_51:59; Jer_51:60; Jer_51:61; Jer_51:64; Jer_52:3; Jer_52:4; Jer_52:9; Jer_52:10; Jer_52:11; Jer_52:12; Jer_52:15; Jer_52:17; Jer_52:26; Jer_52:27; Jer_52:31; Jer_52:32; Jer_52:34; Eze_12:13; Eze_17:12; Eze_17:16; Eze_17:20; Eze_19:9; Eze_21:19; Eze_21:21; Eze_24:2; Eze_26:7; Eze_29:18; Eze_29:19; Eze_30:10; Eze_30:24; Eze_30:25; Eze_32:11; Dan_1:1; Dan_2:12; Dan_2:14; Dan_2:18; Dan_2:24; Dan_2:48; Dan_2:49; Dan_3:1; Dan_3:12; Dan_3:30; Dan_4:6; Dan_4:29; Dan_4:30; Dan_5:7; Dan_7:1; Mic_4:10; Zec_2:7; Zec_6:10; Mat_1:11; Mat_1:12; Mat_1:17; Act_7:43; 1Pe_5:13; Rev_14:8; Rev_16:19; Rev_17:5; Rev_18:2; Rev_18:10; Rev_18:21;

References