BABYLON
- Easton's
- Nave's
- Torrey's
| EASTON'S BIBLE DICTIONARY |
the Greek form of BABEL; Semitic form Babilu, meaning "The
Gate of God." In the Assyrian tablets it means "The city of the dispersion of
the tribes." The monumental list of its 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.
On the west bank of the Euphrates, about 50 miles south of Bagdad, there is
found a series of artificial mounds of vast extent. These are the ruins of this
once famous proud city. These ruins are principally (1) the great mound called
Babil by the Arabs. This was probably the noted Temple of Belus, which was a
pyramid about 480 feet high. (2) The Kasr (i.e., "the palace"). This was the
great palace of Nebuchadnezzar. It is almost a square, each side of which is
about 700 feet long. The little town of Hillah, near the site of Babylon, is
built almost wholly of bricks taken from this single mound. (3) A lofty mound,
on the summit of which stands a modern tomb called Amran ibn-Ali. This is
probably the most ancient portion of the remains of the city, and represents
the ruins of the famous hanging-gardens, or perhaps of some royal palace. The
utter desolation of the city once called "The glory of kingdoms" (Isa.13:19)
was foretold by the prophets (Isa.13:4-22;
Jeremiah 25:12;
50:2,3;
Daniel 2:31-38
).
The Babylon mentioned in
1 Peter 5:13
was not Rome, as some have thought, but the literal city of Babylon, which was
inhabited by many Jews at the time Peter wrote.
In
Revelation 14:8;
16:19;
17:5; and
18:2, "Babylon" is supposed to mean Rome, not considered as pagan, but
as the prolongation of the ancient power in the papal form. Rome, pagan and
papal, is regarded as one power. "The literal Babylon was the beginner and
supporter of tyranny and idolatry...This city and its whole empire were taken
by the Persians under Cyrus; the Persians were subdued by the Macedonians, and
the Macedonians by the Romans; so that Rome succeeded to the power of old
Babylon. And it was her method to adopt the worship of the false deities she
had conquered; so that by her own act she became the heiress and successor of
all the Babylonian idolatry, and of all that was introduced into it by the
immediate successors of Babylon, and consequently of all the idolatry of the
earth." Rome, or "mystical Babylon," is "that great city which reigneth over
the kings of the earth" (17:18
).
| TORREY'S "THE NEW TOPICAL TEXTBOOK" (additional material included) |
Origin of
Genesis 10:8,10
Origin of the name
Genesis 11:8,9
WAS CALLED
Land of the Chaldeans
Ezekiel 12:13
Land of Shinar
Daniel 1:2;
Zechariah 5:11
Land of Merathaim
Jeremiah 50:1,21
Desert of the sea
Isaiah 21:1,9
Sheshach
Jeremiah 25:12,26
Lady of kingdoms
Isaiah 47:5
Situated beyond the Euphrates
Genesis 11:31;
Joshua 24:2,3
Formerly a part of Mesopotamia
Acts 7:2
Founded by the Assyrians, and a part of their empire
2 Kings 17:24;
Isaiah 23:13
Watered by the rivers Euphrates and Tigris
Psalms 137:1;
Jeremiah 51:13
Composed of many nations
Daniel 3:4;
3:29
Governed by Kings
2 Kings 20:12;
Daniel 5:1
With Media and Persia divided by Darius 120 provinces
Daniel 6:1
Presidents placed over
Daniel 2:48;
6:1
Babylon the chief province of
Daniel 3:1
BABYLON THE CAPITAL OF
Its antiquity
Genesis 11:4,9
Enlarged by Nebuchadnezzar
Daniel 4:30
Surrounded with a great wall and fortified
Jeremiah 51:53,58
Called the golden city
Isaiah 14:4
Called the glory of kingdoms
Isaiah 13:19
Called beauty of Chaldees, &c
Isaiah 13:19
Called the city of merchants
Ezekiel 17:4
Called Babylon the great
Daniel 4:30
REMARKABLE FOR
Antiquity
Jeremiah 5:15
Naval power
Isaiah 43:14
Military power
Jeremiah 5:16;
50:23
National greatness
Isaiah 13:19;
Jeremiah 51:41
Wealth
Jeremiah 50:37;
51:13
Commerce
Ezekiel 17:4
Manufacture of garments
Joshua 7:21
Wisdom of senators
Isaiah 47:10;
Jeremiah 50:35
INHABITANTS OF
Idolatrous
Jeremiah 50:38;
Daniel 3:18
Addicted to magic
Isaiah 47:9,12,13;
Daniel 2:1,2
Profane and sacrilegious
Daniel 5:1-3
Wicked
Isaiah 47:10
AS A POWER WAS
Arrogant
Isaiah 14:13,14;
Jeremiah 50:29,31,32
Secure and self-confident
Isaiah 47:7,8
Grand and stately
Isaiah 47:1,5
Covetous
Jeremiah 51:13
Oppressive
Isaiah 14:4
Cruel and destructive
Isaiah 14:17;
47:6;
Jeremiah 51:25;
Habakkuk 1:6,7
An instrument of God’s vengeance on other nations
Jeremiah 51:7;
Isaiah 47:6
Languages spoken in
Daniel 1:4;
2:4
Armies of, described
Habakkuk 1:7-9
REPRESENTED BY
A great eagle
Ezekiel 17:3
A head of gold
Daniel 2:32,37,38
A lion with eagle’s wings
Daniel 7:4
Ambassadors of, sent to Hezekiah
2 Kings 20:12
NEBUCHADNEZZAR KING OF
Made Jehoiakim tributary
2 Kings 24:1
Besieged Jerusalem
2 Kings 24:10,11
Took Jehoiachin, &c captive to Babylon
2 Kings 24:12,14-16;
2 Chronicles 36:10
Spoiled the temple
2 Kings 24:13
Made Zedekiah king
2 Kings 24:17
Rebelled against by Zedekiah
2 Kings 24:20
Besieged and took Jerusalem
2 Kings 25:1-4
Burned Jerusalem, &c
2 Kings 25:9,10
Took Zedekiah, &c captive to Babylon
2 Kings 25:7,11,18-21;
2 Chronicles 36:20
Spoiled and burned the temple
2 Kings 25:9,13-17;
2 Chronicles 36:18,19
Revolt of the Jews from, and their punishment illustrated
Ezekiel 17:1-24
The Jews exhorted to be subject to, and settle in
Jeremiah 27:17;
29:1-7
Treatment of the Jews in
2 Kings 25:27-30;
Daniel 1:3-7
Grief of the Jews in
Psalms 137:1-6
Destroyed by the Medes
Daniel 5:30,31
Restoration of the Jews from
2 Chronicles 36:23;
Ezra 1:1-2:67
The gospel preached in
1 Peter 5:13
A type of Antichrist
Revelation 16:19;
17:5
PREDICTIONS RESPECTING
Conquests by
Jeremiah 21:3-10;
27:2-6;
49:28-33;
Ezekiel 21:19-32;
29:18-20
Captivity of the Jews by
Jeremiah 20:4-6;
22:20-26;
25:9-11;
Micah 4:10
Restoration of the Jews from
Isaiah 14:1-4;
44:28;
48:20;
Jeremiah 29:10;
50:4,8,19
Destruction of
Isaiah 13:1-22;
14:4-22;
21:1-10;
47:1-15;
Jeremiah 25:12;
50:1-51:64
Perpetual desolation of
Isaiah 13:19-22;
14:22,23;
Jeremiah 50:13,39;
51:37
Preaching of the gospel in
Psalms 87:4