Babylon:
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 (606) it threw off the Assyrian yoke, and became the capital of Ezr 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; Jer 25:12; 50:2,3; Dan 2:31-38).
The Babylon mentioned in 1Pe 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 Rev 14:8; Rev 16:19; Rev 17:5; and Rev 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" (Rev 17:18).
Babylon:
same as Babel
Babylon: Was Called
Land of the Chaldeans
Land of Shinar
Land of Merathaim
Desert of the sea
Sheshach
Lady of kingdoms
Babylon: Formerly a Part of Mesopotamia
Babylon: With Media and Persia divided by Darius 120 provinces
Babylon: Babylon the Chief Province Of
Babylon: Babylon the Capital Of
Its antiquity
Enlarged by Nebuchadnezzar
Surrounded with a great wall and fortified
Called the golden city
Called the glory of kingdoms
Called beauty of Chaldees, &c
Called the city of merchants
Called Babylon the great
Babylon: Remarkable For
Antiquity
Naval power
Military power
National greatness
Wealth
Commerce
Manufacture of garments
Wisdom of senators
Babylon: Inhabitants Of
Idolatrous
Addicted to magic
Profane and sacrilegious
Wicked
Babylon: As a Power Was
Arrogant
Secure and self-confident
Grand and stately
Covetous
Oppressive
Cruel and destructive
Isa 14:17; 47:6; Jer 51:25; Hab 1:6,7
An instrument of God's vengeance on other nations
Babylon: Armies Of, Described
Babylon: Represented By
A great eagle
A head of gold
A lion with eagle's wings
Babylon: Ambassadors Of, Sent to Hezekiah
Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar King Of
Made Jehoiakim tributary
Besieged Jerusalem
Took Jehoiachin, &c captive to Babylon
Spoiled the temple
Made Zedekiah king
Rebelled against by Zedekiah
Besieged and took Jerusalem
Burned Jerusalem, &c
Took Zedekiah, &c captive to Babylon
Spoiled and burned the temple
Babylon: Revolt of the Jews from, and their punishment illustrated
Babylon: Treatment of the Jews In
Babylon: Grief of the Jews In
Babylon: Restoration of the Jews From
Babylon: The Gospel Preached In
Babylon: Predictions Respecting
Conquests by
Jer 21:3-10; 27:2-6; 49:28-33; Eze 21:19-32; 29:18-20
Captivity of the Jews by
Jer 20:4-6; 22:20-26; 25:9-11; Mic 4:10
Restoration of the Jews from
Isa 14:1-4; 44:28; 48:20; Jer 29:10; 50:4,8,19
Destruction of
Isa 13:1-22; 14:4-22; 21:1-10; 47:1-15; Jer 25:12; 50:1-51:64
Perpetual desolation of
Isa 13:19-22; 14:22,23; Jer 50:13,39; 51:37
Preaching of the gospel in
Babylon:
in the Apocalypse, is the symbolical name by which Rome is denoted (Revelation 14:8; 17:18). The power of Rome was regarded by the later Jews as was that of Babylon by their forefathers (compare Jeremiah 51:7 with Revelation 14:8). The occurrence of this name in 1 Peter 5:13 has given rise to a variety of conjectures, many giving it the same meaning as in the Apocalypse; others refer it to Babylon in Asia, and others still to Babylon in Egypt. The most natural supposition of all is that by Babylon is intended the old Babylon of Assyria, which was largely inhabited by Jews at the time in question.
The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.
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