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; Jer. 25:12; 50:2, 3; Dan. 2:31-38). The Babylon mentioned in 1 Pet. 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; 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). same as Babel 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. Comp. (Jeremiah 51:7) with Reve 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. Origin of -- Ge 10:8,10. Origin of the name -- Ge 11:8,9. Was called Land of the Chaldeans. -- Eze 12:13. Land of Shinar. -- Da 1:2; Zec 5:11. Land of Merathaim. -- Jer 50:1,21. Desert of the sea. -- Isa 21:1,9. Sheshach. -- Jer 25:12,26. Lady of kingdoms. -- Isa 47:5. Situated beyond the Euphrates -- Ge 11:31; Jos 24:2,3. Formerly a part of Mesopotamia -- Ac 7:2. Founded by the Assyrians, and a part of their empire -- 2Ki 17:24; Isa 23:13. Watered by the rivers Euphrates and Tigris -- Ps 137:1; Jer 51:13. Composed of many nations -- Da 3:4; 3:29. Governed by Kings -- 2Ki 20:12; Da 5:1. With Media and Persia divided by Darius 120 provinces -- Da 6:1. Presidents placed over -- Da 2:48; 6:1. Babylon the chief province of -- Da 3:1. Babylon the capital of Its antiquity. -- Ge 11:4,9. Enlarged by Nebuchadnezzar. -- Da 4:30. Surrounded with a great wall and fortified. -- Jer 51:53,58. Called the golden city. -- Isa 14:4. Called the glory of kingdoms. -- Isa 13:19. Called beauty of Chaldees, &c. -- Isa 13:19. Called the city of merchants. -- Eze 17:4. Called Babylon the great. -- Da 4:30. Remarkable for Antiquity. -- Jer 5:15. Naval power. -- Isa 43:14. Military power. -- Jer 5:16; 50:23. National greatness. -- Isa 13:19; Jer 51:41. Wealth. -- Jer 50:37; 51:13. Commerce. -- Eze 17:4. Manufacture of garments. -- Jos 7:21. Wisdom of senators. -- Isa 47:10; Jer 50:35. Inhabitants of Idolatrous. -- Jer 50:38; Da 3:18. Addicted to magic. -- Isa 47:9,12,13; Da 2:1,2. Profane and sacrilegious. -- Da 5:1-3. Wicked. -- Isa 47:10. As a power was Arrogant. -- Isa 14:13,14; Jer 50:29,31,32. Secure and self-confident. -- Isa 47:7,8. Grand and stately. -- Isa 47:1,5. Covetous. -- Jer 51:13. Oppressive. -- Isa 14:4. Cruel and destructive. -- Isa 14:17; 47:6; Jer 51:25; Hab 1:6,7. An instrument of God's vengeance on other nations. -- Jer 51:7; Isa 47:6. Languages spoken in -- Da 1:4; 2:4. Armies of, described -- Hab 1:7-9. Represented by A great eagle. -- Eze 17:3. A head of gold. -- Da 2:32,37,38. A lion with eagle's wings. -- Da 7:4. Ambassadors of, sent to Hezekiah -- 2Ki 20:12. Nebuchadnezzar king of Made Jehoiakim tributary. -- 2Ki 24:1. Besieged Jerusalem. -- 2Ki 24:10,11. Took Jehoiachin, &c captive to Babylon. -- 2Ki 24:12,14-16; 2Ch 36:10. Spoiled the temple. -- 2Ki 24:13. Made Zedekiah king. -- 2Ki 24:17. Rebelled against by Zedekiah. -- 2Ki 24:20. Besieged and took Jerusalem. -- 2Ki 25:1-4. Burned Jerusalem, &c. -- 2Ki 25:9,10. Took Zedekiah, &c captive to Babylon. -- 2Ki 25:7,11,18-21; 2Ch 36:20. Spoiled and burned the temple. -- 2Ki 25:9,13-17; 2Ch 36:18,19. Revolt of the Jews from, and their punishment illustrated -- Eze 17:1-24. The Jews exhorted to be subject to, and settle in -- Jer 27:17; 29:1-7. Treatment of the Jews in -- 2Ki 25:27-30; Da 1:3-7. Grief of the Jews in -- Ps 137:1-6. Destroyed by the Medes -- Da 5:30,31. Restoration of the Jews from -- 2Ch 36:23; Ezr 1:1-2:67. The gospel preached in -- 1Pe 5:13. A type of Antichrist -- Re 16:19; 17:5. 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. -- Ps 87:4.
Babylon