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◄ Babylon: City of Tower of►

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Introduction

Babylon, an ancient city located in Mesopotamia, holds significant importance in biblical history and literature. It is most famously associated with the Tower of Babel, a narrative found in the Book of Genesis. This entry explores the biblical account of Babylon, its theological implications, and its role in the broader biblical narrative.

Biblical Account

The account of the Tower of Babel is recorded inGenesis 11:1-9. According to the Berean Standard Bible , the narrative begins with humanity speaking a single language and migrating eastward, where they settle in the land of Shinar, identified with Babylon. The people decide to build a city and a tower "with its top in the heavens" to make a name for themselves and prevent their dispersion across the earth (Genesis 11:4).

The construction of the tower is seen as an act of pride and defiance against God's command to "fill the earth" (Genesis 9:1). In response, God confuses their language, causing them to be unable to understand one another. This divine intervention halts the construction and scatters the people across the earth, leading to the city's name, Babel, which is associated with the Hebrew word for confusion (Genesis 11:7-9).

Theological Implications

The Tower of Babel narrative serves as a profound theological lesson on human pride and the limits of human ambition. It illustrates the consequences of attempting to usurp divine authority and highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands. The confusion of languages is seen as a divine act to humble humanity and remind them of their dependence on God.

Babylon, as the site of this event, becomes a symbol of human rebellion and divine judgment throughout the Bible. It represents the futility of human efforts to achieve greatness apart from God and serves as a cautionary tale against the dangers of pride and self-reliance.

Babylon in the Broader Biblical Narrative

Beyond the Tower of Babel, Babylon plays a significant role in the biblical narrative as a symbol of worldly power and opposition to God's people. It is later depicted as the empire that conquers Jerusalem and leads the Israelites into exile, as recorded in the books of Kings and Chronicles. The Babylonian exile is a pivotal event in Israel's history, representing both judgment and the hope of eventual restoration.

In prophetic literature, Babylon is often used metaphorically to describe oppressive regimes and systems that stand against God's kingdom. The Book of Revelation, for instance, uses Babylon as a symbol of the ultimate worldly power that will be overthrown by God's final judgment (Revelation 17-18).

Conclusion

The city of Babylon, particularly in the context of the Tower of Babel, serves as a powerful symbol in the biblical narrative. It represents human pride, divine judgment, and the ultimate triumph of God's purposes over human ambition. Through the account of Babel and its subsequent appearances in Scripture, Babylon remains a poignant reminder of the need for humility and obedience to God.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 11:1-9
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Concerning theTower ofBabylon, and the Confusion of Tongues.
... sent storms of wind and overthrew thetower, and gave every one his peculiar language;
and for this reason it was that thecity was calledBabylon." But as to...

Of the Diversity of Languages, and of the Founding ofBabylon.
... they left off to build thecity and thetower.... face of all the earth." [873] This
city, which was called Confusion, is the same asBabylon, whose wonderful...

Babylon.
...Babylon, thecity which was to be the place of... but thought the special protector
of theircity was Bel... of the Euphrates, near the ruins of theTower of Babel...

The History after the Flood.
... of cities and kings, in the following manner:"The firstcity wasBabylon, and Erech...
and not at the instigation of God, to build acity, atower whose top...

TheTower of Babel.
... in the land of Shinar, near to whereBabylon was afterwards built. Here they said
they would remain and build a greatcity, with a hightower ascending to...

Of the Genealogy of Shem, in Whose Line theCity of God is...
... the time when they proudly built atower to heaven, a symbol of godless exaltation,
thecity or society... of the two sons, even beforeBabylon was founded...

The Conquest ofBabylon.
... Here there was a very loftytower, divided into eight... of a large force to the vicinity
of thecity. The King ofBabylon, whose name was Belshazzar, withdrew...

The Revolt ofBabylon.
... the bars of his window, in thetower in which... all the forces at his disposal, and
advanced toBabylon. The people of thecity shut their gates against him, and...

How Titus Gave Orders to Demolish theTower of Antonia and Then...
... that were with him to dig up the foundations of thetower of Antonia... the Jews, if
thou hast a mind to save thecity, who, when the king ofBabylon made war...

The Catholic System.
... The greatcity ofBabylon commenced with the erection of Babel, and the builders
said""Go to, let us build us acity, and atower whose top may reach unto...