Babylon: Difference between revisions

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In the [[The New Testament|New Testament]], particularly in the book of Revelation, Babylon symbolizes false churches opposing God and serves as a dwelling place of [[Satan (Devil)|Satan]], destined for judgment.

===Ruins===

German archaeologist Robert Johann Koldewey excavated the ruins of Babylon for about 15 years, beginning in 1899. The city of Babylon was a massive fortress, with wall thickness ranging from 11.58 meters to 23.5 meters (approx. 38 feet to 77.1 feet). The city walls had a circumference of 96 kilometers (60 miles), with each side measuring 24 kilometers (15 miles) and reaching a height of 100 meters (328 feet). Each wall contained more than 100 gates. The Euphrates River flowed both inside and outside the city, providing water while also serving as a barrier against external invasions.

===Old Babylonian Empire (Amorite Dynasty)===

Around the 21st century B.C., the Amorites, who lived a nomadic lifestyle near the Mediterranean coastal region of Canaan, advanced into the Mesopotamian plain and established the cities of Isin and Larsa.<ref>[https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2014%3A9&version=NIV Genesis 14:9]</ref><ref>A Basic Bible Dictionary, Michael Counsell, ''Canterbury Press'', 2004, pg.165</ref> In the early 19th century B.C., a group that had gained independence from Isin founded the Amorite dynasty (the First Babylonian Empire), centered around the city of Babylon along the banks of the Euphrates River. The Amorite dynasty expanded its territory by conquering surrounding cities.

Following this period, the Kassite dynasty (Kassites) came to power in Babylon. The Kassites established a peace treaty with the [[Assyria|Assyrians]] (Neo-Assyrian Empire), who were expanding their influence at the time, in an effort to revive the Babylonian Empire. However, Assyria, which had grown into a powerful empire based on iron, broke the peace treaty and invaded Babylon in 728 B.C., completely occupying the city. Approximately 150,000 Babylonians were forcibly relocated to Assyria, and Babylon was destroyed. Subsequently, the Second Dynasty of Isin (the Fourth Babylonian Dynasty) succeeded Babylon, but it remained under Assyrian rule, enduring severe oppression.

===Neo-Babylonian Empire (Chaldean Dynasty)===

===Fall to the Persian Empire===

==Babylon in the Bible==

===Period of the Divided Kingdom of Israel===   

:The Assyrians, who held dominance in the region, destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel and invaded the southern kingdom of Judah. Judah, which observed the [[Passover]], achieved victory with God’s help by defeating 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in a single night. However, soon after, King [[Hezekiah]] fell gravely ill and was near death. As he wept and prayed, God heard his prayer and granted him an additional 15 years of life.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+38%3A2-6&version=NIV |title=Isaiah 38:2–6 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> When King Merodach-Baladan of Babylon heard the news of Hezekiah’s recovery, he sent envoys to Judah.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+39%3A1&version=NIV |title=Isaiah 39:1 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Delighted, Hezekiah showed the envoys all the treasures of Judah, including the storerooms of the kingdom’s wealth and its armory.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+39%3A2&version=NIV |title=Isaiah 39:2 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> As a result, the prophet [[Isaiah]] prophesied, “Everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. And some of your descendants, who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+39%3A6-7&version=NIV |title=Isaiah 39:6–7 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>  

*'''Jehoiakim Gives Babylon a Justification for Invasion'''

:After King [[Josiah]] was killed in the Battle of Megiddo against Egypt,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+35%3A20-24&version=NIV |title=2 Chronicles 35:20–24 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> his son Jehoahaz ascended to the throne of Judah. However, after [[Pharaoh]] Necho was defeated by Babylon at the Battle of Carchemish and retreated, he executed Jehoahaz and installed Jehoiakim as king.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+36%3A1-4&version=NIV |title=2 Chronicles 36:1–4 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> In the early years of his reign, Jehoiakim served Egypt, but as pressure from Babylon increased, he began paying tribute to Babylon. However, after three years, he returned to his allegiance to Egypt. In response, Babylon, along with the allied forces of Aram, Moab, and Ammon, invaded Judah.

:Around 606 B.C., Babylon invaded Judah and took the royal family and noble youths as hostages. The purpose was to educate them in the language and literature of Babylon for the administration of Judah.<ref>[https://alkitab.sabda.org/resource.php?topic=3232&res=constable B. Nebuchadnezzar's training program for promising youths 1:3-7], ''Alkitab SABDA''</ref> Among those taken captive to Babylon at that time were Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abednego).  

*'''Second Babylonian Exile'''

*'''Third Babylonian Exile'''

:Around 588 B.C., King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his army to lay siege to Jerusalem. Zedekiah was offered honorable treatment if he surrendered, but he disregarded Jeremiah’s advice and chose to resist. Around 586 B.C., [[Jerusalem]] was ultimately captured by the Babylonian army after an 18-month siege.

:Zedekiah fled toward the Arabah but was captured by Babylonian soldiers in the plains of Jericho. Before Zedekiah’s eyes, his sons were killed; then his eyes were put out, and he was bound with shackles and taken to Babylon.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+39%3A4-7&version=NIV |title=Jeremiah 39:4–7 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard of Babylon left behind some of the poorest people in Jerusalem to work the vineyards and fields while taking the rest of the population captive. He also carried away all the sacred articles of the [[temple]] to Babylon, leaving nothing of value in Jerusalem.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+25%3A12-13&version=NIV |title=2 Kings 25:12–13 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>

{{quote5 |내용= The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city, along with those who had gone over to him, and the rest of the people. But Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields. |출처= [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2039%3A8%E2%80%9310&version=NIV Jeremiah 39:8–10]}}  

<small>{{참고|Babylonian Captivity|설명=}}</small>

===Fall of Babylon===

*'''Belshazzar, the Last King of Babylon'''

:King [[Belshazzar]] held a grand banquet and used the sacred vessels taken from the Jerusalem temple as drinking cups, praising various gods.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+5%3A1-4&version=NIV |title=Daniel 5:1–4 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> However, during the feast, a human hand suddenly appeared and wrote the words, “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin.” This was a revelation from God indicating that Belshazzar’s time had ended and that his kingdom would be given to the Medes and Persians.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+5%3A25-28&version=NIV |title=Daniel 5:25–28 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> That night, Belshazzar was killed, and Babylon fell to the army of King Cyrus of Persia.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+5%3A30-31&version=NIV |title=Daniel 5:30–31 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>

*'''Cyrus’ Conquest of Babylon and the Liberation of the Captives'''

===Identity of the Spiritual Babylon===

In Revelation 17, a great prostitute is introduced, bearing the name “Babylon the Great.”   

A prostitute refers to a woman who has committed adultery, and in the Bible, a woman symbolizes the [[church]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+5%3A13&version=NIV |title=1 Peter 5:13 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A1&version=NIV |title=Matthew 25:1 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Spiritual adultery refers to having friendship with the world instead of with God.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A4&version=NIV |title=James 4:4 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Therefore, the prostitute seated on many waters<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+17%3A15&version=NIV |title=Revelation 17:15 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>—symbolizing her dominion over nations and peoples—represents Babylon the Great, a false church that has turned away from God and become secularized. Babylon the Great is referred to as the mother of prostitutes, signifying that there are false churches that have emerged from it.