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
(Ezra 1:1)ff 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"
(Jeremiah 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; 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"
(Revelation 17:18)
