Topical Bible: Babylon: Founded by the Assyrians, and a Part of Their Empire

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Babylon, one of the most renowned cities of the ancient world, holds a significant place in biblical history and prophecy. Its origins, as suggested by historical and archaeological evidence, trace back to the Assyrians, who played a crucial role in its establishment and development. The city later became a central part of the Assyrian Empire, serving as a hub of culture, commerce, and political power.

Historical Background

The city of Babylon is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 10:10, where it is associated with Nimrod, a mighty hunter and ruler. The passage states, "The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar" . This early reference highlights Babylon's ancient roots and its significance in the Mesopotamian region.

Babylon's foundation by the Assyrians is supported by historical records that indicate the city's early development under Assyrian influence. The Assyrians, known for their military prowess and administrative skills, established Babylon as a key city within their empire. It served as a strategic location for trade and military operations, benefiting from its proximity to the Euphrates River.

Babylon in the Assyrian Empire

During the height of the Assyrian Empire, Babylon was an integral part of its vast territories. The Assyrians, under kings such as Tiglath-Pileser III and Sennacherib, exerted control over Babylon, incorporating it into their imperial structure. The city was often a focal point of Assyrian campaigns and political maneuvering, as seen in the biblical narrative.

In 2 Kings 17:24, the Assyrian king is described as bringing people from various regions to settle in Samaria, illustrating the empire's practice of relocating populations to maintain control. This policy likely extended to Babylon, where the Assyrians sought to integrate diverse cultures and peoples into their domain.

Biblical Significance

Babylon's prominence in the Bible is not limited to its historical role within the Assyrian Empire. It is also a symbol of human pride and rebellion against God. The Tower of Babel, recounted in Genesis 11:1-9, epitomizes this defiance. The people of Babel sought to build a tower reaching the heavens, prompting God to confuse their language and scatter them across the earth. This event underscores Babylon's association with human ambition and divine judgment.

The prophets frequently referenced Babylon in their writings, often as a symbol of God's impending judgment on nations that opposed His will. Isaiah 13:19-22 prophesies the fall of Babylon, stating, "And Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah" . This prophecy highlights Babylon's eventual downfall, serving as a warning to those who defy God's authority.

Legacy and Prophetic Fulfillment

Babylon's legacy extends beyond its historical and biblical context. It became a symbol of worldly power and opposition to God's kingdom, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture. In the Book of Revelation, Babylon is depicted as a harlot and a city of great wickedness, destined for destruction (Revelation 17-18). This portrayal reinforces the city's enduring representation as a center of idolatry and moral corruption.

The prophetic fulfillment of Babylon's fall is a testament to the accuracy and reliability of biblical prophecy. Despite its grandeur and influence, Babylon ultimately succumbed to divine judgment, as foretold by the prophets. This serves as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty over the nations and His ultimate plan for redemption and restoration.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 17:24
And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelled in the cities thereof.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 23:13
Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Of the Kings and Times of the Earthly City which were Synchronous ...
... as to number is called the third part, but as ... of the earth should be blessed, the
Assyrians had their ... Some think that she founded Babylon, and indeed she may ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 2 of the kings and.htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... of the alphabet elsewhere"either in Babylon, in Asia ... reason in most instances"to
have founded there belong to ... fortune, they took from the Assyrians the two ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC )
... the semi-mythical heroes who had founded the city ... yet allow him to renew his projects
against Babylon. ... independence, seemed to wait until the Assyrians had had ...
/.../chapter iiisargon of assyria 722-705.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... been the capital of the great empire founded by the ... from the monuments of Lagash
and Babylon a fair ... The victors, for their part, became assimilated so rapidly ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... is there mentioned as still forming part of Israel ... at once fell again into the hands
of the Assyrians. ... one after another, Sippar, Nipur, Babylon, Borsippa, Kuta ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Sennacherib (705-681 BC )
... of some civil war, and that he founded the city ... connected with the events then taking
place in Babylon. ... inferiority in a conflict with the Assyrians, the chief ...
/.../chapter isennacherib 705-681 b c.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... It is probable that the kingdom founded by Deiokes ... determination: the spoils of Susa,
Babylon, and Thebes ... so stubbornly against the Assyrians for independence ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

Introduction
... In a later age Assyrians, Babylonians, and Egyptians again ... king would thus have been
carried to Babylon after the ... of Sargon of Akkad had been founded more than ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/introduction.htm

Of Civil Government.
... the equity on which the enactment is founded and rests ... the yoke of the king of Babylon,
and serve ... the insolence of the Egyptians by the Assyrians; the ferocity ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of civil government.htm

The Prophet Joel.
... The overthrow of Assyria, Babylon, the Persian and ... be gathered together,""a declaration
founded upon the ... enemies of Israel, viz., the Assyrians and Chaldeans ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet joel.htm