BABYLON to BAIL
Contents
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). 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" (Rev 17:18).
1. CITY OF
Built by Nimrod Ge 10:10
In the land of Shinar Ge 10:10; 11:2
Tower of Ge 11:1-9
Capital of the kingdom of Babylon Da 4:30; 2Ch 36:6, 7, 10, 2Ki 25:13; 2Ch 36:18, 20
Gates of Isa 45:1, 2; Jer 51:58
Walled Jer 51:44, 58
Splendor of Isa 14:4
Peter writes from 1Pe 5:13
Prophecies concerning Ps 87:4; 137:8, 9; Isa 13:1; 14:4-26; 21:1-10; 46:1, 2; 47:1; 48:14, 20; Jer 21:4-10; 25:12-14; 27:1-11; 28:14; 32:28; 34:2, 3; 42:11, 12; 43:1; 46:13-26; 49:28-30; 50:1; 51:1; Eze 21:19; 26:1; 29:17-20; 30:10; 32:11; Da 2:21-38; 4:10-26; 5:25-29; 7:1; Hab 1:5-11; Zec 2:7-9
FIGURATIVE Re 14:8; 16:19; 17:1; 18:1
2. EMPIRE OF
Founded by Nimrod Ge 10:10
Called LAND OF SHINAR Ge 10:10; 11:2; 14:1, 9; Isa 11:11; Da 1:2; Zec 5:11 .
SHESHACH Jer 25:26; 51:41 .
MERATHAIM Jer 50:21
Called also CHALDEA, which see Divisions of 2Ki 17:24; 24:7; Isa 23:12, 13; Da 3:1; Ac 7:4 Extent of, at the time of Nebuchadnezzar Da 2:37, 38; 4:1; 6:1 At the time of Ahasuerus Es 1:1; 8:9; 9:30 Armies of, invade ancient Canaan Ge 14:1 . Samaria 2Ki 17:5-24 Judah 2Ki 24:1-16 Jews carried to 2Ki 25:1; 1Ch 9:1; 2Ch 33:11; 36:17-21; Jer 32:2; 39:1; 52:1 Colonists from, sent to Samaria Ezr 4:9, 10; with 2Ki 17:29-32 Conquest of Egypt by 2Ki 24:7 Prophecies of conquests by 2Ki 20:16-19; Jer 20:4-7; 21:1; 22:1; 25:1-11; 27:1; 28:1; 29:1; 32:28, 29; 34:1; 36:29; 38:17, 18; 43:8-13; 46:13-26; Eze 12:1; 17:1; 19:1; 21:1; 24:1; 26:1; 29:18-20; 30:1; 32:1 Prophetic denunciations against Ps 137:8, 9; Isa 13:1; 14:21; 43:14-17; 47:1; Jer 50:1; 51:1
GOVERNMENT OF
A limited monarchy Es 1:13-19; Da 6:8, Es 8:8; Da 6:14, 17 Tyrannical Es 3:7-15; Da 3:1 Sovereigns of .
See BELSHAZZAR
See CYRUS
See DARIUS
See EVIL-MERODACH
See NEBUCHADNEZZAR
SeeDEBTOR
BABYLONISH GARMENT
a robe of rich colours fabricated at Babylon, and hence of great value (Josh.7:21).
BABYLON, KINGDOM OF
called "the land of the Chaldeans" (Jer. 24:5; Eze 12:13), was an extensive province in Central Asia along the valley of the Tigris from the Persian Gulf northward for some 300 miles.
It was famed for its fertility and its riches. Its capital was the city of Babylon, a great commercial centre (Ezek. 17:4; Isa. 43:14). Babylonia was divided into the two districts of Accad in the north, and Summer (probably the Shinar of the Old Testament) in the south.
Among its chief cities may be mentioned Ur (now Mugheir or Mugayyar), on the western bank of the Euphrates; Uruk, or Erech (Gen. 10:10) (now Warka), between Ur and Babylon; Larsa (now Senkereh), the Ellasar of Gen. 14:1, a little to the east of Erech; Nipur (now Niffer), south-east of Babylon; Sepharvaim (2 Kings 17:24), "the two Sipparas" (now Abu-Habba), considerably to the north of Babylon; and Eridu, "the good city" (now Abu-Shahrein), which lay originally on the shore of the Persian Gulf, but is now, owing to the silting up of the sand, about 100 miles distant from it.
Another city was Kulunu, or Calneh (Gen. 10:10).
The salt-marshes at the mouths of the Euphrates and Tigris were called Marratu, "the bitter" or "salt", the Merathaim of Jer. 50:21. They were the original home of the Kalda, or Chaldeans.
The most famous of the early kings of Babylonia were Sargon of Accad (B.C.3800) and his son, Naram-Sin, who conquered a large part of Western Asia, establishing their power in Palestine, and even carrying their arms to the Sinaitic peninsula. A great Babylonian library was founded in the reign of Sargon. Babylonia was subsequently again broken up into more than one state, and at one time fell under the domination of Elam.
This was put an end to by Khammu-rabi (Amraphel), who drove the Elamites out of the country, and overcame Arioch, the son of an Elamite prince. From this time forward Babylonia was a united monarchy. About B.C. 1750 it was conquered by the Kassi, or Kosseans, from the mountains of Elam, and a Kassite dynasty ruled over it for 576 years and 9 months.
In the time of Khammu-rabi, Syria and Palestine were subject to Babylonia and its Elamite suzerain; and after the overthrow of the Elamite supremacy, the Babylonian kings continued to exercise their influence and power in what was called "the land of the Amorites." In the epoch of the Kassite dynasty, however, Canaan passed into the hands of Egypt.
In B.C. 729, Babylonia was conquered by the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III.; but on the death of Shalmaneser IV. it was seized by the Kalda or "Chaldean" prince Merodach-baladan (2 Kings 20:12-19), who held it till B.C. 709, when he was driven out by Sargon.
Under Sennacherib, Babylonia revolted from Assyria several times, with the help of the Elamites, and after one of these revolts Babylon was destroyed by Sennacherib, B.C. 689. It was rebuilt by Esarhaddon, who made it his residence during part of the year, and it was to Babylon that Manasseh was brought a prisoner (2 Chr. 33:11). After the death of Esarhaddon, Saul-sumyukin, the viceroy of Babylonia, revolted against his brother the Assyrian king, and the revolt was suppressed with difficulty.
When Nineveh was destroyed, B.C. 606, Nabopolassar, the viceroy of Babylonia, who seems to have been of Chaldean descent, made himself independent. His son Nebuchadrezzar (Nabu-kudur-uzur), after defeating the Egyptians at Carchemish, succeeded him as king, B.C. 604, and founded the Babylonian empire. He strongly fortified Babylon, and adorned it with palaces and other buildings. His son, Evil-merodach, who succeeded him in B.C. 561, was murdered after a reign of two years.
The last monarch of the Babylonian empire was Nabonidus (Nabu-nahid), B.C. 555-538, whose eldest son, Belshazzar (Bilu-sar-uzur), is mentioned in several inscriptions. Babylon was captured by Cyrus, B.C. 538, and though it revolted more than once in later years, it never succeeded in maintaining its independence.
BACA
Valley of Ps 84:6
BACA, VALLEY OF
(Ps. 84:6; R.V., "valley of weeping," marg., "or balsam trees"), probably a valley in some part of Palestine, or generally some one of the valleys through which pilgrims had to pass on their way to the sanctuary of Jehovah on Zion; or it may be figuratively "a valley of weeping."
BACKBITING
In Ps. 15:3, the rendering of a word which means to run about tattling, calumniating; in Prov. 25:23, secret talebearing or slandering; in Rom. 1:30 and 2 Cor. 12:20, evil-speaking, maliciously defaming the absent.
General scriptures concerning Ps 15:1-3; Pr 25:23; Ro 1:28, 30; 2Co 12:20
See ACCUSATION, FALSE
See SLANDER
See SPEAKING, EVIL
BACKSLIDERS
to draw back or apostatize in matters of religion (Acts 21:21; 2 Thess. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1). This may be either partial (Prov. 14:14) or complete (Heb. 6:4-6; 10:38, 39).
The apostasy may be both doctrinal and moral.
General scriptures concerning Le 26:14-42; Deut 4:9; 8:11-14; 28:15-68; 29:18-28; 32:15-30; Jos 24:20-27; 1Ki 9:6-9; 2Ch 15:2-4; Ezr 8:22; Job 34:26, 27; Ps 44:20, 21; 73:27; 85:8; 125:5; Pr 2:17; 14:14; 24:16; 26:11; Jer 17:13; Eze 3:20; 18:24, 26; 33:12, 23:35; 13, 18; Ho 11:7, 8; Jon 2:4; Mt 5:13; 12:45; 24:12; 26:31; Mr 4:7, 15-19; 8:38; 9:50; Lk 9:62; 11:21-26; 17:32; Jn 6:67; 15:6; 1Co 10:1-13; 2Co 12:20, 21; Ga 1:6, 7; 3:1; 4:9, 11; 5:7; 1Ti 1:19; 6:10, 5:15; 20, 21; 2Ti 1:8; 2:12; 4:10; Heb 3:12, 13; 4:1, 11; 5:11, 12; 10:26-29, 6:4-8; 10:38, 39; 11:14, 15; 12:15; 2Pe 1:9; 2:20, 21; Re 2:4, 2Jo 1:9; Re 2:5, 21; 3:2, 3; 21:8
See APOSTASY
See BACKSLIDING OF ISRAEL, below -
See CHURCH, BACKSLIDDEN
See REPROBACY
INSTANCES OF
Saul 1Sa 15:11, 26-28 .
Solomon 1Ki 11:4-40; Ne 13:26 .
Amon 2Ki 21:22, 23 .
Rehoboam 2Ch 12:1, 2 .
Asa 2Ch 16:7-9 .Joash 2Ch 24:24 .
Amaziah 2Ch 25:27 .
Syrians Isa 17:10, 11 .
Jonah Jon 1:3 .
The disciples Mt 26:56; Jn 6:66 .Peter Mt 26:69-75 .
Corinthian Christians 1Co 5:1-8; 2Co 12:20, 21 .
Galatians Ga 1:6; 3:1; 4:9-11; 5:6, 7 .
Hymenaeus and Alexander 1Ti 1:19, 20 .
Phygellus and Hermogenes 2Ti 1:15 .
Demas 2Ti 4:10 .
Churches of Asia Re 2:4, 14, 1Ti 5:15; 3:2, Re 2:15, 20; 3:3, 15-18
PROMISES TO
Le 26:40-42; Deut 4:29, 30; 32:26, 30:1-10; 32:28, 29; 1Ki 8:33-53; 2Ch 30:9; Job 22:23-30; Ps 17:5; 56:13; 81:13, 14; Isa 42:3; 57:18, 19; 4:1, Jer 3:4-7, 12-22; 4:2, 14; 6:16; Ho 14:4; Zec 10:6; Mal 3:7; Mt 23:37; Re 3:8, 15-21 .
See PENITENCE
See PENITENT
See SEEKERS
RETURN OF
Ps 80:3-7, 14-19; Isa 17:7; 29:24; 31:6, 7; Jer 50:4-6; Ho 3:5; 6:1-3
INSTANCES OF .
Jews Ezr 6:16-21; 10:1 .Jonah Jon 2:1; 3:1 .Peter Mt 26:75; Mr 14:72; Lk 22:62 .Thomas Jn 20:27-29
BACKSLIDING OF ISRAEL
Ex 17:7; Nu 14:43; Deut 4:25-31; 32:5, 6, 31:16-30; 32:15, 18; Jud 2:12; 10:12-14; 2Ch 24:20; 2Ki 18:1, 12; 2Ch 13:11; 27:2; Ezr 9:10, 29:6, 8; Ezr 9:13, 14; Ps 78:10, 11, Ne 9:26; Ps 78:40-43, 56-64; Isa 1:4-7, Ps 106:13, 14; Isa 1:21, 22; 2:6; 5:12-30; 9:13-21; 17:10, 11; 24:5, 6; 30:9, 15; 31:6; 43:22, 24; 50:1; 51:17-20; 63:17; Jer 2:5, 11-13, 17, 19, 21, 27, 65:2, 3; 2:31, 32; 3:1-25; 5:1-31; 6:30; 7:12-34; 8:1-22; 10:17-22; 11:9-17; 12:7; 13:24, 25; 14:7, 10; 15:1-14; 18:13-15; 19:1; 32:30, 31; 50:6; Eze 2:3-8; 5:1-17; 11:1-21; 15; 16:43; 22:18; 23; Ho 1:1-9; 2:1; 3:1; 4:6, 10, 16; 5:1-15; 6:4-11; 8:14; 9:1-17; 11:2, 7; 13:16; 14:1; Am 2:4; Zep 1:6; Mal 1:6; 3:7; Heb 3:16-18
INSTANCES OF ISRAEL'S BACKSLIDING
At Meribah Ex 17:1-7 .
When Aaron made the golden calf Ex 32:1 .
After Joshua's death Jud 2:1 .
During Asa's reign 2Ch 15:1 .
Hezekiah's reign 2Ch 30:2-12
BAD COMPANY
See COMPANY, EVIL
BADGER
this word is found in Ex. 25:5; 26:14; 35:7, 23; 36:19; 39:34; Num. 4:6, etc.
The tabernacle was covered with badgers' skins; the shoes of women were also made of them (Ezek. 16:10). Our translators seem to have been misled by the similarity in sound of the Hebrew tachash_ and the Latin _taxus, "a badger." The revisers have correctly substituted "seal skins."
The Arabs of the Sinaitic peninsula apply the name tucash to the seals and dugongs which are common in the Red Sea, and the skins of which are largely used as leather and for sandals. Though the badger is common in Palestine, and might occur in the wilderness, its small hide would have been useless as a tent covering.
The dugong, very plentiful in the shallow waters on the shores of the Red Sea, is a marine animal from 12 to 30 feet long, something between a whale and a seal, never leaving the water, but very easily caught. It grazes on seaweed, and is known by naturalists as Halicore tabernaculi.
(R. V., SEAL or PORPOISE.) -Skins of, used for covering of the tabernacle Ex 25:5; 26:14; 35:7, 23; 36:19; 39:34; Nu 4:6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 25
For shoes Eze 16:10
(R. V., SEALSKIN.)
BAG
(1.) A pocket of a cone-like shape in which Naaman bound two pieces of silver for Gehazi (2 Kings 5:23). The same Hebrew word occurs elsewhere only in Isa. 3:22, where it is rendered "crisping-pins," but denotes the reticules (or as R.V., "satchels") carried by Hebrew women.
(2.) Another word (kees) so rendered means a bag for carrying weights (Deut. 25:13; Prov. 16:11; Micah 6:11). It also denotes a purse (Prov. 1:14) and a cup (23:31).
(3.) Another word rendered "bag" in 1 Sam. 17:40 is rendered "sack" in Gen. 42:25; and in 1 Sam. 9:7; 21:5 "vessel," or wallet for carrying food.
(4.) The word rendered in the Authorized Version "bags," in which the priests bound up the money contributed for the restoration of the temple (2 Kings 12:10), is also rendered "bundle" (Gen. 42:35; 1 Sam. 25:29). It denotes bags used by travellers for carrying money during a journey (Prov. 7:20; Hag. 1:6).
(5.) The "bag" of Judas was a small box (John 12:6; 13:29).
PURSE
BAGPIPE
(R. V.,) Da 3:5
BAHURIM
young men, a place east of Jerusalem (2 Sam. 3:16; 19:16), on the road to the Jordan valley.
Here Shimei resided, who poured forth vile abuse against David, and flung dust and stones at him and his party when they were making their way down the eastern slopes of Olivet toward Jordan (2 Sam 16:5); and here Jonathan and Ahimaaz hid themselves (2 Sam 17:18).
With the exception of Shimei, Azmaveth, one of David's heroes, is the only other native of the place who is mentioned (2 Sam. 23:31; 1 Chr. 11:33).
A village between the fords of the Jordan River and Jerusalem 2Sa 3:16; 16:5; 17:18; 19:16; 1Ki 2:8