Babylon

Lore & Background

Babylon first appears as a source of foreign settlers placed in Samaria after the Assyrian conquest (2 Kings 17:24). These settlers brought their own gods, such as Succothbenoth (2 Kings 17:30). Later, Berodachbaladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah of Judah, prompting Isaiah to prophesy that all of Hezekiah's treasures and his descendants would be carried to Babylon (2 Kings 20:12, 17-18). Under Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon becomes the primary antagonist of Judah. Jehoiakim became his servant for three years before rebelling (2 Kings 24:1). Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, took Jehoiachin captive, and carried away the king's family, officers, and mighty men to Babylon (2 Kings 24:10-12, 15-16). He appointed Zedekiah as king, who later rebelled (2 Kings 24:17, 20). In response, Nebuchadnezzar again besieged Jerusalem, captured Zedekiah, slew his sons, blinded him, and carried him to Babylon (2 Kings 25:1, 6-7). The temple treasures were broken and taken to Babylon (2 Kings 25:13). Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried away the remaining people (2 Kings 25:11). Gedaliah was made governor over those left in Judah (2 Kings 25:22). Years later, Evilmerodach, king of Babylon, released Jehoiachin from prison and treated him kindly (2 Kings 25:27-28).

Reader's Guide

The passages portray Babylon as an instrument of divine judgment against Judah. The prophecy of Isaiah to Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:17-18) establishes that Babylon will carry away all of Judah's wealth and royal descendants. This is fulfilled under Nebuchadnezzar, who deports Jehoiachin, the temple treasures, and the skilled people (2 Kings 24:15-16; 2 Kings 25:13). The repeated phrase 'king of Babylon' emphasizes his authority and the totality of the conquest. Babylon is also shown as a political power that installs and deposes kings: Nebuchadnezzar made Mattaniah (Zedekiah) king (2 Kings 24:17), and after Zedekiah's rebellion, he captured and blinded him (2 Kings 25:6-7). The exile is depicted as complete: 'So Judah was carried away out of their land' (2 Kings 25:21). Yet the narrative ends with a note of mercy: Evilmerodach lifts up Jehoiachin's head and speaks kindly to him (2 Kings 25:27-28), suggesting that even in exile, Babylon's kings could show favor. The passages do not explain Babylon's own religious or political motives; they focus on its role in Judah's downfall. The settlers from Babylon in Samaria (2 Kings 17:24) are a separate earlier event, showing Babylon's reach even before its rise as the dominant empire.

Did You Know?

• Babylonian settlers in Samaria made a god named Succothbenoth (2 Kings 17:30).
• Berodachbaladan of Babylon sent a gift to Hezekiah after hearing of his sickness (2 Kings 20:12).
• Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin captive in the eighth year of his reign (2 Kings 24:12).
• Evilmerodach released Jehoiachin from prison in the thirty-seventh year of his captivity (2 Kings 25:27).

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Babylon was the capital city of Babylonia, a kingdom in ancient Mesopotamia, between the 18th and 6th centuries BC." — Babylon "Cooke, Roger. The History of Mathematics: A Brief Course. 2nd Edition. John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2005. page 35. quoted in The Sulbasutras and the 'Pythagoras Theorem'" — Babylon "Durant, Will (1963). The Story of Civilization (Our Oriental heritage) (1935) published by New York: Simon & Schuster." — Babylon "Helena Blavatsky, Isis Unveiled (1877) published by Theosophical Society." — Babylon