Introduction to the OT WorldIntroduction to the OT WorldIntroduction to the OT WorldIntroduction to the OT World

BabylonBabylon

• Week 15, 4/11/2012Week 15, 4/11/2012• Gene Wright, GeneLA@comcast.netGene Wright, GeneLA@comcast.net

Babylon…Babylon…Lower Mesopotamian Lower Mesopotamian valley while Assyria valley while Assyria was in the upper was in the upper area.area.This area was home This area was home to many empires to many empires going back to before going back to before the time of Abraham.the time of Abraham.Babylon was on the Babylon was on the Euphrates river.Euphrates river.Note that modern Note that modern Baghdad is on the Baghdad is on the Tigris.Tigris.

Babylon was on the Babylon was on the Euphrates river.Euphrates river.In fact, the Euphrates In fact, the Euphrates river ran through the river ran through the city. This ensured a city. This ensured a water supply for the water supply for the city and its gardens.city and its gardens.Notice two of the Notice two of the gates: The Marduk gates: The Marduk gate on the east side.gate on the east side.And the Ishtar gate And the Ishtar gate on the north leading on the north leading to the Ishtar temple to the Ishtar temple after a walk through after a walk through the city to the royal the city to the royal area.area.

The Ishtar gateThe Ishtar gate

Babylonian conquest of Assyria – 605 B.C.Babylonian conquest of Assyria – 605 B.C.Babylonian conquest of Assyria – 605 B.C.Babylonian conquest of Assyria – 605 B.C.

BabylonBabylonBabylonBabylon

Another view of the campaign of the Babylonians against the Another view of the campaign of the Babylonians against the combined Assyrian and Egyptian force.combined Assyrian and Egyptian force.Note Megiddo where Josiah was killed.Note Megiddo where Josiah was killed.

BabylonBabylonBabylonBabylonBabylonian Babylonian empireempire’’s s greatest greatest extentextent

BabylonBabylonBabylonBabylonThe four great kingdoms of this time: Eqypt in green, Babylon in The four great kingdoms of this time: Eqypt in green, Babylon in pink, Medes/Persians in yellow, and the Lydians in orange.pink, Medes/Persians in yellow, and the Lydians in orange.

Nebuchadnezzar led Nebuchadnezzar led three campaigns three campaigns against Judah. against Judah. In the first (604 B.C.), In the first (604 B.C.), Jehoiakim king of Jehoiakim king of Judah paid tribute Judah paid tribute and was his vassal and was his vassal for three years.for three years.But Ashkelon would But Ashkelon would not submit so it was not submit so it was conquered. conquered. Judeans were Judeans were deported to Babylon deported to Babylon during this first during this first campaign.campaign.

Ashkelon aerial viewAshkelon aerial view

In the second (601 B.C.), In the second (601 B.C.), Pharaoh Neco of Egypt came Pharaoh Neco of Egypt came out to fight Nebuchadnezzar out to fight Nebuchadnezzar imposing great loses on the imposing great loses on the Babylonian forces.Babylonian forces.This encouraged some local This encouraged some local kings to rebel, including kings to rebel, including Jehoiakim.Jehoiakim.Nebuchadnezzar came back Nebuchadnezzar came back the following year and the following year and conquered Jerusalem, conquered Jerusalem, looted the temple, deported looted the temple, deported Jehoiakim and his son.Jehoiakim and his son.Zedekiah was appointed Zedekiah was appointed king. More were deported.king. More were deported.These events are mentioned These events are mentioned in Babylonian records and in in Babylonian records and in 2 Kings 24.2 Kings 24.

Note that JudahNote that Judah’’s s enemies also seized enemies also seized upon their weaknesses, upon their weaknesses, with an Edomite raid with an Edomite raid upon Arad in southern upon Arad in southern Judah. Judah. The vultures have The vultures have begun to circle.begun to circle.

In 589 B.C. Zedekiah In 589 B.C. Zedekiah rebelled and the rebelled and the Babylonians came in Babylonians came in and just devastated the and just devastated the countryside.countryside.The temple was The temple was destroyed this time, not destroyed this time, not just ransacked.just ransacked.Zedekiah attempted to Zedekiah attempted to flee from Jerusalem to flee from Jerusalem to Jericho but was Jericho but was captured. captured. Before having his eyes Before having his eyes put out, he was forced put out, he was forced to watch the execution to watch the execution of his sons.of his sons.

After JerusalemAfter Jerusalem’’s s destruction, Nebuchadnezzar destruction, Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah as appointed Gedaliah as governor. He set up an governor. He set up an administrative center at administrative center at Mizpah, a few miles north. Mizpah, a few miles north. Many army commanders, Many army commanders, including Jaazaniah, rallied including Jaazaniah, rallied around him (2 Kings 25:23) around him (2 Kings 25:23) and warned him of a plot.and warned him of a plot.Gedaliah was murdered by a Gedaliah was murdered by a descendant of David, named descendant of David, named Ishmael (Jer 41:1) perhaps Ishmael (Jer 41:1) perhaps hoping to restore Davidhoping to restore David’’s line s line to the throne.to the throne.An inscribed seal of An inscribed seal of ““Jaazaniah, servant of the Jaazaniah, servant of the kingking”” has been found in a 6 has been found in a 6thth century tomb.century tomb.

The captives were taken north and then east where they were settled near Babylon and just The captives were taken north and then east where they were settled near Babylon and just south/east of the city. south/east of the city. Jer 29:1 Jer 29:1 ““These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.””

Jer 29:5-7Jer 29:5-7: : ““Build houses and Build houses and live in them; plant gardens live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare…Your will find your welfare…Your exile will be long; build exile will be long; build houses and live in them, and houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their plant gardens and eat their produce.produce.””

Nebuchadnezzar was the longest reigning king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar was the longest reigning king of Babylon, from 605 to 562 B.C.from 605 to 562 B.C.He is mentioned more than 90 times in the Bible.He is mentioned more than 90 times in the Bible.He set about making Babylon one of the greatest cities the He set about making Babylon one of the greatest cities the world had ever seen and did so by building extensively. He world had ever seen and did so by building extensively. He made many of his structures using kiln-fired bricks rather than made many of his structures using kiln-fired bricks rather than sun-dried bricks. These lasted much longer.sun-dried bricks. These lasted much longer.It is very probable that the blazing furnace of Daniel was one of It is very probable that the blazing furnace of Daniel was one of the many brick kilns needed for his large building program.the many brick kilns needed for his large building program.Many of his bricks were stamped with his name and title.Many of his bricks were stamped with his name and title.He built walls, gates, towers, ziggurats and is said to have built He built walls, gates, towers, ziggurats and is said to have built the the ““hanging gardens of Babylonhanging gardens of Babylon”” for his wife Amytis, for his wife Amytis, daughter of the Median king, to remind her of her mountainous daughter of the Median king, to remind her of her mountainous homeland.homeland.This is widely regarded as a legend, however.This is widely regarded as a legend, however.

Babylon - NebuchadnezzarBabylon - NebuchadnezzarBabylon - NebuchadnezzarBabylon - Nebuchadnezzar

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim (606 BC), Daniel and In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim (606 BC), Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were among the his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were among the young Jewish nobility carried off to Babylon. young Jewish nobility carried off to Babylon. The four were chosen for their intellect and beauty to be The four were chosen for their intellect and beauty to be trained as advisors to the Babylonian court. They were almost trained as advisors to the Babylonian court. They were almost certainly made Eunuchs. certainly made Eunuchs. Daniel was given the name Belteshazzar, which means prince Daniel was given the name Belteshazzar, which means prince of Bel, or Bel protect the king!of Bel, or Bel protect the king!Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were given the Babylonian Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were given the Babylonian names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.Shadrach possibly is derived from Shudur Aku Shadrach possibly is derived from Shudur Aku ““Under Under Command of the moon godCommand of the moon god””Meshach is probably a variation of Mishaaku, meaning Meshach is probably a variation of Mishaaku, meaning ““Who is Who is what Aku is?what Aku is?””Abednego means Abednego means ““servant of Nebo/Nabuservant of Nebo/Nabu””

Babylon – Time of DanielBabylon – Time of DanielBabylon – Time of DanielBabylon – Time of Daniel

Refusing to eat the kingRefusing to eat the king’’s food, the fiery furnace, the vision of the s food, the fiery furnace, the vision of the statue, the lionstatue, the lion’’s den, praying three times a day and more.s den, praying three times a day and more.

Greek Septuagint has 3 additions to DanielGreek Septuagint has 3 additions to DanielPrayer of Azariah in Fiery FurnacePrayer of Azariah in Fiery Furnace, inserted between Daniel 3:23 , inserted between Daniel 3:23 and 3:24and 3:24Susanna and the eldersSusanna and the elders. Bathing in her backyard under a tree and . Bathing in her backyard under a tree and seen by two Jewish elders who tell her unless she sleeps with seen by two Jewish elders who tell her unless she sleeps with them, they will accuse her of meeting another man. She refuses, is them, they will accuse her of meeting another man. She refuses, is arrested and set to be killed. Young Daniel intervenes and arrested and set to be killed. Young Daniel intervenes and questions two elders separately, who contradict each other. questions two elders separately, who contradict each other. Woman cleared, elders put to death.Woman cleared, elders put to death.Bel and the DragonBel and the Dragon. Darius asks Daniel why he doesn. Darius asks Daniel why he doesn’’t see Bel is t see Bel is a living god, given how much he eats / drinks each day. Daniel a living god, given how much he eats / drinks each day. Daniel says Bel is covered in bronze. Daniel lays a trap.says Bel is covered in bronze. Daniel lays a trap.Priests had been sneaking in and eating / taking food.Priests had been sneaking in and eating / taking food.

Babylon – Time of DanielBabylon – Time of DanielBabylon – Time of DanielBabylon – Time of Daniel

BabylonBabylonBabylonBabylonThe fall of Babylon to the The fall of Babylon to the Medes/Persians happened in Medes/Persians happened in 539 B.C. when Cyrus invaded 539 B.C. when Cyrus invaded Babylonia. Babylonian king Babylonia. Babylonian king Nabonidus sent his son Nabonidus sent his son Belshazzar to head off the Belshazzar to head off the huge Persian army, but the huge Persian army, but the Babylonian forces were Babylonian forces were overwhelmed at Opis. overwhelmed at Opis. On 12th of October, after On 12th of October, after Cyrus' engineers had diverted Cyrus' engineers had diverted the waters of the Euphrates, the waters of the Euphrates, "the soldiers of Cyrus entered "the soldiers of Cyrus entered Babylon without fighting." Babylon without fighting." Belshazzar was executed Belshazzar was executed shortly thereafter. Guards shortly thereafter. Guards were placed at the gates of were placed at the gates of the great temple of Bel, where the great temple of Bel, where the services continued the services continued without interruption. without interruption.

The Cyrus CylinderThe Cyrus CylinderThe Cyrus CylinderThe Cyrus Cylinder

This is the Cyrus cylinder proclaiming him the rightful king of This is the Cyrus cylinder proclaiming him the rightful king of It is about 9 inches feet long and made of stone. It now It is about 9 inches feet long and made of stone. It now belongs to the British Museum in London.belongs to the British Museum in London.

BabylonBabylonBabylonBabylon

The Cyrus cylinder also allowed the captive peoples to return The Cyrus cylinder also allowed the captive peoples to return home.home.Next week? The captivity and return.Next week? The captivity and return.