Summary

Babylonia is a kingdom named for its capital city.

Accessible to the straits of the Persian Gulf, Babylonia is located in southern Mesopotamia.

  • Nimrod ruled Babylonia (Genesis 10, 10). The Tower of Babel was built in Babylonia, in which context Babylonia was referred to as the Land of Shin’ar (Genesis 11, 2-9).
  • One of the “four kings” in the War between the Four and Five Kings was king of Shin’ar (Genesis 14, 1-9). Assyrians brought people from Babylonia to resettle Shomron after the people of the (Northern) Kingdom of Israel were exiled (II Kings 17, 24). Hizkiyahu showed his treasures to Babylonian representatives, and was strongly rebuked by Yeshayahu afterward (II Kings 20, 12-18; Isaiah 39, 1-7; II Chronicles 32, 31).
  • Yehoyakim quarreled with Babylonia (II Kings 24, 1; Daniel 1, 1-2; II Chronicles 36, 6). Babylonian troops besieged Jerusalem in the days of Yehoyakhin, and exiled him to Babylonia along with the officials of Jerusalem, the smiths and artisans, and the vessels from the Mikdash (II Kings 24, 10-16; II Chronicles 36, 10).
  • Yirmiyahu and Yehezkel prophesied that the Babylonians would conquer Yehuda and would exile the people to Babylonia (Jeremiah 20, 4-6; Ezekiel 17, 12).
  • Yehezkel prophesied that Tzidkiyahu would find himself in Babylonia, but would not see it, and that he would die there (Ezekiel 12, 13).
  • Tzidkiyahu was installed as king by the King of Babylonia, but rebelled against Babylonia (II Kings 24, 20; Jeremiah 52, 3; II Chronicles 36, 13).
  • Following Tzidkiyahu’s rebellion, the Babylonians besieged Jerusalem, exiled Tzidkiyahu and others to Babylonia, destroyed the Mikdash and took its vessels to Babylonia (II Kings 25, 1-21; Jeremiah 39, 1-9; Jeremiah 52, 4-27; Yehezkel 24, 1-2; II Chronicles 36, 17-20).
  • Yeshayahu and Yirmiyahu prophesied that Babylonia would be destroyed, and that Bnei Yisrael would return from there (Isaiah 13, 1-19; Jeremiah 51, 11; Isaiah 11, 11; Jeremiah 24, 1-7).
  • Daniel attained a position of honor in Babylonia (Daniel 3, 48-49).
  • Jews returned from Babylonia during the period known as the Return to Zion (Ezra 1, 11; Nehemiah 7, 6).

Archeology:

  • The archeological ruins of the city of Babylon spans an area greater than 9km, which was completely surrounded by a wall, and the palace of Nebuchadnezzar was found there.
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