Thus, Jeremiah’s prophesied destruction of Babylon was accomplished, and, just as the prophecy said, it has never been inhabited to this day. The city declined during the reign of Belshazzar, and came to ruin when Xerxes, the Persian king, destroyed it in 478 BC. The glory years of Babylon were achieved under Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BC). The name Babylon came from the Tower of Babel that was constructed there.īabylon became a large city of global prominence around 1728 BC during the reign of Hammurabi. It was located on the Euphrates River, about 55 miles south of where Baghdad, Iraq stands today. The physical city of Babylon was originally built by Nimrod after the flood. “Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands will dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever…” The above scriptures teach us that this particular prophesied destruction of Babylon would occur during the era of the Babylonian empire of Nebuchadnezzar.įurthermore, verses 39-40 declared that Babylon would never again be inhabited. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.” “Israel is a scattered sheep the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.
Verses 17 and 18 establish for certain when this destruction of Babylon was to occur: Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken…For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein… Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.” “The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet. The prophecy against Babylon is found in Jeremiah 50:1-23. He also prophesied the return of Israel to Jerusalem after 70 years and foretold the ultimate destruction of Babylon. The entire ministry of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah was devoted to prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem and the carrying away of Israel into Babylonian captivity.