Two hundred years ago, scholars doubted whether Babylon ever existed, and the only record could be found in the Bible. Higher critics used the story of Babylon, and what they called its "non-historic kings", to disseminate Scripture. However in 1898, Babylon was suddenly discovered and excavations started.

We know today that it was one of the first cities in the world, and indeed, founded by Nimrod, great-grandson of Noah. (Genesis 10:10,11). Archaeologists have found his name on many inscriptions and tablets, while a massive head of Nimrod has been excavated near Calah on the Tigris River.

The Bible tells the story of the tower of Babel and how the language of mankind was confused there. Archaeologists have found that the inhabitants of ancient Mesopotamia had a popular habit of building towers (ziggurats); almost every city of importance having at least one.

The temple Tower of Babylon was the highest and largest of all, being 91 meters high and built in seven stages. The foundations and a few steps of the stairway may still be seen. This was the most probable location of the Tower of Babel. It is interesting to note that, according to the Scriptures, the tower was built of brick and asphalt (Gen. 11:3 Hebrew), and this is the very building material found in the buildings of Babylon.

For 1400 years, the city of Babylon grew in importance and, in 626 BC, became the capital of the Babylonian empire. In the time of Nebuchadnezzar II, it reached its peak, and was the wonder of the ancient world! It was 18 kilometres in circumference, with 26 meter wide double walls towering 62 meters high. It was a magnificent sight, the external brickwork of buildings being glazed and of different colours. The outer walls were yellow, gates were blue, palaces were rose-red and temples were white with golden domes. Relief's of bulls, dragons and lions decorated many walls and gates. The famous Hanging Gardens were one of the seven wonders of the world. We know today that ancient Babylon was a centre of advanced science, art, culture, and industry. Then appeared upon the scene the Hebrew prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah who predicted her utter destruction.

"And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah." Isaiah 13:19

"And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling-place for dragons, and astonishment, and a hissing, without an inhabitant, desolate forever... And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate forever, saith the Lord." Jeremiah 51:37,26

These amazing prophecies are all the more astounding because of the location of Babylon - at the very centre of economic trade routes of that time. Destruction of a city might have been plausible, but that it would never be rebuilt to be inhabited again seemed far-fetched. This prophetic claim should be easily tested, and indeed has been over the ages.
Yet the prophecy stands to this very day.

A further point is that Babylon was extremely wealthy. Jeremiah predicted that these treasures would be robbed, and that all who robbed her would be satisfied. (Jeremiah 50:10) To read her history is to read the fulfilment of the prophecy. Cyrus the Median took mammoth treasures, Xerxes the Persian took huge amounts of gold, Alexander of Greece plundered what was left, fulfilling these prophecies to the letter.

This article was excerpted from the book The Genesis Conflict by Dr. Walter J. Veith. To order a copy, please direct your browser to our store.