Tower of Babel

The tower constructed by the builders at Babel (that is, Babylonia - modern day Iraq) became a symbol of their defiance against God, (Gen. 11:1-6). It was probably modeled after a ziggurat which is a mound of sun-dried bricks and was probably constructed before 4,000 B.C.

According to the narrative in Genesis 11 of the Bible, the Tower (Strong's H4026: מִגְדָּל migdal, nm. a tower so called for its height (Gen. 11:4), especially used of the tower of fortefied cities and castles. Also adj. great, large, big, huge; strong; rich; grand. From primitive root: גָּדַל gadal: to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things) of Babel (Strongs H894 בבל Babel, "confusion (by mixing)") was a tower built by a united humanity "whose top [may reach] unto heaven."(Gen. 11:4)

Because the hearts of men were said to be inherently evil and disobedient, they were striving to make a name for themselves instead of worshiping the God who created them.  Because of this open defiance, God stopped their efforts by confusing languages so that no one could understand each other. As a result, they could no longer communicate and the work was halted. The builders were then scattered to different parts of Earth. This story is used to explain the existence of many different languages and races.


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Babylon

Babylon (in Arabic: بابل; in Syriac: ܒܒܙܠ in Hebrew:בבל) is the Greek variant of Akkadian Babilu (bāb-ilû, meaning "Gateway of the god", translating Sumerian Kadingirra), an ancient city in Mesopotamia (modern Al Hillah, Iraq, see also: Iraq Maps), the ruins of which can be found in present-day Babil Province, about 50 miles (80 km) south of Baghdad. It was the "holy city" of Babylonia from around 2300 BC, and the seat of the Neo-Babylonian empire from 612 BC. In the Bible, the name appears as בבל (Babel).

In the Old Testament, the name appears as בבל Babel or Babylon interpreted by Genesis 11:9 to mean "confusion (by mixing)", from the verb balal:
1) to mix, mingle, confuse, confound
a) (Qal)
1) to mingle, confuse
2) to mix
3) to give provender, feed (animals)
b) (Hithpoel) to mix oneself (among others)
c) (Hiphil) to fade away

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

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