Historians present the history of Babylon in two distinct periods. To study the subject one becomes familiar with its designated names: In Genesis they knew it as Shina and in the latter Scriptures they called it Chalaza. Mesopotamia (between the rivers), is a term sometimes used for this area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The first historical period extended from the second millennium to the early first millennium B.C. Abraham of the Chaldees, in his westward migration to Canaan, appears in this age. The second historical period and the one most familiar to Bible students, was in the seventh and sixth centuries. In this period Babylon reached its greatest heights of splendor as a world ruling kingdom.
     The history of nations is that one rises to power and  glory, in time degenerates, and falls into the dust of the past. On its ruins arises another kingdom in its splendor and power. After an age it too faces the sunset of its glory, passes into death and is no more. Another nation arises to repeat the process. So, the rise and fall of nations. In this study we pass over the times of old Babylon and come to Neo-Babylon, the new Babylon.
     Assyria, first of the great nation of the ancient East, has her day and decline. Revolt in the court, and in the army, follows the death of King Ashurbanipal in 627 B.C. Nabopolassar King of Babylon (reigned 625-605 B.C.), founder of the Chaldean dynasty; allied with the Medes, struggled to break the control of Assyria, captured and destroyed the capitol city of Nineveh (612 B.C.). Egypt’s Pharaoh Necho II came to Carchemish as confederate to Assyria and to challenge the rights of the Babylonians and Medes to inherit Assyria’s shattered empire. King Nabopolassar was unable to take the field himself against Pharaoh Necho II. Nebuchadnezzar, his son, went forth at the head of a large army to meet Pharaoh. The battle of Carchemish (606 B.C.) followed. Jeremiah chronicles the battle and pronounces doom to Egypt: “Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah” (Jeremiah 46:2-12). From this time Nebuchadnezzar was soon able to reclaim Babylon’s earlier frontiers (cf. 2 Kings 24:7 with Jeremiah 34:1-12). Nebuchadnezzar returning to Babylon from coastal wars along the Mediterranean, was acknowledging King of Babylon in 604 B.C. The great nation of Assyria had fallen. A new Babylon had arisen on its ashes.
     Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest of Israel is of particular interest to Bible scholars. “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah [606] came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god” (Daniel 1:1-2). This was the beginning of Judah’s seventy years of Babylonian captivity (Jeremiah 25:11-12). Again, in December of 598 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar marched on Jerusalem. King Jehoiakim died that month, and his son Jehoiachin surrendered the city to the Babylonians on March 16, 597 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar then appointed Zedekiah as king of Judah. Zedekiah revolted in 589 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar came, besieged and destroyed the city of Jerusalem (587-586). For the third time they carried Jews into exile to Babylon. Jeremiah had recommended that Judah surrender to the rule of Babylon and called Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon’s emperor and Judah’s most hated enemy, the “servant of the Lord.” Babylon was the servant of God in that God used her as His rod to chastise His people.
 One of God’s people played an important role in the history of Babylon: Daniel, of the royal seed of the nation of Israel, a prophet and interpreter of dreams. It was in Babylon, Chaldea of old, that God used Daniel, the interpreter of dreams and vision of kings. He was the only wise man in the kingdom who could interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams. In a dream he had seen an image of an amazing creature. Its head was of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, and feet of iron and clay. Daniel’s interpretation was a preview of the history of great nations for the next five centuries. The head of the image was Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon (gold). The silver breast and arms was the coming kingdom of Persia. Its belly and thighs of brass represented Greece, and the feet of iron mingled with clay was to be Rome. Daniel introduced another kingdom in his interpretation: the everlasting kingdom established “in the days of these kings” (Daniel 2:44). That kingdom was to be the kingdom of Jesus Christ, the kingdom of God. The kingdoms of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome, all came to the dust of history. They are no more. The eternal kingdom came on Pentecost Day as recorded in the Book of Acts.
     Nebuchadnezzar was a typical monarch of a despotic age: dominant, often cruel, and lifted up with pride. Pridefully proud! Babylon’s greatness lay only in the hand of its great king! He boasted, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility” (Proverbs 18:12). By God’s decree he “was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws” (Daniel 4:33).
     After “seven times” had passed, his pride was quenched. He bows with humility before Daniel and Daniel’s God and speaks of the sincere prayer he offered that only God heard. “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase” (Daniel 4:34-37).
     Amazingly, considering the greatness of the kingdom of Babylon, its history of glory covered a brief period. From Carchemish (606 B.C.) to the fall of Belshazzar and Babylon to the Medes-Persians (539 B.C) was only seventy-six years.
 Nebuchadnezzar was the great king of the Babylonian Empire. His successors were insignificant by comparison. The magnificent king died in 561 B.C., having reigned forty-three years. His son Evil-Merodach succeeded him and reigned only two years (561-560 B.C.), murdered by his brother-in-law, Neriglissar. Neriglissar after four years, died, leaving the crown to his son Laborosoarched. They quickly assassinated this prince, a mere lad. Nabonidus, a conspirator, succeeded him. He was the last of the kings of Neo-Babylon 565-539 B.C.).
     Nabonidus set the stage for the fall of Babylon. He conspired with Croesus the last king of Lydia. He provoked Cyrus by the alliance and soon realized his error. He knew, in time, Cyrus    would  move  against  him  with avenging armies. That did Cyrus, assaulting Nabonidus in 539 B.C. Nabonidus led his army to defeat at Borsippa. Cyrus continued his advance toward Babylon. Belshazzar lightly considered the danger of the marching Armies of Medo-Persia, was drunkenly banqueting, desecrating sacred vessels take from the temple in Jerusalem. And then—the familiar story—the handwriting on the wall. “And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighted in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians” (Daniel 5:25-27).
     The much sobered Belshazzar now records Daniel as a prophet of God. He rewards Daniel by clothing him with scarlet robes, a chain of gold about his neck, and that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
     Destructive critics of the Bible have scorned the mere mentioning of the name Belshazzar. None of the classical authors mention his name. They accept that Nabonidus was the last king of Babylon before the soldiers of Darius and Cyrus captured the city. Puzzle: Where, who, how, Belshazzar? Many inscriptions have turned up which mention Belsharusar (variation of Belahazzar) as the firstborn son of Nabunaid (Nabonidus). There fore, Belshazzar was the logical heir to the throne. Moreover a number of inscriptions mention the fact that oaths were taken in his name. Oaths were taken only in the name of a person who had the power and rank of some kings. Evidence shows that Belshazzar was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar through a daughter who was the wife of Nabunaid (Nabonidus). According to oriental custom they could call a grandson a son, so they could call Belshazzar the son of Nebuchadnezzar. In ancient time associating their sons with them on the throne was customary for kings. They would also call them king and have the rank and power of a king. The fact that they made Daniel the third ruler in the kingdom, shows that Nabunaid was the first, Belshazzar was the second, and so, Daniel the third.
     Daniel’s prophecy and interpretation came true. “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old” (Daniel 5:30-31). Babylon the great had fallen. Such was the prophecy of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 2:39; 51:31) and Isaiah (Isaiah 31:1-9).
     Babylon lies in the dust of ancient ages. Its history closed. Time awaited the fulfillment of Daniel’s interpretation of the great statue of gold, silver, brass and iron mingled with clay.—10726 Hwy. 59 W., Burlison, TN 38015