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Isaiah and Jeremiah, two of the most consequential prophets in the Hebrew Bible, pronounced detailed judgments against Babylon. Isaiah’s prophecies against Babylon can be found in chapters 13 and 14, and 21. Jeremiah’s proclamations are primarily contained in chapters 50 and 51. Both prophets foretold the utter and complete destruction of Babylon. Isaiah vividly described Babylon’s downfall as Jehovah’s doing, stating that “Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them” (Isaiah 13:19, UASV). Jeremiah’s prophecy is similarly devastating, stating, “Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, says Jehovah, which destroys the whole earth; and I will stretch out my hand upon you, and roll you down from the rocks, and will make you a burnt mountain” (Jeremiah 51:25, UASV).

The Conquest of Babylon: The When and the Who

Babylon was conquered in 539 B.C.E. by the Medo-Persian empire led by Cyrus the Great. This historic event was a significant fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in chapters 44 and 45 where he even named Cyrus as the one who would accomplish this task. The Babylonian Empire, once a superpower of its day, fell suddenly and swiftly, just as prophesied.

The “Devastation Upon Babylon’s Waters”

Jeremiah 51:36 says, “I will dry up her sea and make her fountain dry.” This is a remarkable aspect of the prophecy. When Cyrus conquered Babylon, one of his strategies was to divert the Euphrates River, which flowed through the city. This diversion dried up the moat and allowed his troops to enter the city. Thus, the waters of Babylon were literally devastated or dried up, making way for its defeat, precisely as Jeremiah had prophesied.

Babylon’s Mighty Men Ceasing to Fight

Jeremiah 51:30 declares, “The warriors of Babylon have ceased fighting, they stay in their strongholds; their might has failed.” Historically, the night Babylon fell, the city was in a state of revelry. Belshazzar, the king, was throwing a feast. The Medo-Persian army took advantage of this and diverted the river, entering the city almost unopposed. The mighty men of Babylon did indeed cease to fight. They were caught off guard, fulfilling yet another aspect of the prophecy.

The Prophecy that Babylon Would “Never Be Inhabited”

Both Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesied that Babylon would become a desolate wasteland, never to be inhabited again. Isaiah 13:20 says, “It will never be inhabited or lived in for all generations.” On this point, the skeptics often raise questions. However, the facts bear out the fulfillment of the prophecy. While it is true that there was some minor resettlement in the centuries immediately following Babylon’s fall, these were short-lived and insignificant. Today, the site of ancient Babylon in modern Iraq stands largely abandoned, fulfilling the prophecy that it would “never be inhabited.”

Theological and Apologetical Implications

These prophecies against Babylon are of monumental importance for multiple reasons. They showcase the incredible precision with which the Bible, inspired by Jehovah God, can predict future events. The prophecies were not vague or ambiguous but clear and specific, detailing not only the downfall but even the conditions and the strategies that would lead to Babylon’s demise. In an age of skepticism, the fulfilled prophecies related to Babylon serve as irrefutable evidence of the Bible’s divine origin and reliability. When naysayers question the authenticity or historicity of the Scriptures, the example of Babylon stands as a robust and unyielding testament to the Bible’s predictive accuracy.

Conclusion

The prophecies against Babylon by Isaiah and Jeremiah are much more than ancient history. They are evidences of divine inspiration, instances where men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The detail, the accuracy, and the comprehensive nature of these prophecies confirm the Bible as a book of supernatural origin. They make a compelling case that when the Bible speaks about future events, it does so with an authority and precision that could only come from Jehovah God. Therefore, the case of Babylon serves as an unassailable argument for the divine inspiration and absolute reliability of the Bible.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).