Zechariah 2:8-9 Babylon a Biblical Account

Zechariah 2:8-9
Babylon a Scriptural Account

I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

Joh 14:1-7 KJV  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  (2)  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  (3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  (4)  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.  (5)  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?  (6)  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  (7)  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Joh 14:8-14 KJV  Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.  (9)  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?  (10)  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.  (11)  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.  (12)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.  (13)  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  (14)  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

Joh 14:15-21 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments.  (16)  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  (17)  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  (18)  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.  (19)  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.  (20)  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.  (21)  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Joh 14:22-31 KJV  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?  (23)  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  (24)  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.  (25)  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.  (26)  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  (27)  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  (28)  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.  (29)  And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.  (30)  Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.  (31)  But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

A Vision of a Man with a Measuring Line

Zec 2:1-13 KJV  I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.  (2)  Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.  (3)  And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,  (4)  And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:  (5)  For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.  (6)  Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.  (7)  Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.  (8)  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.  (9)  For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.  (10)  Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.  (11)  And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.  (12)  And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.  (13)  Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

Zec 2:8-9 KJV  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.  (9)  For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.

In case you just joined these latest journeys we have been exploring Zechariah 2:8-9. Exploring the passage with regards to the enemy nations of Israel. In our last get together we looked at the spiritual side of Isaiah 14 concerning the spiritual king of Babylon. 

In this journey we will explore many more things found here in Isaiah regarding Babylon. 

Isa 14:21-23 KJV  Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.  (22)  For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD.  (23)  I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.

Babylon in the OT alone is found 282 times in 249 verses. In the book of Isaiah it is found 13 times in 13 verses. Of course we have explored Isaiah 13 already. Babylon appears 2 times in Isaiah 14. One of those found above in verse 22. 

Isa 14:22 KJV  For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD.

God states that all males will in essence be cut off from Babylon. Therefore rendering a remnant of survivors to be impossible. 

The next interesting information we receive regarding Babylon is found in Isaiah 21. 

Fallen, Fallen Is Babylon

Isa 21:1-17 KJV  The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.  (2)  A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.  (3)  Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.  (4)  My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.  (5)  Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.  (6)  For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.  (7)  And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:  (8)  And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:  (9)  And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen;and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.  (10)  O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.  (11)  The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?  (12)  The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.  (13)  The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.  (14)  The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.  (15)  For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.  (16)  For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:  (17)  And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.

Isa 21:9 KJV  And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.

We have explored the fall of Babylon from the direction of the Medes and Persians. If we look back carefully we see that a pattern starts here regarding Babylon. In case you were not around during the days of our Daniel 5 studies that is the chapter where we first notice something. That something being this. This is the infamous passage where we see the writing on the wall. 

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting

Dan 5:13-31 KJV  Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?  (14)  I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.  (15)  And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:  (16)  And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.  (17)  Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.  (18)  O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:  (19)  And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.  (20)  But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:  (21)  And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.  (22)  And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;  (23)  But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:  (24)  Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.  (25)  And this is the writing that was written, MENEH4487, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.  (26)  This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.  (27)  TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.  (28)  PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.  (29)  Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.  (30)  In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.  (31)  And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

In the writing on the wall the kingdom of Babylon has been weighed and the word used to spell this out is found twice. Here in the book of Isaiah we see a prophecy in chapter 21 which also rewards Babylon double. There is another prophecy we read a lot that tells us of a double reward for Babylon. 

The Fall of Babylon

Rev 18:1-10 KJV  And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.  (2)  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.  (3)  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.  (4)  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.  (5)  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.  (6)  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.  (7)  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow 

give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.  (8)  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.  (9)  And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,  (10)  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

A scriptural account of the kingdom and city of Babylon

Cain and Abel
Gen 4:1-7 KJV  And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.  (2)  And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  (3)  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.  (4)  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:  (5)  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.  (6)  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?  (7)  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Gen 4:8-16 KJV  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.  (9)  And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?  (10)  And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.  (11)  And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;  (12)  When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.  (13)  And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.  (14)  Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.  (15)  And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.  (16)  And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

Cain sets out to the east just as the cherubim guarding the garden protected from the east side. We do not have a direct connection to what becomes Babylon with Cain but we do know it was to the east and in the land made for Satan a land for wandering. 

Gen 3:22-24 KJV  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:  (23)  Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.  (24)  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Cain is settling into an area known as Nod.

Gen 4:16 KJV  And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the eastH5113 of Eden.

H5113
נוֹד
nôd
node
The same as H5112; vagrancy; Nod, the land of Cain: - Nod.

Total KJV occurrences: 1

H5112
נֹד    נוֹדּ
nôd    nôd
node, node
From H5110; exile: - wandering.
Total KJV occurrences: 1

H5110
נוּד
nûd
nood
A primitive root; to nod, that is, waver; figuratively to wander, flee, disappear; also (from shaking the head in sympathy), to console, deplore, or (from tossing the head in scorn) taunt: - bemoan, flee, get, mourn, make to move, take pity, remove, shake, skip for joy, be sorry, vagabond, way, wandering.
Total KJV occurrences: 24

We recently looked at the enemy Satan in scripture within our Zechariah 2:8-9 journeys. Cain as we can see is banished to a world of wandering. Satan as we observed in Job 1 is found to be doing what? Wandering to and fro upon the earth. 

Job 1:6-7 KJV  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.  (7)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Job 2:1-2 KJV  Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.  (2)  And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Greeting

Jud 1:1-2 KJV  Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:  (2)  Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

Judgment on False Teachers

Jud 1:3-16 KJV  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  (4)  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.  (5)  I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.  (6)  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.  (7)  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.  (8)  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.  (9)  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.  (10)  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.  (11)  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.  (12)  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;  (13)  Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (14)  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,  (15)  To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.  (16)  These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

Jud 1:11 KJV  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

The way of Cain is spoken of here. 

Nations Descended from Noah

Gen 10:6-12 KJV  And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.  (7)  And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.  (8)  And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.  (9)  He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as NimrodH5248the mighty hunter before the LORD.  (10)  And the beginning of his kingdom was BabelH894, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of ShinarH8152.  (11)  Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,  (12)  And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.

There are a few key words we will address here. They are for now Nimrod, Babel and Shinar. 

H5248
נִמְרֹד     נִמְרוֹד
nimrôd    nimrôd
nim-rode', nim-rode'
Probably of foreign origin; Nimrod, a son of Cush: - Nimrod.

Total KJV occurrences: 4

Now the Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) definition

Now let’s explore the word or the name Nimrod. We will look at a couple of different dictionaries. 

The Hitchcock keeps it nice and simple

Nimrod
rebellion 

The Smith Dictionary
Nimrod
Nim'rod. (rebellion; or the valiant). A son of Cush and grandson of Ham. The events of his life are recorded in Gen_10:8; ff., from which we learn
(1) that he was a Cushite;
(2) that he established an empire in Shinar, (the classical Babylonia), the chief towns being Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh; and
(3) that he extended this empire northward, along the course of the Tigris over Assyria, where he founded a second group of capitals, Nineveh, Rehoboth, Calah, and Resen.

We would probably support the notion of rebellion here. We can see very little reason to call this man valiant. Next we will explore the word Babel. 

H894
בָּבֶל
bâbel
baw-bel'
From H1101; confusion; Babel (that is, Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire: - Babel, Babylon.

Total KJV occurrences: 262

H894
בּבל
bâbel
BDB Definition:
Babel or Babylon = “confusion (by mixing)”
1) Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates
Part of Speech: noun proper locative
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H1101

H1101
בּלל
bâlal
BDB Definition:
1) to mix, mingle, confuse, confound
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to mingle, confuse
1a2) to mix
1a3) to give provender, feed (animals)
1b) (Hithpoel) to mix oneself (among others)
1c) (Hiphil) to fade away
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root

The Hitchcock Dictionary

Babel

confusion; mixture

The Smith Dictionary
Babel
Ba'bel. (confusion). Bab'ylon, (Greek form of Babel), is properly the capital city of the country, which is called in Genesis, Shinar, and in the later books, Chaldea, or the land of the Chaldeans. The first rise of the Chaldean power was in the region close upon the Persian Gulf; thence, the nation spread northward up the course of the rivers, and the seat of government moved in the same direction, being finally fixed at Babylon, perhaps not earlier than B.C, 1700.

Our last word study for now being Shinar.

H8152
שִׁנְעָר
shin‛âr
shin-awr'
Probably of foreign derivation; Shinar, a plain in Babylon: - Shinar.

Total KJV occurrences: 8

H8152
שׁנער
shin‛âr
BDB Definition:
Shinar = “country of two rivers”
1) the ancient name for the territory later known as Babylonia or Chaldea
Part of Speech: noun proper locative

A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: probably of foreign derivation

The Hitchcock Dictionary
Shinar
watch of him that sleeps

The Smith Dictionary
Shinar
Shi'nar. (country of two rivers). The ancient name of the great alluvial tract, through which the Tigris and Euphrates pass, before reaching the sea -- the tract known, in later times, as Chaldaea or Babylonia. It was a plain country, where brick had to be used for stone and slime for mortar. Gen_11:3. Among the cities were Babel (Babylon), Erech or Orech (Orchoe), Calneh or Calno (probably, Niffer), and Accad, the site of which is unknown. It may be suspected that Shinar was the name by which the Hebrews originally knew the lower Mesopotamian country, where they so long dwelt, and which Abraham brought with him, from "Ur of the Chaldees."

Before we move forward with the scriptural look at Babylon we must address the Aramaic name of the territory. We can find it in the ISBE.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. 

Babel; Babylon (1)

bā´bel, bab´i-lon (Topographical): Babylon was the Greek name of the city written in the cuneiform script of the Babylonians, bab-ili, which means in Semitic, “the gate of god.” The Hebrews called the country, as well as the city, Bābhel. This name they considered came from the' root, bālal, “to confound” (Gen_11:9). The name in Sumerian ideographs was written Din-tir, which means “life of the forest,” and yet ancient etymologists explained it as meaning “place of the seat of life” (shubat balâṭe). Ka-dingirra, which also means “gate of god,” was another form of the name in Sumerian. It was also called Su-anna (which is of uncertain meaning) and Uru-azagga, “the holy city.”

When considering the definition “gate of god” we learned a while back to question what god? 

The Tower of Babel

Gen 11:1-9 KJV  And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.  (2)  And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.  (3)  And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.  (4)  And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.  (5)  And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.  (6)  And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.  (7)  Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.  (8)  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.  (9)  Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Abram Rescues Lot

Gen 14:1-16 KJV  And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;  (2)  That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.  (3)  All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.  (4)  Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.  (5)  And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,  (6)  And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.  (7)  And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.  (8)  And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;  (9)  With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.  (10)  And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.  (11)  And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.  (12)  And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.  (13)  And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.  (14)  And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.  (15)  And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.  (16)  And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

Abram Blessed by Melchizedek

Gen 14:17-24 KJV  And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.  (18)  And MelchizedekH4442 king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.  (19)  And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:  (20)  And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.  (21)  And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.  (22)  And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,  (23)  That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:  (24)  Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

The most important part of all this is Abraham’s meeting with Melchizedek. However we can see that there were certain things about Abraham that caused this meeting. He was persistent in the ways of God and did not leave a family member behind. He was bold and victorious against all who stood before him. Of course all this came with his belief.

There is something about the description the Bible gives us about Melchizedek. 

H4442
מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק
malkı̂y-tsedeq
mal-kee-tseh'-dek
From H4428 and H6664; king of right; Malki-Tsedek, an early king in Palestine: - Melchizedek.

Total KJV occurrences: 2

H4428
מֶלֶךְ
melek
meh'-lek
From H4427; a king: - king, royal.
Total KJV occurrences: 2521

H6664
צֶדֶק
tsedeq
tseh'-dek
From H6663; the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity: -  X even, (X that which is altogether) just (-ice), ([un-]) right (-eous) (cause, -ly, -ness).
Total KJV occurrences: 118

When we expand our word study of Melchizedek we get the phrase “my king of righteousness. If you noticed above the word Melchizedek only appears in the OT 2 times. 

H4442
מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק
malkı̂y-tsedeq
mal-kee-tseh'-dek
From H4428 and H6664; king of right; Malki-Tsedek, an early king in Palestine: - Melchizedek.
Total KJV occurrences: 2

In the NT the name comes up in the book of Hebrews and no where else. The titles Melchizedek held were king of Salem and High Priest of God. It’s obvious Abram knows who he is dealing with.

Gen 14:18-20 KJV  And Melchizedek king of SalemH8004brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.  (19)  And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:  (20)  And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

H8004
שָׁלֵם
shâlêm
shaw-lame'
The same as H8003; peaceful; Shalem, an early name of Jerusalem: - Salem.

Total KJV occurrences: 2

H8003
שָׁלֵם
shâlêm
shaw-lame'
From H7999; complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly. (shalem used by mistake for a name.): - full, just, made ready, peaceable, perfect (-ed), quiet, Shalem [by mistake for a name], whole.

Total KJV occurrences: 28

The only other time in scriptural history there is a King and High Priest of God is when the millennial reign starts with our Lord and Savior Yeshua or Jesus. There is mention of Melchizedek in the NT. All references are found throughout 3 chapters of the book of Hebrews. 

For the purposes of this journey we will mention that the pattern of the territory then as well as now exists. 

It exists with the warfare still being waged for control of the area. It exists with the periods of time that the area plays with regard to Biblical prophecy. In other words the territory played a part in Abraham’s visit with Melchizedek just as it will with the Lord’s return. 

Jesus the Great High Priest

Heb 4:14-16 KJV  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  (15)  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  (16)  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb 5:1-10 KJV  For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:  (2)  Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.  (3)  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.  (4)  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.  (5)  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.  (6)  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.  (7)  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;  (8)  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  (9)  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;  (10)  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Warning Against Apostasy

Heb 5:11-14 KJV  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.  (12)  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  (13)  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  (14)  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Rev 16:15 KJV  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

As always thanks for sharing a word

God Bless