Topical Bible: Temple: Idolatrous: At Babylon

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The city of Babylon, renowned for its grandeur and influence in the ancient world, was also a center of idolatrous worship, housing numerous temples dedicated to various deities. The most prominent of these was the temple of Marduk, also known as Bel, the chief god of the Babylonian pantheon. This temple, often referred to as Esagila, was a focal point of religious activity and a symbol of Babylon's spiritual and political power.

The Bible provides several references to the idolatrous practices associated with Babylon. In the book of Daniel, we find a vivid depiction of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar's involvement in idol worship. Daniel 3:1-6 describes how Nebuchadnezzar constructed a massive golden statue and commanded all peoples, nations, and languages to fall down and worship it. This event underscores the pervasive nature of idolatry in Babylon and the pressure exerted on individuals to conform to these practices.

Babylon's idolatrous temples were not only centers of worship but also places of significant cultural and economic activity. The prophet Isaiah, in his oracles against Babylon, highlights the city's reliance on its idols, which would ultimately lead to its downfall. Isaiah 46:1-2 states, "Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary. They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity."

The book of Jeremiah also addresses the idolatry of Babylon, prophesying its eventual judgment and destruction. Jeremiah 50:2 declares, "Announce and proclaim among the nations, lift up a banner and proclaim it; keep nothing back, but say, 'Babylon will be captured; Bel will be put to shame, Marduk filled with terror. Her images will be put to shame, her idols filled with terror.'"

In the New Testament, Babylon is symbolically referenced in the book of Revelation as a representation of worldly corruption and idolatry. Revelation 17:5 describes Babylon as "a mystery: 'Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.'" This portrayal serves as a warning against the seductive allure of idolatry and the spiritual adultery it represents.

The idolatrous temples of Babylon, therefore, stand as a testament to the city's historical and spiritual significance, as well as a cautionary example of the consequences of turning away from the worship of the one true God. The biblical narrative consistently condemns the idolatry of Babylon, emphasizing the futility of worshiping man-made images and the ultimate sovereignty of God over all nations and deities.

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2 Chronicles 36:7
Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.
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Daniel 1:2
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.
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Library

The Kingdom of Judah.
... destroy all true worship and established idolatrous worship in ... (4) His captivity
in Babylon and release ... the altars of idolatry, repaired the temple and caused ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xiv the kingdom of.htm

The Captivity.
... Jehoiakim was idolatrous, cruel, and violent; he persecuted the ... by the great
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and hunted ... of the treasures of the Temple, and many of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson x the captivity.htm

In the Court of Babylon
... house had been placed in the Temple of the ... them daily into close association with
idolatrous customs, and ... regarded as offering homage to the gods of Babylon. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 39 in the court.htm

The Captivity of Judah.
... They seem to have built a temple there and did ... cases were punished later by authority
of Babylon (Jer.29:22 ... are, even to the present day, no idolatrous Jews; (c ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xv the captivity of.htm

Ezekiel
... Ezekiel was taken in 597 to Babylon, where he ... of the destruction of Jerusalem and
her idolatrous people. ... executioners, lying silently in the temple court, the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/ezekiel.htm

The End
... of the king of Babylon,' with their idolatrous and barbarous ... The king of Babylon
did not go in person, but ... by a high officer, to burn palace, Temple, the more ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the end.htm

In the Last Chapter we Confined Ourself to the Old Testament, in ...
... the past; second, because of her idolatrous alliance with ... That apostate Israel, in
Babylon, should be clothed in ... upon God, who dwelt in the temple, ever near ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in the last chapter we.htm

The Last King of Judah
... up from among the captives in Babylon, to warn ... were seen offering incense before
the idolatrous representations that ... the sacred precincts of the temple court. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 36 the last king.htm

Nineveh.
... was in his first years savagely wicked, and very idolatrous. ... and he set an image
in the Temple itself. ... and took him captive, dragging him in chains to Babylon. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson ix nineveh.htm

Ezra, the Priest and Scribe
... the attitude of the Israelites in Babylon toward God's ... substance, besides large treasure
for the temple and its ... the power and influence of idolatrous men, but ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 50 ezra the priest.htm