Genesis 11 The Tower of Babel Language Families

Genesis 11 The Tower of Babel

Language Families

Did language evolve? As far back as we have written records of human Language — 5000 years or so — things look basically the same. Languages change gradually over time, sometimes due to changes in culture and fashion, sometimes in response to contact with other languages. But the basic architecture and expressive power of language stays the same. Ray Jackendoff

Babylon in 2009

Babylon aerial view

Sadam Hussein’s Palace: Babylon

The ancient city of Babylon

The ruins and site of the Tower of Babel

Artist’s impression

Babylon and Prophecy It was the Medes who would be stirred up against Babylon (Isaiah 13 verse 20 & Jeremiah 51 verse 28). That Babylon would be completely overthrown (Isaiah 13 verse 20 & Jeremiah 51 verse 31) (At the time it was said the very idea of this would be very likely to be ridiculed). Babylon will never be inhabited again (Isaiah 13 verse 20). Nomads would not go there (Isaiah 13 verse 20)

Babylon and Prophecy Wild animals (jackals, hyenas, goats owls and ostrich) would inhabit the place where the city used to be (Isaiah 13 verses 21 and 22 and Jeremiah 51 verse 37) That the area would be covered with water (Jeremiah 51 verse 42) The foundations of the city would not be removed (Jeremiah 51 verse 26). River dried up (Jeremiah 51 verse 36).

Babylon and Prophecy 1. Was fulfilled in that it was the Medes that did it and a Median king now sat on the throne. 2. Babylon was completely overthrown. 3. After Cyrus’ conquest, the city remained populated for a while but soon fell into decline. The city was neglected, the wall began to fall into ruin, people moved away and it was no longer the glorious city it had once been. People lost heart.

Babylon and Prophecy 4. Because of the superstition attached to the place, nomads avoided it. 5. German archaeologists digging for the foundations of the city reported plenty of wild animals living there and named the animals in the prophecy as the predominant inhabitants. 6. Once the place became uninhabited the river Euphrates overflowed its banks and it became flooded to the extent that the surrounding area became, at times, very marshy. 7. The German archaeologists found that the foundations are there to this day, though they were quite deeply buried and took some finding by all accounts. 8. This was fulfilled when the Medes diverted the river to gain access to the city.