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Babylon
This ancient city state of Mesopotamia was known for housing the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the wonders of the ancient world. It was in the Fertile Crescent and located just south of modern day Baghdad.
1,861 Questions
What is good hook for Hammurabi code?
"An eye for an eye ..." is a paraphrase of Hammurabi's Code, a collection of 282 laws inscribed on an upright stone pillar. The code was found by French archaeologists in 1901 while excavating the ancient city of Susa, which is in modern-day Iran. Hammurabi is the best known and most celebrated of all Mesopotamian kings. He ruled the Babylonian Empire from 1792-50 B.C.E. Although he was concerned with keeping order in his kingdom, this was not his only reason for compiling the list of laws. When he began ruling the city-state of Babylon, he had control of no more than 50 square miles of territory. As he conquered other city-states and his empire grew, he saw the need to unify the various groups he controlled.
What event transformed the Hebrew religion from polytheism to monotheism?
The first attempts to transform the Hebrew religion occurred after the Assyrian conquest of the northern kingdom, Israel, in 722 BCE. Large numbers of Israelite refugees had flooded south into Judah, apparently creating ethnic tensions. Monotheism was to become seen a solution to divergent religious beliefs.
Yahweh was the principal God of Judah, and some scholars believe that long before the fall of Israel there had already been a small Yahweh-only (monotheist) sect, but that it was constantly at loggerheads with the monarchy, evidenced by the anti-monarchical tirades written into the Deuteronomic History. King Hezekiah seems to have adopted monotheism as the official religion, but this did not survive his death, as his son Manasseh returned to polytheism. However, in the seventh century BCE, King Josiah once again sought to impose monotheism as the state religion of Judah.
Although Judah is often thought to have become completely monotheistic after the time of Josiah, it is clear from the biblical account that he was only partly successful in his campaign to stamp out polytheism, which continued to thrive among the Jews into the Babylonian Exile.
The Babylonian conquest and the Exile ended forever the reign of the Judahite kings, leaving the priests as the only viable leadership for the Jewish people. The priests (or at least the most important ones) were monotheists and began to rewrite Jewish history, as well as ridiculing the old gods and the practices of polytheism. Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel referred to the gods as defiling themselves, using the words for human excrement. Gradually the power of the priesthood and their unrelenting propaganda transformed the Hebrew religion into the monotheistic faith we know today.
After their conquest of the Babylonian Empire, the Persians allowed the Jews to return, and contributed financial resources and personnel to re-establish monotheistic Judaism in Jerusalem and to teach the Jews about their own (Jewish) religion. The Persians were also monotheistic and believed that it did not matterwhat you call Ahura Mazda, as long as you worship him.
Nevertheless, some remnants of polytheism appear to have survived into the early centuries of the common era. For example, we can see evidence of Lady Wisdom being worshipped in the Jewish diaspora until at least the end of the first century CE.
- Answer
Jacob confiscated the idolatrous images taken from Shechem (Genesis 35:2) and got rid of them (Genesis 35:4); and refrained from invoking the gods of Nahor (Genesis 31:53). Rachel pilfered Laban's statue-images (Genesis 31:19) in order to prevent him from idolatry (Rashi commentary, ibid.). Joseph placed his hope in the God of the Forefathers (Genesis 50:24).
At the time of the Exodus, God wrecked the Egyptian idols (Exodus 12:12) and warned against idolatry (Exodus 22:19). Later, Moses characterized the Golden Calf as "a great sin" (Exodus 32:21, 30) and punished the worshipers (Exodus ch.32). During the rest of his lifetime and that of Joshua (Judges 2:7), no incidents of Israelite idolatry were reported.
These warnings came true. Many of the Israelites went astray after the foreign gods (Judges 2:11). However, they never invented their own idol. It was always the baneful influence of other peoples. And there were times when the entire Israelite nation repented (Judges 2:1-4) and prayed to God (Judges 3:9, 3:15, 6:6, 10:10).
Those who did sin did not represent or influence normative Judaism, just as the later Sadducees and Essenes did not. They were deviating from the Torah's standard; they were publicly, repeatedly, and scathingly excoriated by the prophets, and they caused God's retribution to come upon the entire people (2 Kings ch.17).
It should be noted that idolatry was never universal among the Israelites. The belief in One God was continued in every generation, whether by the few or the many; and it is those who handed down that tradition whose beliefs we Jews continue today. Deborah ascribed victory to God (Judges 4:14), Gideon tore down the idolatrous altar (Judges 6:25-27); Samson prayed to God (Judges 16:28), as did Hannah (1 Samuel 1:11) and Samuel (ibid. 12:18); Eli blessed in the name of God (1 Samuel 2:20), Saul built an altar to God (1 Samuel 14:35); Jonathan ascribed victory to God (1 Samuel 14:12), as did David (1 Samuel 17:46); and Solomon built the Temple for God (1 Kings 8:20). A number of the kings "did what was right in God's eyes": David (1 Kings 15:5), Solomon (see 1 Kings 3:3), Asa (1 Kings 15:11), Yehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:43), Yehu (2 Kings 10:30), Yehoash (2 Kings 12:3), Amatziah (2 Kings 14:3), Azariah (2 Kings 15:3), Yotam (2 Kings 15:34), Hizkiah (2 Kings 18:3), and Josiah (2 Kings 22:2). Part of this righteousness was their destroying whatever idolatrous incursions had occurred among the populace (1 Samuel 7:3-4, 2 Chronicles 15:8, 2 Chronicles 17:6, 2 Kings 18:4). Even at the height of the unfortunate spread of idolatry among the less-loyal Ten Tribes, there were thousands who remained loyal to God (1 Kings 19:18).
- How reliable is the Jewish tradition?
"One city after another, one civilization after another, one culture after another, who were known only from the Bible, have been restored to their place in ancient history through archaeology" (Prof. Gleason Archer, A Survey of Old Testament Introduction).
No parchment, scroll, or inscription has ever been found that would support the Bible-critics' JEPD (different sources) hypothesis, which remains a set of mere postulates. And those ancient writers who mention, describe, summarize or translate the Torah (Josephus, Samaritans, Targum, Septuagint etc.), describe it in its complete form.
Archaeological finds, such as the Ugarit documents and those of Nuzu, Mari, Susa, Ebla, and Tel el-Amarna, have repeatedly caused the critics to retract their claims. The entire social milieu portrayed in the Torah, once criticized as anachronistic, has been shown to be accurate, including customs of marriage, adoption, contracts, inheritance, purchases, utensils, modes of travel, people's names and titles, etc. Professor Gleason Archer states: "In case after case where inaccuracy was alleged as proof of late and spurious authorship of the biblical documents, the Hebrew record has been vindicated by the results of excavations, and the condemnatory judgment of the Documentary theorists have been proved to be without foundation."
What does hammurrabi code reveal about babylonian society?
The Code's importance as a reflection of Babylonian society is indisputable. Hammurabi's laws were established to be the "laws of Justice" intended to clarify the rights of any "oppressed man." Mesopotamia society under the Hammurabi code was one of strict penalties for criminal offenses with punishment severe and varied according to the wealth of the individual. Hammurabi's rigidly centralized ruling system prospered from tribute and taxes, which he used to both compensate state dependents and finance extensive state irrigation and building projects. The code also gives us a clear sense of the ways ancient Babylonians invested divine authority in their secular leaders.
Doesn't the trinitatian doctrine's roots go back to Babylon and nimrod via philo and Plato?
== == Most of ancient theology is lost under the sands of time. However, archaeological expeditions in ancient Mesopotamia have uncovered the fascinating culture of the Sumerians, which flourished over 4,000 years ago. Though Sumeria was overthrown first by Assyria, and then by Babylon, its gods lived on in the cultures of those who conquered. The historian S. H. Hooke tells in detail of the ancient Sumerian trinity: Anu was the primary god of heaven, the 'Father', and the 'King of the Gods'; Enlil, the 'wind-god' was the god of the earth, and a creator god; and Enki was the god of waters and the 'lord of wisdom' (15-18). The historian, H. W. F. Saggs, explains that the Babylonian triad consisted of 'three gods of roughly equal rank... whose inter-relationship is of the essence of their natures' (316). see link "The Origin of the Trinity" on left
There are probably hundreds if not thousands of similar features between various religious expressions down through the centuries. Many similar conclusions have been drawn about other aspects of the Christian faith, and probably always will be. What matters is whether the connection is a real one or just coincidental, or whether it can also be conclusively shown which came first.
Undoubtedly there are similarities as outlined above, but another explanation which some would give is simply that the Sumerians were copying the more ancient religion as expressed in the Bible which, even though some of the details were different such as three gods and not one God had essentially its origin in Monotheism which was then corrupted.
How many people lived in Babylon at its peak?
It is estimated that around 200,000 people lived in Babylon at its peak and was the largest city in the world at that time.
What is the relationship between law and trade in the Code of Hammurabi?
Hammurabi's code not only regulated punishments for sins, but also regulated civil laws, such as prices, wages, commercial dealings, marital relationships, and conditions of slavery.
Did Hammurabi's son rule well?
Yes hammurabis son did rule well but not as great as Hammurabi himself. After that the empire fell
What was a name for the Babylon advanced government?
It was called the Babylonian Empire and it came under King Hammurabi which wrote the first known codified code of law in existence.
What punishment did the law require if a father complained that his son hit him during a quarrel?
because they would get slapped if hey did anything worng or get there hand chopped off or eyeball cut
What was Hammurabi's most important achievement?
He wrote the first know set of codified laws in existence that we know of. It served as a format for the US Constitution. The Code of Hammurabi contains an extensive list of laws that have opened historians' eyes to the highly sophisticated society of Babylonia. When we think of ancient pagan kings, the ideas of justice and fairness probably aren't the first things to come to mind. King Hammurabi, who ruled a prosperous and thriving Babylonia almost four millennium ago, doesn't quite fit that mold. He claimed to have helped protect the weak from oppression, and scholars believe he fostered an atmosphere of justice and righteousness for his people.
Was hammurabi cod of law crule?
As a matter of fact, by the time it was created it had just rules. It attended every citizen in Babylon including the slaves.
Did Nebuchadnezzar believe in the God of Israel?
No, he was an idolater. At most, he would have believed that the God of Israel was one among many.
How did the walls of Babylon get destroyed?
There was a giant monster and it put its bum out and farted and BOOM! babylon was destroyed
First group to rule after Hammurabi?
He was the sixth king of Babylon followed by Samsu-iluna of Babylon 1686-1678 BC.
Compare and contrast the use of technology in Egypt Mesopotamia and the Indus River Valley?
im not ganna do ur ap world assignment 4 u... but when u get the answer tell me lol
car2dan@hotmail.com
the babylonians built hanging gardens to terraced gardens
By the Waters of Babylon what did john see in his dream?
At the end of the story, John has a vision in which he sees New York as we know it, a busy, thriving city. Then he sees the destruction of the city through the terrible war that had taken place generations before his own. He understands then who the "gods" were, and so do we. They were the people of our own time. When John understands these things, he knows that he cannot go home and tell everyone what he has learned. It would be too much for them to understand all at once. Since he knows the truth, however, he will share it, but slowly, so that his people and future generations will understand it and benefit from it.
Why did Babylon take revenge against Judah?
Throughout the checkered history of the kingdoms or houses of Israel and Judah, they strayed from the ways of their Faithful father Abraham's God... and the LORD their God had to remind them of their sins [disobedience to His Laws - I John 3:4], warn them to repent and return to Him, and too often had to remove His Divine Protection from them, and allow their enemies to punish them for their hardhearted, self-destructive ways and rebellious rejection of Him.
Such was the case with the House or Kingdom of Judah [the Jews] some 130 odd years after the LORD their God removed their sister Kingdom of Israel, which never returned from their scattering and exile from their land by Assyria.
God kept comparing the House of Judah to their rebellious [and absent] sister kingdom, and warning them to repent again and again in advance of their pending defeat by the Babylonian empire.
"...'I remember how eager you were to please Me as a young bride long ago, how you loved Me and followed Me even through the barren wilderness. In those days Israel was Holy to the LORD, the first of My Children. All who harmed My people were considered guilty, and disaster fell upon them...'" (Jer.2:2-3 NLT New Living Translation)
"...'What sin did your ancestors find in Me that led them to stray so far? They worshiped foolish idols, only to become fools themselves.'" (verse 5)
"Has any nation ever exchanged its gods for another god, even though its gods are nothing? Yet My people have exchanged their Glorious God for worthless idols! The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay, says the LORD. For My people have done two evil things: they have forsaken Me - the Fountain of Living Water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no Water at all!
"Why has Israel become a nation of slaves? Why has she been carried away as plunder? ... YOU HAVE BROUGHT THIS ON YOURSELVES BY REBELLING AGAINST THE LORD YOUR GOD when He wanted to lead you and show you the way!
"What have you gained by your alliances with Egypt and Assyria? ...YOUR OWN WICKED WAYS WILL PUNISH YOU. You will see what a bitter thing it is to forsake the LORD your God, having no Fear of Him. I, the LORD, the LORD Almighty, have spoken!" (verses 11-19)
The bottom line is that the House of Judah [and Israel] could have spared themselves the ordeal of Babylon altogether if they had repented of their rebellious attitude toward the LORD their God and shed themselves of their idolatrous ways. [which is the case of any nation that professes the name of the LORD]
But they refused to do it.
"O Jerusalem, cleanse YOUR HEARTS that you may be saved. How long will you harbor your evil thoughts? ...Warn the surrounding nations and announce to Jerusalem: the enemy is coming from a distant land... YOUR OWN ACTIONS HAVE BROUGHT THIS UPON YOU. This punishment is a bitter dose of your own medicine. It has pierced you to the heart!" (Jer.4:14-18 NLT)
"And when your people ask, 'Why is the LORD our God doing this to us?' you must reply, 'YOU REJECTED HIM and GAVE YOURSELVES TO FOREIGN GODS IN YOUR OWN LAND. Now you will serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.'" (Jer.5:19 NLT)
That is the answer to the question [and the answer for any nation, that suffers needlessly, that is founded on the principles of the Laws of Abraham's God.]
They brought it upon themselves -- rejecting Him and giving themselves over to foreign gods in their own land.
"Listen, you foolish and senseless people - who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear. Do you have no respect for Me? Why do you not tremble in My Presence? I, the LORD, AM the One who defines the ocean's sandy shoreline, an everlasting boundary that the waters cannot cross. The waves may toss and roar, but they can never pass the bounds I set." (verses 21-22)
"A horrible and shocking thing has happened in this land - the prophets give false prophecies, and the priests rule with an iron hand. And WORSE YET, My people like it that way! But what will you do when the end comes?" (verses 30-31)
"Run for your lives... Warn everyone that a powerful army is coming from the north to destroy this nation." (Jer.6:1 NLT)
"This is your last warning, Jerusalem! If you do not listen, I will empty the land... Disaster will fall upon you... To whom can I give warning? Who will listen when I speak? Their ears are closed, and they cannot hear. They scorn the Word of the LORD. They don't want to listen at all. So now I AM filled with the LORD's fury. Yes, I AM weary of holding it in!" (verses 8-11)
That's why Babylon took revenge against Judah.
