City and imperial center · Mesopotamia

Babylon

Also known as: Babel

Identification status

Ancient city location widely established

Place profile

Babylon appears first through the Babel narrative and later as the imperial power that conquers Jerusalem and carries people from Judah into exile. Daniel and other exilic writings are closely connected with the Babylonian court and setting.

Biblical setting

Mesopotamia

Present-day setting

Ancient ruins near Hillah in present-day Iraq

Connected people

Daniel

Taken to Babylon and serves in the royal court

Basis: Daniel 1–5

Nebuchadnezzar

Babylonian king in Kings, Jeremiah, and Daniel

Basis: 2 Kings 24–25; Daniel 1–4

Major events

Tower of Babel narrative

Genesis locates the city-building account in the land of Shinar.

Genesis 11:1–9

Fall of Jerusalem

Babylon’s forces destroy Jerusalem and carry captives away.

2 Kings 25

Daniel enters royal service

Daniel and his companions are trained for service in the court.

Daniel 1

Geography boundary: Genesis’ Babel narrative and the later historical city of Babylon are related by the biblical name, while questions about the narrative’s chronology and material setting involve interpretation beyond simple location identification.