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Is the evidence supporting the Tower of Babel all it seems to be? Dive into an investigative journey as we debunk misleading evidence for this legendary biblical event. Get the facts straight on Tower of Babel, Nimrod, and Genesis 11.

THE ARCHAEOLOGIST website and the Smithsonian Channel are not conservative Christian websites or organizations and are secular. The video some Christians recommend is inaccurate and is at odds with Bible chronology. Their site looks very interesting, their videos sound very interesting, and their information sounds very informative. But they are counter to God’s Word at every turn. This one is a perfect example. Please see below. Note to Christians: beware of shiny objects that seem to support the Bible. Take this example here. It claims Nebudanessar of the 7th-6th BCE built the Tower of Babel, when, in fact, it was built about 1,600 years earlier according to biblical chronology. So, if Christians post this video and information like it as though it supports the Bible, atheists will use it against you by saying, “Your Bible is not the inspired, inerrant Word of God. Your Bible got it wrong.”

The historical narrative of the Tower of Babel as recounted in the Book of Genesis (Chapter 11:1-9) certainly presents it as an ancient event dating back to shortly after the Great Flood. According to biblical chronology, Nimrod, a great-grandson of Noah, is credited with initiating the construction of the Tower. Genesis 10:8-10 tells us that “Nimrod … was the first on earth to be a mighty man. … The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.” These verses indicate that Nimrod was instrumental in the establishment of Babel and, by extension, its infamous tower.

The construction of the Tower of Babel wasn’t just an architectural endeavor; it was an affront to Jehovah, representing a concerted human effort to assert independence from divine governance. The people said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4 UASV). Their goal was to make a “celebrated name” for themselves, in direct defiance of God’s directive to populate the earth.

The name “Babel” itself stems from the Hebrew verb “ba·lalʹ,” which means “to confuse,” fittingly describing God’s intervention in confusing their languages and scattering them across the earth (Genesis 11:5-9). However, inhabitants later tried to interpret the name as “Gate of God,” in alignment with their view that the city was a center for divine-human relations, albeit in a false religious context.

Based on a literal interpretation of the Bible, Nimrod’s efforts at Babel would have occurred around 2247 B.C.E., which stands in contrast to claims that Nebuchadnezzar II (who reigned from approximately 605 to 562 B.C.E.) would have built the Tower. Indeed, Nebuchadnezzar II is noted for his construction projects, particularly in Babylon, but he was not the builder of the Tower of Babel. The tower was in existence long before his time, and the narrative is clear that it was initiated during the era of Nimrod.

In the context of ancient Near Eastern history, some texts outside the Bible also mention ancient towers or ziggurats in the region that would become Babylon. For instance, the text of Sharkalisharri, a king of Agade (Accad), suggests that a temple-tower existed in Babylon prior to his reign. Such structures were common features of ancient Mesopotamian cities and were associated with the worship of various deities. However, the Tower of Babel, as described in Genesis, holds unique theological significance as a symbol of human rebellion against the sovereign will of God.

In summary, Nimrod, not Nebuchadnezzar II, is the figure associated with the construction of the Tower of Babel, based on the Scriptural record. This defiant act occurred around 2247 B.C.E., well over a millennium before Nebuchadnezzar II would carry out his construction projects in Babylon. Thus, while both figures are significant in the history and lore of Babylon, their roles and timelines should not be conflated.

Evidence for the Real Biblical Tower of Babel

While the Tower of Babel is a topic that often captures the mind, it is essential to note that the nature of the historical and archaeological data available is limited. However, there are some aspects that lend credibility to the biblical account.

Geographic and Cultural Context:

The Tower of Babel is said to have been built in the “land of Shinar” (Genesis 11:2), which is identified with ancient Mesopotamia, specifically the region surrounding the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This area is known for its ancient civilizations, including Sumer, Akkad, and Babylon. The existence of these civilizations and their penchant for ziggurat-building is well-documented.

Ziggurats:

The most direct pieces of evidence are the ziggurats found throughout Mesopotamia. These stepped pyramidal structures bear resemblance to what the Tower of Babel is traditionally thought to look like. Most notably, the ziggurat at Ur and the partially reconstructed ziggurat at Babylon (Etemenanki) have been cited as potential prototypes or even the remnants of the Tower. These religious towers were indeed meant to serve as stairways or links between heaven and earth, just as the Tower of Babel was described.

Textual References:

Outside of the Bible, there are texts like the Sumerian King List or certain Babylonian inscriptions that describe grand building projects and rulers who attempted to establish their name through monumental architecture. Although these do not directly reference the Tower of Babel, they indicate a cultural and historical context in which such an endeavor is plausible.

Linguistic Evidence:

The story attributes the diversity of languages to the aftermath of the Tower’s construction. While it’s a topic of ongoing study how languages diversified, it is a historical fact that Mesopotamia was a linguistic melting pot, home to a number of early languages including Sumerian, Akkadian, and later, Aramaic.

Historical Writings:

While not a direct confirmation, works by historians like Josephus do mention the Tower of Babel, showing that the story was considered significant in later periods as well.

Bitumen as Mortar:

The use of bitumen for mortar, as described in Genesis 11:3, is historically accurate. Bitumen was indeed used in Mesopotamian construction.

Challenges and Skepticism:

It’s important to note that while the aforementioned points build a strong circumstantial case supporting the historicity of the Tower of Babel, none serve as absolute proof. Skeptics often point to the lack of direct archaeological evidence and the story’s supposed mythological elements. Nevertheless, the circumstantial evidence suggests that the biblical account of the Tower of Babel is not out of place within its historical and cultural setting, lending a degree of credibility to its possible historicity.

From a conservative perspective that affirms the Bible as the inspired, inerrant Word of God, the Scriptural account itself constitutes a form of historical and archaeological evidence. This is particularly important given that the Bible often provides remarkably detailed historical accounts, placing events within specific time frames and geographical contexts.

The Bible as a Historical Document:

In the case of the Tower of Babel, the Bible offers concrete details about the event—such as the location being in the “land of Shinar,” the materials used (brick and bitumen), and the motive behind the construction (“let us make a name for ourselves”). These details offer avenues for archaeological investigation.

Linguistic Consistency:

The story in Genesis 11:1-9 presents a plausible explanation for the origin of different languages. From the perspective of the Bible being a reliable historical document, this could be considered a factual account of how linguistic diversity came into existence, corroborating observable historical and ethnological patterns of language distribution.

Consistency with Other Scriptural Accounts:

The Tower of Babel incident is consistent with other biblical accounts that demonstrate human pride and disobedience and God’s subsequent intervention. Examples include the events leading to the Flood in the time of Noah and the arrogance of various kings and nations against God’s commands.

Chronological Evidence:

Using biblical chronology, the Tower of Babel would have occurred a few generations after the Flood, a timeline that is compatible with the development of early post-flood civilizations like Sumer, Akkad, and early Babylon, which were known for monumental architecture like ziggurats.

Fulfilled Prophecies:

The reliability of the Bible is also seen in the numerous fulfilled prophecies, lending weight to its historical accounts, including that of the Tower of Babel.

Confluence with Extra-Biblical Data:

While the Bible itself serves as a primary source, its narratives often align well with extra-biblical historical data, adding another layer of credibility to its accounts.

In summary, when the Bible is accepted as an inerrant, inspired document, it becomes a valuable piece of archaeological evidence in itself. This theological viewpoint, supported by internal and external consistencies, makes a compelling case for the historicity of events like the construction of the Tower of Babel.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).