The origin of Babel

The story of the Tower of Babel, the story of the prophet Daniel, and the book of Revelation turn out to be connected. Here is how.

The Tower of Babel

After a long genealogy following the flood, the people decide to build a great tower that would reach to the sky, for two stated reasons:

• to make a name for themselves
• to have a central point, so that they would not be scattered

It becomes a huge building project — and then the fun begins. As soon as they set out to build their tower to the sky, God comes down to have a look, in a move that mocks both their effort and the threat behind it. What does it mean that God is concerned nothing will be impossible for them? Probably that they have convinced themselves they can do everything without Him.

And in fact, neither of their goals is achieved — quite the opposite happens.

• They wanted to make a name for themselves. That never worked out for them, but God went on to make a name out of Abraham instead.
• They wanted to avoid being scattered, but scattering is exactly what happens when God divides their languages. It would only be reversed later, at Pentecost.

Daniel in Babel

When Israel went into exile in Babylon, the text notes that this Babel stood in the land of Shinar — the very place where the original tower had been built. That detail ties the two stories together.

Pride is a common thread between them as well, and so is the fact that God cut short both empires’ existence. Daniel’s Babylon lasted less than 100 years before it was defeated by Cyrus, whom God had called for that purpose.

Babel in the Book of Revelation

In the book of Revelation, Babylon is likewise closely tied to the Babylon of Daniel, sharing the same key features:

• the theme of pride
• a swift fall
• God’s people living in exile