This is the city of Babylon. Babylon is southward of the valley Nimrod and the wilderness beyond the valley Nimrod. It is mentioned in conjunction with the places of Chaldea, Gomorrah, Jerusalem, Shinar, and Sodom. There is insufficient information in the Book of Mormon to place Assyria in relation to any of these places. Researchers locate Babylon in the land of Shinar along the Euphrates river.
Commentaries (
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I NEPHI 1:12 [1:13]: Yea, and many things did my father read concerning Jerusalem--that it should be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof, many should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive into Babylon.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Babylon and Jerusalem. The phrase 'my father' refers to Lehi, Nephi's father. To be carried away captive, Babylon should be outside of, but in proximity to, Jerusalem.
I NEPHI 6:21 [20:14]: All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; who among them hath declared these things unto them? The Lord hath loved him; yea, and he will fulfill his word which he hath declared by them; and he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall come upon the Chaldeans.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Babylon, Chaldea, and Shinar. This verse also occurs in Isaiah 48:14. Researchers identify Babylon as the capital of Shinar although there is no information in the Book of Mormon that describes that relationship. These places are mentioned in this verse but no information is provided regarding their locations.
II NEPHI 10:19 [23:19]: And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldee's excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Babylon, Chaldea, Gomorrah, and Sodom. This verse also occurs in Isaiah 13:19. The phrase 'the beauty of the' indicates that Babylon is part of Chaldea. Sodom and Gomorrah are mentioned but no information is provided regarding their locations.
ETHER 1:7 [1:33]: Which Jared came forth with his brother and their families, with some others and their families, from the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, and swear in his wrath that they should be scattered upon all the face of the earth; and according to the word of the Lord the people were scattered.
Commentary: This verse references the place of Babylon. The phrase 'great tower' refers to the tower of Babel. Jared and the other people mentioned lived in the vicinity of the tower of Babel that is located in Babylon. This is the starting point for their journey to the New World.
ETHER 1:17 [1:42]: And when thou hast done this, thou shalt go at the head of them down into the valley, which is northward.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Babylon and the valley of Nimrod. The term 'thou' refers to the Brother of Jared. The phrase 'valley, which is northward' refers to the valley of Nimrod. The valley of Nimrod is northward of Babylon.
ETHER 1:22 [2:1]: And it came to pass that Jared, and his brother, and their families, and also the friends of Jared and his brother, and their families, went down into the valley which was northward, (and the name of the valley was Nimrod, being called after the mighty hunter,) with their flocks which they had gathered together, male and female, of every kind.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Babylon and the valley of Nimrod. The phrase 'down into' indicates the consistency of the use of the word 'down' to mean lower in elevation, as the valley floor would be lower in elevation than the edge of the valley.
ETHER 1:26 [2:4]: And it came to pass that the Lord commanded them that they should go forth into the wilderness, yea, into that quarter where there never had man been.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Babylon, the valley of Nimrod and the wilderness beyond the valley of Nimrod. The term 'they' refers to Jared and the people with him. The phrase 'never had a man been' indicates that the wilderness is on the opposite side of the valley of Nimrod than Babylon.
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