Dictionary of Bible Themes Spheres of influence of major powers in the ancient world. The most important empires to relate to the history of the people of God are those of Assyria, Babylon and Rome. Scripture stresses that the grandeur and power of such empires are temporary; only God remains. Joshua 1:4Empires of biblical times The Hittite empire See also Genesis 23:10; 49:29-30; 50:13Canaan was still known as "the land of the Hittites" for centuries after the Hittites withdrew to the north. 2 Samuel 11:3-24Genesis 12:10 Hittites continue to feature in the OT histories, despite the earlier withdrawal of the Hittites to Anatolia. The Hittite most commonly referred to in the OT is Uriah, husband of Bathsheba. Exodus 12:40-41The Egyptian empire Deuteronomy 6:212 Chronicles 35:20; 36:3 2 Kings 15:19-21; 16:7-18; 17:3-6,23-27 2 Chronicles 32:1-22 The Assyrian empire Isaiah 7:17-20; 36:1-18Hosea 11:5; 14:3 Ezra 5:12-17 Nehemiah 7:6 The Babylonian empire Esther 2:6Psalms 137:1 Isaiah 39:1-7 Jeremiah 20:4-6; 21:2-7; 27:6-22; 29:10 Acts 16:37; 18:2; 19:21; 22:25 The Roman empire Acts 23:11; 25:25; 28:16Roman citizenship brought considerable privileges to those who possessed it Daniel 2:44The transience of human empires See also Isaiah 13:1-22; 40:6-8Jeremiah 51:37-40 Daniel 2:31-45 Revelation 14:8; 18:1-8 See also The references to "Babylon the Great" in Revelation are probably meant to be understood as references to the Roman empire, at a time when Christians were being persecuted by the Roman authorities for their faith: 1105 God, power of4215 Babylon 4263 Rome 4948 hour 7217 exile in Babylon |
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