NETBible: Nimrod NIMROD, son of Cush. "A mighty hunter before the Lord,'' Gen. 10:8 , 9 ; 1 Chr. 1:10 . Founder of Babylon. See: Babylon . NIMROD [SMITH] (rebellion; or the valiant), a son of Cush and grandson of Ham. The events of his life are recorded in ( Genesis 10:8 ) ff., from which we learn (1) that he was a Cushite; (2) that he established an empire in Shinar (the classical Babylonia) the chief towns being Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh; and (3) that he extended this empire northward along the course of the Tigris over Assyria, where he founded a second group of capitals, Nineveh, Rehoboth, Calah and Resen. NIMROD [ISBE] NIMROD - nim'-rod (nimrodh; Nebrod): A descendant of Ham, mentioned in "the generations of the sons of Noah" ( Gen 10 ; compare 1 Ch 1:10 ) as a son of Cush.

He established his kingdom "in the land of Shinar," including the cities "Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh" ( Gen 10:10 ), of which only Babel, or Babylon, and Erech, or Uruk, have been identified with certainty. "The land of Shinar" is the old name for Southern Babylonia, afterward called Chaldea ('erets kasdim), and was probably more extensive in territory than the Sumer of the inscriptions in the ancient royal title, "King of Shumer and Accad," since Accad is included here in Shinar. Nimrod, like other great kings of Mesopotamian lands, was a mighty hunter, possibly the mightiest and the prototype of them all, since to his name had attached itself the proverb: "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before Yahweh" ( Gen 10:9 ). In the primitive days of Mesopotamia, as also in Palestine, wild animals were so numerous that they became a menace to life and property ( Ex 23:29 ; Lev 26:22 ); therefore the king as benefactor and protector of his people hunted these wild beasts.

The early conquest of the cities of Babylonia, or their federation into one great kingdom, is here ascribed to Nimrod. Whether the founding and colonization of Assyria ( Gen 10:11 ) are to be ascribed to Nimrod will be determined by the exegesis of the text. English Versions of the Bible reads: "Out of that land he (i.e. Nimrod) went forth into Assyria, and builded Nineveh," etc., this translation assigning the rise of Assyria to Nimrod, and apparently being sustained by Mic 5:5,6 (compare J. M. P. Smith, "Micah," ICC, in the place cited.); but American Revised Version, margin renders: "Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh," which translation is more accurate exegetically and not in conflict with Mic 5:6 , if in the latter "land of Nimrod" be understood, not as parallel with, but as supplemental to, Assyria, and therefore as Babylon (compare commentaries of Cheyne, Pusey, S. Clark, in the place cited.).

Nimrod has not been identified with any mythical hero or historic king of the inscriptions. Some have sought identification with Gilgamesh, the flood hero of Babylonia (Skinner, Driver, Delitzsch); others with a later Kassite king (Haupt, Hilprecht), which is quite unlikely; but the most admissible correspondence is with Marduk, chief god of Babylon, probably its historic founder, just as Asshur, the god of Assyria, appears in verse 11 as the founder of the Assyrian empire (Wellhausen, Price, Sayce). Lack of identification, however, does not necessarily indicate mythical origin of the name. See ASTRONOMY, sec . II, 11; BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA, RELIGION OF, IV, 7; MERODACH; ORION. Edward Mack Who was Nimrod in the Bible? Who was Nimrod in the Bible? Subscribe to our Question of the Week : Question: "Who was Nimrod in the Bible?

Why is there so much Nimrod mythology outside of the Bible?" Answer: Nimrod in the Bible was the son of Cush, the great-grandson of Noah through the line of Ham, Noah’s cursed son (Genesis 9:25), and Canaan. Nimrod is described as the first of the “mighty men” to appear on the earth after the great flood. Previous to the flood, there had been giants and mighty men on the earth, and “also afterward” (Genesis 6:4). From examination of the biblical texts and other ancient documents, it is clear that Nimrod was one of these mighty men, and there is also evidence that he was much larger than the average man—a giant, so to speak. The Bible calls Nimrod “a mighty hunter before the Lord.” Nimrod established a great kingdom that included “Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar” (Genesis 10:9–10). He later extended his kingdom into Assyria, where he built the cities of “Ninevah, Rehoboth Ir, Calah and Resen” (verses 11–12).

Nimrod was obviously a skilled man and an ambitious leader. Besides being the founder of the infamous Babel and many other cities, Nimrod was a mighty man with great physical strength and great strength of will. If he was also of giant stature, then that would be another reason why the people of his time would follow him—and why so many legends would spring up around him. There are other instances of giants in Scripture, and they appear to be connected to the line of Ham, through Nimrod. When Moses sent the spies into the land of Canaan, they reported seeing the “ sons of Anak ” there (Numbers 13:28). The sons of Anak were giants, before whom the spies said they felt “like grasshoppers” (Numbers 13:33). The Canaanites were descended from Canaan, son of Ham, and thus related to Nimrod. Other passages refer to the Rephaim , and, of course, David had to face a giant named Goliath, who had four brothers (2 Samuel 21:15–22). As the leader of the kingdom of Babel, Nimrod is also connected with the Tower of Babel (Genesis 6).

According to the historian Josephus, Nimrod “said he would be revenged on God, if he should have a mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to reach. And that he would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers” (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 1, Chapter 4). The motive, according to Josephus, for building the Tower of Babel was to protect humanity against another flood. But the reason for the first flood was humanity’s wickedness and rebellion (Genesis 6:5–6), from which humanity refused to repent. Nimrod was rebellious against God, just like his antediluvian forebears, and, according to Josephus, he “persuaded [his subjects] not to ascribe [their strength] to God, as if it were through his means they were happy, but to believe that it was their own courage which procured that happiness” (op. cit.). Construction of the Tower of Babel ended with a show of God’s power: the Lord confused the languages of the people, making it impossible for them to communicate effectively enough to finish the construction of the tower.

So, Nimrod was proved wrong—all of man’s strength and ability, even the strength of the mightiest of men, is a gift from God that He can choose to revoke at any time. Nimrod has lent his name to our vocabulary: today, a “nimrod” is “a hunting expert or devotee.” (And, for a brief time in the 1980s, nimrod was a less-than-heroic slang term for “geek” or “socially awkward person.”) Nimrod appears as a character in the mythology of many ancient cultures; he shows up in Hungarian, Greek, Arabic, Syrian, and Armenian legends. There is evidence that the Epic of Gilgamesh and the myth of Hercules both find their origins in Nimrod’s life. Nimrod was undoubtedly a powerful, charismatic hero-figure of the ancient world who actually attempted to build a tower to heaven, hoping to thwart the plans of God. It isn’t hard to see why so many myths and legends would spring up in the wake of such a man. In the end, however, Nimrod’s power and glory came to nothing, because God is stronger than even the mightiest of men, and He cannot be thwarted.

Nimrod was a mighty hunter before the Lord, but humility before the Lord is the posture of the wise (Proverbs 3:34; 11:2; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). Bible Study Online - Nimrod the Mighty Son of Cush More Bible Study Online - Related Page Links Located at the Bottom of Page Page Twenty Nimrod The Mighty Son of Cush Nimrod would taunt God with his defiance and dared the Lord to do something about it, as he oppressed and tortured those who opposed him. Needless to say, this man had great pride. (Bible Study Online Article Covers : Genesis 10:8-10) A Mighty Hunter? In the last article I went ahead and decided to do a page that simply took a look at "The Table of Nations". Which is basically a chart that outlined the descendants that had came through Noah's three sons households: Shem, Ham and Japheth. For the chart shows how the human race would eventually be established through them, as humanity embarks upon a new natural world.

However, as we begin to move forward from within our journey, perhaps it would also be wise, to do a page concerning "Nimrod the mighty son of Cush?" So let's go ahead and do that at this moment? Now when it comes to Nimrod - you have to keep in mind that he was the grandson of Canaan's father Ham, and the great grandson of Noah. Also know that Nimrod had earned a reputation that was so great, that the Sacred Record recognized him as such: "He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, 'Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.'" -- (Genesis 10:9) Now understand that this was at a time when the beasts of the field were in great abundance, and humanity had not yet solidified itself from within the lands the beasts roamed. And it was this type of dangerous environment that allowed Nimrod to make a name for himself, while in turn, allowing him to become a major contributor when it came to keeping the wild beast from overwhelming his kingdom. And because of this, Nimrod would eventually earned a great respect amongst his people as well. Bible Study Online Nimrod Was A Different Breed?

However that may be, we should also note that Nimrod was a different kind of man, when compared to the other kingdom leaders. Know that Nimrod wasn't content with just running the tribe that he had before him, he was a man with a great vision, a man who wanted more. And it was because of these reasons that he started to build, and surround himself with an elite fighting band of loyal men. Also keep in mind, that Nimrod not only used these men to invade his neighbors, but he also used them to execute judgment and punishment upon the innocent, and to those who'd dared to opposed him. Understand that Nimrod had thought of himself, as being a mighty prince - just like Alexander the Great, and Caesar did much later on in the history of mankind. Bible Study Online In Spite of His Fame - Nimrod Was Just A Man?

But also keep in mind, that in spite of the fact, that the Sacred Record had acknowledge him by his great reputation, when it came to God personally - it didn't matter how many personal accomplishments Nimrod would achieve, or how many kingdoms he would be able to conquer - because when it came to God -- Nimrod was just a man, who had simply earned a reputation of being a mighty hunter amongst men. And why not? Why should God acknowledge Nimrod to be something more? Nimrod did not do the things, or lived in such a way that would please God. He did not follow the ways of the Lord - while he was conquering and establishing his new kingdoms, governments and self-worth. Bible Study Online Nimrod Dared God? And on to make matters worse, Nimrod would also institute a pagan religion (possibly Baalism) from within these kingdoms that he had built, and just like Jeroboam (during his reign as Israel's first Northern king) would do at a much later date. Nimrod would begin to taunt God with his defiance, by practically daring the Lord to do something about the mayhem that he was wreaking upon mankind, as he oppressed and tortured those who opposed him.

Know that the Sacred Record lets us know that at the beginning of his reign, he'd named his first kingdom Babel. Now I personally believe that this information is very important to know, being that it would seem to shed some light on the the events that were to take place sometime later. And because of information of such, we now know that Nimrod was indeed a great builder of things. And we also know the name in which he named his first kingdom (Babel). And because of this, we now have some idea, when his reign had taken place - which would lead one to presumed, that Nimrod was perhaps, the mastermind behind the infamous "Tower of Babel?" Bible Study Online If Nimrod Had Completed the Tower of Babel? This Accomplishment - Would've Made Noah a False Prophet Now there's something else you must know, for if this was the case, and if the "Tower of Babel" was allowed to be finished, and stand for any amount of time. This would have certainly gone against Noah's prophecy that was spoken against Noah's son Ham, and grandson Canaan: "So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him.

Then he said: 'Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants he shall be to his brethren.' And he said: 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Shem; and may Canaan be his servant.'" -- Genesis 9:24-27 Bible Study Online Nimrod Was A Descendant of Ham Remember that Nimrod was a direct descendant of Ham, and if the "Tower of Babel" sole purpose was to place all nations under one ruler, under one government? If this would have happened, these events would have made Noah a false prophet, for Nimrod would have ruled over all of Noah's sons. And it's for this reason alone, that God would not have allowed this to happened. Also keep in mind, that Noah had cursed his grandson Canaan to be a "servant of servants." What this meant, is that Canaan cannot rule over any of Noah's sons, for it was Canaan and his sons that would serve his brothers, now and in future generations as well.

And since Canaan was Ham's son as well, which Nimrod was a direct descendant of, he too, would fall under this same curse, or rule that Canaan (Ham's entire household) was under as well. Bible Study Online Notice that Noah Never Mentions Ham... This is why when Noah was blessing (or cursing) his sons, Ham's name was never mentioned specifically. And the reason for this, dealt with the fact, that for whatever reason, it was Canaan that was seen as the representation of Ham's household from this point forward. So like I've stated, many times before, whatever curse that was levied against Canaan - was levied against Ham's entire household as well: "When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest [grand]son [Canaan] had done to him, he said, 'Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.' He also said, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem!

May Canaan be the slave of Shem.' May God extend the territory of Japheth; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his slave.'" - Genesis 9:24-27 And again, Nimrod was a direct descendant of Ham's household: "The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put and Canaan. The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. Cush was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth." - Genesis 10:6-8 Bible Study Online God's Word - Reigning True! Be that as it may... We must always remember that when it comes to God's Word - it will always reign out in absolute Truth! This is part of the reason, why we would later learn that God had destroyed this "Tower of Babel" before it was finished. And because of this, the languages of all the nations were confused, which caused all civilizations to remain divided from that point forward. But to Nimrod's credit...

he did established at this time, four cities under his reign, which were called: Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, and they were all located in "The Land of Shinar". And soon afterwards, Nimrod would head into Assyria where we are also told, that he had built Nineveh, and the cities Rehoboth Ir, Calab and Resen, which was located between Nineveh and Calah. In the next Bible Study Online Article: Now that we've journeyed through the recorded account of Nimrod the mighty son of Cush - we'll begin to move forward by taking a closer look, at possibly his master plan to enact his "collective agenda" upon mankind, and the known world, through an infamous building structure that would be known as - The Gateway to Heaven, or known to most - The Tower of Babel.

May God blessings be upon you, and thank you for your support Related - Bible Study Online Articles - Related Links Start Reading a Different - Bible Study Online Series: **YOUR CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES - WOULD BE HERE** After The Flood The Mind of James Donahue After The Flood The First World Emperor Nimrod Much has been written about Nimrod although what we know is mostly drawn from few verses in the ancient and twisted Book of Genesis. A great grandson of Noah, Nimrod was the son of Cush , who in turn was the firstborn son of Ham. From Genesis 10:8-11: "And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel , and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land .

Out of that land went forth Ashur, and builded Nineveh , and the city Rehoboth, and Calah : the same is a great city." Thus Nimrod is credited with founding the kingdom , and undoubtedly founding the great Cities of Babel and possibly Nineveh . Historian Dudley F. Cates in his book The Rise and Fall of Nimrod, suggests that the first recorded king of Mesopotamia , Etana of Kish, may have been the one referred to as the Biblical Nimrod. Cates writes that after the Great Flood, various city-states rose in Mesopotamia until about 2800 BC, when they were united under the rule of Etana. Of course they were united by force, or conquered, thus allowing Etana to establish the world's first post-deluge empire. "After founding a southern (Sumerian) empire in Babel , Erech, Akkad and Calneh, he invaded Assyria and built Nineveh , Rehoboth-Ir, Calah and Resen. He then unified the people in numerous construction projects, the most prominent of which was the construction of the Tower ," Cates wrote.

Looking back to the Genesis story we again notice in Verse 11: "Out of that land went forth Ashur, and builded Nineveh , and the city Rehovoth, and Calah . . . " The verse reads as if Ashur was a person. My first thought was that Ashur was a son or brother of Nimrod. But there is no record of such a person existing in this family. Ashur is the name of the first great city in ancient Assyria, now Iraq . Located on the busy Tigris River Ashur served as the capital of the Assyrian Empire, and a center for religious worship. The name of the Assyrian God was Ashur. Thus the statement that Ashur went forth and built Nineveh was probably a reference to a growing empire centered by the capital City of Ashur . There is a sense that in the beginning, King Etana was the ruler of all of this area now referred to by historians as the Golden Crescent of Civilization. The Biblical statement that Nimrod was a great hunter seems to be a description of his aggressive nature, a leader of a mighty army that overpowered small states and turned them into an empire under his rule.

Cates refers to yet another ancient book that may also speak of Nimrod by yet a third name; Ninus. History records the full name of this emperor; Tukulti-Ninurta I. From Justin's Histori Romani Scriptorium Cates finds: "Ninus strengthened the greatness of his acquired dominion by continued possession. Having subdued, therefore, his neighbors, when, by an accession of forces, being still further strengthened, he went forth against other tribes, and every new victory paved the way for another, he subdued all the peoples of the east." Cates concludes that if the Bible verse is correct, and Nimrod was the builder of Nineveh , then Ninus and Nimrod are the same person. He notes that the word Nineveh means "the habitation of Ninus." There is much more to tell about this story. Nimrod was married to Queen Semiramis. She played an important role in the establishment of the existing false religious systems because she was worshipped as the mother of the gods. After the death of Nimrod she bore a son, Tammuz, whom she claimed was supernaturally conceived.

She declared the boy to be Nimrod reborn and that he was back as "a savior" to the world. Ancient Days :: Who Was Nimrod? :: by David Livingston Who Was Nimrod? by Dr. David Livingston "Cush was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth. He was a might hunter before the LORD; that is why it is said, "Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD. " The centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Erech, Akkad and Calneh in Shinar. (Genesis 10:8-10) Many consider this to be a positive, complimentary testimony about Nimrod. It is just the opposite! First, a little background study is necessary. Cultural Connections in the Ancient Near East Found at Khorsabad, this eighth century BC stone relief is identified as Gilgamesh. The best-known of ancient Mesopotamian heroes, Gilgamesh was king of Uruk in southern Mesopotamia. His story is known in the poetic Gilgamesh Epic, but there is no historical evidence for his exploits in the story.

He is described as part god and part man, a great builder and warrior, and a wise man in the story. Not mentioned in the Bible, the author suggests Gilgamesh is to be identified with Biblical Nimrod in Genesis 10:8-12. Besides the stories of the Creation and Flood in the Bible, there ought to be similar stories on clay tablets found in the cultures near and around the true believers. These tablets may have a reaction, or twisted version, in their accounts of the Creation and Flood. In the post-Flood genealogical records of Genesis 10, we note that the sons of Ham were: Cush, Mizraim, Put and Canaan. Mizraim became the Egyptians. No one is sure where Put went to live. And it is obvious who the Canaanites were. Cush lived in the "land of Shinar," which most scholars consider to be Sumer. There they developed the first civilization after the Flood. The sons of Shem -- the Semites -- were also mixed, to some extent, with the Sumerians.

We suggest that Sumerian Kish, the first city established in Mesopotamia after the Flood, took its name from the man known in the Bible as Cush . The first kingdom established after the Flood was Kish, and the name "Kish" appears often on clay tablets. The early post-Flood Sumerian king lists (not found in the Bible) say that "kingship descended from heaven to Kish" after the Flood. (The Hebrew name "Cush" was much later moved to present-day Ethiopia as migrations took place from Mesopotamia to other places.) The Sumerians, very early, developed a religio-politico state which was extremely binding on all who lived in it (except for the rulers, who were a law unto themselves). This system was to influence the Ancient Near East for over 3000 years. Other cultures which followed the Sumerian system were Accad, Babylon, Assyria, and Persia, which became the basis of Greece and Rome's system of rule. Founded by Cush, the Sumerians were very important historically and Biblically. Was "Nimrod" Godly or Evil?

Nimrod started his kingdom at Babylon (Genesis 10:10). Babylon later reached its zenith under Nebuchadnezzar (sixth century BC). Pictured are mudbrick ruins of Nebuchadnezzar's city along with ancient wall lines and canals. First, what does the name Nimrod mean? It comes from the Hebrew verb marad, meaning "rebel." Adding an "n" before the "m" it becomes an infinitive construct, "Nimrod." (see Kautzsch 1910: 137 2b; also BDB 1962: 597). The meaning then is "The Rebel." Thus "Nimrod" may not be the character's name at all. It is more likely a derisive term of a type, a representative, of a system that is epitomized in rebellion against the Creator, the one true God. Rebellion began soon after the Flood as civilizations were restored. At that time this person became very prominent. In Genesis 10:8-11 we learn that "Nimrod" established a kingdom.

Therefore, one would expect to find also, in the literature of the ancient Near East, a person who was a type, or example, for other people to follow. And there was. It is a well-known tale, common in Sumerian literature, of a man who fits the description. In addition to the Sumerians, the Babylonians wrote about this person; the Assyrians likewise; and the Hittites. Even in Palestine, tablets have been found with this man's name on them. He was obviously the most popular hero in the Ancient Near East. Part of Nimrod's kingdom (Genesis 10:11), Nineveh along the Tigris River continued to be a major city in ancient Assyria. Today adjacent to modern Mosul, the ruins of ancient Nineveh are centered on two mounds, the acropolis at Kuyunjik and Nebi Yunis (Arabic "Prophet Jonah"). Pictured is Sennacherib's "Palace without a rival" on Kuyunjik, constructed at the end of the seventh century BC and excavated by Henry Layard in the early 20th century.

The Gilgamesh Epic The Babylonian Flood Story is told on the 11th tablet of the Gilgamesh Epic, almost 200 lines of poetry on 12 clay tablets inscribed in cuneiform script. A number of different versions of the Gilgamesh Epic have been found around the ancient Near East, most dating to the seventh century BC. The most complete version came from the library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh. Commentators agree that the story comes from a much earlier period, not too long after the Flood as described in the story. The person we are referring to, found in extra-Biblical literature, was Gilgamesh. The first clay tablets naming him were found among the ruins of the temple library of the god Nabu (Biblical Nebo) and the palace library of Ashurbanipal in Nineveh. Many others have been found since in a number of excavations. The author of the best treatise on the Gilgamesh Epic says, The date of the composition of the Gilgamesh Epic can therefore be fixed at about 2000 BC.

But the material contained on these tablets is undoubtedly much older, as we can infer from the mere fact that the epic consists of numerous originally independent episodes, which, of course, did not spring into existence at the time of the composition of our poem but must have been current long before they were compiled and woven together to form our epic (Heidel 1963: 15). Yet his arrogance, ruthlessness and depravity were a subject of grave concern for the citizens of Uruk (his kingdom). They complained to the great god Anu, and Anu instructed the goddess Aruru to create another wild ox, a double of Gilgamesh, who would challenge him and distract his mind from the warrior's daughter and the noblemen's spouse , whom it appears he would not leave in peace (Roux 1966: 114). The Epic of Gilgamesh has some very indecent sections. Alexander Heidel, first translator of the epic, had the decency to translate the vilest parts into Latin. Spieser, however, gave it to us "straight" ( Pritchard 1955: 72). With this kind of literature in the palace, who needs pornography?

Gilgamesh was a vile, filthy, man. Yet the myth says of him that he was "2/3 god and 1/3 man." Gilgamesh is Nimrod Model of ancient ziggurat. How does Gilgamesh compare with "Nimrod?" Josephus says of Nimrod, Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. He was the grandson of Ham, the son of Noah -- a bold man, and of great strength of hand. He persuaded them not to ascribe it to God, as if it were through his means they were happy, but to believe that it was their own courage which procured that happiness. He also gradually changed the government into tyranny -- seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of God, but to bring them into a constant dependence upon his own power. He also said he would be revenged on God, if he should have a mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to be able to reach! and that he would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers (Ant.

1: iv: 2) What Josephus says here is precisely what is found in the Gilgamesh epics. Gilgamesh set up tyranny, he opposed YHVH and did his utmost to get people to forsake Him. Two of the premiere commentators on the Bible in Hebrew has this to say about Genesis 10:9, Nimrod was mighty in hunting, and that in opposition to YHVH; not "before YHVH" in the sense of according to the will and purpose of YHVH, still less, . . . in a simply superlative sense . . . The name itself, "Nimrod" from marad, "we will revolt," points to some violent resistance to God . . . Nimrod as a mighty hunter founded a powerful kingdom; and the founding of this kingdom is shown by the verb with vav consecutive, to have been the consequence or result of his strength in hunting, so that hunting was intimately connected with the establishing of the kingdom.

Hence, if the expression "a mighty hunter" relates primarily to hunting in the literal sense, we must add to the literal meaning the figurative signification of a "hunter of men" (a trapper of men by stratagem and force); Nimrod the hunter became a tyrant , a powerful hunter of men (Keil and Delitzsch 1975: 165). "in the face of YHVH can only mean "in defiance of YHVH," as Josephus and the Targums understand it (op. cit.: 166). And the proverb must have arisen when other daring and rebellious men followed in Nimrod's footsteps and must have originated with those who saw in such conduct an act of rebellion against the God of salvation, in other words, with the possessors of the divine promise of grace (loc. cit.). Often attributed to Nimrod, the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) was not a Jack and the Beanstalk type of construction, where people were trying to build a structure to get into heaven.

Instead, it is best understood as an ancient ziggurat (Assyrian "mountaintop"), as the one pictured here from ancient Ur of the Chaldees, Abraham's hometown (Genesis 11:31). A ziggurat was a man-made structure with a temple at its top, built to worship the host of heaven . After the Flood there was, at some point, a breakaway from YHVH. Only eight people descended from the Ark. Those people worshipped YHVH. But at some point an influential person became opposed to YHVH and gathered others to his side. I suggest that Nimrod is the one who did it. Cain had done similarly before the Flood, founding a new city and religious system. Our English translation of the Hebrew of Genesis 10:8-10 is weak. The author of this passage of Scripture will not call Gilgamesh by his name and honor him, but is going to call him by a derisive name, what he really is -- a rebel. Therefore we should translate Genesis 10:8-10 to read, Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be a tyrant in the earth.

He was a tyrannical hunter in opposition to the Lord. Thus it is said, "Nimrod the tyrannical opponent of YHVH." Likewise, Gilgamesh was a man who took control by his own strength. In Genesis 10 Nimrod is presented as a type of him. Nimrod's descendants were the ones who began building the tower in Babel where the tongues were changed. Gilgamesh is a type of early city founders. (Page numbers below are from Heidel 1963) He is a "shepherd" .................. page 18 From Uruk ............................. page 17 (Kramer 1959: 31 calls Uruk, Erech.) A giant ................................... page 17 (11 cubits) Builds cities ............................ page 17 Vile man "takes women" ......... page 18 Mighty hunter ......................... page 18 Gilgamesh Confronts YHVH! The name of YHVH rarely appears in extra-Biblical literature in the Ancient Near East. Therefore we would not expect to find it in the Gilgamesh epic. But why should the God of the Jews rarely be mentioned?

The Hebrew Bible is replete with the names of other gods. On the other hand, the nations surely knew of Him even though they had no respect for Him. If so, how might His Name appear in their literature, if at all? The name of YHVH, in a culture which is in rebellion against His rule, would most likely be in a derisive form, not in its true form. Likewise, the writers of Scripture would deride the rebels. Putting the Bible and the Gilgamesh Epic Together The Gilgamesh Epic describes the first "God is Dead" movement. In the Epic, the hero is a vile, filthy, perverted person, yet he is presented as the greatest, strongest, hero that ever lived. (Heidel 1963: 18). So that the one who sent the Flood will not trouble them anymore, Gilgamesh sets out to kill the perpetrator. He takes with him a friend who is a monstrous half-man, half-animal -- Enkidu. Together they go on a long journey to the Cedar Mountain to find and destroy the monster who sent the Flood.

Gilgamesh finds him and finally succeeds in cutting off the head of the creature whose name is "Huwawa" ("Humbaba" in the Assyrian version; see Heidel 1963: 34ff). Is there a connection with the Gilgamesh epic and Genesis 10? Note what Gilgamesh says to Enkidu, the half-man, half-beast, who accompanied him on his journey, found in Tablet 111, lines 147 - 150. "If I fall," Gilgamesh says, "I will establish a name for myself. 'Gilgamesh is fallen,' they will say, 'in combat with terrible Huwawa.'" But the next five lines are missing from all tablets found so far! Can we speculate on what they say? Let's try . . . We suggest that those five lines include, "But if I win,.. they will say, Gilgamesh, the mighty vanquisher of Huwawa!" Why do we say that? Because Genesis 10:9 gives us the portion missing from the Gilgamesh tablets. Those lines include...

"it is said, Nimrod (or Gilgamesh) the mighty vanquisher of YHVH." This has to be what is missing from all the clay tablets of the Gilgamesh story. The Gilgamesh Epic calls him Huwawa; the Bible calls Him YHVH. This face supposedly represents Huwawa who, according to the Gilgamesh's Epic, sent the Flood on the earth. According to the story, Huwawa (Humbaba in the Assyrian version) was killed by Gilgamesh and his half-man/half-beast friend, Enkidu. The author suggests Huwawa is the ancient pagan perspective of Yahweh (YHVH), the God of the Bible. About 3 inches (7.5 cm), this mask is dated to around the sixth century BC. Of an unknown provenance, it is now in the British Museum. Heidel, speaking of the incident as it is found on Tablet V says, All we can conclude from them (the lost lines) is that Gilgarnesh and Enkidu cut off the head of Humbaba (or Huwawa) and that the expedition had a successful issue (ending) (1963: 47).

The missing lines from the Epic are right there in the Bible! Because of the parallels between Gilgamesh and Nimrod, many scholars agree that Gilgamesh is Nimrod. Continuing with Gilgamesh's fable, he did win, he did vanquish Huwawa and took his head. Therefore he could come back to Uruk and other cities and tell the people "not to worry about YHVH anymore, he is dead. I killed him over in the Lebanon mountains. So just live however you like, I will be your king and take care of you." There are still other parallels between the Bible and the Gilgamesh epic: "YaHVeH" has a somewhat similar sound to "Huwawa." Gilgamesh did just as the "sons of god" in Genesis 6 did. The "sons of god" forcibly took men's wives. The Epic says that is precisely what Gilgamesh did. The Bible calls Nimrod a tyrant, and Gilgamesh was a tyrant. There was a Flood in the Bible, there is a flood in the Epic. Cush is mentioned in the Bible, Kish in the Epic.

Erech is mentioned in Scripture, Uruk was Gilgamesh's city. Gilgamesh made a trip to see the survivor of the Flood. This was more likely Ham than Noah, since "Nimrod" was Ham's grandson! Historically, Gilgamesh was of the first dynasty of Uruk. As Jacobsen points out (1939: 157), kings before Gilgamesh may be fictional, but not likely. The fact that the Gilgamesh Epic also contains the Deluge story would indicate a close link with events immediately following the Flood. S.N. Kramer says, A few years ago one would have strongly doubted his (historical) existence . . . we now have the certitude that the time of Gilgamesh corresponds to the earliest period of Mesopotamian history. (Kramer 1959: 117) Originally established by Nimrod (Genesis 10:11), and today known as Nimrud, Calah became an important city in Iraq. This is an artist's reconstruction of the interior of Tiglath-pileser III's palace (late seventh century BC). What a contrast Psalm 2 is compared with the Gilgamesh Epic!

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." The One enthroned in heaven laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "you are my Son, today I have become your Father, Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." Therefore, you kings, be wise; he warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

(Psalm 2) Bibliography Brown, F., Driver, S.R., and Briggs, C.A.(abbreviated to BDB) 1962 A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Cassuto, U. 1964 A Commentary on the Book of Genesis. 2 Vols., Jerusalem: Magnes. Frankfort, R. 1948 Kingship and the Gods. Chicago: University Press. Heidel, A. 1963 The Gilgamesh Epic and Old Testament Parallels. Chicago: University Press. Jacobsen, T. 1939 The Sumerian Kinglist. Chicago: University Press. Josephus 1998 Jewish Antiquities. Books I-III, Loeb Classics, Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press. Kautzsch, E., ed. 1910 Genesius' Hebrew Grammar. Oxford: Clarendon. Kramer, S. N., ed. 1959 History Begins at Sumer. Garden City NY: Doubleday. Keil, C. F., and Delitzsch, P.

1975 Commentary on the Old Testament., Vol. I, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. Pritchard, J. 1969 Ancient Near Eastern Texts and the Old Testament. 3rd ed., Princeton: University Press. Roux, G. 1992 Ancient Iraq. 3rd ed., Harmondsworth, Middlesex, UK: Penguin. Thomas, D.W. Nimrod | Religion-wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Tiberian נִמְרֹד ; Nimrōḏ Template:Lang-arc Arabic : نمرود‎) is a Mesopotamian monarch mentioned in the Book of Genesis , who also figures in many legends and folktales. He is depicted in the Bible as a mighty ruler and nation builder who founded many cities, including the great Babel or Babylon . Despite his stance as a powerful leader, his reputation was tarnished by his traditional association with the construction of the Tower of Babel . Outside of the Bible, several ruins preserve Nimrod's name, [1] and he is featured in the midrash . Contents [ show ] Biblical accounts Mention of Nimrod in the Bible is rather limited.

According to the " documentary hypothesis " of the Bible's origin, the Jahwist writer(s) make the earliest mention of Nimrod. [1] He is described as the son of Cush , grandson of Ham , great-grandson of Noah ; and as "a mighty one on the earth" and "a mighty hunter before the Lord ". He also appears in the First Book of Chronicles and in the Book of Micah . Nimrod is said to be the founder and king of the first empire after the Flood , and his realm is connected with the Mesopotamian towns Babylon ( Babel ), Uruk , Akkad and Calneh . He is mentioned in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10), where he is said to have founded many cities. Owing to an ambiguity in the original Hebrew text, it is unclear whether it is he or Asshur who additionally founded Nineveh , Resen , Rehoboth-Ir and Calah , and both of these interpretations are reflected in the various English versions.( Genesis 10:8–12 ) Traditions and legends Though not clearly stated in the Bible, Nimrod has since ancient times traditionally been considered the creator of the Tower of Babel.

Since his kingdom included the towns in Shinar , it is usually further assumed that it was under his direction that the building began; this is the view adopted in the Targums and later texts such as the writings of Josephus . Some extrabiblical sources,[ specify ] however, assert to the contrary, that Nimrod left the district before the building of the tower. According to Hebrew traditions, Nimrod was of Mizraim by his mother, but came from Cush son of Ham and expanded Asshur, which he inherited. His name has become proverbial as that of a "mighty hunter". His "kingdom" comprised Babel (Babylon), Erech (Uruk), Accad (Akkad), and Calneh, in the land of Shinar, otherwise known as the land of Nimrod ( Genesis 10:8-12 ; 1 Chronicles 1:10 , Micah 5:6 ). Josephus wrote: Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. He was the grandson of Ham, the son of Noah, a bold man, and of great strength of hand.

He persuaded them not to ascribe it to God, as if it were through his means they were happy, but to believe that it was their own courage which procured that happiness. He also gradually changed the government into tyranny , seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of God, but to bring them into a constant dependence on his power… Now the multitude were very ready to follow the determination of Nimrod, and to esteem it a piece of cowardice to submit to God; and they built a tower, neither sparing any pains, nor being in any degree negligent about the work: and, by reason of the multitude of hands employed in it, it grew very high, sooner than any one could expect; but the thickness of it was so great, and it was so strongly built, that thereby its great height seemed, upon the view, to be less than it really was. It was built of burnt brick, cemented together with mortar, made of bitumen , that it might not be liable to admit water.

When God saw that they acted so madly, he did not resolve to destroy them utterly, since they were not grown wiser by the destruction of the former sinners; but he caused a tumult among them, by producing in them diverse languages, and causing that, through the multitude of those languages, they should not be able to understand one another. The place wherein they built the tower is now called Babylon , because of the confusion of that language which they readily understood before; for the Hebrews mean by the word Babel , confusion… The Book of Jubilees mentions the name of "Nebrod" (the Greek form of Nimrod) only as being the father of Azurad , the wife of Eber and mother of Peleg (8:7). This account would thus make him an ancestor of Abraham, and hence of all Hebrews. One tradition[ who? ] suggests that Nimrod was killed by a wild animal. Another[ who? ] says that Shem killed him because he had led the people into the worship of Baal , then tore his body to pieces and had them sent them out as a warning to others not to indulge in the false worship.

Later his mother or wife, Shemiramis, collected them, put them together and claimed he was still alive, but had become a god, similar to the legend of Isis and Osiris. Still another mention of Nimrod is in Book of Jasher Chapter 27:7 , which ascribes his death to Esau (grandson of Abraham ), who supposedly beheaded him. The Jewish Encyclopedia states that Nimrod was slain by Esau, with whom jealousy existed because they were both hunters (Targ. pseudo-Jonathan to Gen. xxv. 27; "Sefer ha-Yashar," section "Toledot," p. 40b; Pirḳe R. El. l.c.; comp. Gen. R. lxv. 12).

An early Arabic work known as Kitab al-Magall or the Book of Rolls (part of Clementine literature ) states that Nimrod built the towns of Hadâniûn, Ellasar , Seleucia , Ctesiphon , Rûhîn, Atrapatene , Telalôn, and others, that he began his reign as king over earth when Reu was 163, and that he reigned for 69 years, building Nisibis , Raha ( Edessa ) and Harran when Peleg was 50. It further adds that Nimrod "saw in the sky a piece of black cloth and a crown." He called upon Sasan the weaver and commanded him to make him a crown like it, which he set jewels on and wore. He was allegedly the first king to wear a crown. "For this reason people who knew nothing about it, said that a crown came down to him from heaven ." Later, the book describes how Nimrod established fire worship and idolatry, then received instruction in divination for three years from Bouniter, the fourth son of Noah .

[2] In the Recognitions (R 4.29), one version of the Clementines, Nimrod is equated with the legendary Assyrian king Ninus , who first appears in the Greek historian Ctesias as the founder of Nineveh. However, in another version, the Homilies (H 9.4-6), Nimrod is made to be the same as Zoroaster . The Syriac Cave of Treasures (ca. 350) contains an account of Nimrod very similar to that in the Kitab al-Magall, except that Nisibis, Edessa and Harran are said to be built by Nimrod when Reu was 50, and that he began his reign as the first king when Reu was 130. In this version, the weaver is called Sisan, and the fourth son of Noah is called Yonton. Jerome , writing ca.

390, explains in Hebrew Questions on Genesis that after Nimrod reigned in Babel, "he also reigned in Arach [Erech], that is, in Edissa; and in Achad [Accad], which is now called Nisibis; and in Chalanne [Calneh], which was later called Seleucia after King Seleucus when its name had been changed, and which is now in actual fact called Ctesiphon." However, this traditional identification of the cities built by Nimrod in Genesis is no longer accepted by modern scholars, who consider them to be located in Sumer , not Syria . The Ge'ez Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan (ca. 5th century) also contains a version similar to that in the Cave of Treasures, but the crown maker is called Santal, and the name of Noah's fourth son who instructs Nimrod is Barvin. In the History of the Prophets and Kings by the 9th century Muslim historian al-Tabari , Nimrod has the tower built in Babil, Allah destroys it, and the language of mankind, formerly Syriac , is then confused into 72 languages.

Another Muslim historian of the 13th century, Abu al-Fida , relates the same story, adding that the patriarch Eber (an ancestor of Abraham) was allowed to keep the original tongue, Hebrew in this case, because he would not partake in the building. In Armenian legend, Haik , the founder of the Armenian people, defeated Nimrod in battle near Lake Van. In the Hungarian legend of the Enchanted Stag , King Nimrud (Nimród/Ménrót), was the forefather of the Hungarians. Template:Simon Kézai in his Gesta Ungarorum (1282-85) The twin sons of King Nimrud, Hunor and Magor , each with 100 warriors, followed the White Stag, through the Meotis Marsh, and disappeared from their sight. Hunor and Magor found the two daughters of King Dul of the Alans, together with their handmaidens, whom they kidnapped. Their descendants became the Huns and the Magyars . The evil Nimrod vs. the righteous Abraham The Bible does not mention any meeting between Nimrod and Abraham .

In fact, there is a gap of seven generations between them, Nimrod being Noah 's great grandson while Abraham was ten generations removed from Noah. [3] Nevertheless, later Jewish tradition brings the two of them together in a cataclysmic collision, a potent symbol of the cosmic confrontation between Good and Evil, and specifically of monotheism against paganism and idolatry . This tradition is first attested in the writings of Pseudo-Philo , [4] continues in the Talmud , goes through later rabbinical writings in the Middle Ages. [5] In some versions (as in Josephus ), Nimrod is a man who sets his will against that of God. In others, he proclaims himself a god and is worshipped as such by his subjects, sometimes with his consort Semiramis worshipped as a goddess at his side. (See also Ninus .) A portent in the stars tells Nimrod and his astrologers of the impending birth of Abraham, who would put an end to idolatry . Nimrod therefore orders the killing of all newborn babies. However, Abraham's mother escapes into the fields and gives birth secretly (in some accounts, the baby Abraham is placed in a manger ).

At a young age Abraham recognizes God and starts worshipping Him. He confronts Nimrod and tells him face-to-face to cease his idolatry, whereupon Nimrod orders him burned at the stake. In some versions, Nimrod has his subjects gather wood for four whole years, so as to burn Abraham in the biggest bonfire the world had seen (a story possibly inspired or confused with Nimrod's building of the Tower). Yet when the fire is lighted, Abraham walks out unscathed. In some versions, Nimrod then challenges Abraham to battle. When Nimrod appears at the head of enormous armies, Abraham produces an army of gnats which destroys Nimrod's army. Some accounts have a gnat or mosquito enter Nimrod's brain and drive him out of his mind (a divine retribution which Jewish tradition also assigned to the Roman Emperor Titus , destroyer of the Temple in Jerusalem ). In some versions, Nimrod repents and accepts God, offering numerous sacrifices that God rejects (as with Cain ). Other versions have Nimrod give to Abraham, as a reconciliatory gift, the slave Eliezer , whom some accounts describe as Nimrod's own son.

(The Bible also mentions Eliezer, though not making any connection between him and Nimrod. He was Abraham's majordomo, entrusted with missions such as fetching a bride for Abraham's son, and he has entered Jewish tradition as the archetype of a loyal servant.) Still other versions have Nimrod persisting in his rebellion against God, or resuming it. Indeed, Abraham's crucial act of leaving Mesopotamia and settling in Canaan , which effectively sets the stage for the rest of the Bible, is sometimes interpreted as an escape from Nimrod's revenge. Some accounts place the building of the Tower many generations before Abraham's birth (as in the Bible, also Jubilees ). In others, it is a later rebellion after Nimrod failed in his confrontation with Abraham, and in still other versions, Nimrod does not give up after the Tower fails, but goes on to try storming Heaven in person, in a chariot driven by birds. The story attributes to Abraham elements from the story of Moses ' birth (the cruel king killing innocent babies, with the midwives ordered to kill them) and from the careers of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who emerged unscathed from the fire.

Nimrod is thus made to conflate the role and attributes of two archetypal cruel and persecuting kings - Nebuchadnezzar and Pharaoh . Some Jewish traditions also identified him with Cyrus whose birth according to Herodotus was accompanied by portents which made his grandfather try to kill him. A confrontation is also found in the Islamic Qur'an , between a king, not mentioned by name, and the Prophet Ibrahim (Arabic version of "Abraham"). Muslim commentators assign Nimrod as the king based on Jewish sources. In Ibrahim's confrontation with the king, the former argues that Allah is the one who gives life and gives death. The king responds by bringing out two people sentenced to death. He releases one and kills the other as a poor attempt at making a point that he also brings life and death. Ibrahim refutes by stating that Allah brings the Sun out from the East, and so he asks the king to bring it from the West. The king is then perplexed and angered. Whether or not conceived as having ultimately repented, Nimrod remained in Jewish and Islamic tradition an emblematic evil person, an archetype of an idolater and a tyrannical king.

In rabbinical writings up to the present, he is almost invariably referred to as "Nimrod the Evil" ( Hebrew : נמרוד הרשע‎), and to Muslims he is "Nimrod al- Jabbar " (The Mighty one or powerful). The story of Abraham's confrontation with Nimrod did not remain within the confines of learned writings and religious treatises, but also conspicuously influenced popular culture. A notable example is " Quando el Rey Nimrod " ("When King Nimrod"), one of the most well-known folksongs in Ladino (the Judeo-Spanish language), apparently written during the reign of King Alfonso X of Castile . Beginning with the words: "When King Nimrod went out to the fields/ Looked at the heavens and at the stars/He saw a holy light in the Jewish quarter/A sign that Abraham, our father, was about to be born", the song gives a poetic account of the persecutions perpetrated by the cruel Nimrod and the miraculous birth and deeds of the savior Abraham. [6] Text of the Midrash Raba version The following version of the Abraham vs.

Nimrod confrontation appears in the Midrash Raba , a major compilation of Jewish Scriptural exegesis . The part relating to Genesis , in which this appears (Chapter 38, 13), is considered to date from the sixth century. "נטלו ומסרו לנמרוד. אמר לו: עבוד לאש. אמר לו אברהם: ואעבוד למים, שמכבים את האש? אמר לו נמרוד: עבוד למים! אמר לו: אם כך, אעבוד לענן, שנושא את המים? אמר לו: עבוד לענן! אמר לו: אם כך, אעבוד לרוח, שמפזרת עננים? אמר לו: עבוד לרוח! אמר לו: ונעבוד לבן אדם, שסובל הרוחות? אמר לו: מילים אתה מכביר, אני איני משתחוה אלא לאוּר - הרי אני משליכך בתוכו, ויבא אלוה שאתה משתחוה לו ויצילך הימנו! היה שם הרן עומד.

אמר: מה נפשך, אם ינצח אברהם - אומַר 'משל אברהם אני', ואם ינצח נמרוד - אומַר 'משל נמרוד אני'. כיון שירד אברהם לכבשן האש וניצול, אמרו לו: משל מי אתה? אמר להם: משל אברהם אני! נטלוהו והשליכוהו לאור, ונחמרו בני מעיו ויצא ומת על פני תרח אביו. וכך נאמר: וימת הרן על פני תרח אביו." (בראשית רבה ל"ח, יג) (...) He [Abraham] was given over to Nimrod. [Nimrod] told him: Worship the Fire! Abraham said to him: Shall I then worship the water, which puts off the fire! Nimrod told him: Worship the water! [Abraham] said to him: If so, shall I worship the cloud, which carries the water? [Nimrod] told him: Worship the cloud! [Abraham] said to him: If so, shall I worship the wind, which scatters the clouds? [Nimrod] said to him: Worship the wind!

[Abraham] said to him: And shall we worship the human, who withstands the wind? Said [Nimrod] to him: You pile words upon words, I bow to none but the fire - in it shall I throw you, and let the God to whom you bow come and save you from it! Haran [Abraham's brother] was standing there. He said [to himself]: what shall I do? If Abraham wins, I shall say: "I am of Abraham's [followers]", if Nimrod wins I shall say "I am of Nimrod's [followers]". When Abraham went into the furnace and survived, Haran was asked: "Whose [follower] are you?" and he answered: "I am Abraham's!". [Then] they took him and threw him into the furnace, and his belly opened and he died and predeceased Terach, his father. [The Bible , Genesis 11:28, mentions Haran predeceasing Terach, but gives no details.] Interpretations It is often assumed that Nimrod's reign included war and terror, and that he was a hunter not only of animals, but also a person who used aggression against other humans.

The Hebrew translated "before" in the phrase "Mighty hunter before the L ORD " is commonly analysed as meaning literally "in the Face of" in this interpretation, to suggest a certain rebelliousness in the establishment of a human government. Since some of the towns mentioned were in the territory of Assyria , which is connected to Shem 's son Asshur , Nimrod is sometimes speculated to have invaded territory that did not belong to him. However, various translations of the Hebrew text leave it ambiguous as to whether the towns in Assyria were founded by Nimrod or by Asshur. Inscription of Naram Sin found at the city of Marad Historians and mythographers have long tried to find links between Nimrod and figures from other traditions. Marduk (Merodach), has been suggested as a possible archetype for Nimrod, especially at the beginning of the 20th century. Nimrod's imperial ventures described in Genesis may be based on the conquests of the Assyrian king Tukulti-Ninurta I (Dalley et al., 1998, p. 67).

Alexander Hislop , in his tract The Two Babylons ( Chapter 2, Section II, Sub-Section I ) decided that Nimrod was to be identified with Ninus , who according to Greek legend was a Mesopotamian king and husband of Semiramis (see below); with a whole host of deities throughout the Mediterranean world, and with the Persian Zoroaster . The identification with Ninus follows that of the Clementine Recognitions; the one with Zoroaster, that of the Clementine Homilies, both works part of Clementine literature . [7] Ninus (and Venus presumed to be his great mother Queen Semiramis) ruled Nineveh in 1269 BC, but Greeks placed Ninus as 52 years of 2060-2009 BC (Abram's birth being year 43 of 52) in Eusebius. David Rohl , like Hislop, identified Nimrod with a complex of Mediterranean deities; among those he picked were Asar , Baal , Dumuzi and Osiris .

In Rohl's theory, Enmerkar the founder of Uruk was the original inspiration for Nimrod, because the story of Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta (see: [8] ) bears a few similarities to the legend of Nimrod and the Tower of Babel, and because the -KAR in Emmerkar means "hunter". Additionally, Emmerkar is said to have had ziggurats built in both Uruk and Eridu , which Rohl postulates was the site of the original Babel. Because another of the cities said to have been built by Nimrod was Accad, an older theory connects him with Sargon the Great , grandfather of Naram-Sin , since, according to the Sumerian king list , that king first built Agade (Akkad). The assertion of the king list that it was Sargon who built Akkad has been called into question, however, with the discovery of inscriptions mentioning the place in the reigns of some of Sargon's predecessors, such as kings Enshakushanna and Lugal-Zage-Si of Uruk.

Nimrod is the son of Kush (founder of the city Kish) who is the son of Ham in Ararat (thus Nimrod is grandson of Ham). Sargon is the grandson of Purzur-Sin being that he is the son of Ur-Zababa, who is the son of Puzur-Sin, the son of the woman Ku-Baba of Ararat (daughter of Noah's vineyard). The Church of the Great God has also asserted that Nimrod is to be identified with the Egyptian god Osiris and was posthumously father of Gilgamesh . [9] Nimrod figures in some very early versions of the history of Freemasonry , where he was said to have been one of the fraternity's founders. According to the Encyclopedia of Freemasonry: The legend of the Craft in the Old Constitutions refers to Nimrod as one of the founders of Masonry. Thus in the York MS., No. 1, we read: "At ye making of ye toure of Babell there was a Masonrie first much esteemed of, and the King of Babilon yt called Nimrod was a Mason himself and loved well Masons." However, he does not figure in the current rituals.

Notes Nimrod's Birthday Nimrod's Birthday Does anyone remember Prince talking about "Nimrod's Birthday"? I know it had something to do with Christmas. Anyone remember this??? ALT+PLS+RTN: Pure as a pane of ice. It's a gift. drgoldsmoke [edit] Biblical accounts Mention of Nimrod in the Bible is rather limited. According to the "documentary hypothesis" of the Bible's origin, the Jahwist writer(s) make the earliest mention of Nimrod.[1] He is described as the son of Cush, grandson of Ham, great-grandson of Noah; and as "a mighty one on the earth" and "a mighty hunter before the LORD". He also appears in the First Book of Chronicles and in the Book of Micah. Nimrod is said to be the founder and king of the first empire after the Flood, and his realm is connected with the Mesopotamian towns Babylon (Babel), Uruk, Akkad and Calneh. He is mentioned in the Table of Nations (Genesis 10), where he is said to have founded many cities.

Owing to an ambiguity in the original Hebrew text, it is unclear whether it is he or Asshur who additionally founded Nineveh, Resen, Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, and both of these interpretations are reflected in the various English versions.(Genesis 10:8–10) Larry Graham stole my teddy bear. Why is calling someone a nimrod considered an insult? PRINCE IS WATCHING U " When an Artist Creates, whatever they create belongs to society" U can't polish a turd.. but u can roll it in glitter In my Profile Pic I read this a couple years ago...explains it pretty well. The Story Of Nimrod, As It Relates To Christmas And Easter Wilhelm J Wolfaardt Nimrod, the grandson of Noah, became the first king known as Sargon I. He built Babylon and Nineveh. Being warlike, he wore a type of helmet with a horn in the front; a trait inherited by the druid Vikings of the Celts, descendants of the Assyrian line. Nimrod means "tyrant".

He led the Sumerians of Babylon to pay tribute to the skies (sun, moon, stars, and planets) with the sacrifice of their children. The Tower of Babel was built for this purpose, echoed in other cultures such as the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas. Since the head of this government was such an idolatrous tyrant, Shem (Nimrod's uncle) killed him. Nimrod's mother, Semiramis, consoled the people by making them believe the child she carried was Nimrod "reincarnated" -- And named him "Duzu" (Tammuz), Babylonian for the son who rises. This Duzu went into the groves (forests) and placed a gift on a tree to honor Nimrod each year at the winter solstice. It has been said that Duzu was the offspring of Nimrod, who mated with his mother. Nimrod became known as Baal, meaning LORD, and was worshipped by the Babylonians as the sun in the sky -- thus the origin of "going to the heavens" at death. Trees and branches became symbols of Nimrod.

Because Nimrod was "cut down" by Shem, a tree stump became a place of honoring him. Thus, the Hebrew Scriptures speak of the pagans going into the "groves", and bringing a "branch to the nose", and going into the forest and cutting down a tree, decorating it, and propping it up a so that it will not totter. The winter solstice was the time when the sun was thought to be "reborn", so December 25th was celebrated as Baal's (Nimrod's) birthday. By tradition, the artificial idea of a New Year following this birthday celebration became an integral part of every human culture, based on this pagan idolatry. Generally, all mankind is fast asleep, dreaming this old Babylonian dream. Christmas is an attempt by Catholicism to revise and adopt this paganism. In the year 525, a Scythian monk named Dionysius Exiguus visited Rome. He witnessed the ancient pagan celebration of the winter solstice (then called Paganalia or Saturnalia), and this offended his devout sensibilities. Scripture itself demands that we observe the Messiah's death, not His birth.

But, since the pagan mind was so oriented around fertility and birth, it developed the way we see it today, blending the most important features of pagan interpretation. "Babel, the Great Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth" -- has intoxicated the masses, and she herself is drunk with the blood of the set-apart ones. What is her name? It's Easter! Semiramis, Nimrod's mother, became known as "Magna Mater", the "Great Mother", and was worship-ped as Mother Earth. The Sun "mated" with the Earth each spring, and the "Rites of Spring" symbolized by the "May Pole" and "Easter" came 9 moons/months before the December 25th "birth" of the winter Sun. Her Assyrian name, Ishtar, gives us the word "Easter". The Romans called her Astarte, and the Phoenicians used Asherah. The Hebrews called her Astoroth, the consort of Baal. Her emblem is the flower of the lily. She is the "goddess of the dawn", and her statue stands on a bridge in France.

The French made a colossus of this image, and it now stands in New York Harbor, facing "East" -- in itself a word referring to the rising son/sun -- from which her name springs! ***** King James Bible Dictionary - Reference List - Nimrod King James Bible Dictionary Easton's Bible Dictionary Nimrod Firm, a descendant of Cush, the son of Ham. He was the first who claimed to be a "mighty one in the earth." Babel was the beginning of his kingdom, which he gradually enlarged ( Genesis 10:8-10 ). The "land of Nimrod" ( Micah 5:6 ) is a designation of Assyria or of Shinar, which is a part of it. Hitchcock's Names Dictionary rebellion (but probably an unknown Assyrian word) Naves Topical Index Smith's Bible Dictionary Nimrod (rebellion; or the valiant), a son of Cush and grandson of Ham.

The events of his life are recorded in ( Genesis 10:8 ) ff., from which we learn (1) that he was a Cushite; (2) that he established an empire in Shinar (the classical Babylonia) the chief towns being Babel, Erech, Accad and Calneh; and (3) that he extended this empire northward along the course of the Tigris over Assyria, where he founded a second group of capitals, Nineveh, Rehoboth, Calah and Resen.

Question: In the Bible, which son of Cush and grandson of Ham is described as 'a mighty hunter before the Lord'?
Answer: NIMROD