ישעיהו, פרק י״ג, פסוק י״ט

The historical standing of Babylon as a thriving global capital stands in stark contrast to its absolute and final ruin. Looking back at its glorious past, the city was once the undisputed center of the world [אבן עזרא]. It was recognized for its unmatched beauty and splendor [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ], possessing a natural grace comparable to a gazelle [שד״ל]. Beyond its physical beauty, it was a place of deep desire; all other kingdoms wanted it and ultimately submitted to its authority [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. As the most important city on earth, it served as the crowning achievement of the Chaldean empire [שד״ל, רש״י]. Its magnificent appearance perfectly matched the vast power of the empire, and its people took immense pride in their capital, boasting of its greatness [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, מצודת ציון].

Despite this unmatched prestige, the city's fate was sealed to end in a catastrophic overthrow, directly compared to God's destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Commentators agree that this specific imagery is meant to emphasize a total and permanent devastation, ensuring the area would remain completely desolate and uninhabited forever.

While the final outcome of ruin is clear, there are different views regarding exactly how and when this historic overthrow occurred. The primary approach among commentators asserts that the disaster struck suddenly and miraculously over the course of just two years. In the first year, Darius conquered Babylon and killed Belshazzar, and by the second year, the city was destroyed from the heavens just like Sodom [רש״י, רד״ק, אברבנאל]. According to this understanding, any settlement known as Babylon in later historical periods was actually a completely new city built in the same valley by Darius or the son of Cyrus, rather than the original ancient capital [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

Conversely, another approach suggests that the fall of Babylon was not a sudden, single event during the Persian era. Instead, it was a slow, agonizing decline that spanned many generations. This gradual crumbling only accelerated as a competing city was established nearby, eventually leading to Babylon fading completely into history [שד״ל].