Babylon relied on her sorcerers, magicians, necromancers and stargazers.
Nebuchadnezzars father, King Nabopolassar, had a slew of sorcerers, soothsayers, stargazers, diviners and occultist advising him of his every move. When King Nebuchadnezzar II took the throne, he inherited them as part of his counsel from his father. But Nebuchadnezzar found that only the God of Israel could reveal secrets, and was true to His Word.
The ruling elite of Babylon were deeply humbled when their false gods, sorcerers, diviners and stargazers were unable to warn them of the invasion of King Darius and the Persian King Cyrus the Great, just as the Isaiah prophecy states. Not only did their gods not warn them, but those idols held them captive, promising peace and security from within Babylon's massive walls.
What a burden their idols became for them. Neither Bel or Nebo could stand erect on their own. The Babylonians hauled them away in their wagons, as they had no use or power of their own. The God of Israel has shown them that their golden idols of pagan gods, and carved animals were a heavy burden, mute and of no help. Even Marduk the Snake-Dragon – chief god of Babylon had been muzzled and lame. He was no match for the God of the Israelites. When the nobles and high priests removed the created idols that had failed them, they became a heavy burden under the victorious God of Israel.
The Isaiah prophecy has more spiritual meaning than a physical one with the lackluster and worthlessness of the pagan idols.
There is no mention of the people scattering or fleeing Babylon after the conquest of the Medes and Persians. Historical documentation, including the Cyrus Cylinder (539-538 BC) suggests that the city was taken without much of a fight. In fact, the inhabitants of Babylon were not even aware that they had been captured: Daniel 5. Only the elites and their concubines were aware of the siege. Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and the Persians.
From the Cyrus Cylinder translation on Livius: Cyrus Takes Babylon
He ordered him to go to his city Babylon. He set him on the road to Babylon and like a companion and a friend, he went at his side. His vast army, whose number, like water of the river, cannot be known, marched at his side fully armed.
He made him enter his city Babylon without fighting or battle; he saved Babylon from hardship. He delivered Nabonidus, the king who did not revere him, into his hands. All the people of Babylon, all the land of Sumer and Akkad, princes and governors, bowed to him and kissed his feet. They rejoiced at his kingship and their faces shone. Lord by whose aid the dead were revived and who had all been redeemed from hardship and difficulty, they greeted him with gladness and praised his name.
The Bible states that King Belshazzar, ruling in place of his father, King Nabonidus, was struck down. I imagine several soldiers were as well, but the siege of Babylon was mostly uneventful and compliant. Daniel 5:30.
King Darius the Mede, friend of Cambyses I sat on the Babylon throne and ruled the kingdom: Daniel 5:31. Cyrus and Darius the Mede co-ruled Babylon but King Darius was the one who occupied the palace while Cyrus the Great ruled the greater middle east: Daniel 6:28. This conquest set the fall of Babylon into motion: Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and the Persians: Daniel 5:28. The fall of Babylon by the Medes and Persians was pre-ordained by the God of heaven seen in various prophecies in Isaiah 13-14; 45:1, and Jeremiah 50-51.
The Babylonians were fed up with King Nabonidus as he was always absent, traveling to Arabia to worship the crescent moon god, leaving his son, Belshazzar to rule Babylon in his place. Countless parades honoring Marduk and other deities had stopped in his absence leaving a void of celebrations in Babylon.
Most were content with the banishment of Nabonidus and welcomed their new ruling kings, King Darius and Cyrus the Great. Being a polytheist and following the teachings of Zoroastrianism, King Cyrus left others to freely worship their chosen gods. They still had Marduk and their various deities to worship and the kings court was still in place with the spells, sorcery and incantations to make the way forward; even though the cities inhabitants came to the realization that their gods were futile and of no use when it came to protecting the city against invasion. Since many were content with the new leadership they probably envisioned that it was the 'will of the gods' and continued on with their lives.
Perhaps some of the nobles fled, though the Cyrus Cylinder makes no mention of people abandoning their homes and lifestyles: Cyrus Cylinder in the British museum.
Daniel was clothed in purple and given a golden chain to wear around his neck. He was made third highest ruler in Babylon and supervisor of the magicians, dream interpreters and wise men. He continued to serve as counsel under King Darius suggesting that the city still stood and Babylon was intact.
Daniel stayed to serve Cyrus the Great and King Darius as did the rest of the previous king’s court. There is no mention of the magicians, sorcerers, diviners or star gazers fleeing or fearing for their lives. They were under no threat as the people of Babylon were free to stay and continue their lives in peace. In fact Daniel was kept as council to the new king. The Medes and Persians ruled Babylon territory for several centuries.
As the ancient Babylonian kingdom continued to fall under God's judgement, people began to migrate. The siege of Xerxes 485 BC.. to keep the Egyptians and the Babylonians from revolting, would have caused many to flee as well, seeking a more stable environment. The golden statute of Marduk was melted down for its gold, and the remaining people of Babylon were left to flee or, starve.
But, first they had to pack their pagan gods and idols for transport. They must have rid themselves of their old idols dragging them out into the desert, ashamed and down trodden realizing that these gods were nothing more than a man-made burden.
No one needed to bring the oxen cart to carry the God of Israel away from Babylon for He carries His people, He carries their load and His yoke is light. Yahweh carried and delivered His people as prophesied. Yahweh knows and tells the end from the beginning and will do all his pleasure. Isaiah prophesied Cyrus, and the release of the Israelites nearly two centuries prior.
If Babylon was stripped of the Chaldean dynasty and her royalty in one night, (Isaiah 47) just imagine how quickly nations that welcome the worship of foreign gods and idol worship and the world's abominations will fall. Look at how fast America is falling. The devil knocked, the gate was thrust open and the welcome wagon ushered him inside to set up his fortresses, and seize sovereign power: Daniel 11:38.
There is no salvation in the hollow shells of idols.
Isaiah 46
Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast. They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship it. They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
Do not go beyond what is written.
1 Corinthians 4:6
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