1183. It is not as easy to understand the specific symbolism of Erech, Accad, Calneh, in the land of Shinar, since the Word does not mention them anywhere else (aside from a reference to Calneh in Amos 6:2), 1 but they are different varieties of this worship.
As for the land of Shinar, where these types of worship existed, though, its symbolism in the Word as external devotion that is profane at its core can be seen from its symbolism in verse 2 of the next chapter, Genesis 11. 2 It can also be seen in Zechariah 5:11 3 and still more clearly in Daniel, where these words appear:
Into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and a portion of the vessels of the House of God. And he carried them into the land of Shinar, into the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. (Daniel 1:2)
The meaning of these words is that holy things were profaned. The vessels of the House of God are the holy things. The house of the god of Babylon's king in the land of Shinar is the profane places where the holy things were brought. Although the details are historically true, they still harbor these secret meanings, as all the historical details of the Word do. The symbolism of Shinar is demonstrated further in the profanation of the same vessels, as told about in Daniel 5:3, 4, 5. 4 If the vessels had not represented holy attributes, these events would never have happened.
Footnotes:
1. Erech, located in southeastern Iraq, was one of the greatest cities of Sumerian civilization. Accad, or more commonly Akkad, was a city and surrounding region in northern Babylonia, which reached its pinnacle under King Sargon I in the 23rd century b.c.e. The identity of Calneh is disputed, and some scholars believe the Calneh referred to in Amos 6:2 is another city altogether from the one cited in Genesis 10:10. Shinar was most likely a general term for Babylonia. [RS, SS]
2. Genesis 11:2 speaks of the valley in the land of Shinar where the tower of Babel was built. For the symbolism, see §1292. [LHC]
3. Zechariah 5:11 refers to building a house or temple in the land of Shinar. [LHC]
4. Daniel 5:3-5 says that Nebuchadnezzar's son Belshazzar brought out the Temple dishes previously mentioned so that he and his court could drink toasts to their gods. A hand then appeared and wrote a message of doom on the wall. [LHC]
