SHINAR, THE LAND OF

LXX. and Vulgate “Senaar;” in the inscriptions, “Shumir;” probably identical with Babylonia or Southern Mesopotamia, extending almost to the Persian Gulf. Here the tower of Babel was built (Gen. 11:1-6), and the city of Babylon. The name occurs later in Jewish history (Isa. 11:11; Zech. 5:11). Shinar was apparently first peopled by Turanian tribes, who tilled the land and made bricks and built cities. Then tribes of Semites invaded the land and settled in it, and became its rulers. This was followed in course of time by an Elamite invasion; from which the land was finally delivered by Khammurabi, the son of Amarpel (“Amraphel, king of Shinar,” Gen. 14:1), who became the founder of the new empire of Chaldea. (See AMRAPHEL.)

SHI'NAR, THE LAND OF (casting out? country of two rivers?), the region where the people, after the Flood, made bricks and used slime (bitumen) for mortar. Gen 11:2-3. "Shinar" was probably the Hebrew name for the plain of Mesopotamia, on the Euphrates and the Tigris. It would seem originally to have denoted the northern part of Babylonia, as "Chaldaea" denoted the southern part; but subsequently, like "Chaldaea," it was sometimes used for the whole. Gen 10:10; Isa 11:11; Dan 1:2; Zech 5:11. In Josh 7:21 it is rendered "Babylonish." Among its cities were Babel (Babylon), Erech or Orech (Orchoi), Calneh or Calno (probably Niffer), and Arrad.