Instead of being a protector of men, Babylon became a proud and cruel oppressor. The words of Inspiration picturing the cruelty and greed of rulers in Israel reveal the secret of Babylon's fall and of the fall of many another kingdom since the world began: "Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them." Ezekiel 34:3, 4.

I stedet for at blive en beskytter for mennesker blev Babylon til en stolt og grusom undertrykker. De ord, der ved Ånden giver et billede af grusomheden og griskheden hos Israels herskere, afslører hemmeligheden ved Babylons fald og mange andre rigers fald, siden verden blev til:»I fortærede mælken, med ulden klædte I eder, de fede dyr slagtede I, men hjorden røgtede I ikke; de svage dyr styrkede I ikke, de syge lægte I ikke, de adsplittede bragte I ikke tilbage, de vildfarende opsøgte I ikke, men I styrede dem med hårdhed og grumhed.« Ez. 34,3-4.