Idolatry (the worship of idols) is a powerful and aggressive form of evil. It cannot be contained among God’s people. God orders it to be removed and sent back to its place of origin, Babylonia.
This image shows that God is able to remove every form of wickedness that separates his people from him.
The land of Babylonia was where the Hebrews were held captive (Micah 4:10). The prophets describe it as wicked and idolatrous (Isaiah 46–47; Jeremiah 50–51).
In the New Testament, Babylon represents the evil Roman Empire (Revelation 17:5; 18:2; see 1 Peter 5:13).