Genesis 11:1-9
Summary for Gen 11:1-9: 11:1-9 a The story of the unfinished tower carries forward themes of language and solidarity from the Table of Nations (ch 10 b). The builders’ desire for autonomy recalls the rebellion in Eden (ch 3 c) and establishes the need for Abram’s redemptive faith in the midst of international disorder (ch 12 d). The scattering of the nations anticipates the warning to Israel that idolatry would result in their being scattered and their cities devastated (see Lev 26:33 e; Num 10:35 f; Deut 4:27 g; 28:64 h; 30:3 i). Chronologically, the story is a flashback that explains the rise of the nations during Peleg’s time (see Gen 10:25 j). 11:1 k At one time: The events described in 11:1-9 l led to the scattering of nations that is reflected in the genealogies of 10:2-30 m. The reversal of order has a theological purpose (see study note on 10:1–11:9).11:2 n migrated to the east: See study note on 3:24.
• Babylonia was located in southern Mesopotamia, the region of Nimrod’s later empire and city-building campaign (see 10:10 o; Isa 11:11 p; Dan 1:2 q; Zech 5:11 r).
11:3 s Stone was plentiful in Canaan; in Mesopotamia, stone was scarce and brick technology was developed.
• Tar was made from bitumen, a natural, cement-like, waterproof asphalt (see 6:14 t; Exod 2:3 u).
11:4 v Far from the original garden (2:15 w), the first cities of Genesis represent arrogance (4:17 x), tyranny (10:8-12 y), and wickedness (18:20-21 z). The city on the Babylonian plain was a magnet for human pride and idolatry.
• a tower that reaches into the sky: This was probably a temple-tower (a ziggurat). Common in ancient Babylonian urban culture, ziggurats were regarded as sacred mountains by which deities descended to earth (Jacob’s dream in 28:12 aa possibly reflects this idea).
• This will make us famous (literally let us make a name for ourselves): The tower builders sought fame through idolatrous ambition. God promised to give Abram a famous name because of his humble obedience (12:2 ab).
11:5 ac came down: The tower was a human attempt to ascend to God’s realm (see Deut 26:15 ad; Pss 2:4 ae; 103:19 af; 115:16 ag). The folly of that attempt was exposed by God’s “coming down” to see their feeble efforts.
11:6 ah If left unchecked, the tower builders’ solidarity and ambition would allow human wickedness to flourish in unimaginable ways.
11:7 ai Come, let’s go down: God addresses his angelic court (see 1:26 aj; 3:22 ak; and study notes).
• won’t be able to understand each other: Their inability to communicate would curtail their unified sinful ambition. The God-honoring unity of language on the day of Pentecost was a symbolic reversal of the Babel dispersion (Acts 2:5-13 al; see Zeph 3:9 am).
11:8 an the Lord scattered them: Similarly, Adam and Eve’s punishment for grasping at autonomy and Cain’s punishment for murder involved banishment and dispersion (3:23 ao; 4:12 ap, 14 aq; 9:19 ar; 10:5 as, 25 at, 32 au).
11:9 av Babel: The Babylonians viewed their city as the residence or gateway of the gods. The pun that concludes this account accurately reveals Babylon’s spiritual confusion. Babylon achieved prominence under Nimrod (10:10 aw) and in later biblical history (see 2 Kgs 25:1-30 ax). Its role as an epicenter of arrogance and idolatry make it a fitting image for the anti-God forces associated with the end of time (e.g., Rev 14:8 ay; 16:19 az; 18:2 ba).
• The tower builders had centralized to ascend into God’s realm (Gen 11:3-4 bb). God descended and scattered them all over the world to frustrate their idolatrous ambition.
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