Gen 11:8-9 | TNotes | STEP | 11:8 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 ; 4:12 , 14 ; 9:19 ; 10:5 , 25 , 32 ).

a11:8►

b3:23►

c4:12►

d14►

e9:19►

f10:5►

g25►

h32►

i11:9►

j10:10►

k2 Kgs 25:1-30►

lRev 14:8►

m16:19►

n18:2►

oGen 11:3-4►

‏ Genesis 11:8-9

11:8 ^a 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 ^b; 4:12 ^c, 14 ^d; 9:19 ^e; 10:5 ^f, 25 ^g, 32 ^h).
11:9 ⁱ 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 ^j) and in later biblical history (see 2 Kgs 25:1-30 ^k). 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 ^l; 16:19 ^m; 18:2 ⁿ).

• The tower builders had centralized to ascend into God’s realm (Gen 11:3-4 ^o). God descended and scattered them all over the world to frustrate their idolatrous ambition.