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Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 11:27-32

Abram’s ancestors 11:27-32"The function of this genealogy is not so much to connect Abraham with the preceding events, as the previous genealogies have done, but to provide the reader with the necessary background for understanding the events in the life of Abraham. The list includes eight names. All the individuals named are relevant for understanding the events of the following narrative except ’Iscah’ (Genesis 11:29). The inclusion of this otherwise insignificant name in the list suggests... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 11:1-32

The Tower of Babel. The Descendants of Shem to AbrahamWe have here the ancient Hebrew explanation of the diversity of human language, and of the wide dispersion of the human race. Babylon is represented as the original centre of human civilisation after the Flood. The splendid buildings of Babylonia were among the most remarkable achievements of human power and pride. But they were repugnant to the Jews as being associated with idolatry, and their erection is here regarded as rebellion against... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 11:29

(29) Iscah.—Not the same as Sarai, for we learn in Genesis 20:12 that she was Abraham’s half-sister—that is, a daughter of Terah by another wife. Nor was she Lot’s wife, as Ewald supposed, for she was his full sister. Marriages between near relatives seem to have been allowed at this time, and were perhaps even common for religious reasons (see Genesis 24:3-4; Genesis 28:1-2), but not marriages between those actually by the same mother. Thus Abraham takes his half-sister to wife, and Nahor his... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 11:1-32

Youth and After Genesis 11:32 'And Terah died in Haran.' What of that? It was not until they came to Haran that they touched, as it were, their first footprints and found the old religion. There had been little temptation to pause before on the score of a people's worship, but when, worn out in body and mind, Abram suddenly came upon the old religion, his journeyings after another faith and form of worship were at an end. It was Abram the younger man who withstood the temptations of Haran. I.... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 11:27-32

THE CALL OF ABRAHAMGenesis 11:27-32; Genesis 12:1-5WITH Abraham there opens a new chapter in the history of the race; a chapter of the profoundest significance. The consequences of Abraham’s movements and beliefs have been limitless and enduring. All succeeding time has been influenced by him. And yet there is in his life a remarkable simplicity, and an entire absence of such events as impress contemporaries. Among all the forgotten millions of his own time he stands alone a recognisable and... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 11:1-32

CHAPTER 11:1-9 The Tower of Babel and the Scattering of the Nations 1. The unity of the nations in Shinar (Genesis 11:1-2 ) 2. Their attempt: “Let us make” (Genesis 11:3-4 ) 3. The divine answer: “Let us go down” (Genesis 11:5-7 ) 4. The Result (Genesis 11:8-9 ) All the earth had one language. This is also proven by philological research. The whole human family journeyed together. They left the mountainous regions and went down to the plain. This expresses their descent morally; they... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Genesis 11:29

11:29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife [was] Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of {m} Iscah.(m) Some think that this Iscah was Sarai. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 11:1-32

BABEL: THE CITY AND THE TOWER Up to this time there was only one language. In the world today men wish they could have this advantage, but God is wiser than men. Men desire this for the very same reason that Caused God to impose various languages upon them. They are infected by pride that wants to unite independently of God, so as to have a great civilization. They journeyed "from the east," literally "from the sun rising." This is strikingly typical of man's turning his back upon the... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Genesis 11:1-32

THE TOWER OF BABEL The contents of this chapter seem to precede in time those of chapter 10. There we have the story of how the nations were divided, and here why they were divided. What was true of the race linguistically until this time (Genesis 11:1 )? To what locality had they been chiefly attracted (Genesis 11:2 )? What new mechanical science is now named (Genesis 11:3 )? What two-fold purpose was the outcome of this invention (Genesis 11:4 )? What was the object in view? Is there a... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Genesis 11:10-32

THE ORIGIN OF ISRAEL THE DIVINE PURPOSE We have reached a fourth experiment in God’s dealings with the apostate race, only this shall not ultimately be the failure the others proved. It should be understood, however, that in speaking of failure the reference is to man’s part and not God’s. Before the flood the sin of the race was atheism, outright denial of divine authority with the indulgence of sinful lusts it produced and the dissolution of moral and social bonds. But after the flood... read more

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