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Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Genesis 11:1-9

the Confusion of Tongues Genesis 11:1-9 Driven by the fear of another deluge, though God had given distinct assurances to the contrary, and impelled by the desire to perpetuate their name and memory to coming generations, Noah’s descendants began to build on the plain of Shinar-a fertile valley watered by the Euphrates and Tigris. Babel, Babylon and Babylon the Great, such is the lineage of the apostasy which has ever opposed the Church of God; like a shadow, stealing along the wall at our... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Genesis 11:1-32

In this chapter we have the account of a human movement against dispersion. The movement was one of rebellion and was frustrated by divine interposition. The divine intention was the covering of the whole earth. The human action was in opposition to that, as men said, "Lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." This rebellious purpose was frustrated by the confusion of tongues. Necessarily belief in this story demands belief in the possibility of God's direct intervention... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - Genesis 11:1-9

The Tower of Babel Genesis 11:1-9 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We will give some suggestion as to the connecting link between our last study, and today's. There are two outstanding considerations. 1. Noah's drunkenness. Noah lived three hundred and fifty years after the flood. Just when he began to be a husbandman we may not know, probably soon after he had adjusted himself to his new environment, inasmuch as his sons were still with him. As to his drunkenness we may observe: (1) God tells the... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 11:1

‘OF ONE LANGUAGE’‘And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.’ Genesis 11:1 The New Testament is always converting into blessings the curses of the Old Testament. The burdens and severities of the Law are not only the types but the very substances of Gospel liberty and truth; the confusion of Babel leads to a greater harmony, and its dispersion ends in a more perfect union. I. After the Flood the whole earth was of one language and one speech. Now not even one country has one... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 11:1-9

THE SIN OF THE NATIONS (11:1-9). We are now to be shown why the nations divided up into different languages with the consequent suspicions, hatreds and warfares which resulted. Overall it will be seen as a result of puffed up pride and deliberate rebellion against God. (This chapter is only seen as a new chapter in our Bibles. In the record it was simply a continuation of the narrative). God has not been mentioned in Genesis 10:0 except as a superlative (Genesis 11:9). The nations have grown... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 11:1-9

Genesis 11:1-1 Samuel : . The City, the Tower, and the Confusion of Speech.— The section plainly belongs to J but not to the same stratum as the story of the Flood, nor is it consistent with the origin assigned to the various nations in Genesis 11:10. It is an æ tiological story (p. 134), naturally not historical, answering the question, Why is it that though the races of mankind have sprung from a common ancestry they speak so many different languages? The Divine jealousy, which fears what a... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Genesis 11:1

Earth is oft put for its inhabitants, as Genesis 6:21; 1 Chronicles 16:23; Psalms 33:8. Of one speech, which even heathen writers acknowledge; and that probably was the Hebrew tongue. read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Genesis 11:1-9

CRITICAL NOTES.—The whole earth.] The then known world with all its human inhabitants. One language and of one speech.] Heb. Of one lip, and one (kind of) words. Murphy renders, “Of one lip and one stock of words,” and remarks, “In the table of nations the term ‘tongue’ was used to signify what is here expressed by two terms. This is not undesigned. The two terms are not synonymous or parallel, as they form the parts of one compound predicate. ‘One stock of words,’ then, we conceive, naturally... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Genesis 11:1

Genesis 11:1 The New Testament is always converting into blessings the curses of the Old Testament. The burdens and severities of the Law are not only the types but the very substances of Gospel liberty and truth; the confusion of Babel leads to a greater harmony, and its dispersion ends in a more perfect union. I. After the flood the whole earth was of one language and one speech. Now not even one country has one language within itself. No two persons that ever meet have it. The words may have... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Genesis 11:1-9

Genesis 11:1-9 . From the text we gather these practical suggestions: I. Examine carefully the quality and meaning of every new plan of life. II. Beware of the sophism that Heaven helps those who help themselves. III. Regulate ambition by the Divine will. IV. If we make great plans, let us make them in God's name and carry them out in God's strength. V. Let us learn what is meant by all the unfinished towers that we see around us. VI. Co-operation with God will alone secure the entire... read more

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