Genesis 11:12-24 ESV

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

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Genesis 11:1-32

On the Building of Babel Genesis 11:0 Comparing this account with our own method of life and art, it is clear that from the beginning of time men have been doing pretty much the same thing all the world over. The world's story is but short; it is very much like a series of repetitions: the actors, indeed, have been innumerable, but the drama has always been contracted, and seldom profound. The actors have made noise enough, but when there has been a little break through the dust, we have... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Genesis 11:12

Sale, or Cainan. See Chap. x. 24; Chronicles i. 18, in the Septuagint. (Haydock) read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Genesis 11:20

Sarug: in whose days St. Epiphanius places the origin of idolatry; but Eusebius (Pr'e6p. i. v. & 9.) thinks it began in Egypt, among the posterity of Cham. (Calmet) read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 11:10-26

10-26 Here is a genealogy, or list of names, ending in Abram, the friend of God, and thus leading towards Christ, the promised Seed, who was the son of Abram. Nothing is left upon record but their names and ages; the Holy Ghost seeming to hasten through them to the history of Abram. How little do we know of those that are gone before us in this world, even of those that lived in the same places where we live, as we likewise know little of those who now live in distant places! We have enough to... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Genesis 11:10-26

The Generation of Shem v. 10. These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old and begat Arphaxad two years after the Flood. The genealogical table of Shem is now repeated in detail, because the narrative gradually tends toward the story of the people of God, whose progenitor was Abraham, a descendant of Shem through Eber. v. 11. And Shem lived, after he begat Arphaxad, five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. v. 12. And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years and begat... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Genesis 11:10-32

FIFTH SECTIONThe race of Shem. The Commenced and Interrupted Migration of Terah to Canaan. The Genesis of the Contrast between Heathendom and the germinal Patriarchalism Genesis 11:10-321. Genealogy of Shem—to Terah.10These are the generations of Shem: Shem was a hundred years old and begat 11Arphaxad10 [Knobel: probably, highland of Chaldæa] two years after the flood. And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 12And Arphaxad lived five and thirty... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Genesis 11:10-32

the Generations until Abram Genesis 11:10-32 The inwardness of the movement of Terah’s clan from Ur is given in Acts 7:3 . Apparently his father was unwilling for Abram to go alone on his far-pilgrimage, and so the whole family moved along the valley of the Euphrates to the famous ford of Haran. There was no other practicable way by which travelers could strike the route for Canaan. But Terah never advanced beyond that point; and it was only when his father was dead that Abram resumed his... 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