And they said one to another . Literally, a man to his neighbor ; α ̓ ì νθρωπος τω ͂ͅ πλησι ì ον αυ ̓ του ͂ ( LXX .). Go to . A hortatory expletive—come on (Anglice). Let us make brick . Nilbenah lebenim ; literally, let us brick bricks; πλινθευ ì σωμεν πλι ì νθους ( LXX .); laterifecimus lateres (Calvin); lebenah (from laban, to be white), being so called from the white and chalky day of which bricks were made. And burn them... read more
Ancient brick makers. I. IN SHINAR . Examples of II. IN EGYPT ( Exodus 5:7 ). Illustrations of read more
And they said . Being impelled by their success in making bricks for their dwellings (Lange), though the resolution to be mentioned may have been the cause of their brick-making (Bush). Go to, let us build us a city. Cf. Genesis 4:17 , which represents Cain as the first city builder. And a tower. Not as a distinct erection, but as forming a part, as it were the Acre-polls, of the city (Bochart). Whose top may reach unto heaven . Literally, and his head in the heavens, a... read more
The tower-builders of Babel. I. THE IMPIETY OF THEIR DESIGN . 1. Ambition . They were desirous of achieving fame, or "a name" for themselves. Whether in this there was a covert sneer at the exaltation promised to the Shemites, or simply a display of that lust of glory which natively resides within the fallen heart, it was essentially a guilty purpose by which they were impelled. In only one direction is ambition perfectly legitimate, viz; in the direction of moral and spiritual... read more
The tower of Babel. I. A MONUMENT OF MAN 'S— 1. Sinful ambition. 2. Laborious ingenuity. 3. Demonstrated feebleness. 4. Stupendous folly. II. A MEMORIAL OF GOD 'S— 1. Overruling providence. 2. Resistless power. 3. Retributive justice. 4. Beneficent purpose.— W . read more
God's city or man's city. "And they said, Go to, lot us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." In the world after the Flood we trace the, outlines of the gospel dispensation. To Noah was revealed "good will toward men; the acceptance of sacrifice; faith as the condition and channel of blessing; and work, to spread the knowledge of, and trust in his name, i.e. what he is... read more
And the Lord came down . Not in visible form, as in Exodus 19:20 ; Exodus 34:5 (Onkelos), but " effectu ostendens se propin quiorem quem absentem esse judicabant " (Poole), an anthropomorphism (cf. Genesis 18:21 ; Psalms 144:5 ). " It is measure for measure ( par pari ). Let us build up, say they, and scale the heavens. Let us go down, says God, and defeat their impious thought" (Rabbi Schelomo, quoted by T . Lewis). To see (with a view to judicial action) the city and... read more
The cities of men and the city of God ( Genesis 11:5 ; Hebrews 11:16 ). I. THEIR BUILDERS . Of the first, men—mostly wicked men; of the second, the Architect of the universe. II. THEIR ORIGIN . Of the first (Enoch, Genesis 4:17 ; and Babel, Genesis 11:5 ), hostility to God; of the second, love to man. III. THEIR DESIGN . Of the first, to be a bond of union among sinners; of the second, to be a residence for God's children. IV. THEIR APPEARANCE . Of the first,... read more
And the Lord said —within himself, and to himself ( vide Genesis 11:8 ); expressive of the formation of a Divine resolution (cf. Genesis 6:7 )— Behold, the people — עַס , from root signifying to bind together, expresses the idea of association; גּוֹי , from a root signifying to swell (Lange), to flow together (Gesenius), to gather together (Furst), conveys the notion of a confluxus hominum . T . Lewis connects it with the sense of interiority, or exclusion, which is... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 11:2
Note— 1. The benefit of a wandering condition. It sometimes prevents the rise of sinful thoughts and wicked deeds. So long as the primitive nomads were travelling from station to station they did not think of either rebellion or ambition. So Israel followed God fully in the wilderness. 2. The danger of a settled state. Established in the fat plain of Shinar, they wanted a city and a tower. So Israel in Canaan waxed fat and kicked. So Moab, having been at ease from his youth, retained... read more