genesis 11: 5-9?

Question

in genesis 11: 5-9, whom was god talking to? why did god confuse the people by giving them many languages? did god fear the people for their common language and political unity? was god jealous of our potentials?

Answer 1

“(1) And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

(2) And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

(3) And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

(4) And they said, Go to, let 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.”

Genesis 11:1-4

The sin of the Shinarites (people in the plain of Shinar) appears to be immense pride. They said, Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heaven, so that we may make a name for ourselves. This was open rebellion against God, an independence of God. Humility is often equated with trust and obedience, and conversely pride is related to disobedience. Here the people came together to strengthen themselves and in pride to make a reputation for themselves lest they be scattered over the face of the whole earth. This appears to be in direct opposition to God’s command to spread out and fill up the whole earth; Genesis 9:1 – “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”

“(5) And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

(6) And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

(7) Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

(8) So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

(9) Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”

Genesis 11:5-9

Their desire to enhance their unity and strength had potential for the greatest evil, according to the Lord’s evaluation: If… they have begun to do this, than nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Thus what they would not do in obedience (Genesis 9:1) He did for them in judgment (Genesis 11:8).

No doubt, Shinar (v. 2) refers to the area of Babylon, because the passage culminates (v. 9) in a name play: Babel (babel) sounds similar to the verb confused (babal). Written Babylonian accounts of the building of the city of Babylon refer to its construction in heaven by the gods as a celestial city, as an expression of pride (Enuma Elish VI, lines 55-64). These accounts say it was made of brick-making described in verse 3, with every brick inscribed with the name of the Babylonian god Marduk. Also the ziggurat, the step-like tower believed to have been first erected in Babylon, was said to have its top in the heavens (cf. v. 4). This artificial mountain became the center of worship in the city, a miniature temple being at the top of the tower. The Babylonians took great pride in their building; they boasted of their city as not only impregnable, but also as the heavenly city, babili (“the gate of God”). The account in Genesis views this city as the predominant force in the world, the epitome of ungodly powers, in a word, the “anti-kingdom.” Thus the record in verses 1-9 is polemical in that it shows God’s absolute power in His swift judgment. What the people considered their greatest strength – unity – He swiftly destroyed by confusing their language (v. 7; cf. v. 9). What they considered their greatest fear – scattering (v. 4) – became natural to them (v. 8; cf. v. 9). What they desired most – to make a name for themselves (v. 4) – ironically came to pass, for they became known as “Babel.” Then they stopped building the city and were scattered abroad.

The theme of pride here, then, is important. God puts down those who exalt themselves in pride. Scattering [(and confounding the common language)], (with its wars and conflicts), is better than UNIFIED APOSTASY!!! God’s plan will be accomplished, if not with man’s obedience, then in the chastisement of man’s disobedience.

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Essentially, one may conclude that God did not want the people to create one unified, domineering, malicious, ungodly, kingdom. Had they been Godly, and not so prideful, I highly doubt God would have interfered with their pursuits.

Answer 2

That should have been a very good question, should your ignorance been concealed.

Man sinned in the garden of Eden. By so doing, they were no longer walking in complete harmorny with their Creator. They were already a confused people even before God confuse them. They wanted to enter to Heaven as sinful as they are. So, God decided to help not do such a thing. He caused them to wonder upon the earth until a set time came - God's appointed time.

God's appointed time came and that was when Christ Jesus came and offered the attonement for men's sin in the Garden of Eden. Only on God's terms are men able to approach God's throne. As our Lord Jesus puts it, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Nothing has changed. It is God's way or no way at all.

Answer 3

According to what I have found out from Bible study, the Tower of Babel was and is opposed by God because it is the form of government that will be set up by the Antichrist in the last half of the the Tribulation and God will have to intervene then as He had to intervene at the time of the Tower of Babel and it wasn't time for the Antichrist to appear.

He was talking to Noah's families - the only righteous people at the time.

Answer 4

In contempt of his Divine will, and against the counsel of Noah, the bulk of mankind united to build a city and a tower to prevent their separating. Idolatry was begun, and Babel became one of its chief seats.
If the people stayed where they were, against God's command, the people would eventually perish. There would not be enough food or jobs and interbreeding would weaken the gene pool. By causing them to misunderstand each other, they could not work/live together anymore.
They and their families were sent out to populate other areas of the world and establish new territories.
God showed no jealousy towards these disobedient people only love. In order for their potential to grow they had to be moved on and challenged.

Answer 5

Dire Straits electric powered easy Orchestra Genesis Dream Theater Mastodon Melvins Meshuggah Rush The Dillinger get away Plan device BQ:Coheed And Cambria...i won't stand that band. BQ2:device - Parabola

Answer 6

He was talking either to angels of Himself in the trinity. God confused thier language and seperated them because they were trying to do stuff on thier own without consulting God. If a baby walks out into traffic, should we let it get hit because it chose to go out there? God knew it would be disasterous if the tower was completed.

Answer 7

I'm no bible guru, but here's my opinion. the people of babel were making the tower to be "up there" with god. trying something that couldn't be done. so god brought them down a few notches by making them speak different languages so they couldn't keep doing this. this would explain the many different languages and cultures.

Answer 8

First of all, No where in the Bible does it ever say that God was alone before he created the earth and the heavens! He lives in the spiritual realm, with the angles. He was talking to the angles. God confused the people so that they could not plan on building another city or tower in honor of themselves. We are to keep our mind focused on him alone and not ourselves.

Answer 9

Bible. Confusing. Stick to romance novels x]