Genesis 11: Tower of Babel

Why were the languages confused? Why did God have to come down to see the tower? Where did they go?

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Sources:
Robert Alter - The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary

John Walton NIV - Application Commentary: Genesis

Nahum Sarna - Understanding Genesis

Gwendolyn Leick - The Babylonians: an Introduction

John Walton - Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament

Thorkild Jacobsen - Toward the Image of Tammuz and Other Essays on Mesopotamian
History and Culture

Kenneth Mathews - New American Commentary: Genesis 1-11:26

Douglas Frayne - Old Babylonian Period (2003-1595 B.C.): Early Periods, Volume 4

Jean Bottéro - Mesopotamia: Writing, Reasoning, and the Gods

John Stephens - Ancient Mediterranean Religions

Gordon Wenham - Word Biblical Commentary Genesis 1-15

Victor Hamilton - The books of Genesis Chapters 1-17

Frederick Greenspahn - Essential Papers on Israel and the Ancient Near East

#Christianity #History #Babylon

[tbcreative]

God is so faithful, he just keeps redeeming us even though we don't deserve it.

Praise God

[levipaul]

God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Indeed, God is same yesterday today and forever

[EliteInterpunct]

this video is so interesting, giving a logical interpretation of these stories are amazing and helps me understand how deep this goes.

[miltonmateus]

I am from Angola, I'm a huge fan of your work. God Bless you my brother.

[acem]

I just read this today, and yes, Genesis 11:6 confused me greatly. Now, given the background you've provided, I'm reading it as the same sarcasm you can read in Job 38-41. God not only had to "come down" to see this mighty tower that was supposed to reach to the heavens, but upon seeing it, he's so "impressed", that he says "nothing will be impossible for them". It seems to be another slam on how laughably tiny their tower is (and how powerless man is in comparison to God).

[jellevanderhoek]

Because of this video's I can understand Genesis 1-11 more in it's context and it now even became more beautiful to read. God bless you!

[Yprion]

I actually got chills. This is beyond fascinating!

[cerealbowl]

Great job! Will you be doing this for the other 1, 178 chapters?

[ambinintsoahasina]

Man, you can't imagine how much this video changed my viewpoint. Everything is coming together

[sjappiyah]

Thank you for pointing out how their sin was also anthropomorphizing God, that’s often overlooked.
Great researched & presented series

[ronnychristenjoyer]

I'm binging all your vids and there is nothing that can stop me, no sir.

[lionhound]

What a capstone to end an amazing series! This is one of my favorite videos! Mike what a great job you have done! Can't wait for Exodus!

[__.Sara.__]

I have been struggling with the issue regarding linguistics and Babel! Thank you for this video. You're spot-on about phrases referencing the entire earth not being literal, such as in Genesis 41: 57. I really can't express how thankful I am for this insight.

[reidtroutman]

Thanks for all you are doing here. Must be a ton of work. Currently bingeing through your stuff.

[renren]

Great end to the series on primordial history, the one that introduced me to your channel! Thank you for helping me dive deeper into scripture without fear of trying to reconcile it with science or evidence, but not compromising inspiration/inerrancy either! Did the quiz too BTW

[rikishadeloney]

GOD NEEDS NOTHING FROM US BUT WE DEFINATELY NEED HIM FOR EVERYTHING.

[blakewidmer]

Excellent video, we just discussed Gen 11 today in our fellowship gathering. Babel is so misunderstood in modern Christianity. If people realized the dramatic regathering of the disinherited nations from Gen 11 that occurs in Acts 2 at Pentecost, they would never read the NT again the same way. The good news of the Gospel is that those “called not my people” would once again be called “my people” — the crushing of the serpent and the reclaiming of all nations to become God’s inheritance through Abraham’s seed (singular)....its amazing. The Gospel is such good news and the story of the Bible is amazing when you understand the ANE and Hebrew literary style and how they wrote polemically against pagans. Simply amazing inspired Word of God...breathed for us, as life, just as Adam had life breathed into him and just like Jesus entered amongst his disciples and breathed on them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. Glorious! Hallelujah to the One YHWH who alone is worthy.

[heatice]

So, after eating some humble pie (I have not gone through the Bible since I moved so I'm beyond rusty) where I attributed the tower to Nimrod and then reading Chapter 11 and wanting more insight I found your video. Fantastic commentary, so I'm very grateful for your video. I know there are some details we wont know in this life but I'm reminded ONCE AGAIN to stay humble because we are prone to error and we need his word daily and we need study like our next breath...it's THAT vital!

[rockzalt]

Even nowadays the traditional churches design their alters in a room decorated in a particular way. The ornaments and physical structure show how Heaven on the ceiling flows down through the wall to meet Earth at the alter.

[klmmr]

It is truly a blessing and a divine revelation to see echos of God given wisdom and insight through someone else's work. Your own personal God given revelations unveiling in the thoughts of another. Sometimes, it is lonely because no one else can see what our Lord has shown you, but when you miraculously stumble across or come in contact with it...it is truly a joy unspeakable and full of glory. Our God is awesome and to him be all of the praise. Amen and Amen. Thank you.