earth = people of the earth. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject). App-6 ; "earth" put for inhabitants.
language. Hebrew "lip". Figure of speech Metonymy (of cause); lip put for language. The chapter begins with man's attempt to unify mankind, and ends with God's new provision to unify all in blessing with Abraham's seed.
said. Sin with their tongues punished in the same manner (Genesis 11:7 ).
burn, &c. Hebrew brick bricks, and burn a burning. Figure of speech Polyptoton , emphasizing their determination. Burning in fire, not waiting for sun. See note on "brick-kiln", 2 Samuel 12:3 .
slime = bitumen. So tenacious to-day that detachment almost impossible. Compare the slime of Babel with the jewels of Zion (Revelation 21:19 ).
may reach. No Ellipsis here. Hebrew "and its top with the heavens", i.e. with the Zodiac depicted on it, as in ancient temples of Denderah and Esneh in Egypt.
a name. Manifesting independence of God. Nimrod being the rebel leader. See Genesis 10:8-10 , and Compare Genesis 12:2 .
Go to, let Us go down. This is always in judgment (Compare Genesis 18:21 .Exodus 3:8; Exodus 3:8 ). Here in contrast with Genesis 11:4 , to man's "Go to, let us go up". Figure of speech Anthropopatheia, App-6 . See Genesis 11:5 .
Babel. Hebrew = confusion. Compare Job 5:12 , another application of the Hebrew word.
scatter. Septuagint same word as in Acts 8:1 . Result of which was the conversion of the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26 ) of HAM. Saul (Acts 9:0 ) of SHEM. Cornelius (Acts 10:0 ) of JAPHETH. Tongues confounded in judgment (Genesis 11:9 ). Given in grace (Acts 2:4 ). United in glory (Revelation 7:9 ).
Salah.Luke 3:36 says Cainan, but this was probably a gloss from Septuagint, and crept into the text. No second Cainan in Hebrew text here or elsewhere. Compare 1 Chronicles 1:18 .
Generations of Terah. The centre of the eleven. See page 1 and App-29 . Abram the youngest comes first (born 1996). Compare Shem (Genesis 10:21 ), Jacob (Genesis 25:23 ; Genesis 27:15 ), Ephraim (Genesis 48:20 ).
Ur = a city of great pretensions. Recent excavations show luxury and attainments. Abraham no nomad. See note on Genesis 11:28 .
Haran. Not the Haran of Genesis 11:26 above; but Charran (Acts 7:2 , Acts 7:4 ), the frontier town of Babylonian Empire, devoted to the worship of the Moon-god.
died in Haran (Charran). With this Acts 7:4 agrees. Not seeing this, the Massorites wrongly marked Genesis 11:32 with an inverted Nun () as being a dislocation of the Text.
Verse 1
earth = people of the earth. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject). App-6 ; "earth" put for inhabitants.
language. Hebrew "lip". Figure of speech Metonymy (of cause); lip put for language. The chapter begins with man's attempt to unify mankind, and ends with God's new provision to unify all in blessing with Abraham's seed.
Verse 2
from the east = eastward.
Shinar = Babylonia.
Verse 3
said. Sin with their tongues punished in the same manner (Genesis 11:7 ).
burn, &c. Hebrew brick bricks, and burn a burning. Figure of speech Polyptoton , emphasizing their determination. Burning in fire, not waiting for sun. See note on "brick-kiln", 2 Samuel 12:3 .
slime = bitumen. So tenacious to-day that detachment almost impossible. Compare the slime of Babel with the jewels of Zion (Revelation 21:19 ).
Verse 4
may reach. No Ellipsis here. Hebrew "and its top with the heavens", i.e. with the Zodiac depicted on it, as in ancient temples of Denderah and Esneh in Egypt.
a name. Manifesting independence of God. Nimrod being the rebel leader. See Genesis 10:8-10 , and Compare Genesis 12:2 .
Verse 5
came down. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia ( App-6 ).
Verse 7
Go to, let Us go down. This is always in judgment (Compare Genesis 18:21 .Exodus 3:8; Exodus 3:8 ). Here in contrast with Genesis 11:4 , to man's "Go to, let us go up". Figure of speech Anthropopatheia, App-6 . See Genesis 11:5 .
Verse 8
scattered. Septuagint same word as in Acts 8:1 (Isaiah 8:9 ). This was to preserve the revelation contained in the Zodiac and the constellations.
Verse 9
Babel. Hebrew = confusion. Compare Job 5:12 , another application of the Hebrew word.
scatter. Septuagint same word as in Acts 8:1 . Result of which was the conversion of the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26 ) of HAM. Saul (Acts 9:0 ) of SHEM. Cornelius (Acts 10:0 ) of JAPHETH. Tongues confounded in judgment (Genesis 11:9 ). Given in grace (Acts 2:4 ). United in glory (Revelation 7:9 ).
Verse 11
Shem. A return to the main purpose of the Book. See note on Genesis 5:32 .
Verse 12
Salah. Luke 3:36 says Cainan, but this was probably a gloss from Septuagint, and crept into the text. No second Cainan in Hebrew text here or elsewhere. Compare 1 Chronicles 1:18 .
Verse 16
Eber. See above, Genesis 10:24 . Peleg born (Genesis 10:25 ) Genesis 10:14 years before Genesis 11:9 .
Verse 17
Peleg. See above, Genesis 10:25 (Luke 3:36 , Phalec).
Verse 20
Serug born (Luke 3:35 . Saruch).
Verse 24
Terah. Name probably = traveller.
Verse 27
Generations of Terah. The centre of the eleven. See page 1 and App-29 . Abram the youngest comes first (born 1996). Compare Shem (Genesis 10:21 ), Jacob (Genesis 25:23 ; Genesis 27:15 ), Ephraim (Genesis 48:20 ).
Verse 28
before his father. The first death so recorded. Ur = the Uru or "city" of the cuneiform texts. Now = Mugheir on W. bank of Euphrates.
Verse 29
Iscah. See App-29 .
Verse 31
Terah took. Terah being 200 and Abram 70. Compare Genesis 15:7 . Joshua 24:3 .Nehemiah 9:7 . Acts 7:2-4 .Hebrews 11:8 .
daughter in law = daughter by another wife. See App-29 .
they. Others beside those named. Compare Genesis 24:10 , Genesis 24:15 ; Genesis 29:10 .
Ur = a city of great pretensions. Recent excavations show luxury and attainments. Abraham no nomad. See note on Genesis 11:28 .
Haran. Not the Haran of Genesis 11:26 above; but Charran (Acts 7:2 , Acts 7:4 ), the frontier town of Babylonian Empire, devoted to the worship of the Moon-god.
dwelt. Till he died (Genesis 11:32 ).
Verse 32
died in Haran (Charran). With this Acts 7:4 agrees. Not seeing this, the Massorites wrongly marked Genesis 11:32 with an inverted Nun () as being a dislocation of the Text.