Week 5: Genesis 11:1-9

Week 5: Genesis 11:1-9

At A Glance:

Author: Moses or J

Form: Ancient Origin Story

Themes: The growing pride of peoples.  Rebellion against God’s command to scatter.  God’s intervention and punishment of rebellion.

Summary:  These 9 verses mark the transition from the Noah & Sons epic to the Abraham epic.  It delineates how once more humanity rebelled against God and sought to create a name for themselves rather than following the command to scatter across the earth and subdue it.  The rebellion gathers in one city founded by Nimrod (the instigator of the rebellion according to the Josephus tradition).  They erect a tower for themselves to mark their own glory separated from God.  God seeing their actions confuses their speech which forces them to scatter as he had originally commanded.

Commentary:

11:1-9 – Many scholars attribute this story to the J source.  It is placed at some point during the years in which Nimrod and Peleg lived.  The reference in Gn 10:25 could be an allusion to the idea that during his life the Lord divided the languages from the rebellion at the Tower of Babel. 

11:2 – Considering the map from my previous post you can see that Shinar is where the kingdom of Babylon will arise.  We know from 10:8-12 that Nimrod founded this kingdom and according to Josephus it was Nimrod that instigated this rebellion and called people to depart from God’s plan and unite in a single massive city. 

11:3-4 – Twice the rebels say “come let us” God will use this very language in his response to their rebellion.  They desired to make themselves famous by making a name for themselves through building of this enormous tower showing that ultimately their sin comes from pride (the love of oneself over God which is also self-idolatry).  There is also an additional play on words here.  They desire to make a “name” for themselves  the descendants of Ham were to be under the authority of Shem whose name literally translates to “name” in Hebrew.  Additionally God will make the connection to making a name in Abraham when he promises that he “will make your name great” 12:5. 

11:5 – It is curious that in the midst of rebellion God seems to be close even though those rebelling against him do not recognize him and repent.   This occurred in Gen 3 when God came to visit Adam in the garden and in 6 when God came down to see the limits of the depravity of man. 

11:6 – “nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them”  Some readers interpret this sentence as if God is afraid of the creative power of humanity, but this interpretation does not fit the theme of the rest of the text well.  God has been shown thus far with supreme sovereignty over all and supreme power of creation and destruction.  God also has been shown to show great mercy.  This verse is better understood as a verse of mercy.  If man is allowed to continue to do anything without limits he will surely destroy himself as he began to in the days before the great flood. 

11:7-8 – Rather than destroying them for their prideful rebellion God confused their language and scattered them across the earth.

11:9 – This verse gives the origin of why the city is called Babylon. 

Final thoughts:

            This story shows our great need for closeness to God and his revelation to us.  During the years after the flood as the earth began to be repopulated there was no further revelation from God other than the tradition handed down from Noah and his sons.  This caused their faith to waver given humanities evil inclinations.  They may have believed on some level, but they lived as if there was no God. 

            This is one of the primary reasons why I endeavor in completing this immense Bible Study.  Many of us believe with our lips but live our lives as if there is no God.  Like the rebellion at Babylon we are content to hold onto our own powers to find our true happiness rather than relying on God.  Do not misunderstand as if I am instructing you.  I am instructing myself as much as anyone else.  Diving into God’s word at this depth is not an easy undertaking, but it forces me to be consumed by God’s revelation.  I’m surrounded by commentaries, translations, and prayers through the scriptures reminding me that in God is where I am most fulfilled and apart from him I am less myself.  I struggle daily to follow God’s will over my own and separated from the accountability of this Online Bible Study I could easily put aside my studies for more leisurely weekends.  I find that the more I separate myself from God’s revelation the easier I fall into sin.  I believe but when I am not surrounded by God’s revelation my words and deeds resemble someone who lives as if there is no God. 

            “Hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours” 2 Thes 2:15. It is in God’s self-revelation where we find out who we really are and his plan for us.  Uniting our will with his we can build a lasting, full, and joy-filled life for “Unless the LORD build the house, they labor in vain who build” Ps 127:1.

Please feel free to share your additional thoughts and insights on this passage…    

Week 5: Genesis 10:1-32

Week 5: Genesis 10:1-32

At A Glance:

Author: Moses or J & P mix

Form: Genealogy

Themes: The unity of all peoples on earth from one family.  The repopulation of the earth.  The foundation of future nations.

Summary:  This chapter is a remarkably good classification of various peoples known to ancient Israelites.  It tells how all the varying nations came from the 3 sons of Noah.  As will be seen the descendants of Ham become recurring enemies of the descendants of Shem.  Until this time the emphasis has been on God’s command to multiply, this “Table of Nations” emphasizes God’s command to fill the earth.  The genealogy separates the descendants of the three sons by language, land, and nation. 

Commentary:

10:1-32 – I feel the best way to help understand what the author(s) of this text are trying to portray would be to display a map of the known cities named from this “Table of Nations”:

This is a good representation of the nations and lands that Shem, Ham, and Japheth expand into.  Below is a good flow chart for the names of the sons descendant from Noah’s boys:

Japheth represents mostly Indo-European languages, Ham the Hamitic speaking peoples of northern Africa, and Shem the Semitic peaking people of Mesopotamia. 

10:8-12 – This additional fact about the man Nimrod stands out from the rest of the Table of Nations.  Some scholars see this as an addition to the text from the J source probably added by the master redactor.  It provides much theological importance.  The emphasis on Nimrod as a “mighty hunter”, “mighty man” and the Septuagint translates “giant” led to a Hebrew tradition that he was not simply a hunter of beasts but of his fellow men.  He builds the foundations for the future kingdoms of Babylon and Assyria the kingdoms that will eventually capture and exile the northern kingdom of Israel in 722BC and the southern kingdom of Judah in 586BC.  According to Josephus Nimrod stirred within men a rebellion against God teaching that happiness must come from themselves not from the Lord.  If this legend about Nimrod is true this would make him the first heretic after the great flood naming him the human father of idolatry. 

10:21-31 – Shem becomes the father of all Semitic people including Israel.  The name Eber may be related to “Hebrew”.

Final Thoughts:

            The Table of Nations lists a total of 70 names (if you don’t count Noah & his sons).  The number 70 represents the totality of something.  It is used later in Gen 46:27 and Ex 1:5 to represent the total number of the Israelites.   This numbering makes emphasis of the totality of all the nations as known by the ancient Israelites.  From one surviving family comes salvation through the Jews, and also great wars and oppression. 

            I’m reminded of a couple of things while reading this genealogy.  First I’m reminded that all peoples of the earth are essentially one human family.  We may not all be baptized brethren but we are brothers and sisters of the human race none-the-less.  I think this is evident in the midst of great tragedy like a Tsunami or earthquake on the other side of the world.  Watching the destruction from the safety of our homes thousands of miles away from any real danger our hearts reach across the distance to those brothers and sisters who are suffering.   We feel compelled to respond.

            In contrast when life is comfortable we look at our brothers and sisters who are different from us in culture and ideology with contempt.  Conflict occurs between those who have and those who have not.  This contrast between contempt and compassion occurs on the macro-scale of the human family but also on the micro-scale of our individual families.  When tragedy strikes our families even members who are estranged often find forgiveness or at least the setting aside of differences for focus on the common good.  However we all grow up differently.  We develop ideologies that not only differ from our family but can be opposed to the ideologies of other family members.  If we are not careful to focus on our common house we can become like Nimrod who failed to recognize his brethren in his hunting of them for dominion over them. 

            This brings me to my second thought.  Given our different ideologies from the macro-scale to the micro-scale those who are powerful, more articulate, charismatic, clever, or outspoken can be tempted to dominate over those who have opposing ideologies.  In our rationalizations we tell ourselves that it is better for them to believe the way I believe because ultimately I am right.  Using our might in words or force we impose our ideologies (however correct they maybe) on someone who does not accept them.  We become like Nimrod hunting down our own family.  This is not preaching against evangelization but rather against proselytizing. 

            Evangelization is a presentation in word and deed of the good news.  That good news is Jesus!  We evangelize when we invite others into deep relationship with Jesus in our words and actions.  Evangelization is about invitation.  During his earthly ministry Jesus invited people into relationship with him.  People responded in one of two possible ways: they followed him, or they rejected him.  Jesus did not force his Gospel to those who rejected him, but rather respected their freewill.  Jesus is often depicted as sad or amazed at their unbelief but he allows them to reject him still.  Proselytizing has to “win over” the one in opposition.  Those who proselytize are not content in walking away sad or in amazement of disbelief but will often railroad the opposing view.  I believe that proselytizing pushes people away from Jesus more than invites them to consider him. 

            To summarize my thoughts from the Table of Nations:  We are one human family different in culture and ideology, but united through our common creator.  When we interact with one another we can either invite others in our words and deeds or we can breed contempt in our words and deeds.  Don’t be a Nimrod.

            Please feel free to share your additional thoughts and insights on this passage…