v.1-9
1. Overview
(BKC) At the beginning of chapter 11 the whole world is of “one language” and one vocabulary. But chapter 10 has already divided the nations according to peoples and tongues. “Territories,” “clans,” “nations,” and “languages” occur three times, though not always in the same order (10:5, 20, 31). Probably 11:1–9 explains how the arrangement in chapter 10 came about.
2. Repeated word
Scattered: v.4, 8, 9
v.4 “Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens so that we may make a name for ourselves. Otherwise we will be scattered across the face of the entire earth.”
8 So the LORD scattered them from there across the face of the entire earth, and they stopped building the city.
9 That is why its name was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the entire world, and from there the LORD scattered them across the face of the entire earth.
Come v.3, 4, 7
v.3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.”...
v.4.“Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens...
v.7 Come, let’s go down and confuse their language so they won’t be able to understand each other.”
Summary: Man did not want to scattered, but the LORD scatter them. Man said come let us do this and that, but the LORD also said let us do this and that. Although man had advanced technology (to make bricks and tar) and good planning (making brick first and then build the city and a tower), at the end, what the LORD said came true. He brought down their plan.
Why did God brought down the plan of man who did not want to scatter?
The command of God to man since ch 1 was to fill the earth 1:28, 9:1. When man did not want to scatter they were disobedience to God's command.
How did a city and a tower prevent human from scattering?
(ZIBBT) Remembrance takes place in the vicinity of the burial ground. Descendants who move away (as Abraham does in ch. 12) cut the ties of continuity between the past and the present...Should the ties between the ancestor and his offspring dissolve, the family is doomed to dispersion and annihilation.
3. Summary and reflection: It did not matter how smart and how well we plan for things we desire to do. If it is something that is against God's command it wont happen. We need to examine our motive of why we want to disobey God? To prevent dissolving of family tie cannot override what God has commanded. Believe in the good of what God planned for us, do not really on our own effort in rebel against God.
4. Questions
1) Man rebelled against God and did not want to scatter, but God overrode their plan through confusing our languages so that we wont be able to understand each other now.
2) I like to be recognized as someone as smart or knowledgeable. When I did something I thought was impressive I like people to see that.
3) I build up my reputation as "smart."
v.10-26
1. Repeated word:
A. became the father of...lived and had/fathered (other) sons and daughters
This is the exact formula of ch 5, but the Scripture did not mention "and he died"
(BKC) Unlike the genealogy in chapter 5, the list in 11:10–26 does not tally the total number of years of each person and does not close each section with the words “and he died.” Genesis 5:1–6:8 stresses death...
Why?
Context: The phrase, "this is the account of Shem," indicate a new section. And the timing was 2 years after the flood, which means, this happened right after the end of ch 9, where Noah blessed Shem.
26 He also said,
“Worthy of praise is the LORD, the God of Shem!
May Canaan be the slave of Shem!
Genre: (BKC) The genealogy of Shem is a “vertical” genealogy designed to show legitimate ancestry. This type was often used in the ancient world to establish the authenticity of a king or a dynasty. The list in verses 10–26 shows the straight line of Shem, who was blessed, to Abram, thus authenticating God’s handing down the blessing to Abram.
B. Had lived...lived
The years starting to have children was declining from 100 to 35 to 29 y.o. And the difference was even bigger when comparing with the ppl in ch 5 who had their first child at 187 to 65 y.o. However, the total span of their lives was also declining from 500 to just 119. In ch 5 people can live up to 969 to 895 (except Enoch who was taken by the LORD).
Summary: The differences between pre- and post-flood generations are (1) The curse about death was not mentioned (2) People started to have children earlier, but also died earlier.
Why? The reasons are not given by the Scriptures, but the differences are obvious. Therefore, we can conclude that the pre- and post-flood world was difference. Probably (1) The emphasis of the genealogy is the curse from sin in ch 5, but in ch 11 the emphasis is in tracing the blessing from Shem to Abraham; (2) the weather and the food supply were different after the flood. That explains why they lived shorter lives even among the "blessed" family.
Summary and Reflection: Thank God for saving the Noah's family and blessing the Shem's descendent. Abraham believed in God and counted as righteous was foreknown and destinated by God. However, even though his family was under the blessing of God they lived shorter, which can be both a good and bad thing with decaying bodies. Do I thank God for His selection? It is both because of His selection and my faith that I'm saved. How do I see longevity and blessings? Do they always going hand in hand? Not necessary? A blessed life is more important than a long life.
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