Genesis 11 Commentary


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cChart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission
Summary Chart of
The Book of Genesis
Focus Foundation Events
(Four Events)
(Events Predominant)
Foundation People
(Four People)
(People Predominant)
Divisions Creation
(Ge 1-2)
Fall
(Ge 3-5)
Flood
(Ge 6-9)
Nations
(Ge 10-12)
Abraham's
Faith
(Ge 12-24)
Isaac's
Family
(Ge 25-26)
Jacob's Conflicts
(Ge 27-36)
Joseph's
Calamity
(Ge 37-50)
Topics Beginning of the Human Race
(Race As A Whole)
Beginning of the Hebrew Race
(Family of Abraham)
Faithfulness of Mankind
(Noah)
Faithfulness of One Man's Family
(Abraham)
Historical Biographical
Place Eastward
From Eden to Ur
Westward
From Canaan to Egypt
Time ~2000+ Years
(20% of Genesis)
(~4004-2090BC)
About 300 Years
193 Yr in Canaan, 93 Yr in Egypt
(80% of Genesis)
(2090-1804BC)
Primeval History
of Humanity
Patriarchal History
of Israel
Author Moses

BEGINNINGS

  • Ge 1:1-25 - The Universe (Everything)
  • Ge 1:26-2:25 - The Human Race
  • Ge 3:1-7 - Sin Enters the World
  • Ge 3:8-24- God Promises Redemption from Bondage to Sin
  • Ge 4:1-15 - Family Life
  • Ge 4:16ff - Civilization
  • Ge 10:1-11:32 - The Nations of the World
  • Ge 12:1ff - The Story of Israel and the Jews

Genesis 11:1  Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.

  • was - Isa 19:18 Zep 3:9 Ac 2:6 
  • language - Heb. lip
  • speech - Heb. words

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.

Genesis 11:2  It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.

  • from the east - or, eastward, Ge 13:11 
  • Shinar - Ge 11:9 10:10 14:1 Isa 11:11 Da 1:2 Zec 5:11 

It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.

Genesis 11:3  They said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly." And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.

  • they said one to another - Heb. a man said to his neighbour, Go to. Ge 11:4,7 Ps 64:5 Pr 1:11 Ec 2:1 Isa 5:5 41:6,7 Jas 4:13 5:1, not as, Heb 3:13 10:24 
  • burn thoroughly - Heb. burn to a burning
  • brick - Ex 1:14 5:7-18 2Sa 12:31 Isa 9:10 65:3 Na 3:14 
  • slime - Ge 14:10 Ex 2:3 

They said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly." And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.

Genesis 11:4  They said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth."

  • whose - De 1:28 9:1 Da 4:11,22 
  • and let - 2Sa 8:13 Ps 49:11-13 Pr 10:7 Da 4:30 Joh 5:44 
  • lest - Ge 11:8,9 Ps 92:9 Lu 1:51 

They said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.

Genesis 11:5  The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.

  • Ge 18:21 Ex 19:11 Ps 11:4 33:13,14 Jer 23:23,24 Joh 3:13 Heb 4:13 

The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built

Genesis 11:6  The LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.

  • Behold - Ge 3:22 Jdg 10:14 1Ki 18:27 Ec 11:9 
  • the people - Ge 11:1 9:19 Ac 17:26 
  • imagined - Ge 6:5 8:21 Ps 2:1-4 Lu 1:51 

The LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them

Genesis 11:7  "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech."

  • Go to - The Hebrew word signifies, "Come," or, "make preparation," as for a journey or the execution of a purpose.
  • let - Ge 11:5 1:26 3:22 Isa 6:8 
  • confound - Job 5:12,13 12:20 Ps 2:4 33:10 Ac 2:4-11 
  • may - Ge 10:5,20,32 42:23 De 28:49 Ps 55:9 Jer 5:15 1Co 14:2-11,23 

Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech

Genesis 11:8  So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city.

  • Lord - Ge 11:4,9 49:7 De 32:8 Lu 1:51 
  • upon - Ge 10:25,32 

So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city

Genesis 11:9  Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.

  • Babel - that is, Confusion, The tower of Babel, Herodotus informs us, was a furlong or 660 feet, in length and breadth; and, according to Strabo, it rose to the same altitude.  It was of a pyramidical form, consisting of eight square towers, gradually decreasing in breadth, with a winding ascent on the outside, so very broad as to allow horses and carriages to pass each other, and even to turn.  This magnificent structure is so completely destroyed that its very site is doubtful; and when supposed to be discovered, in all cases exhibiting a heap of rubbish. Ge 10:5,10,20,31 Isa 13:1-14:32 Jer 50:1-51:64 1Co 14:23 
  • the face - Ge 10:25,32 Ac 17:26 

Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth

Genesis 11:10  These are the records of the generations of Shem. Shem was one hundred years old, and became the father of Arpachshad two years after the flood;

  • Ge 11:27 10:21,22 1Ch 1:17-27 Lu 3:34-36 

These are the records of the generations of Shem. Shem was one hundred years old, and became the father of Arpachshad two years after the flood

Genesis 11:11  and Shem lived five hundred years after he became the father of Arpachshad, and he had other sons and daughters.

  • Shem - Ge 5:4-32 
  • begat sons - Ge 1:28 5:4 9:7 Ps 127:3,4 128:3,4 144:12 

and Shem lived five hundred years after he became the father of Arpachshad, and he had other sons and daughters

Genesis 11:12  Arpachshad lived thirty-five years, and became the father of Shelah;

  • begat - Lu 3:36 

Arpachshad lived thirty-five years, and became the father of Shelah;

Genesis 11:13  and Arpachshad lived four hundred and three years after he became the father of Shelah, and he had other sons and daughters.

 

Genesis 11:14  Shelah lived thirty years, and became the father of Eber;

  • , Ge 11:14 

Shelah lived thirty years, and became the father of Eber;

Genesis 11:15  and Shelah lived four hundred and three years after he became the father of Eber, and he had other sons and daughters.

  • Ge 11:14 

 and Shelah lived four hundred and three years after he became the father of Eber, and he had other sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:16  Eber lived thirty-four years, and became the father of Peleg;

  • Eber - Ge 10:21,25 Nu 24:24 1Ch 1:19 
  • Peleg - Lu 3:35, Phalec

Eber lived thirty-four years, and became the father of Peleg;

Genesis 11:17  and Eber lived four hundred and thirty years after he became the father of Peleg, and he had other sons and daughters.

  • Ge 11:17 

and Eber lived four hundred and thirty years after he became the father of Peleg, and he had other sons and daughters

Genesis 11:18  Peleg lived thirty years, and became the father of Reu;

  • Reu - Lu 3:35

Peleg lived thirty years, and became the father of Reu

Genesis 11:19  and Peleg lived two hundred and nine years after he became the father of Reu, and he had other sons and daughters.

  • Ge 11:19 

and Peleg lived two hundred and nine years after he became the father of Reu, and he had other sons and daughters

Genesis 11:20  Reu lived thirty-two years, and became the father of Serug;

Serug - Lu 3:35

Reu lived thirty-two years, and became the father of Serug

Genesis 11:21  and Reu lived two hundred and seven years after he became the father of Serug, and he had other sons and daughters.

  • Ge 11:21 

 and Reu lived two hundred and seven years after he became the father of Serug, and he had other sons and daughters

Genesis 11:22  Serug lived thirty years, and became the father of Nahor;

  • Nahor - Jos 24:2

Serug lived thirty years, and became the father of Nahor;

Genesis 11:23  and Serug lived two hundred years after he became the father of Nahor, and he had other sons and daughters.

  • Ge 11:23 

and Serug lived two hundred years after he became the father of Nahor, and he had other sons and daughters

Genesis 11:24  Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and became the father of Terah;

  • Terah - Lu 3:34

Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and became the father of Terah;

Genesis 11:25  and Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years after he became the father of Terah, and he had other sons and daughters.

  • Ge 11:25 

 and Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years after he became the father of Terah, and he had other sons and daughters

Genesis 11:26  Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.

  • Abram - Ge 12:4,5 22:20-24 29:4,5 Jos 24:2 1Ch 1:26,27 

Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran

Genesis 11:27  Now these are the records of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran; and Haran became the father of Lot.

  • Lot - Ge 11:31 12:4 13:1-11 14:12 19:1-29 2Pe 2:7 

Now these are the records of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran; and Haran became the father of Lot.

Genesis 11:28  Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans.

  • Ur - Ge 15:7 Ne 9:7 Ac 7:2-4 

Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans

Genesis 11:29  Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah.

  • Sarai - Ge 17:15 20:12 
  • Milcah - Ge 22:20 24:15 
  • Iscah - Iscah is called the daughter-in-law of Terah, (ver. 31,) as being Abram's wife; yet Abram afterwards said, "she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother." (ch. 20:12.)  Probably Haran was the eldest son of Terah, and Abram his youngest by another wife; and thus Sarai was the daughter, or grand-daughter of Terah, Abram's father, but not of his mother.

Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah

Genesis 11:30  Sarai was barren; she had no child.

  • barren - Ge 15:2,3 16:1,2 18:11,12 21:1,2 25:21 29:31 30:1,2 Jud 13:2 1Sa 1:2 Ps 113:9 Lu 1:7,36 

Sarai was barren; she had no child

Genesis 11:31  Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there.

  • took - Ge 11:26,27 12:1 
  • they went - Ge 11:28 12:1 Jos 24:2,3 Heb 11:8 
  • Ur - Ur was probably the place called Ouri, in Mesopotamia, two days' journey from Nisibis, in the way to the river Tigris. Jos 24:2 Ne 9:7 Ac 7:2-4 
  • the land - Ge 10:19 24:10, B.C. cir, 1923, A.M. cir, 2081
  • Haran - Ge 11:32 12:4 24:10,15 27:43 29:4,5 Ac 7:2-4, Charran

Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there

Genesis 11:32  The days of Terah were two hundred and five years; and Terah died in Haran.

  • Ge 11:32 

The days of Terah were two hundred and five years; and Terah died in Haran.

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