Genesis 11:1-9

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
  • Bereshit 11: Massoretic, Hebrew, Aramaic, JPS.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Navigating the Bible: Text/Rabbinic commentary and Divrei Torah.

  • Chapter CII, Chapter CXXVII, Dialogue With Trypho, Justin Martyr. (c 160)

  • IV.I, V.XXIX, Against Celsus, Origen (c. 246)

  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org
  • From Calvin's Commentary on Genesis.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "By this great plague of the confusion of tongues appears God's horrible judgment against man's pride and vain glory."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "The children of men never did, nor ever will, come all together again, till the great day, when the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of his glory, and all nations shall be gathered before him."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "And the Lord said, Behold the people is one, and they have all one language - And if they continue one, much of the earth will be left uninhabited, and these children of men, if thus incorporated, will swallow up the little remnant of God's children, therefore it is decreed they must not be one."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "Thus easily by God their purpose was defeated, and they were compelled to the dispersion they had combined to prevent. It is only from the Scriptures we learn the true origin of the different nations and languages of the world. By one miracle of tongues men were dispersed and gradually fell from true religion. By another, national barriers were broken down--that all men might be brought back to the family of God."
• Contemporary References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • Genesis 11:1-9, Pentecost C, The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
    • "The ‘tower of Babel’ story needs to be seen in context and some background outlined."
  • Genesis 11:1-9, Studies on Old Testament texts from Series C, Ralph W. Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
  • Blogging toward Sunday, Theolog: The Blog of The Christian Century. Current lectionary comments are by Debbie Blue, 2007.
    • "As a preacher I would juxtapose the garden’s loamy fecundity with hard, kiln-baked bricks..."
  • "The Very Tall Tale of Babel," Rabbi Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center.
    • "I am suggesting that we look beneath these tales of Torah to explore what sort of history and spiritual conflict gave birth to the tales."
  • "Commentary on Genesis 11:1-9: Pentecost Sunday," Dennis R. Bratcher, Christian Resource Institute.
    • "This is one of the strongest affirmations in Scripture that God, and his purposes in the world, is the only adequate center of unity in the human family. Any other attempt at unity will only end in confusion."
  • "The Cultural Geography of Cloning," study guide for adults, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Cloning," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2005.
  • Pentecost Vigil Mini-Studies, Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.
  • "Scattered!" Expository Essay, Genesis 45:1-11, 15, Dr. William R. Long. Part 2.
  • Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion, Genesis 11:1-9 / Acts 2:1-21, Wesley White. "A place of conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
    • "Trying to take control in order to be on top leads inevitably to confusion."
  • "The Unity of Unbelief," from the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "Man’s plans will never thwart God’s purposes."
  • Parshas Noach, Divrei Torah from The Project Genesis Torah Study. Index to numerous Orthodox articles and studies on Genesis 6:9 - 11:32.
  • Parshat Noach, articles and commentary by the Jewish Community of Atlanta, at The Torah From Dixie.
• Articles & Background:
  • "An Overlooked Message: The Critique of Kings and Affirmation of Equality in the Primeval History," Robert K. Gnuse, Biblical Theology Bulletin, 2006.
    • "Kings who receive the strident barbs of the author include not only Mesopotamian rulers, but also, by implication, the rulers of Israel and Judah, who likewise abused their powers. This exilic critique of kings is also, in turn, part of the great biblical message affirming human equality and dignity, and it speaks a powerful egalitarian word to any age."
  • "The Tower of Babel: An Archaeologically Informed Reinterpretation," Steve Reimer, Direction, 1996.
    • "… the Tower of Babel … an extremely contemporary and timely reminder to a culture and a Church that is rapidly embracing the sins of an urban environment."
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
  • Adams, David L., "Homiletical Helps on LW Series C - Old Testament," Concordia Journal, 2007. (Section on this text begins on p. 190)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Anderson, Bernhard W., "Unity and Diversity in God's Creation: A Study of the Babel Story," Currents in Theology and Mission, 1978.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Cloete, G.D. and D.J. Smit, "Exegesis and Proclamation: 'Its Name Was Called Babel,'" Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, 1994.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • deClaissé-Walford, Nancy L., "God Came Down...and God Scattered: Acts of Punishment or Acts of Grace?" Review & Expositor, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • deWitt, Dale S., "The Historical Background of Genesis 11:1-9: Babel or Ur?" Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1979.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Eslinger, Lyle, "The Enigmatic Plurals Like 'One of Us' (Genesis 1:26, 3:22, and 11:7) in Hyperchronic Perspective," Vetus Testamentum, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Fernandez, Eleazar S., "Finding a Home in the Belly of the Empire," Semeia, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • González, Justo L., and Catherine G. González, "Babel and Empire: Pentecost and Empire, Preaching on Genesis 11:1-9 and Acts 2:1-12," Journal for Preachers, 1993.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Harland, P.J., "Vertical or Horizontal: The Sin of Babel," Vetus Testamentum, 1998.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hiebert, Theodore, "The Tower of Babel and the Origin of the World's Cultures," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lowry, James S., "It Was a Warm Day in..." Journal for Preachers, 1995. Sermon.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Macchia, Frank D., "Unity and Otherness: Lessons from Babel and Pentecost," The Living Pulpit, 2004.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Parker, Paula, "Between Text & Sermon: Genesis 11:1-9," Interpretation, 2000.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Patterson, Richard D., "The Imagery of Clouds in the Scriptures," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Penley, Paul T., "A Historical Reading of Genesis 11:1-9: The Sumerian Demise and Dispersion under the Ur III Dynasty," Journal of the Evanglical Theological Society, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Reimer, Steve, "The Tower of Babel: An Archaeologically Informed Reinterpretation," Direction, 1996.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Strong, John T., "Shattering the Image of God: a Response to Theodore Hiebert's Interpretation of the Story of the Tower of Babel," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Wagenaar, Hinne, "Babel, Jerusalem and Kumba: Missiological Reflections on Genesis 11:1-9 and Acts 2:1-13," International Review of Mission, 2003.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Whybray, Roger N., "The Immorality of God: Reflections on Some Passages in Genesis, Job, Exodus and Numbers," Journal of the Study of the Old Testament, 1996.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Reviews:
• Sermons:
• With Children:
  • "The Tower of Babel," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • "Tower of Babel," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
  • "The Lord Confuses the Language of the People into Babble," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "The Tower of Babel," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
  • Two confused post-Babel dogs, Tower of Jenga, A good college education, Stop Your Babeling, Babel chorus, Confused parrot, Smitin' clouds, Alternate, Reverend Fun Cartoon, gospelcom.net. Check for printing permissions at right-hand side of destination page.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Genesis 11:9. The Cyber Hymnal.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Tower of Babel
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Genesis