1._And the whole earth was of one language_. Whereas mention had before been made of Babylon in a single word, Moses now more largely explains whence it derived its name. For this is a truly memorable history, in which we may perceive the greatness of men’s obstinacy against God, and the little prof... [ Continue Reading ]
2._They found a plain in the land of Shinar_. It may be conjectured from these words, that Moses speaks of Nimrod and of the people whom he had collected around him. If, however, we grant that Nimrod was the chief leader in the construction of so great a pile, for the purpose of erecting a formidabl... [ Continue Reading ]
3._And they said one to another _(324) That is, they mutually exhorted each other; and not only did every man earnestly put his own hand to the work, but impelled others also to the daring attempt. _Let us make brick_. Moses intimates that they had not been induced to commence this work, on account... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Whose top may reach unto heaven_. This is an hyperbolical form of speech, in which they boastingly extol the loftiness of the structure they are attempting to raise. And to the same point belongs what they immediately subjoin, Let us make us a name; for they intimate, that the work would be such... [ Continue Reading ]
5._And the Lord came down_. The remaining part of the history now follows, in which Moses teaches us with what ease the Lord could overturn their insane attempts, and scatter abroad all their preparations. There is no doubt that they strenuously set about what they had presumptuously devised. But Mo... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Behold, the people is one_. Some thus expound the words, that God complains of a wickedness in men so refractory, that he excites himself by righteous grief to execute vengeance; not that he is swayed by any passions, (329) but to teach us that he is not negligent of human affairs, and that, as h... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Go to, let us go down_. We have said that Moses has represented the case to us by the figure _hypotyposis_, (330) that the judgments of God may be the more clearly illustrated. For which reason, he now introduces God as the speaker, who declares that the work which they supposed could not be reta... [ Continue Reading ]
8._So the Lord scattered them abroad_. Men had already been spread abroad; and this ought not to be regarded as a punishment, seeing it rather flowed from the benediction and grace of God. But those whom the Lord had before distributed with honor in various abodes, he now ignominiously scatters, dri... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Therefore is the name of it called Babel_. Behold what they gained by their foolish ambition to acquire a name! They hoped that an everlasting memorial of their origin would be engraven on the tower; God not only frustrates their vain expectation, but brands them with eternal disgrace, to render... [ Continue Reading ]
10._These are the generations of Shem_. Concerning the progeny of Shem, Moses had said something in the former chapter Genesis 10:1 : but now he combines with the names of the men, the term of their several lives, that we might not be ignorant of the age of the world. For unless this brief descripti... [ Continue Reading ]
27._Terah begat Abram_. Here also Abram is placed first among his brethren, not (as I suppose) because he was the firstborn; but because Moses, intent on the scope of his history, was not very careful in the arrangement of the sons of Terah. It is also possible that he had other sons. For, the reaso... [ Continue Reading ]
28._And Haran died_. Haran is said to have died before the face of his father; because he left his father the survivor. It is also said that he died in his country, that is, in Ur. The Jews turn the proper name into an appellative, and say that he died in the _fire_. For, as they are bold in forging... [ Continue Reading ]
30._But Sarai was barren_. Not only does he say that Abram was without children, but he states the reasons namely, the sterility of his wife; in order to show that it was by nothing short of an extraordinary miracle that she afterwards bare Isaac, as we shall declare more fully in its proper place.... [ Continue Reading ]
31._And Terah took Abram his son_. Here the next chapter ought to commence; because Moses begins to treat of one of the principal subjects of his book; namely, the calling of Abram. For he not only relates that Terah changed his country, but he also explains the design and the end of his departure,... [ Continue Reading ]