Genesis-Chap-11-1-9

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Re Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!

Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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“Genesis Chapter 11:1-9”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Genesis 11:1-9 presents one of the most profound lessons on human ambition. Following the Flood, humanity finds strength in unity, but that unity is sadly completely misdirected toward self-glorification rather than Divine purpose. The story explores the tension between human technology (the brick) and the natural order, showing how אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) intervenes to ensure diversity and humility across the earth.

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Let us first read Bereshit - Genesis Chapter 11: verses 1 to 9: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah).

1. “And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech. 2. And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3. And they said one to another: ‘Come, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly’. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. 4. And they said: ‘Come, let us build us a city, and a tower, with its top in heaven, and let us make us a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth’. 5. And יְהוָה - the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6. And יְהוָה - the LORD said: ‘Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is what they begin to do; and now nothing will be withholden from them, which they purpose to do. 7. Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech’. 8. So יְהוָה - the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth; and they left off to build the city. 9. Therefore was the name of it called Babel; because יְהוָה - the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth; and from thence did יְהוָה - the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth”.

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Here is the verse by verse section with Scriptures and a full Explanation:

Verse 1: “And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech”.

Explanation: Humanity was perfectly aligned. While “one language” suggests a shared vocabulary, “one speech” implies a singular purpose or mindset. This total uniformity, while powerful, left no room for individual thought or differing moral perspectives”.

Verse 2: “And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there”.

Explanation: Moving “east” in Genesis often suggests a departure from the divine presence. By settling in a flat plain, they sought a place where they could control their environment entirely, away from the varied landscape אֱלֹהִים - Elohim provided.

Verse 3: “And they said one to another: ‘Come, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly’. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar”.

Explanation: This marks a shift from using natural materials (stone) to man-made technology (kiln-fired brick). It represents the birth of “industry”, the belief that human ingenuity can replace or improve upon what is found in nature.

Verse 4: “And they said: ‘Come, let us build us a city, and a tower, with its top in heaven, and let us make us a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth’”.

Explanation: Their motive is twofold: fame (“make us a name”) and security (“lest we be scattered”). They feared the very thing אֱלֹהִים - Elohim commanded to fill the earth. They chose the collective “us” over the path of individual responsibility.

Verse 5: “And יְהוָה - the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded”.

Explanation: This is a humorous, ironical touch in the text. Despite their tower being “in heaven”, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim still has to “come down” just to notice it. It highlights the insignificance of human pride compared to the Infinite.

Verse 6: “And יְהוָה - the LORD said: ‘Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is what they take to do; and now nothing will be withholden from them, which they purpose to do’”.

Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim acknowledges the incredible power of human cooperation. However, if that power is used for tyranny or to defy spiritual laws, it becomes a danger to the world. Their unity had become a “monoculture” that stifled the soul.

Verse 7: “‘Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech’”.

Explanation: By confusing their speech, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim restores diversity. When we cannot understand each other perfectly, we are forced to listen more closely and acknowledge that we do not have all the answers.

Verse 8: So יְהוָה - the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth; and they left off to build the city”.

Explanation: What they feared most being scattered, became their reality. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim used their own project to trigger the dispersion necessary for humanity to grow and inhabit the world as intended.

Verse 9: Therefore was the name of it called Babel; because יְהוָה - the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth; and from thence did יְהוָה - the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth”.

Explanation: The word Babel sounds like the Hebrew word for “confusion” (Balal). The monument to human greatness instead became a permanent symbol of the limits of human ego.

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My Closing Message:

The lesson of Babel is not that unity is bad, but that forced uniformity is dangerous. When we try to build “names” for ourselves through power and technology alone, we lose our connection to the Divine. True strength comes when we use our unique voices to contribute to a greater whole, rather than trying to force everyone to speak the same word.

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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

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For our Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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