Genesis- Chapters -10 & 11

The Earth Becomes Divided.


After the flood, Noah became the first patriarch, teaching his children and grandchildren. Directing them in the way of pure worship. He would teach them about Jehovah's will for the earth to be filled with people under God's righteous rule, lovingly helping each other. Would they exercise their free-will in a correct manner, listening to their patriarch?

Satan and his demons were no longer allowed to take on human form, but that did not stop them from interferring with Jehovah's purpose for the earth. During Noah's lifetime false religion again rose up . This was under the leadership of Nimrod (meaning: rebel) "He displayed himself a mighty hunter in front of Jehovah. That is why there is a saying: "Just like Nimrod a mighty hunter in opposition to Jehovah."-Gen 10:9

Remember, "God blessed Noah and his sons and told them to "Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth." -Gen 9:1

Nimrod 'stirred up the whole world against God's Sovereignty" -Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpetation by Minahem M. Kashen Vol II, 1985 p.79. Nimrod was the first after the flood to unite the scattered patriarchal rule, and gather them under himself as the only head and master; all of this in defiance of Jehovah.

He united them with a purpose, "Come on! Let us build ourselves a city and also a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a celebrated name for ourselves, for fear we may be scattered over all the surface of the earth."-Gen 11:4 This was in direct opposition to God's command to "fill the earth." and it was a rebellion against Noah's position as God's prophet. Reflecting the qualities of Satan the Devil, these rebellious ones wanted the honor for themselves, not for God.

What would God do? "Come now! Let us go down and there confuse their language that they may not listen to one another's language." Accordingly Jehovah scattered them from there over all the surface of the earth, and they gradually left off building the city. That is why its name was called Babel, because there Jehovah had confused the language of all the earth, and Jehovah had scattered them from there over all the surface of the earth." -Gen 11:7-9

This action taken by the only true God at Babel prevented the forming of one united false religion, giving the Devil worship he craved. Not being able to understand one another must have been extremely frustrating. As these rebels were dispersed through out the earth they took with them divided false teachings.

We learn that no human scheme or effort can thwart Jehovah's purpose. (Compare: Gen 9:1; 11:9) Noah and Shem were not involved in the tower building, they continued to obey Jehovah's wise direction and teach it to others. (Gen 9:26)

Noah died about two years before Abram was born, so he got to see Jehovah's judgment on the builders of the Tower of Babel.

The two records of genealogy surrounding the account of the flood -chapters 5 and 10 -connect the entire human race with the first man, Adam, through Noah's three sons.

Descendants of Shem: Assyrians, Chaldeans, Hebrews, Syrians, and some Arabian tribes.

From Ham: Ethiopians, Egyptians, Canaanites, and some African and Arabian tribes.

From Japheth: Indo-Europeans.

This is a good reminder that all humans are related, and all are born equal before God. (Acts 17:26) This truth must affect how we view and treat others.