A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Genesis · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
ANd the whole earth was of one language▪ and of one ſpeech.]
Now Moſes returns to relate more particularly that memorable ſtory of the building of Babel, premiſing this in the firſt place by way of Introduction, that the whole earth was of one language, that is, that the men of the earth before the building of Babel ſpake all one language, and ſo had done 1757 years. Now that this language was Hebrew, it is by almoſt all learned men commonly agreed; and not without cauſe, both b…cauſe all the names of the Patriarchs before and after the Floud are made of Hebrew words, and becauſe it is not likely but the firſt language was continued by God amongſt his Church, in that better progenie of Noah, that had no hand in the building of Babel.
Verſ. 2. And it came to paſſe as they, &c.]
To wit, The men or the inhabitants of the earth before ſpoken of, which is thus generally expreſſed, onelyonly becauſe the greateſt part of them removed in this Colony together with Nimrod the captain and chief of the Plantation; for that Noah, Shem, and the reſt of Noahs better progen…e were not preſent at the building of Babel, this (if nothing elſe) would plainly prove, becauſ… the firſt language continued ſtill in that holy line. The greateſt difficultie of this place is, how it can be ſaid of this Colony of men, that came now to the land of Shinar, which was Chaldea, that they journeyed from the Eaſt, ſince Armenia, where it is commonly held that Noah went out of the Ark, and near to which therefore the poſteritie of Noah had doubtleſſe hitherto dwelt, did not lie on the Eaſt of Chaldea where the tower of Babel was built. But to this I anſwer, that if we take the hills of Taurus or Caucaſus between the Eaſt Indies and Scythia to be thoſe mountains of Ararat, where the Ark reſted (for ſo ſome conceive) then this place is clear; for they lie Eaſtward from the land of Chaldea, here called the land of Shinar: If we retain the common opinion, that thoſe mountains of Ararat were the hills of Armenia, we muſt conceive that they had removed formerly from the place where the Ark reſted, and ſettled themſelves in ſome countrey that lay Eaſt of Chaldea, and thence turned again Weſtward, and planted themſelves in this place.
Verſ. 3. And ſlime had they for morter.]
A kind of naturall lime plentifull in thoſe parts, and ſlimie like pitch.
Verſ. 4. Leſt we be ſcattered abroad upon the face of the earth.]
That is, left hereafter when this place proves too ſtrait for us, we be ſcattered abroad upon the face of the earth in ſeverall Colonies to ſeverall places, let us now whilſt we are together do ſome thing that may get us a name, leave ſome monument ſtanding that may be famous throughout the world.
Verſ. 5. And the Lord came down to ſee the city and the tower.]
Here, as ordinarily elſewhere in the Scripture, God ſpeaks of himſelf after the manner of men. God is every where preſent, and ſeeth all things at all times that are done upon the face of the earth, neither can he be properly therefore ſaid to remove from one place to another; ſo that this expreſſion of the Lords coming down to ſee the city and the tower, &c. is onelyonly to imply, 1. That however the Lord did awhile wink at this their madde and proud attempt, and ſuffered them to go on, as if he took no notice of it; yet at length by his judgement upon them he diſcovered that he was preſent with them, and ſaw all their proceedings; and 2. That this arrogant attempt of theſe Babel-builders was ſuch, as did indeed upon exact enquiry, deſerve the ſeverity of Gods enſuing proceedings againſt them, and that God was moſt juſt and righteous in all that he did to them.
Verſ. 26. And Terah lived ſeventy years and begat Abram, Nahor▪ and Haran.]
That is, he began to beget them; one of theſe his ſonnes was then born, to wit, Nahor: for that Abram was not born till the hundred and thirty year of his father Terahs age, is moſt plain, if we compare diligently theſe places together: Gen. 11. 32. And the dayes of Terah were …wo hundred and five years; and Terah died in Haran. Gen. 12. 4. And Abram was ſeventy five years old when he departed out of Haran. Act. 7. 4. And from thence when his father was dead he removed him into this land, &c. For had Abram been born in the ſeventieth year of his fathers age, when his father died two hundred and five years old, he muſt needs be one hundred thirty five years old: which cannot be. For when Abram went into Canaan, which was after his fathers death, Acts 7. he was but ſeventy five years old, Gen 12. 4. But on the contrary, if Abram was ſeventy five years old when his father died in Haran two hundred and five years old, it muſt needs follow that Abram was born when his father Terah was one hundred and thirty.
Verſ. 29. Milcah the daughter of Haran.]
If this were (as ſome conceive) another Haran, and not the brother of Abram, and ſo the following clauſe, the father of Milcah, the father of Iſcah, be added to diſtinguiſh this from that other Haran, the brother of Abram; then is there no difficulty in this place. But the moſt of Expoſitours conceive otherwiſe▪ namely that both M…lcah and Sarai (otherwiſe called Iſcah) were the daughters of Haran the ſonne of Terah, and married to their uncles Abram and Nahor; and yet is this no proof that ſuch matches were then lawfull. Rather we may think that both Nahor and Abram were in a manner neceſſitated to marry their nieces, the ſiſters of Lot, and daughters of their brother Haran, becauſe they would not match with ſtrangers in thoſe corrupt times that vvere generally fallen from the t…ue Religion; and that theſe matches vvere by ſpeciall toleration or diſpenſation from God, either at firſt permitted, or at leaſt aftervvard allovved and approved, though othervviſe unlavvfull by the common rule and lavv of Nature.
Verſ. 31. And Terah took Abram his ſonne.]
To vvit, Abram having firſt diſcovered to him, hovv the Lord had in a revelation charged him to leave his countrey, and go into a land vvhichwhich he vvould ſhevv him, to vvit, Canaan: for it is clear▪ Act. 7. 2. that God appeared to Abram in Ʋr of the Chaldees, before he came to Haran, and commanded him to go into Canaan; ſo that Abram firſt motioned this remove, though Terah be here firſt named, becauſe he vvas the father of the family.
And they came unto Haran and dwelt there.]
This firſt remove vvas vvith a purpoſe to go into Canaan; but being ſtricken in years, or othervviſe diſabled for travel, he ſtayed there in Haran, and after a fevv years died.