Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Ver. 1. OF one language] Since the flood, no doubt. Whether the Hebrew language, which was Adams continued the same among all men, for the space of one thousand six hundred fifty six yeares before the flood, may be more questionable.
And it came to passe] One hundred yeares after the flood, v. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. and ch. 10. 25.
V. 2. They journeyed] Nimrod and his company. Not Noah, Shem, Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, and their godly posterities.
from the East] Likely from about the mountaines of Ararat; which parts are much North-eastward from Shinar, or Chaldea, or Mesopotamia. Or from other Easterne parts.
Shinar] Containes Babylon, Mes…potamia, and the Countries adjacent, foure Cities, afterwards built there by Nimrod, ch. 10. 10.
V. 3. Slime] A pitchy slime.
V. 4. Unto Heaven] An Hyperbole, for the chief, haply to escape another flood.
lest we be scattered] Lest this company be the sooner dispersed. Or when by multiplication they should in after-times be scattered, yet this might remaine as an honourable monument and memorial of their former co-habitation.
V. 6. And now nothing] Ironically, as, ch. 3. 22.
V. 7. Let us go down] See, ch. 1. 26. God speaks of himself after the manner of men, for mans better understanding. A while he suffered them to go on in building.
and confound their language] The number of the several languages now made is uncertain.
V. 8. Scattered them] The thing they sought to prevent by their proud project, v. 4. God for it brings upon them presently.
V. 10. Generations of Shem] Those, ch. 10. 22, &c. were without any mention of the age of the Patriarchs descended from him, when they begat their eldest sonnes, or those by whom the holy line is drawn, and of whom our Saviour descended. And if they had been passed over so, the Chronology of the world had beed lost. But now here they are resumed, and the chaine of Chronology carefully continued. And as there were ten Patriarchs before the flood, counting in Noah, so there are ten after the flood, from Shem to Abraham inclusively. The yeares of the world, in the former ten to the six hundredth yeare of Noah, when the flood came, amounted to the number of 1656. The years from the flood, which was in the ninety eighth yeare of Shems age, to the birth of Abram the tenth Patriarch after the flood, came but to the number of three hundred fifty two yeares: For mans age was shortened about the half at the time of the flood. And again shortened about the half in Pelegs time, at the building of Babel. And yet the third time shortened somewhat near the half in the time of Nahor, as may be seen and observed in the ages of the Patriarchs at their deaths in this chapter.
Arphaxad] The third son of Shem, 1 Chron. 1. 17.
V. 12. Arphaxad begat Salah] Betwixt these is inserted Cainan, as the sonne of Arphaxad, and father of Salah; Luke 3. 35, 36. which would break the chaine of Chronology, and leave unknown the age of the world. The LXX-Translation hath here in Genesis put in that Cainan. And that Translation was much more known, & much more in use in publick Synagogues, in private Libraries and Houses in our Saviours time, then the Authentical Hebrew Text was; yea, thereupon the Holy Writers of the New Testament, in their quotations out of the Old Testament, do follow much the said Translation, even with some variation from the Hebrew Text, though not in any material thing, as the learned well know. This may seem to occasion St. Luke in this of Cainan, to follow the LXX. Translation, though he knew that this Cainan was never in the world, condescending so to the times and weakness of men therein, lest otherwise he might have given occasion of offence, or rather they have taken it.
V. 22. Nahor] The first idolater of the line, ch 31. 53. Josh. 24. 2. And so after him were Terah and Abraham, till God called him out of that place, chap. 11. 31. 12. 1. Rom. 4. 2, 5.
V. 26. Begat Abram, &c.] Began to beget, as, Gen. 5. 32. For Abram was borne in the one hundred and thirtieth yeare of his father Terah; Terah dying at the age of two hundred and five in Haran, ch. 11. 31, 32. and Abram being then seventy five years old, as appears, ch. 12. 4. Acts 7. 4. Likely Haran was the eldest, Nahor the second, and Abram the youngest; as the eldest likewise is named last, ch. 5. 32.
V. 28. In Ur] Nehem. 9. 7. Acts 7. 4. Ur signifieth fire, which likely was worshipped by the idolatrous Chaldeans; and some place or city received denomination from that idol. Heathen Writers call it Orchoe, it is the Easterne part of Mesopotamia, when Mesopotamia is taken in a large sense, comprehending …haldea in it.
of the chaldees] Given much to Astrology, whence such are called Chaldeans, Dan. 2. 2, 4, 5.
Ur of the Chaldees] Called Mesopotamia, Acts 7. 2.
V. 29. Milcah the daughter of Haran] Not another Haran, but Abrams eldest brother, as appears by the next words. He was elder then Abram sixty yeares.
the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah] This Milcab was Grand-mother to Rebecca Isaacs wife, Ge…. 22. 2…, 22, 23. great Grandmother to Rachel and Leah, Gen. 29. 10, 12, 13, 16. This Ischa is Sarai the daughter, i. e. the Grandchilde of Abrahams father, but not the daughter, i. e. the Grandchilde of his mother, Terah having Haran her father by another wife then he had Abraham, Gen. 20. 12. Nahor and Abraham marry their Neeces, their brother Harans daughters, and so Amran takes Jochebed his father Kohaths sister to wife, Exod. 6. 20. Such marriages are forbidden, Lev. 18. 12, 14. however here by divine dispensation tolerated, or not condemned.
V. 31. And Terah took Abram] Abram first motioned this remove; God having appeared to him in Ur of the Chaldees, Acts 7. 2. Gen. 15. 7. And here begin the foure hundred and thirtie yeares, at the end whereof the Israelite, came out of Egypt, Exod. 12. 41. Gal. 3. 17. Nahor came too, though not mentioned here. For he setled in Haran, whence it is called Nahors City, ch. 24. 10. 29. 4. 28. 2, 10.
to Haran] A City of Mesopotamia, but not taking Mesopotamia in a strict sense, as it is taken, Act. 7. 2, 3. Gen. 24 10. 28. 2, 7, 10.
and dwelt there] Likely, through Terahs old age and sicknesse so long, till they got substance and soules there, ch. 12. 5. See, Judeth 5. 8, 9. even five yeares, as may be gathered out of the thirty yeares, between Abrams calling out of Ur, and the birth of Isaac. See, Annot. on ch. 15. v. 13.