The Tower of Babel

Genesis 11

The whole earth had one language and a common speech. As they traveled east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they settled there. They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. They said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city with a tower whose top reaches to the heavens. And let us make a name for ourselves, otherwise we be scattered across the surface of the whole earth.”

YHWH came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built. YHWH said, “See! They are one people, and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So YHWH scattered them from there across the surface of all the earth, and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there YHWH confused the language of all the earth. From there, YHWH scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth.

The Descendants of Shem to Abram

This is the history of the generations of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old when he became the father of Arpachshad two years after the flood. Shem lived five hundred years after he became the father of Arpachshad, and he became the father of more sons and daughters.

When Arpachshad lived thirty-five years he became the father of Shelah. Arpachshad lived four hundred three years after he became the father of Shelah, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

When Shelah had lived thirty years, he became the father of Eber. Shelah lived four hundred three years after he became the father of Eber, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

When Eber had lived thirty-four years, and became the father of Peleg. Eber lived four hundred thirty years after he became the father of Peleg, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

When Peleg had lived thirty years, he became the father of Reu. Peleg lived two hundred nine years after he became the father of Reu, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

When Reu had lived thirty-two years, he became the father of Serug. Reu lived two hundred seven years after he became the father of Serug, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

When Serug had lived thirty years, he became the father of Nahor. Serug lived two hundred years after he became the father of Nahor, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

When Nahor had lived twenty-nine years, he became the father of Terah. Nahor lived one hundred nineteen years after he became the father of Terah, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

When Terah had lived seventy years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

The Record of Terah, Abram’s Father

Now this is the history of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran became the father of Lot. Haran died in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldees, while his father Terah was still alive. Abram and Nahor married wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, who was also the father of Iscah. Sarai was barren. She had no child. Terah took Abram his son, Lot the son of Haran, his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife. They went from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan. They came to Haran and lived there. The days of Terah were two hundred five years. Terah died in Haran.