This section will explore answers to the following questions ...
• What is the Biblical Tower of Babel?
• What happened at the Tower of Babel
• Is there evidence for the Tower of Babel outside the Bible?
• Where can I learn more about the Biblical Account of Babel?
• What is the Biblical Tower of Babel? The Tower of Babel (Hebrew: מגדל בבל, Migdāl Bāḇẹl) was a monumental building whose construction by the Babylonians and subsequent events are described in the Biblical book of Genesis. It was built by Nimrod (Noah's great grandson) shortly after the global flood, and resulted in bringing God's judgment once again on mankind. As a result of this action, God “confused" their “language”. It is an important event in Biblical anthropology in explaining why there are multiple distinct languages and races today. The approximate date of its building Built::Tammuz 1762 AM) is given by James Ussher, who in The Annals of the World cites Manetho's Book of Sothis, as translated by Georgius Syncellus, as stating that the Babel incident took place five years following the birth year of Peleg. According to Genesis 11, all humans spoke the same language immediately following the global flood. Those who migrated to the east and settled in the land of Shinar decided to build a city and a great tower out of baked bricks to make a name for themselves. Because there is no archaeological evidence of buildings from antediluvian civilizations, the Tower of Babel was the first major monument ever built of which any evidence might remain. The biblical history of the Babel community shows that they used fire-baked bricks rather than sun-baked bricks. This is significant because this allows increased strength and the possibility of a tremendous structure. It is these fine details of the biblical text that show historical narrative as the structure of these passages. It is also important to note that the Babel community were also building a city in the periphery of the Tower. God intentionally scattered mankind to retard their technological advancement by confusing their speech. The origin of the various root languages is presumably linked to this event. God apparently created several unique languages to scatter humans throughout the world. Current estimates place the number of distinct language families at 94. This action separated humans into several groups allowing physical differences to develop. All human ancestry traces back to Noah and his family only 4500 years ago, and then even further back to Adam and Eve. We are all close relatives, and the differences that distinguish the human races should be considered superficial at best. (Source: Creation Wiki, Tower of Babel, http://creationwiki.org/Tower_of_Babel)
• What happened at the Tower of Babel? The Tower of Babel is described in Genesis 11:1-9. After the Flood, God commanded humanity to “increase in number and fill the earth" (Genesis 9:1). Humanity decided to do the exact opposite, “Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4). Humanity decided to build a great city and all congregate there. They decided to build a gigantic tower as a symbol of their power, to make a name for themselves (Genesis 11:4). This tower is remembered as the Tower of Babel. In response, God confused the languages of humanity so that they could no longer communicate with each other (Genesis 11:7). The result was that people congregated with other people who spoke the same language, and then went together and settled in other parts of the world (Genesis 11:8-9). God confused the languages at the Tower of Babel to enforce His command for humanity to spread throughout the entire world. Some Bible teachers also believe that God created the different races of humanity at the Tower of Babel. This is possible, but it is not taught in the biblical text.
• What is the Biblical Tower of Babel?
• What happened at the Tower of Babel
• Is there evidence for the Tower of Babel outside the Bible?
• Where can I learn more about the Biblical Account of Babel?
• What is the Biblical Tower of Babel? The Tower of Babel (Hebrew: מגדל בבל, Migdāl Bāḇẹl) was a monumental building whose construction by the Babylonians and subsequent events are described in the Biblical book of Genesis. It was built by Nimrod (Noah's great grandson) shortly after the global flood, and resulted in bringing God's judgment once again on mankind. As a result of this action, God “confused" their “language”. It is an important event in Biblical anthropology in explaining why there are multiple distinct languages and races today. The approximate date of its building Built::Tammuz 1762 AM) is given by James Ussher, who in The Annals of the World cites Manetho's Book of Sothis, as translated by Georgius Syncellus, as stating that the Babel incident took place five years following the birth year of Peleg. According to Genesis 11, all humans spoke the same language immediately following the global flood. Those who migrated to the east and settled in the land of Shinar decided to build a city and a great tower out of baked bricks to make a name for themselves. Because there is no archaeological evidence of buildings from antediluvian civilizations, the Tower of Babel was the first major monument ever built of which any evidence might remain. The biblical history of the Babel community shows that they used fire-baked bricks rather than sun-baked bricks. This is significant because this allows increased strength and the possibility of a tremendous structure. It is these fine details of the biblical text that show historical narrative as the structure of these passages. It is also important to note that the Babel community were also building a city in the periphery of the Tower. God intentionally scattered mankind to retard their technological advancement by confusing their speech. The origin of the various root languages is presumably linked to this event. God apparently created several unique languages to scatter humans throughout the world. Current estimates place the number of distinct language families at 94. This action separated humans into several groups allowing physical differences to develop. All human ancestry traces back to Noah and his family only 4500 years ago, and then even further back to Adam and Eve. We are all close relatives, and the differences that distinguish the human races should be considered superficial at best. (Source: Creation Wiki, Tower of Babel, http://creationwiki.org/Tower_of_Babel)
• What happened at the Tower of Babel? The Tower of Babel is described in Genesis 11:1-9. After the Flood, God commanded humanity to “increase in number and fill the earth" (Genesis 9:1). Humanity decided to do the exact opposite, “Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4). Humanity decided to build a great city and all congregate there. They decided to build a gigantic tower as a symbol of their power, to make a name for themselves (Genesis 11:4). This tower is remembered as the Tower of Babel. In response, God confused the languages of humanity so that they could no longer communicate with each other (Genesis 11:7). The result was that people congregated with other people who spoke the same language, and then went together and settled in other parts of the world (Genesis 11:8-9). God confused the languages at the Tower of Babel to enforce His command for humanity to spread throughout the entire world. Some Bible teachers also believe that God created the different races of humanity at the Tower of Babel. This is possible, but it is not taught in the biblical text.
On the origin of the races, please read our article
http://www.gotquestions.org/different-races.html
It seems more likely that the different races existed prior to the Tower of Babel and that God confused the languages at least partially based on the different races. From the Tower of Babel, humanity divided based on language (and possibly race) and settled in various parts of the world. Genesis 10:5, 20 and 31 describe Noah's descendants spreading out over the earth “by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.” How is this possible since God did not confuse the languages until the Tower of Babel in Genesis chapter 11? Genesis 10 lists the descendants of Noah's three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. It lists their descendants for several generations. With the long life spans of that time (see Genesis 11:10-25), the genealogies in Genesis 10 likely cover several hundreds of years. The Tower of Babel account, told in Genesis 11:1-9, is a “flashback” to the point in Genesis 10 when the languages were confused. Genesis 10 tells us of different languages. Genesis 11 tells us how the different languages originated.
Why did God confuse humanity's languages at the Tower of Babel? (http://www.gotquestions.org/Tower-of-Babel.html, Got Questions)
• Is there evidence for the Tower of Babel outside the Bible? Sumerian literature contains a probable retelling of the Babel story, in the epic of “Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta.” A speech by Enmerker makes clear reference to a time when all men spoke one language, until the king of Sumerian gods confused the language of men. Max F. Muller, in Science of Language, observed categorically that all the ancient languages are indeed compatible with one common origin. Earlier, Sir William Jones, writing in 1786, observed: “The Sanskrit language, whatever may be its antiquity, is of wonderful structure; more perfect than Greek, more copious than Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either; yet bearing to both of them a stronger affinity, both in the roots of verbs and the forms of grammar, than could have been produced by accident; so strong that no philologer could examine all three without believing them to have sprung from some common source which no longer exists.” Sanskrit was the classical language of India and today is considered the primary bridge between Hebrew and other Semitic languages, and the Greek and Latin of Western civilization. Jones further included the Gothic, Celtic and Persian (Farsi) languages in what is now known as the Indo-European family of languages. But the similarities are not confined to this family. G. Ch. Aalders stated that the ancient languages of Assyria and Egypt had much in common with those of the Maya and Inca peoples of the Americas. Harold Stigers observed in 1976 that language scholars were rapidly concluding that all languages had a common root. Even secular scholars must now admit as much, whether they accept the story of the Tower of Babel or not. The above-mentioned epic of Enmerkar is not the only extra-Biblical mention of the Babel event. Flavius Josephus mentions it, of course, in his Antiquities. In addition, the philosopher Plato and the Greek historian Abydenus both mention an incident involving a confusion of languages. Abydenus also states that this incident was connected with a tower in Babylonia that was destroyed. The Genesis account contains a level of detail, including clear references to kiln-fired bricks and the use of bitumen for mortar, that one would expect from a historical account and not from a myth. Those details are also entirely consistent with the setting of the story in ancient Babylonia and not in those parts of Mesopotamia where such materials would be unknown or prohibitively expensive. The precise location of the Tower of Babel remains unknown. However, the translator of the Epic of Gilgamesh reported in 1880 a fragmentary inscription that tells of an incident that might be the Babel Incident: “The building of this temple offended the gods. In a night they threw down what had been built. They scattered them abroad, and made strange their speech. The progress they impeded.” (Creation Wiki, Tower of Babel, http://creationwiki.org/Tower_of_Babel)
The Account of Babel in the Chinese Language
Why did God confuse humanity's languages at the Tower of Babel? (http://www.gotquestions.org/Tower-of-Babel.html, Got Questions)
• Is there evidence for the Tower of Babel outside the Bible? Sumerian literature contains a probable retelling of the Babel story, in the epic of “Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta.” A speech by Enmerker makes clear reference to a time when all men spoke one language, until the king of Sumerian gods confused the language of men. Max F. Muller, in Science of Language, observed categorically that all the ancient languages are indeed compatible with one common origin. Earlier, Sir William Jones, writing in 1786, observed: “The Sanskrit language, whatever may be its antiquity, is of wonderful structure; more perfect than Greek, more copious than Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either; yet bearing to both of them a stronger affinity, both in the roots of verbs and the forms of grammar, than could have been produced by accident; so strong that no philologer could examine all three without believing them to have sprung from some common source which no longer exists.” Sanskrit was the classical language of India and today is considered the primary bridge between Hebrew and other Semitic languages, and the Greek and Latin of Western civilization. Jones further included the Gothic, Celtic and Persian (Farsi) languages in what is now known as the Indo-European family of languages. But the similarities are not confined to this family. G. Ch. Aalders stated that the ancient languages of Assyria and Egypt had much in common with those of the Maya and Inca peoples of the Americas. Harold Stigers observed in 1976 that language scholars were rapidly concluding that all languages had a common root. Even secular scholars must now admit as much, whether they accept the story of the Tower of Babel or not. The above-mentioned epic of Enmerkar is not the only extra-Biblical mention of the Babel event. Flavius Josephus mentions it, of course, in his Antiquities. In addition, the philosopher Plato and the Greek historian Abydenus both mention an incident involving a confusion of languages. Abydenus also states that this incident was connected with a tower in Babylonia that was destroyed. The Genesis account contains a level of detail, including clear references to kiln-fired bricks and the use of bitumen for mortar, that one would expect from a historical account and not from a myth. Those details are also entirely consistent with the setting of the story in ancient Babylonia and not in those parts of Mesopotamia where such materials would be unknown or prohibitively expensive. The precise location of the Tower of Babel remains unknown. However, the translator of the Epic of Gilgamesh reported in 1880 a fragmentary inscription that tells of an incident that might be the Babel Incident: “The building of this temple offended the gods. In a night they threw down what had been built. They scattered them abroad, and made strange their speech. The progress they impeded.” (Creation Wiki, Tower of Babel, http://creationwiki.org/Tower_of_Babel)
The Account of Babel in the Chinese Language
(http://www.noahs-ark.tv/chinese/bible-evidences-chinese-language-characters-words-tower-of-babel-genesis.htm)
Genesis 10 is primarily a record of genealogies and the various divisions which would eventually take place. However, when we come to Genesis 11, we see what caused the division of nations and languages mentioned in the preceding chapter. All the people of the earth were together in the plain of Shinar and shared one language. They were determined to build a tower “whose top is in the heavens.” (Genesis 11:4, NKJV).
The Tower. A Chinese word for TOWER (ta) is descriptive of both the materials use to build the tower and the unity of the people who were making it. The components used to make bricks for the tower were DUST and GRASS. All the PEOPLE involved in the project were of ONE MOUTH or language.
• Where can I learn more about the Biblical Account of Babel?
Tower of Babel (5:00)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZDfzArL42I
Language Families (1:56)
http://www.icr.org/content/taf32
Genesis 10 documents about 70 different language families in its Table of Nations.
ICR, That's a Fact
The Tower of Babel (48:01)
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/bible/tower-of-babel
AIG, Bodie Hodge on June 30, 2015
The Tower of Babel (DVD)
https://answersingenesis.org/store/product/tower-babel/?sku=30-9-407
AIG, SKU: 30-9-407, Answers in Genesis, PO Box 510, Hebron, KY 41048
800.778.3390
The World in Revolt - The Rebellion at Babel
https://answersingenesis.org/tower-of-babel/the-world-in-revolt
Video on page
The Dispersal at Babel
http://www.icr.org/article/dispersal-at-babel
ICR, John D. Morris, Ph.D.
Where in the World Is the Tower of Babel?
https://answersingenesis.org/tower-of-babel/where-in-the-world-is-the-tower-of-babel
AIG
Was the Dispersion at Babel a Real Event?
https://answersingenesis.org/tower-of-babel/was-the-dispersion-at-babel-a-real-event
AIG
Tower of Babel - Clearing Up the Confusion
https://answersingenesis.org/tower-of-babel/tower-of-babel-clearing-up-the-confusion
AIG
• Where can I learn more about the Biblical Account of Babel?
Tower of Babel (5:00)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZDfzArL42I
Language Families (1:56)
http://www.icr.org/content/taf32
Genesis 10 documents about 70 different language families in its Table of Nations.
ICR, That's a Fact
The Tower of Babel (48:01)
https://answersingenesis.org/media/video/bible/tower-of-babel
AIG, Bodie Hodge on June 30, 2015
The Tower of Babel (DVD)
https://answersingenesis.org/store/product/tower-babel/?sku=30-9-407
AIG, SKU: 30-9-407, Answers in Genesis, PO Box 510, Hebron, KY 41048
800.778.3390
The World in Revolt - The Rebellion at Babel
https://answersingenesis.org/tower-of-babel/the-world-in-revolt
Video on page
The Dispersal at Babel
http://www.icr.org/article/dispersal-at-babel
ICR, John D. Morris, Ph.D.
Where in the World Is the Tower of Babel?
https://answersingenesis.org/tower-of-babel/where-in-the-world-is-the-tower-of-babel
AIG
Was the Dispersion at Babel a Real Event?
https://answersingenesis.org/tower-of-babel/was-the-dispersion-at-babel-a-real-event
AIG
Tower of Babel - Clearing Up the Confusion
https://answersingenesis.org/tower-of-babel/tower-of-babel-clearing-up-the-confusion
AIG