Bible Study Week 3
Part 1
The Origin of Languages / The Beginning of Nations
After the Flood
After the flood, God commanded Noah and his sons to replenish the earth. In fulfilling this command, the human race was to spread out gradually over the face of the entire earth to repopulate it. Once again, however, the overwhelming majority of humankind disobeyed the voice of God. Instead of spreading out over the earth, they located in one specific area and decided to stay there and build a city.
The Tower of Babel
"And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth" (Genesis 11:1-4).
The Self-Centeredness of the People
Notice the self-centeredness of these people and their disregard for God's commandment.
He wanted them to scatter over the whole earth to replenish it, but they wanted to build a city and a tower as a center for all humankind to prevent themselves from scattering! In other words, their desire was exactly the opposite of God's Word.
Different Languages Introduced
Up to this time, everyone on the earth spoke the same language. Essentially, there was only one nation upon the face of the earth. This made the peoples goal of constructing a great city all the more possible.
But the Lord observed their disobedience and said, "Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do; and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech" (Genesis 11:6-7).
By introducing different languages among the people, the Lord stopped their sinful effort. They could no longer communicate sufficiently to complete such an ambitious project, and they began to spread over the face of the earth, everybody finding their place with those with whom they could talk.
>>> What does the Tower of Babel tell us about the power of unity?
When every one united for a purpose, their potential got God's attention. Imagine the possibilities when we unite for a good purpose.
The Judgment of God in Dispersing People
The judgment of God caused the origin of languages and the beginning of nations. As a result, the earth was repopulated by the descendants of Noah as follows:
Shem's Sons
Shem's sons were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. Some of the nations that sprang from these sons were the Persians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Hebrews, Lydians, and Syrians. They settled in Assyria, Syria, Persia, northern Arabia, and Mesopotamia.
Hams Sons
Hams Sons were Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan. Some of the nations to spring from these men were the Ethiopians, Egyptians, Libyans, and Canaanites. Hams descendants settled in Africa and Arabia.
Japheth's Sons
Japheth's sons were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. From them came the Russians, Germans, Britons, Scythians, Medes, Ionians, Athenians, Iberians, and Thracians. They settled in Asia Minor, Caucasia, and Europe.