Genesis 10

  • The descendants of Noah are listed.
  • Shem was contemporary with Abraham!
  • Genesis 10:5, 20, 31 – The first mentions of languages in the Bible.
  • Genesis 10:25 – This seems to be talking about the tower of Babel.

Genesis 11

  • Genesis 11:1-9 – The Tower of Babel
    • Genesis 11:4 – The people had an attitude of defiance or self-reliance in a negative sense. They were not looking to God.
    • Genesis 11:5 – “Children of men” or “sons of men” here seems to be referring to unrighteous people.
    • Note: OpenBible.info has KML files for Google Earth showing places referenced in the Bible.
    • Genesis 11:6 – The word translated “impossible” is the Hebrew word for “restrained” or “cut off.” There would be no end to the pursuit of their own desires.
    • Genesis 11:7 – The languages were confused, possibly leading to isolation of certain traits within different groups.
    • It is thought that the Tower was some sort of ziggurat. Many ruins of ziggurats are located in the Middle East, but it is not known if any of these were the Tower of Babel.

Genesis 12

  • Genesis 12:1-3 – God makes a covenant with Abram, including three promises: making him into a great nation, giving him the land of Canaan, and blessing all people through his descendants (the coming of Jesus).
  • Genesis 12:4 – Abram does as God commanded.
  • Genesis 12:5-9 – Abram passed through Canaan to Shechem (390 miles). He had to walk through the promised land!
  • Genesis 12:10-20 – Abram goes to Egypt because of a drought (232 miles to Giza). Is this what God intended? He apparently forgot the promise that God made to him in Genesis 12:2-3 and displays selfishness to protect himself. God continued to keep His promises even though Abraham forgot.