_A.M. 1757. B.C. 2247._ The distinction between the sons of God and the sons of men now appeared again, when men began to multiply. We have in this chapter, ( 1,) _ The dispersion of the sons of men at Babel, Genesis 11:1, where we have, 1, Their presumptuous design, to build a city and a tower, G... [ Continue Reading ]
_The whole earth was of one language_ This even heathen writers acknowledge; and that language was, probably, the Hebrew. They journeyed from the east of Shinar, where Noah had settled when he left the ark. They were, therefore, now travelling westward.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let us make brick, let us build a city_ The country, being a plain, yielded neither stone nor mortar; yet this did not discourage them; but they made brick to serve instead of stone, and slime instead of mortar; a kind of clay or pitch called bitumen, which, as Pliny testifies, is liquid and glutin... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Lord came down to see the city_ This is an expression after the manner of men; he knew it as clearly as men know that which they come upon the place to view. Genesis 11:6. _And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one_, &c. And if they continue _one_, much of the earth will be left uninhabi... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1st, That nothing is left upon record concerning those of this line, but their names and ages; the Holy Ghost seeming to hasten through them to the story of Abraham. How little do we know of those who are gone before us in this world, even those that lived in the same places where we l... [ Continue Reading ]
Here begins the story of Abram. We have here, 1st, His country: _Ur of the Chaldees_ An idolatrous country, where even the children of Eber themselves degenerated. 2d, His relations, mentioned for his sake, and because of their interest in the following story. His father was Terah, of whom it is sai... [ Continue Reading ]