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Encyclopedia of Religion entry forBabel, Tower OfA story in the Old Testament (Genesis xi.) the purpose of which was to account for a variety of languages amongst men and the dispersion of mankind. The story may have been suggested partly by the spectacle of a ruined temple-tower of Babylon. Babel is, as a matter of fact, the Hebrew form of the native name Bab-ili, " gate of God "; but the Hebrewnarrator tries to connect it with a Hebrew word meaning " to confuse." The story, which is very anthropomorphic, is to this effect. The whole earth had originally one language. Mankind journeyed and found a place suit-able to settle in, the plain of Shinar. They then proceeded to make bricks with clay and bitumen. They would build a city and also a tower reaching unto heaven. These would prevent them from being dispersed. But Jehovah, becoming alarmed, " came down to we the city and the tower." Having seen them he returns and takes counsel with the sons of God. If they do this, he says, " nothing will be withholden from them which they purpose to do." Then he adds, " Come, let us go down, and bring their speech into confusion." Thus, in the words of Dr. Samuel G. Smith, " to save the sanctity of the divine abode, the common language was confounded, the men were scattered abroad, the city building was abandoned, and a primitive explanation of the race question was left on record (Religion in the Making, 1910). See Encycl. Bibl. citations: Encyc. of Rel., Canney
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12 |
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