Genesis 11

Genesis 11:2

LAnguage] The Hebrew, which was the originall language of the world. From the East] From the mountains of Ararat where the Arke stayed, seeking a larger and more commodious countrey for their families to multiply in.Shinar] See Genesis 10:10.

Genesis 11:3

Brick] For want of stone in that fat plaine, which made them also use clay of that Countrey, in¦stead of mortar, which doth very well with bricks, as divers Authors doe write.

Genesis 11:4

Whose] Which may be exceeding high: a hyperbolicall terme, as Deut. 1. 28. and 9. 1 Lest we be] By this may be understood the chief end of this great fabrick; namely to found an universal Empire, whose chiefe head should be Babylon, an enterprise which the devill doth alwayes undertake to keep his kingdome continually on foot in the world, by means of those great Empires, full of pride and violence; alwayes opposite to the spirituall, holy, and friendly kingdome of Christ, and therefore also ever condemned, and overthrowne by God.

Genesis 11:5

Came downe] A phrase taken from men, to shew a singular and actuall application of Gods knowledge, and mind unto this action, as Genesis 1:26, C. 18. 21.

Genesis 11:6

This] A holy scorne, as Genesis 3:22. as if hee should say, This beginning is so stately and so great, that they will imagine nothing to be impossible to them: therfore it is sitting to withstand this their rashnesse at the first.

Genesis 11:7

Let us goe down] A consultatiou of the holy Trinity. As it is Genesis 1:26.

Genesis 11:8

Scattered them] That is, he caused, according to the different languages which had befalne to severall nations, divers and severall communities to be. See Gen. 10. 5. 10. 31. Now in this change God did by miracle send a forgetfulnes of the former languages, and in a moment imprinted new ones in the nunds of men.

Genesis 11:9

Babel] That is, confusion.

Genesis 11:10

The generations] After that through the confusion of languages God had separated the rest of the world from the holy stock, which kept the originall language, Moses describeth how it was continued, and increased until it was restrained into Abrams family.

Genesis 11:26

Lived] Since Abram went out of Haran, at the age of 75 years. Genesis 12:4. and went out of it after his fathers decease, who lived 205 years. 32. it is impossible that Terah should beget him at 70 years of age, but when hee was 110 or thereabout: therefore this word Begat] ought to be understood began to beget these three children; of which, Abraham was not the first borne though he be first named, by reason of his spirituall prerogative.

Genesis 11:28

Before] The Italian hath it, in the presence of] That is, whilst he yet lived. Numbers 3:4.

Genesis 11:29

Of Haran] It is uncertaine, whether this Haran were the brother of Nahor; and if he were, you mst note that these marriages of uncle and neece, which wee afterwards forbidden by the Law. Leviticus 18:12. were then permitted. Exodus 6:20.

Genesis 11:31

They] Namely, Terah, and Abraham as heads, taking with them Lot and Sarah Haran] A City of Mesopotamia, renowned in histories, and bordering upon Canaan.