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Genesis chapter 12

1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

The word translated "language" is "saphah", and it means "the lip of the mouth", or "speech", as in the speech or verbal communication made with the mouth. This is closely related to the following word translated "speech". The word translated "speech" is "devarim", which is "spoken words", not written. This only further enforces the meaning of "speech" implied by the Hebrew word "saphah", which I previously mentioned. Thus, the word had one form of spoken language and intercommunicable set of words within that spoken language. This does not mean that multiple systems of writing could not have existed, for a language can be written in many different ways, but still have one intelligible spoken form, by which all people may understand it.

The Hebrew word translated "one" is "echad" in Hebrew. While the word "echad" does mean "one", it doesn't actually mean "one" in the sense of how we think of oneness in English. The Hebrew word "echad" is also related to the Hebrew word "yachad", which means "together" or "united". The real meaning behind "echad" is not "one" in the sense of apart from everything else, but "one" in the sense of "united in a single unit". Thus, they had a "united language", or a "united speech" that would allow of the peoples invovled to communicate with each other. This also does not mean that other languages couldn't have existed either. It simply means they had one united form of spoken communication with one another that all could understand.

2 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.

Now this is interesting. First, we must ask ourselves, who is this "they" that is being spoken about ? You will find that it is Adam's race as we go along in this study, for I will make this clear. Notice also what direction they were journeying from........the "east". They came from the east, that is to say, the far east, and settled in Shinar, which is an old name for Babylon, or the Mesopotamian region (aka the land between the two rivers).

3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.

This "slime" is translated "asphalt" by the Greens Interlinear version of the Bible. This stuff was not "slime" in the sense of putty, or some other weak substance. It was really strong, much like cement of today. Thus, they were building this thing to last.

4 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

Here, they were united in their effort to work out a plan for their own salvation. They had no trust in our Father's promise from Genesis chapter 9 that we would never again destroy them with a flood. Nor did they want to try to work out their salvation with God. Instead, they sought to build a tower to heaven, and workout a plan for their own salvation. This reminds me of what we see today with teachings of cloning, evolution, and genetic studies. Man will continue to error, and try to work out his own salvation through these methods.......until Abba YHVH puts a stop to it once and for all. There is only one true salvation, and that comes through Yehoshua, the savior of Yah, which is the Christ.
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5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

So, this tower finally got the attention of YHVH, and He came down to see this tower, which the children of Adam had built. Yes, I said the children of Adam because the Hebrew reads "B'ney "Ha-adam", and Ha-adam is Adam himself.

6 And the LORD 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.

The people are one, and their language is one. Remember the understanding from the Hebrew word "echad" described above ? They are a united people with a united tongue. This reminds me in many ways of today. A word to the wise is sufficient.

7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

Yes, YHVH eventually scattered them abroad, and so the sons of Adam are scattered today over many lands upon the earth, and speak many different langauges. Another scattering of the nations is comming, and all we have to do is wait for it.

9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

The word "Babel" and "confound" are related in Hebrew. Babel means "confusion", and "Balal", trasnlated "confound" really means "to mix up, or to confuse". Thus, God confused their languages, and left them in a state of confusion. Inability to communicate will always lead to trouble, just as lack of communication between people and our Father will lead to much confusion. I see a similar situation happening today. Man is trying desperately to remove God from his life, and is seeknig ways of his own salvation as I stated before. Many of them are also doing this in a "united tongue" of English.

It's only a question of "when" God finally comes down, and confounds them once again, and I can't help but think of God's election being delivered up, having the Holy Spirit speaking through them, and thus confounding all the world with His speech through their mouths.