Genesis 11 Background Information with Maps and Images (Picture Study Bible - Genesis) Free Bible Online

Genesis 11

1 - The whole earth was of one language and of one speech.

2 - As they traveled from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there.

3 - They said to one another, "Come, let's make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." They had brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.

4 - They said, "Come, let's build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reaches to the sky, and let's make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad on the surface of the whole earth."

5 - The LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built.

6 - The LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do.

7 - Come, let's go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."

8 - So the LORD scattered them abroad from there on the surface of all the earth. They stopped building the city.

9 - Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. From there, the LORD scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth.

10 - This is the history of the generations of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old when he became the father of Arpachshad two years after the flood.

11 - Shem lived five hundred years after he became the father of Arpachshad, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

12 - Arpachshad lived thirty-five years and became the father of Shelah.

13 - Arpachshad lived four hundred three years after he became the father of Shelah, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

14 - Shelah lived thirty years, and became the father of Eber.

15 - Shelah lived four hundred three years after he became the father of Eber, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

16 - Eber lived thirty-four years, and became the father of Peleg.

17 - Eber lived four hundred thirty years after he became the father of Peleg, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

18 - Peleg lived thirty years, and became the father of Reu.

19 - Peleg lived two hundred nine years after he became the father of Reu, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

20 - Reu lived thirty-two years, and became the father of Serug.

21 - Reu lived two hundred seven years after he became the father of Serug, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

22 - Serug lived thirty years, and became the father of Nahor.

23 - Serug lived two hundred years after he became the father of Nahor, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

24 - Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and became the father of Terah.

25 - Nahor lived one hundred nineteen years after he became the father of Terah, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

26 - Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

27 - Now this is the history of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran became the father of Lot.

28 - Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldees.

Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldees.

29 - Abram and Nahor married wives. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran who was also the father of Iscah.

30 - Sarai was barren. She had no child.

31 - Terah took Abram his son, Lot the son of Haran, his son's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife. They went from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan. They came to Haran and lived there.

And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

32 - The days of Terah were two hundred five years. Terah died in Haran.

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Genesis 11 Images and Notes

Brief Summary: Every man in the world spoke the same language, under the leadership of Nimrod they build the tower of Babel, the LORD confounds the languages and scatters them throughout the entire earth, the generations of Shem include Abram whose wife was Sarai, Abram leaves Ur and settles in Haran.

Genesis chapter 11

Genesis 11:9 - 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.

Outline
The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)
The Descendents of Shem (Genesis 11:10-26)
The Family of Abram (Genesis 11:27-32)

Summary
1 One Language In The World.
3 The Building Of Babel.
5 The Confusion Of Tongues.
10 The Generations Of Shem.
27 The Generations Of Terah The Father Of Abram.
31 Terah Goes from Ur To Haran.

Topics for Bible Study
Ancient Ziggurats - Background Bible Study
The Ziggurats - Ancient Babylonia
Archaeology - Ancient Babylonia
Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon
Map of Ancient Mesopotamia

Maps
Map of the Table of Nations
Map of the Descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth

Ziggurat with Seven Stages
ILLUSTRATION

Drawing of a Ziggurat with seven stages. The original purpose of the 7 stages and the "mountain top" at its peak must have been influenced by the altar of Noah, the rainbow, and the voice of God speaking. This miraculous event would have no doubt created a striking impression on the sons of Noah.

Quick Reference Map

This map of ancient Mesopotamia shows some of the important cities and regions that existed around 2000 - 3000 BC. The exact area of the Land of Shinar still remain a mystery as well as the exact size of the kingdom of Nimrod. (Click to Enlarge)

Painting of The Tower of Babel by Pieter Brueghel the Elder (1563)

The Standard of Ur
ARCHAEOLOGY

This royal standard of ancient Ur of the Chaldees was carried on a pole around 2600 BC. There are scenes of war and scenes of peace.

Genesis 11:31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

The Old Testament

Genesis Resources

Creation
Adam and Eve
The Flood
The Tower of Babel
Abraham the First Hebrew
Isaac, Son of Promise
Jacob and the 12 Tribes
Joseph and Egypt

Bibliography Information

Free Bible Online - Picture Study Bible, King James Version. New York: American Bible Society: www.free-bible.com, 1995-2013. Bible History Picture Study Bible. Dec 22, 2024.

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