The tower of Babel

Crazyguy

In the bible story Nimrod is having all the people build a tower to the heavens and god didn't like it so he caused there to be different languages all a miss so no one could understand one another. So thats the bible story anyway, what about reality. In my limited research of ancient history its come to my attention that the main language written and spoken was Akad or Akkadian. Well as the people moved out of the region they took thier language and as time went on the languages changed but the languages of the Hebrews, Canaanites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Sumerians and Persians were in fact offshoots of Akkadian. Even when the Hittites (Hittites spoke more of an european style language one that may have not been related to Akkadian?) wrote the Egyptians since they both spoke and wrote in different languages they wrote to each other in Akkadian. Also the other languages not related like those of the south east asian people, indications are, these languages started and evolved in their area of the earth they were from, and no traces can be found of these languages being from or starting in the area of Babel. With this in mind I do not believe there is any real evidence that god confused people by making different languages altogether.

kaik

The Tower of Babel is a story, nothing else. It is not a description of real event. We certainly know that god does not live above the clouds in stratosphere that could be reached by tower. It was interesting stories around the tribal fire to explain various nationalities, but Tower of Babel is a myth.

transhuman68

Interesting facts about the languages, Crazyguy. It's funny that we all believed that these events in the Bible actually happened; with real people! But many of the ideas in Genesis are myths, and come from other ancient civilizations in the Middle East. The snake in the Garden of Eden, the Flood, and the tower of Babel probably all belong to one of the oldest civilizations on Earth- Sumer.

You can read the lovely Leolaia's comments here: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/196122/2/Bible-says-God-confused-peoples-languages-at-Babel-is-this-childish-nonsense

or read the Sumerian version of the tower of Babel here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enki

As kaik said- good stories to tell around the campfire- but not terribly factual!

ablebodiedman

Genesis 11:6

After that Jehovah said: "Look! They are one people and there is one language for them all, and this is what they start to do. Why, now there is nothing that they may have in mind to do that will be unattainable for them.

What I find interesting is that God equated a global language with the technological progress of the population.

That does seem to be what has been happening in the last couple of hundred years. The English language has become a very popular method of communication throughout the entire world.

Globalism.

Is that what has contributed to technological advancements?

Mens ability to more freely communicate idea's?

But hey, take that a step further and contemplate which entity in this present world is more capable of communicating to people in every language and from every nation.

Revelation 17:15

And he says to me: "The waters that you saw, where the harlot is sitting, mean peoples and crowds and nations and tongues.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society?

Also interesting is that the concern about language raised at the start of the bible in the book of Genesis is once again alluded to in the Book of Revelation and in connection to an entity called; Babylon The Great!

abe

ablebodiedman

Genesis 11:3-4

They now said: "Come on! Let us build ourselves a city and also a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a celebrated name for ourselves, for fear we may be scattered over all the surface of the earth."

Now look at the motives above of the people who built the tower.

-: A city

-: A tower that reached up to heaven.

-: A celebrated name

-: Gather people together (not scattered)

So in a spiritual sense, how is it possible to reach up to heaven?

Hebrews 9:24

For Christ entered, not into a holy place made with hands, which is a copy of the reality, but into heaven itself, now to appear before the person of God for us.

So that is how Jesus Christ did it however, what do we need to do in order to also reach up into heaven itself?

Hebrews 10:19-23

　Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness for the way of entry into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 　which he inaugurated for us as a new and living way through the curtain, that is, his flesh, 21 　and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 　let us approach with true hearts in the full assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience and our bodies bathed with clean water. 23 　Let us hold fast the public declaration of our hope without wavering, for he is faithful that promised.

-: Our bodies bathed in clean water --- Baptism

-: The public declaration ---------------- Baptismal vow

So it is now possible to reach up to heaven!

This make sense because of what use would baptism be if God or Jesus Christ never knew about your dedication and baptism.

For baptism to be of any value it has to reach up to heaven!

abe

Comatose

The recent WT article said the Tower of Babel was built 100 years after the flood. So, Noah and his sons were HORRIBLE parents and teachers. They couldn't explain the importance of listening to god well enough to help their kids and grand kids.

And isn't it amazing that so few people built Babel?

ablebodiedman

-: Our bodies bathed in clean water --- Baptism

-: The public declaration ---------------- Baptismal vow

In regard to this baptism, what commandment did Jesus Christ give us?

Matthew 28:19-20

　Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 　teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things."

Do you see any celebrated names connected to this baptism?

That reach up to heaven.

abe