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NASB | Genesis 11:1 Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 11:1 Now the whole earth spoke one language and used the same words (vocabulary). |
Bible Question: Well that really opens up a whole new can of worms. Am I assume that means that the chapters in Genesis are not ordered chronologically? Was it intentionally done that way, or was it put together that way? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Proffit_79! I'm not sure I would call it a 'can of worms'! :-) Historical narratives often arrange different sections thematically, not necessarily chronologically. Plus, the text pretty well indicates that this section is not strictly chronological. For instance, compare the following three verses: Gen. 10:25 - "Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan." Gen. 11:9 - "That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth." Gen. 11:16 - "When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg." These three verses make it pretty clear that the same material is being presented in several different fashions. Chapter 10 provides an overview of the nations. The tower of Babel describes how these nations came to be dispersed. While, the end of chapter 11 goes back and examines the line of Shem more closely, covering some of the same people mentioned in chapter 10 and prior to the tower of Babel. I hope this helps! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |