Subject: Why didn't Noah stop tower of Babel? |
Bible Note: Greetings TommyS, Ok.. Let's try to sort this out... Noah lived 350 years after the flood (Gen. 9:28).. Shem became the father of Arpachshad 2 years after the flood (Gen. 11:10). Arpachshad lived 35 years and then became the father of Shelah (37 years after the flood). Shelah lived 35 years, and then became the father of Eber (72 years after the flood). Eber lived 34 years, and became the father of Peleg (Peleg was born 106 years after the flood). Therefore, Noah was still alive by the time Peleg was born, and was alive during his lifetime (Peleg lived to be at least 239 years [Gen. 11:18-19]). Now, Genesis 10:25 and 1 Chr. 1:19 tell us: "Two sons were born to Eber; the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan." [Genesis 10:25, NASB] "Two sons were born to Eber, the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan." [1 Chronicles 1:19, NASB] Therefore, is "the earth divided" referring to the Lord's scattering of all the people, after they had built the Tower of Babel, since everyone spoke the same language? The answer is Yes, both Genesis 10:25 and 1 Chr. 1:19 are referring to the scattering of Gen. 11:9. And that, therefore, means that if the scattering of Gen. 11:9 took place during Peleg's time (his very name means "division"), then Noah would also have been still alive during this time.. In conclusion, you are absolutely correct, TommyS, in coming to the conclusion that Noah was still around during the time of the Tower of Babel. However, there is nothing in the Bible that suggests to us that Noah knew about the Tower, wanted to take action against its building, or was physically able to take action against it in his advanced age. We do not know. Perhaps they built the tower in a land far east as to escape the notice of Noah (now I am speculating!). But you are absolutely correct in saying that Noah was alive during the time of the building of the Tower of Babel, and I was in the wrong by thinking that he had already passed away by this time. :-) Blessings to you, Makarios |