Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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they saw, in this, the hand of the Lord gone out against them. Note,
(1.) It is wisdom to leave off that which we see God fights against.
(2.) God is able to blast and bring to nought all the devices and designs of Babel-builders. He sits in heaven, and laughs at the counsels of the kings of the earth against him and his anointed; and will force them to confess that there is no wisdom nor counsel against the Lord, Pr 21:30,Isa 8:9,10.
The builders were scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth, Ge 11:8, 9. They departed in companies, after their families, and after their tongues (Ge 10:5,20,31), to the several countries and places allotted to them in the division that had been made, which they knew before, but would not go to take possession of till now that they were forced to it. Observe here,
(1.) The very thing which they feared came upon them. That dispersion which sought to evade by an act of rebellion they by this act brought upon themselves; for we are most likely to fall into that trouble which we seek to evade by indirect and sinful methods.
(2.) It was God's work: The Lord scattered them. God's hand is to be acknowledged in all scattering providences; if the family be scattered, relations scattered, churches scattered, it is the Lord's doing.
(3.) Though they were as firmly in league with one another as could be, yet the Lord scattered them; for no man can keep together what God will put asunder.
(4.) Thus God justly took vengeance on them for their oneness in that presumptuous attempt to build their tower. Shameful dispersions are the just punishment of sinful unions. Simeon and Levi, who had been brethren in iniquity, were divided in Jacob, Ge 49:5, 7, Ps 83:3-13.
(5.) They left behind them a perpetual memorandum of their reproach, in the name given to the place. It was called Babel,