Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 10. These are the generations of Shem] This may he called the holy family, as from it sprang Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the twelve patriarchs, David, Solomon, and all the great progenitors of the Messiah.
We have already seen that the Scripture chronology, as it exists in the Hebrew text, the Samaritan, the Septuagint, Josephus, and some of the fathers, is greatly embarrassed; and it is yet much more so in the various systems of learned and unlearned chronologists. For a full and rational view of this subject, into which the nature of these notes forbids me farther to enter, I must refer my reader to Dr. Hales's labourious work, ""A New Analysis of Sacred Chronology,"" vol. ii., part 1, &c., in which he enters into the subject with a cautious but firm step; and, if he has not been able to remove all its difficulties, has thrown very considerable light upon most parts of it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-9 - Here is an expression after the manner of men; The Lord came down to see the city. God is just and fair in all he does against sin an sinners, and condemns none unheard. Pious Eber is not found among thi ungodly crew; for he and his are called the children of God; their souls joined not themselves to the assembly of these children of men God suffered them to go on some way, that the works of their hands from which they promised themselves lasting honour, might turn to their lasting reproach. God has wise and holy ends, in allowing the enemie of his glory to carry on their wicked projects a great way, and to prosper long. Observe the wisdom and mercy of God, in the methods take for defeating this undertaking. And the mercy of God in not making the penalty equal to the offence; for he deals not with us according to ou sins. The wisdom of God, in fixing upon a sure way to stop thes proceedings. If they could not understand one another, they could no help one another; this would take them off from their building. God ha various means, and effectual ones, to baffle and defeat the projects of proud men that set themselves against him, and particularly he divide them among themselves. Notwithstanding their union and obstinacy God was above them; for who ever hardened his heart against him, an prospered? Their language was confounded. We all suffer by it to thi day: in all the pains and trouble used to learn the languages we have occasion for, we suffer for the rebellion of our ancestors at Babel Nay, and those unhappy disputes, which are strifes of words, and aris from misunderstanding one another's words, for aught we know, are owin to this confusion of tongues. They left off to build the city. The confusion of their tongues not only unfitted them for helping on another, but they saw the hand of the Lord gone out against them. It is wisdom to leave off that which we see God fights against. God is able to blast and bring to nought all the devices and designs of Babel-builders: there is no wisdom nor counsel against the Lord. The builders departed according to their families, and the tongue the spake, to the countries and places allotted to them. The children of men never did, nor ever will, come all together again, till the grea day, when the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of his glory, an all nations shall be gathered before him.
Original Hebrew על5921 כן3651 קרא7121 שׁמה8034 בבל894 כי3588 שׁם8033 בלל1101 יהוה3068 שׂפת8193 כל3605 הארץ776 ומשׁם8033 הפיצם6327 יהוה3068 על5921 פני6440 כל3605 הארץ׃776
