God hindereth the vain purpose of building a high tower, 7. by confounding men's tongues. 9. whereof it is called Babel. 10. The genealogy of Sem to Abram.God hindereth the vaine purpose of building a hiegh towre, 7. by confounding mens tongues. 9. wherof it is called Babel. 10. The genealogie of Sem to Abram.
The fourth part of this book. Of the division of tongues and nations.
And the earth was of one tongue, and all one speech.AND the earth was of one tongue, and al one speach.Erat autem terra labii unius, et sermonum eorumdem.
2And when they removed from the east, they found a plain in the land of Sennaar, and dwelt in it.And when they remoued from the east, they found a plaine in the land of Sennaar, and dwelt in it.Cumque proficiscerentur de oriente, invenerunt campum in terra Sennaar, et habitaverunt in eo.
3And each one said to his neighbour: Come, let us make brick, and bake them with fire. And they had brick instead of stone, and asphalt, mineral pitch · Vulgate: bitumen instead of mortar:And eech one said to his neighboure: Come, let vs make bricke, and bake them with fire. And they had bricke in steede of stone, and bitume in steede of morter:Dixitque alter ad proximum suum : Venite, faciamus lateres, et coquamus eos igni. Habueruntque lateres pro saxis, et bitumen pro cæmento :
4and they said: Come, let us make us a city and a tower, the top whereof may reach to heaven: and let us make famous, celebrate · Vulgate: celebremus nomen our name before we be dispersed into all lands.and they said: Come, let vs make vs a citie and a towre, the toppe wherof may reach to heauen: and let vs renowne our name before we be dispersed into al lands.et dixerunt : Venite, faciamus nobis civitatem et turrim, cujus culmen pertingat ad cælum : et celebremus nomen nostrum antequam dividamur in universas terras.
5And our Lord descended to see the city and the tower, which the children of Adam builded,And our Lord descended to see the citie and the towre, which the children of Adam builded,Descendit autem Dominus ut videret civitatem et turrim, quam ædificabant filii Adam,
6and he said: Behold, it is one people, and one tongue is to all: and they have begun to do this, neither will they leave cease · Vulgate: desistent from their purposes, designs · Vulgate: cogitationibus, till they accomplish them indeed.and he said: Behold, it is one people, and one tongue is to al: and they haue begunne to doe this, neyther wil they leaue of from their determinations, til they accomplish them in deede.et dixit : Ecce, unus est populus, et unum labium omnibus : cœperuntque hoc facere, nec desistent a cogitationibus suis, donec eas opere compleant.
7Come ye therefore, let us go down, and there confound their tongue, that none may hear his neighbour's voice.Come ye therefore, let vs go downe, and there confound their tongue, that none may heare his neighbours voice.Venite igitur, descendamus, et confundamus ibi linguam eorum, ut non audiat unusquisque vocem proximi sui.
8And so our Lord dispersed them from that place into all lands, and they ceased to build the city.And so our Lord dispersed them from that place into al lands, and they ceased to build the citie.Atque ita divisit eos Dominus ex illo loco in universas terras, et cessaverunt ædificare civitatem.
9And therefore the name of it was called Babel, because there the tongue of the whole earth was confounded: and from there our Lord dispersed them upon the face of all countries.And therefore the name of it was called Babel, because there the tongue of the whole earth was confounded: and from there our Lord dispersed them vpon the face of al countries.Et idcirco vocatum est nomen ejus Babel, quia ibi confusum est labium universæ terræ : et inde dispersit eos Dominus super faciem cunctarum regionum.
10These are the generations of Sem: Sem was a hundred years old when he begat Arphaxad, two years after the flood.These are the generations of Sem: Sem was a hundred yeares old when he begat Arphaxad, two yeares after the floud.Hæ sunt generationes Sem : Sem erat centum annorum quando genuit Arphaxad, biennio post diluvium.
11And Sem lived after he begat Arphaxad, five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.And Sem liued after he begat Arphaxad, fiue hundred yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.Vixitque Sem, postquam genuit Arphaxad, quingentis annis : et genuit filios et filias.
12Moreover Arphaxad lived thirty five years, and begat Sale.Moreouer Arphaxad liued thirtie fiue yeares, and begat Sale.Porro Arphaxad vixit triginta quinque annis, et genuit Sale.
13And Arphaxad lived after he begat Sale, three hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.And Arphaxad liued after he begat Sale, three hundred and three yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.Vixitque Arphaxad, postquam genuit Sale, trecentis tribus annis : et genuit filios et filias.
14Sale also lived thirty years, and begat Heber.Sale also liued thirtie yeares, and begat Heber.Sale quoque vixit triginta annis, et genuit Heber.
15And Sale lived after he begat Heber, four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.And Sale liued after he begat Heber, foure hundred and three yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.Vixitque Sale, postquam genuit Heber, quadringentis tribus annis : et genuit filios et filias.
16And Heber lived thirty four years, and begat Phaleg.And Heber liued thirtie foure yeares, and begat Phaleg.Vixit autem Heber triginta quatuor annis, et genuit Phaleg.
17And Heber lived after he begat Phaleg, four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.And Heber liued after he begat Phaleg, foure hundred and thirtie yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.Et vixit Heber postquam genuit Phaleg, quadringentis triginta annis : et genuit filios et filias.
18Phaleg also lived thirty years, and begat Reu.Phaleg also liued thirtie yeares, and begat Reu.Vixit quoque Phaleg triginta annis, et genuit Reu.
19And Phaleg lived after he begat Reu, two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.And Phaleg liued after he begat Reu, two hundred and nine yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.Vixitque Phaleg, postquam genuit Reu, ducentis novem annis : et genuit filios et filias.
20And Reu lived thirty two years, and begat Sarug.And Reu liued thirtie two yeares, and begat Sarug.Vixit autem Reu triginta duobus annis, et genuit Sarug.
21And Reu also lived after he begat Sarug, two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.And Reu also liued after he begat Sarug, two hundred and seuen yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.Vixit quoque Reu, postquam genuit Sarug, ducentis septem annis : et genuit filios et filias.
22And Sarug lived thirty years, and begat Nachor.And Sarug liued thirtie yeares, and begat Nachor.Vixit vero Sarug triginta annis, et genuit Nachor.
23And Sarug lived after he begat Nachor, two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.And Sarug liued after he begat Nachor, two hundred yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.Vixitque Sarug, postquam genuit Nachor, ducentis annis : et genuit filios et filias.
24And Nachor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Thare.And Nachor liued nine and twentie yeares, and begat Thare.Vixit autem Nachor viginti novem annis, et genuit Thare.
25And Nachor lived after he begat Thare, a hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.And Nachor liued after he begat Thare, a hundred and nintene yeares, and begat sonnes and daughters.Vixitque Nachor, postquam genuit Thare, centum decem et novem annis : et genuit filios et filias.
26And Thare lived seventy years, and begat Abram, and Nachor, and Aran.And Thare liued seauentie yeares, and begat Abram, and Nachor, and Aran.Vixitque Thare septuaginta annis, et genuit Abram, et Nachor, et Aran.
27And these are the generations of Thare: Thare begat Abram, Nachor, and Aran. Moreover Aran begat Lot.And these are the generations of Thare: Thare begat Abram, Nachor, & Aran. Moreouer Aran begat Lot.Hæ sunt autem generationes Thare : Thare genuit Abram, Nachor et Aran. Porro Aran genuit Lot.
28And Aran died before Thare his father, in the land of his nativity in Ur of the Chaldees.And Aran died before Thare his father, in the land of his natiuitie in Vr of the Chaldees.Mortuusque est Aran ante Thare patrem suum, in terra nativitatis suæ, in Ur Chaldæorum.
29And Abram and Nachor married wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai: and the name of Nachor's wife, Melcha the daughter of Aran the father of Melcha, and the father of Jescha.And Abram & Nachor maried wiues: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai: and the name of Nachor's wife, Melcha the daughter of Aran the father of Melcha, and the father of Iescha.Duxerunt autem Abram et Nachor uxores : nomen uxoris Abram, Sarai : et nomen uxoris Nachor, Melcha filia Aran, patris Melchæ, et patris Jeschæ.
30And Sarai was barren, neither had she children.And Sarai was barren, neither had she children.Erat autem Sarai sterilis, nec habebat liberos.
31Thare therefore took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Aran, his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, the wife of Abram his son, and brought them out of Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Chanaan: and they came as far as Haran, and dwelled there.Thare therefore tooke Abram his sonne, and Lot the sonne of Aran, his sonnes sonne, & Sarai his daughter in law, the wife of Abram his sonne, and brought them out of Vr of the Chaldees, to goe into the land of Chanaan: and they came as farre as Haran, and dwelled there.Tulit itaque Thare Abram filium suum, et Lot filium Aran, filium filii sui, et Sarai nurum suam, uxorem Abram filii sui, et eduxit eos de Ur Chaldæorum, ut irent in terram Chanaan : veneruntque usque Haran, et habitaverunt ibi.
32And the days of Thare came to two hundred five years, and died in Haran.And the dayes of Thare came to two hundred fiue yeares, and died in Haran.Et facti sunt dies Thare ducentorum quinque annorum, et mortuus est in Haran.
Annotations
11:4Let us make. Here we may see in Nemrod the common causes of heresies, and the manner of Heretics' proceeding. For he having a subtle, proud, and aspiring mind, first detracted from God, persuading men (as is noted before) not to depend upon God's providence, and finding some others of like humour, they conspired together, and drew more followers, by bearing the simpler sort in hand (for it was impossible wise men should believe it) that they would make a tower of defence against a new flood, if God should think to drown the world again. But their principal intention was to make themselves great and strong for the present, and famous to posterity. All which God overthrew, neither suffering them to build up their imagined castle of strength, nor to be praised for their work, but made them infamous to the world's end.
11:7Let us confound. God in dissipating this vain work of men, would use the ministry of Angels. As not only Philo the Jew, and Origen, but also St. Augustine, St. Gregory, and other fathers expound these words, Come let us descend, and confound their tongue. Where they also note God's singular wisdom, mercy, and justice, so punishing the offence that he turneth it to his own glory, and the profit of all men: showing his power and sovereign Majesty by two great miracles. First by so suddenly and utterly depriving all those builders of their usual tongue, that presently they could neither speak it, nor understand it. Secondly by giving distinct languages to several sorts of families, which they immediately understood, and spake most promptly, as if they had long before learned and used the same. But to no man was given more than one language. And so, to the more benefit of all mankind, they were forced to part into sundry coasts of the earth, which they inhabited and replenished with distinct Nations, having the same Angels their spiritual Patrons and Protectors, which had severally changed their language. In particular, it was profitable to the good, who being before oppressed by the united power of many wicked, were relieved (as St. Gregory teacheth) when their persecutors were divided. These good were the family of Heber, as St. Chrysostom and St. Augustine prove. For seeing the change of tongues was inflicted for punishment, it appeareth that Heber and his family were innocent of the vain attempt, whose tongue was not changed, but remained the same, and of him was called the Hebrew tongue for distinction sake, after there were many tongues, which before had no distinct name, being the only tongue of all men. Again touching the offenders (who were punished in their tongues, that they could not be understood commanding one another, because they would not understand God justly commanding them all) they also reaped this profit, that they were forced to leave off that bad work, and withal to seek more ample habitations, who if they had there more increased in number and strength, would without doubt (saith St. Chrysostom) have attempted worse things. And infinite manslaughter would have been committed amongst so many, for possession of that one city and tower. Finally the fathers note, that as God wrought here much good by division of tongues, so he wrought much more by communion of tongues given to the Apostles, thereby enabling them to gather one Church of all tongues and nations.
11:12Begat Sale. Here is an intricate difficulty. For the Hebrew and Latin text, both here and in Paralipomenon saying Arphaxad begat Sale, the 72 Interpreters and St. Luke place Cainan between them, as son of Arphaxad, and father of Sale. Eusebius also in his Chronicle, with most Greek Doctors, and St. Augustine, count Cainan in this Genealogy of Sem. Whereupon many do number him in this rank, and suppose that Moyses omitted him for some Mystery, and yet writes truly, that Arphaxad begat Sale, not his proper son, but his son's son: as St. Matthew saith, Joram begat Ozias, who was his nephew's nephew. But against this solution it is replied, that then Arphaxad should have been a grandfather at 35 years of age: which were strange in those days, howsoever it is now. And a greater difficulty, or rather absurdity, must also be granted, that Arphaxad begat both Cainan at the age of 35 years, according to the 72 Interpreters, and that Sale was also begotten the same year, according to the Hebrew, being both true. Which inconvenience is not in the Genealogy written by St. Matthew. Others therefore, according to the Hebrew and Latin text, with most Latin Doctors, omit Cainan in this place and Paralipomenon, namely with St. Jerome, who diligently examining and reconciling varieties between the Hebrew and the Greek, maketh no mention at all of this difference. Which maketh some to conjecture, that in St. Jerome's time Cainan was not in the Greek copies, at least not in those that he had, and held for the best. And at this day some have him not. Which may be admitted for a probable answer touching the Hebrew and Greek of the old Testament. But forsomuch as all copies, both Greek and Latin, also St. Jerome's Edition of St. Luke's Gospel have Cainan, the difficulty still remaineth between Moyses and St. Luke. How then shall this doubt be solved? We cannot solve it. And no marvel. For venerable Bede could not, whose words are these: St. Luke useth rather the Greek testimonies than the Hebrews: whereof happeneth that I much marvel at, and for dulness of wit, being stricken with great admiration, I cannot throughly scan, seeing in the Hebrew verity are found only ten generations from the flood unto Abraham, by what means St. Luke, who (the Holy Ghost governing his pen) could in no sort write false, would rather set down eleven generations in the Gospel, Cainan adjoined according to the seventy Interpreters. Thus writeth St. Bede, reverently admiring that he could not understand. For being assured that the Holy Ghost governed the pens both of Moyses and St. Luke, and that he is not contrary to himself, it must needs be true which each of them writeth, though other learned men cannot reach the profoundness of some difficulties that occur. And therefore Beza was extreme saucy to dash Cainan out of St. Luke's Gospel, and that wittingly and most impudently, saying in his Annotations: Non dubitavimus expungere: We doubted not to put it out. The former English Editions, otherwise corrupt in many places, have Cainan in the text of St. Luke's Gospel, but their latter translators are in this point pure Bezites.