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Genesis 11:4,7
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose topmay reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth…

Psalm 64:5
They encourage themselvesin an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

Proverbs 1:11
If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

not as.

Hebrews 3:13
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

burn throughly.

Exodus 1:14
And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve,was with rigour.

Exodus 5:7-18
Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves…

2 Samuel 12:31
And he brought forth the people thatwere therein, and putthem under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

slime.

Genesis 14:10
And the vale of Siddimwas full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.

Exodus 2:3
And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laidit in the flags by the river's brink.

“Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.”
The use of bricks signifies a technological advancement for the people of that time. In the Mesopotamian region, where the Tower of Babel narrative is set, natural stone was scarce, prompting the innovation of brick-making. This process involved baking clay bricks to harden them, making them more durable. The phrase suggests human ingenuity and self-reliance, which can be seen as a departure from reliance on God. This technological progress is not condemned in itself but becomes problematic when used to defy divine will.

So they used brick instead of stone
This substitution highlights the adaptability and resourcefulness of the people. In the ancient Near East, stone was often used for construction, but in the plains of Shinar, where the narrative is set, stone was not readily available. The choice to use brick instead of stone underscores the human desire to overcome natural limitations. This can be seen as a metaphor for humanity's attempt to assert independence from God, paralleling the pride and self-sufficiency that led to the fall inGenesis 3.

and tar instead of mortar.
Tar, or bitumen, was a common adhesive in Mesopotamian construction due to its waterproof properties. This choice of materials indicates a sophisticated understanding of building techniques. The use of tar instead of traditional mortar suggests a desire for permanence and security in their construction, reflecting humanity's attempt to create a lasting legacy apart from God. This mirrors the later biblical theme of building on a firm foundation, as seen in Jesus' parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-27), where the true foundation is obedience to God's word.

- A straightforward record of real people conferring about a construction project (Genesis 11:1–2).

- Unity itself is neither good nor bad; its moral value depends on purpose. Here, the shared goal is self-exaltation apart from God, echoing the rebellious cooperation ofPsalm 2:1–3 and contrasting with the Spirit-led unity ofActs 2:1–4.

- By leaving God out of the conversation, they replay the pattern ofGenesis 3:1–6, where human dialogue displaced divine directive.

- “Come” signals deliberate mobilization, much like inIsaiah 1:18 where God invites people to reason with Him—yet here humans invite one another to act without Him.

- Bricks are man-made, shaped to human design. Altars God later commands are of uncut stone (Exodus 20:25), underscoring reliance on His provision rather than human manufacture.

- The call is collective: “let us.” The phrase mirrorsGenesis 1:26 (“Let Us make man”) but inverts it—creatures now initiate creation for their own glory.

- Thorough baking requires fire, organization, and technology. The detail underscores genuine historical craftsmanship, not myth.

- Fire-hardened bricks symbolize durability; the builders aim to construct something that can withstand future judgment, perhaps thinking another flood impossible to breach (cf.2 Peter 3:5–7).

- This diligence, like Cain’s city-building (Genesis 4:17), shows that human ingenuity persists after the Fall, yet can be bent toward pride.

- The plain of Shinar lacks abundant stone but is rich in clay and bitumen (Genesis 14:10). The text records an authentic Mesopotamian technique: kiln-fired bricks cemented with pitch.

- Substituting uniform bricks for varied stones hints at forced conformity—unity at the expense of diversity—anticipating God’s later scattering (Genesis 11:8–9).

- Tar (also used to seal Noah’s ark,Genesis 6:14) ironically connects this project to God’s preservation of Noah, yet here it is misapplied to defy Him.

- By relying on their own resources rather than seeking God’s guidance (Proverbs 3:5–6), the people trust technology over obedience.

Genesis 11:3 shows humanity rallying around a self-directed plan, crafting bricks and tar to build a monument of pride. Their cooperative spirit, technical skill, and determination are real and impressive, but they channel these gifts toward autonomy from their Creator. The verse thus sets the stage for God’s intervention, reminding us that lasting achievement begins with humble dependence on Him rather than with bricks fashioned by our own hands.