11:3Genesis 11:3

The verse records the united decision of Noah's apostate descendants, settled together on the plain of Shinar, to make baked brick in place of stone and bitumen for mortar in order to build a city and in it a tower to be the wonder of the world.SG3 96.2+4 It was direct disobedience to God's direction to disperse to replenish the earth, for they determined to keep united in one body, found a monarchy embracing the whole earth, and place themselves beyond another flood by human power rather than dependence on Him.SG3 96.2+3 Their brick-making was unbelief, pride, and rebellion against the Ruler of heaven, a heaven-daring confederacy for self-exaltation inspired and urged on by the first great rebel to thwart the purposes of God.CE 208.2+4 God brought their purpose to naught by confounding their language as messages passed and by lightnings from heaven breaking off the upper portion, so all work stood still in strife and they scattered across the earth unable to work together.ST Mar 20, 1879+4

The call to make brick belongs to the account of Noah's descendants after they had increased in number, when those who turned to apostasy separated from the faithful worshipers of God and journeyed to settle together on the plain of Shinar on the banks of the Euphrates.SG3 96.2+4 Their united proposal, to make brick and burn them thoroughly, was the decision to build a city and in it a tower that should be the wonder of the world.RH Dec 10, 1903+3 Lacking stone, they used baked brick in place of stone and bitumen or slime for mortar, and this material enabled the planned structure to rise.RH Dec 10, 1903+2

The tower rose to a stupendous and lofty height, yet it was only partially completed.PP 119.2+1 A portion of it was occupied as a dwelling for the builders, while other apartments were splendidly furnished and adorned for their idols.PP 119.2+1 Because of its height direct communication between the workmen at the top and those at the base was impossible, so men were stationed at different points, each to receive and report to the one next below him the orders for needed material and other directions.PP 119.2+1

The verse stands in the record of the nine generations after the Flood whose average lifespan was 332 years, far below the 912-year average of the nine generations before the Flood, showing that humanity has woefully deteriorated physically in decreasing longevity.STA 129.4–130.4

The call to make brick was direct disobedience to God's direction to disperse throughout the earth to replenish and subdue it, for the builders determined instead to avoid being scattered abroad and to keep their community united in one body.SG3 96.2+4 They purposed to found a monarchy that should eventually embrace the whole earth.Ms 94a, 1903, par. 1–2 Their united plan was for self-exaltation and rebellion against God, opposing His purpose that people spread throughout the earth in order to secure their own safety and independence from Him.SG3 96.2+2

They sought safety against another flood by carrying the structure much higher than the floodwaters had reached and making it so massive that nothing could sweep it away.ST Mar 20, 1879+4 In this way they would place themselves beyond danger through human power and unity rather than dependence on Him.RH Dec 10, 1903+2 Their brick-making was an act of unbelief, distrust, rebellion, and pride, for they disbelieved God's covenant that He would not again bring a flood upon the earth.CE 208.2+1 Many denied God and attributed the Flood to natural causes, while others who believed a supreme being had destroyed the old world rose in rebellion against Him with hearts like Cain's, choosing a tower reaching to heaven instead of trusting the kind of deliverance God had provided in the ark.Ms 200, 1899, par. 9+1

They also hoped by ascending to the region of the clouds to ascertain the cause of the Flood.CE 208.2+2 The work displayed wonderful talent in devising, but it was an ambitious, self-trusting undertaking designed to exalt still further the pride of its projectors and to gain fame and power.ST Mar 20, 1879+3 The whole undertaking was meant to turn the minds of future generations away from God and lead them into idolatry.SG3 96.2+4 The people rejoiced in success, praised gods of silver and gold, and set themselves against the Ruler of heaven and earth.PP 119.2

By that time they had corrupted the sacrificial system first given to Adam after his fall and taught to his descendants.ST Jun 17, 1880 Having no faith in the coming Redeemer, they sacrificed to gods of their own choosing from superstition that lavish and more valuable offerings would win prosperity and riches.1SP 266.3–4+2 This led to extravagance including frequent human sacrifices to senseless idols.1SP 266.3–4+2 Their laws, made by men whose hearts were not softened by divine grace, passed over debasing crimes lightly while visiting small offenses with cruel punishment.SG3 301.4+1

The confederacy was born of rebellion against God and established for self-exaltation and not for the glory of God.Ms 94, 1903, par. 1–3+2 It was inspired and urged on by the first great rebel, as a heaven-daring, united resolve to carry out their own purposes and thwart the purposes of God against His counsel.Ms 94, 1903, par. 1–3+3 Heeding not God's counsel, they pressed their plans with wonderful representations and a grand outlook.Ms 94a, 1903, par. 3–4+1 Had the undertaking been permitted to go on unchecked and succeeded, it would have demoralized the world as a mighty ruling power bore sway banishing righteousness and the knowledge and allegiance to the law of Jehovah.Ms 94, 1903, par. 1–3+2 It would have inaugurated a new religion by mixing religious ideas with erroneous theories, closed the door to peace, happiness, and security, and substituted laws framed according to selfish hearts to carry out selfish purposes for the holy, just, and good divine precepts.Ms 94, 1903, par. 1–3+2

The great majority remained fully united in the undertaking.Ms 94a, 1903, par. 3–4+1 But among them were some who feared God who had been deceived and drawn into the schemes yet refused to join the confederacy to be deceived.Ms 94a, 1903, par. 3–4+1

For the sake of the loyal ones among the builders — those who feared God but had been deceived and drawn into the schemes yet refused to join the confederacy to be deceived — God delayed His judgments and gave the ungodly time to reveal their true character while the great majority remained fully united.Ms 94a, 1903, par. 3–4+1 When judgment came, angels were sent to bring the builders' purpose to naught by confounding language as messages passed from station to station.PP 119.2+1 In that confusion material was called for which was not needed, and directions for the work were often delivered the reverse of those given.PP 119.2+1

Confusion and dismay followed, all work came to a standstill, and harmony and cooperation ended.ST Mar 20, 1879+4 The builders could not account for the strange misunderstandings, and in rage and disappointment they reproached one another until their confederacy ended in strife and bloodshed.PP 119.2+1 Lightnings from heaven as evidence of God's displeasure broke off the upper portion of the tower and cast it to the ground, to make men feel that there is a God who rules in the heavens and is able to confuse and multiply confusion to teach men that they are only men.PP 119.2+1 The tower was never completed, for God brought the builders' idol-building plans to nothing and stopped the work, proving that such ambitious, self-trusting movements, however wonderful in talent in devising, gain nothing but confusion.SG3 97.1+2

No longer able to work together, the builders scattered across the earth.ST Mar 20, 1879+2 The division of languages begun at Babel is a result of sin that became a barrier to people's communion with one another.ST Mar 20, 1879+2 Nineveh was founded about the time of that dispersion from the Tower of Babel.RH Dec 4, 1913