“Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.” Genesis 11:1-2.

The land of Shinar is reckoned to be between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers reaching down to the Persian Gulf. The area includes the ancient cities of Babylon, Accad, Calneh, and Erech as mentioned in Genesis 10:10.

All of the land of Shinar lies within a remote forgotten little country called Iraq.

Ironic is it not, Shinar which has been called the cradle of civilization, in the country of Iraq, flanked by Iran on its eastern border, Syria and Jordan on its western border.

While Turkey where Mount Ararat (landing site of Noah’s ark) is located on the northern border of Shinar and Saudi Arabia on its southern border. Shinar is again becoming a player in mankind’s disastrous rebellion against God.

This area which has been referred to as the fertile crescent, was, even in the days of the Greeks and the Romans known to be a land of tremendous fertility, so there is little question as to why these early settlers of the sons of Noah decided to dwell there.

Once again God refutes the theory of evolution by stating that all the earth was of one language. Mankind did not begin with the grunts of animals which finally evolved into the languages we speak today.

But God says that we started out with fully developed speech patterns, these were changed into the primary languages which through use and intermingling have expanded to the 3000 plus different languages we have today.

“Then they said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.’ They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’” Genesis 11:3-4.

Stone was not readily available so they made their own, of both sun dried bricks and kilned, many of which survive till today. The asphalt referred to dried hard and was suitable for their projects; in fact asphalt is still used today in many places in the Middle East.

Observe the sense of community, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens…” The descendants of Noah had decided to remain together as a family in defiance of the command of God:

“So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.’” Genesis 9:1.

Once again we see the separation between the godly and the ungodly. Doubtless many of the godly line of Shem restrained themselves from joining the larger party in their rebellion against God’s will in the land of Shinar.

They did exactly the same thing after the flood that Cain did when he went into the land of Nod.

“Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of His son – Enoch.” Genesis 4:16-17.

As one commentator pointed out; the godly dwelt in tents while the ungodly built cities.

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:8-10.

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Hebrews 11:13.

There is a word used in the book of Revelation to refer to the ungodly earth dwellers in the world today, and by extension these men of old are of the same name, katoikeo.

This word, katoikeo, is a very strong Greek word meaning earth dwellers; an earth dweller is someone who has settled down on this earth as their real home, identifying themselves with the world’s commercial system and its religion.

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial [the tribulation] which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell [katoikeo] on the earth.” Revelation 3:10.

Be aware that the seven year period known as the tribulation is almost upon us and that it is to test those who katoikeo upon the whole earth; the whole earth as it was in the flood, no country or geographical location will be exempt and unaffected.

All of us derive pleasure from this earth in one way or another, which is okay because God has given us all things to richly enjoy, if we are realistic and realize that:

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17.

But for those who love this world and its things more than God, and have rejected Him in favor of living on this earth, there is a day of reckoning coming to test them to the uttermost.

“Arise, O Lord, confront him, cast him down; deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword, with Your hand from men, O Lord, from men of the world who have their portion in this life, and whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, and leave the rest of their substance for their babes.” Psalm 17:13-14.

“For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride serves as their necklace; violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge with abundance; they have more than heart could wish. They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth. Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, ‘How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?’ Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning. Psalm 73:3-14.

“Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awakes, so, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.” Psalm 73:18-20.

These men commenced to build a city with a magnificent tower.

“And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’” Genesis 11:4.

Some have said that this tower was a ziggurat which was built for astrology or some religious purpose, if it was it was likely the first one.

“Let us make a name for ourselves”, this is it; men today build tall buildings, or set up huge corporations, or great humanitarian foundations in their name, to make a name for themselves, and a continual memorial.

Think of the pyramids, even Alexander the Great, Roman Caesars who deified themselves, Napoleon who put the crown on his own head at his coronation, and the despicables, Hitler, Stalin, and Mao Tse-tung.

Returning to the ziggurat, while it may or may not have been for religious purposes, there is a good chance that it was not only in the shape of a ziggurat, but it may have been the model for those which followed.

If you have seen pictures of the ziggurat at Ur which has been partially rebuilt; there is a strong resemblance to a Mayan pyramid with steps leading up to the top.

It was also likely solid inside since it was just a tower. One such tower was found with the center filled with hard packed earth surrounded by fired bricks.

They were not so high by today’s standards; some have been found three stories high, while the tallest one found intact is seven stories. Still the measurements given for a ziggurat in Babylon at the time of King Nebuchadnezzar was given as about 300 feet high.

“…lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” The leader of this motley crew was a man named Nimrod the son of Cush, the son of Ham, the son of Noah; Scripture describes him in this manner.

“Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, ‘Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.’ And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is the principal city).” Genesis 10:8-12.

It is said of Nimrod that the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and then goes on to describe other cities that he built, presumably after the confusion of languages at Babel.

It is also said that, the beginning of his kingdom, intimating that Nimrod was the first king of history and the first king of the whole world.

This passage also tells us that Nimrod was a mighty hunter before the Lord. No one seems to take this statement as anything less than literal; Nimrod was a hunter, a mighty one.

It is not likely that he hunted humans; that would be murder and counterproductive. The earth did have some very powerful and vicious (by that time) animals.

Some you have heard of, like the dire wolf, Sabre-toothed cat, bear dog, and perhaps the cave hyena, a vicious hyena relative which could weigh as much as 225 pounds.

Others like the Hyaenodon, a dog-like animal, the larger of which reached the size of a small rhino, and weighed as much as 1100 pounds, no relation to the hyena.

Homotherium of the cat family was the size of an African lion. Many of these animals averaging about 3 feet at the shoulder are not so familiar; all are vicious nightmares.

Add to this the terror bird, a flightless bird which stood about 9 feet 10 inches tall and could weigh in at half a ton, one thousand pounds. Scientists believe that the terror bird could run as fast as 30 mph or even as fast as a Cheetah (depending on your source) and swallow a dog in one gulp with its huge beak.

Add in predators like the raptors and assorted other meat eating dinosaurs and you get sweaty palms just thinking about hunting them.

But my choice is this one:

“Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower? Can you put a reed through his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook?” Job 41:1-2.

“Can you fill his skin with harpoons, or his head with fishing spears? Lay your hand on him; remember the battle – never do it again! Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is vain; shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him? No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me? Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine. I will not conceal his limbs, his mighty power or his graceful proportions. Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle? Who can open the doors of his face, with his terrible teeth all around?” Job 41:7-14.

“His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go burning lights; sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke goes out of his nostrils, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes. His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth. Strength dwells in his neck, and sorrow dances before him. The folds of his flesh are joined together; they are firm on him and cannot be moved. His heart is as hard as stone, even as hard as the lower millstone. When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; because of his crashings they are beside themselves [soil themselves]. Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; nor does spear, dart, or javelin. He regards iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.” Job 41:18-27.

“His undersides are like sharp potsherds; he spreads pointed marks in the mire. He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a pot of ointment. He leaves a shining wake behind him; one would think the deep had white hair. On earth there is nothing like him, which is made without fear. He beholds every high thing; he is king over all the children of pride.” Job 41:30-34.

Whether Nimrod went after Leviathan or not, one thing is certain, if you kill this creature you become an instant god.

It is interesting that God singles out this monster to Job noting its ferocity and that, “…he is king over all the children of pride”, and Nimrod is referred to here as, “…Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.” Genesis 10:9b.

Both of these passages are from different times, but they describe the arrogance of pride and the self-centered achievements of men apart from God their Creator.

“He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.” Psalm 147:10-11.

“Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish.” Psalm 146:3-4.

Death of Community, Genesis 11:1-4 taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 9-24-14, updated on 12-2-21.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.