Bible Study Bethel Vs. Babel

[Sothenes]

Bethel Vs. Babel

“And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.â€Â-Genesis 11:4-7


“And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.â€Â-Genesis 28:12-13

“And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.â€Â-Genesis 28:17

“And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.â€Â-Genesis 28:19

The first group wanted to build a city and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven. The first group represents those who would work their way to heaven and the Lord confounded their language.

Jacob represents the second group where God has a ladder and the angels of God ascend and descend on it. The second group represents God’s attempt to reach man.

God said to the second group,â€ÂAnd, behold, I am with thee,..â€Â-Genesis 28:15

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of od: Not of works, lest any man should boast.â€Â-Ephesians 2:8-9

 

[Bick]

Bethel vs Babel

Hi Sothenes. Interesting contrast between these cities, alright.

In Gen. 11:4 AV, the words "may reach" are in italics which means they were not in the original Hebrew, being added by interpretation.

A more literal rendering of the verse might be, "Let us build us a city and a tower and its top with the heavens." From the Companion Bible, pp 17. The author's view is that the tall tower had depicted on it the Zodiac, as in the ancient temples of Denderah and Esneh found in Egypt.

Thus, they worshipped the host of heaven.

And of course, the Lord was also displeased that they didn't spread out to propagate the earth, but banded together.

As to Jacob marking the place of his dream and calling it Bethel, while he heard all about the promise of God to Abraham and Isaac, I believe this is the first time God communicated directly with Jacob. Correct me if I'm wrong. And God reiterated the promise given originally to Abraham, that the land Jacob was on God would give to him and his descendants; and his seed, his offspring, would be as the dust of the ground for number.

Wow! That was something! And, IMO, God will draw scattered Israel back, put His Spirit in them, create a new heart and so Israel will be born again in a day when Messiah Jesus returns in power and great glory to the earth, and dispatches Israel's enemies.

Bick