Genesis 11-14

Tower of Babel

I don't think the Tower got too big. They are using stone bricks to build a tower. At some point the weight of materials will crash on itself. That's why we use steel to build skyscrapers. So it was the purpose behind the tower that offended God. They wanted to get to heaven on their own strength and power.

Reading between the lines, did this represent one literal tower or the entire Ziggurat culture of Babylon, as it is identified as being in the east. Or, perhaps the ziggurat that became the source of the Biblical story was the one in Babylon, hence Babel.

Genealogical information

It covers a lot of people I do not recognize. I noticed a pattern of people having children when they are in their late 20s and early 30s, but then living for 100+ years after.

Abram

Abram is the first person I recognize in the genealogical record. We don't know anything about him, but out of the blue, God tells him to leave Haran and move to Canaan. He obeys and brings his family and slaves. He does not stay in Canaan long before a massive famine forces him to move to Egypt.

I found it interesting that throughout this time, he builds altars to God. At this time, the polytheistic belief was that gods had regional authority over particular places (if we keep in mind the Prince of Persia reference in Daniel, there might be some truth to that idea). But alas Abram recognizes that God the Most High transcends regional boundaries and can be worshipped wherever in the world.

Abram leaves Egypt a warlord. We find out later that he has an army of 300+ people. He moves back to Canaan and divides the land up between himself and Lot. God tells him his descendants will have the land forever, as far as the eye can see. What struck me today - that is probably a lot less than either what the ancient Israelite kingdom owned or what the modern nation of Israel owns.

Then we have a major regional war between the city state kings and Lot is captured along with other residents of Sodom. Meanwhile, the king of Sodom is hiding in the mountains. Abram does what the king could not do, he goes after the victors, attacks at night, and rescues Lot with the others.

Finally, we meet Melchizedek, who is king of Salem and is also priest of the Most High. We don't get much back story on him, but clearly God is using others at this time, although the Biblical emphasis is on Abram.