There are a number of allusions to the original creation account in the account of Babel in Genesis 11. First, there is the general point that Yahweh is destroying what men have built ?Ea rebellious creation “decreated” by Yahweh. Second, the creation echoes are strengthened by Yahweh’s sarcastic “let us” in 11:5, which echoes with the “let us” of 1:26. In the first chapter of Genesis, Yahweh counsels together to create man, while in chapter 11, Yahweh takes counsel to tear humanity apart. There is also doubtless a reference to Gen 3 in Yahweh’s sudden appearance on the plains of Shinar in 11:5. Just as He came to Adam in the Spirit of the day to “scatter” him out of the garden, so He comes to Shinar to scatter the men who are attempting to storm heaven.
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