Yahwist Notes: Gen 11 Tower of Babel

The following are rough notes as I read through the Yahwist. I’m using Tzemah Yoreh’s source attribution for the Yahwist. You can view all of my notes of the Yahwist series here. Some ideas presented here may seem ridiculous, but no idea is too stupid during this phase. I’m not that concerned with grammar or spelling either. My thoughts and ideas will likely alter significantly by the time I produce a full mirror-reading of the Yahwist, but this gives you an idea of “how the sausage is made”. Feel free to share comments and/or links you think I might find helpful.

Opposing narrative: The whole earth was not one language?

Why was it important that they migrated from the east?

Bricks mentioned because it enable mortals to make the tower?

Why are they concerned about being scattered abroad?

Mortals built the city and tower...not gods?

“Us” used like in Genesis 2-3 in regards to Yahweh and the gods - Yahwist had to because Opposing narrative used plural gods?

Genesis definition for Babel does not fit and it an alternative explanation for the name.

It was Yahweh that confused the language...not another god?

It was Yahweh that scattered them...not another god?

City and tower were built, not just the tower

From around the web:

• The Tower of Babel: Did It Exist, and What Does the Story Mean?

• The Tower of Babel and the Origin of World Cultures - Theodore Hiebert

• Whatever Happened in the Valley of Shinar? A Response to Theodore Hiebert

• Shattering the Image of God: A Response to Theodore Hiebert's Interpretation of the Story of the Tower of Babel

• The Mesopotamian Background of the Tower of Babel Account and Its Implications

• Tower and city of Babel 2 stories?

• Various ancient sources about towers built

• Gateway to the Heavens: The Assyrian Account to the Tower of Babel