When Languages Were Changed
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inherit the dispositions and tendencies of their parents and imitate their
example. Thus the vileness and irreverence of Ham were reproduced
in his posterity, bringing a curse upon them for many generations.
On the other hand, how richly rewarded was Shem’s respect for his
father, and what an illustrious line of holy men appears in his posterity!
For a time, the descendants of Noah continued to dwell among
the mountains where the ark had rested. As their numbers increased,
apostasy led to division. Those who desired to forget their Creator
and cast off the restraint of His law felt a constant annoyance from the
teaching and example of their God-fearing associates. After a time
they decided to separate. Accordingly they journeyed to Shinar on the
banks of the Euphrates, attracted by the beauty of the situation and the
fertility of the soil.
Here they decided to build a city and in it a tower of such height
as should render it the wonder of the world. God had directed men
to disperse throughout the earth, but these Babel builders determined
to keep their community united and to found a monarchy that should
embrace the whole earth. Thus their city would become the metropolis
of a universal empire. Its glory would command the admiration and
homage of the world. The magnificent tower, reaching to the heavens,
was intended to stand as a monument of the power and wisdom of its
builders.
The dwellers on the plain of Shinar disbelieved God’s covenant
that He would not again bring a flood upon the earth. One object in
the erection of the tower was to secure their safety in case of another
deluge. And as they would be able to ascend to the region of the clouds,
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they hoped to ascertain the cause of the Flood. The whole undertaking
was to exalt the pride of its projectors and to turn future generations
away from God.
When the tower had been partially completed, suddenly the work
that had been advancing so prosperously was checked. Angels were
sent to bring to naught the purpose of the builders. The tower had
reached a lofty height, and men were stationed at different points,
each to receive and report to the one next below him the orders for
needed material. As messages were passing from one to another,
the language was confounded so that the directions delivered were
often the reverse of those that had been given. All work came to a
standstill. The builders were wholly unable to account for the strange