Midrasch zu Bereschit 11:1

From Adam to the Flood was 1656 years, and this is their enumeration: Adam 130, Seth 105, Enosh 90, Kenan 70, Mahalalel 65, Jared 162, Enoch 65, Methuselah 187, Lamech 182, and Noah was six hundred years old, etc." (Genesis 7, 6). Enoch buried Adam, and lived after him 57 years. Methuselah exhausted his days just before the Flood. From the Flood to the division [of languages] was 340 years. Noah lived ten years after the division [of languages]. Our father Abraham was at the division [of languages] 48 years old. Rabbi Yosei said: Eber was so great a prophet that he [preemptively] named his son Peleg ["division"], [aided] by the Holy Spirit. [Eber having foreseen what was to come] as it says "in his days the earth was divided" (Genesis 10, 25).

And Noah and his sons dwelt in the land that the Lord pointed out to them, and they served ‎the Lord through all the days of their lives. And the Lord blessed Noah and his sons when they ‎left the ark, and the Lord said unto them: Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. And ‎become powerful and very numerous in the whole earth. And these are the names of the ‎sons of Noah: Japheth, Ham and Shem. And children were born unto them after the flood, for ‎they had taken unto themselves wives before the flood. And these are the names of the sons ‎of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras; ‎seven sons. And the sons of Gomer were: Ashkinaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. And the sons ‎of Magog were: Elichalof, and Labab. And the sons of Madai were: Achon, and Zeelo, and ‎Chazoni, and Lot. And the sons of Javan were: Elisha, and Tarshish, and Kittim, and Dadanim. ‎And the sons of Tubal were: Ariphi, and Kesed, and Taari. And the sons of Meshech were: ‎Dedan, and Zaron and Shebashni. And the sons of Tiras were: Benib, and Ghera, and Luperion, ‎and Ghelae. These are the sons of Japheth according to their families, and their numbers in ‎those days were about four hundred and sixty men. And these are the sons of Ham: Cush, and ‎Mizrain, and Phut, and Canaan, four sons. And the sons of Cush were: Seba, and Havilah, and ‎Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah were Sheba, and Dedan, and ‎Mizrain begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, and Pathrusim, and Cas ‎luchim, and Caphtorim. And the sons of Phut were: Ghebut, and Hadon, and Benah, and Adon. ‎And the sons of Canaan were: Sidon, and Heth, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, and the ‎Hivite and the Arkite, and the Sinite, and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. ‎These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, and their numbers in those days were ‎about seven hundred and thirty men. And these are the sons of Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and ‎Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, five sons. And the sons of Elam were: Shushan, and Mahul and ‎Harmon. And the sons of Asshur were: Miros and Makil. And the sons of Arphaxad were: ‎Salah, and Aner, and Ash kol. And the sons of Lud were: Peter and Bizon. And the sons of ‎Aram were: Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash. These are the sons of Ham according to their ‎families, and their numbers were in those days about three hundred families. These are the ‎generations of Shem: Shem begat Arphaxad, and Arphaxad begat. Selah, and Selah begat ‎Eber; and unto Eber were born two sons, the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the sons ‎of man became divided, and in his last days the earth also was divided; and his brother's name ‎was Joktan, because in his days the duration of the life of the sons of man became short ‎vened and lessened. And these are the sons of Joktan: Almodad, and Sheleph, and ‎Hazarmaveth, and Yerah, and Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, and Obal, and Abimael, and ‎Sheba, and Ophir, and Havilah and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. And his brother ‎Peleg begat Reu, and Reu begat Serug, and Serug begat Nahor, and Nahor begat Terah. And ‎Terah was eighty-three years old when he begat Haran and Nahor.‎

It is written of the generation of the separation: And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech (Gen. 11:1), but later they sought to ascend into the firmament, as is said: Come, let us build us a city and a tower with its top in heaven (ibid., v. 4). Hence it is written: The Lord came to see the city and the tower which the children of men had builded … so the Lord scattered them (ibid., v. 5). What a strap from such a hide!²⁶A popular proverb expressing the thought: Such a poor product from such good material.

And they have been engaged in building for a very long time, so that they had already built the ‎city, and the tower therein reached an enormous height. And by reason of the very great ‎height it took a full year to carry upwards the stones and the bricks, to reach the builders. And ‎thus it was done all the time, some going up and others coming down, and so difficult was the ‎ascension and descension that when a brick would happen to fall down and break, all would ‎lament and weep over the great loss. But when a man would fall down and be killed, no one ‎would take the least notice of his death. And the Lord knew all their wicked thoughts. And ‎they shot arrows towards heaven, and all the arrows fell down upon them full of blood, and ‎seeing that all rejoiced, saying: We have killed all those that were in heaven. For it was the will ‎of God to mislead them, and to wipe them out from the face of the earth. And they continued ‎building the city and tower, and they acted so wickedly every day, until many days and years ‎had passed. And the Lord said to the seventy angels that stand first and nearest unto the ‎throne, saying: Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not ‎understand one another's speech. And the Lord did unto them accordingly. And they forgot at ‎once each other's speech, and they could no more speak nor understand the same language. ‎And when the builder would receive from the hands of the carrier the wrong bricks, or ‎something else he was not ordered to bring, the builder in his anger would fling it away, and ‎cast it upon someone and kill him. And this disorder continued for many days, and a great ‎number were killed in that way. And the three parties were punished by the Lord according to ‎what they have said and done. Those that said: We will go up into heaven and there enthrone ‎our gods and worship them, turned into apes and into elephants. Those that said: We will go ‎up and kill all those that are in heaven, with our spears and arrows, the Lord caused to perish ‎every man by the hand of his neighbor. And the third party that said: We will go up into ‎heaven and wage war against the Lord, the Lord dispersed through all the earth. And those ‎that belonged to neither of the parties remained there. But they soon came to know and ‎understand the evil which hath come over them and they abandoned the building, and of their ‎own accord dispersed themselves over the face of the whole earth. So it came that the sons of ‎man ceased to build the city and tower. Therefore the name of that place is called Babel; ‎because the Lord confounded there, the language of all the earth. And the place was to the ‎east of the land of Shinar. And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up one third of the ‎tower, and fire came down from heaven and consumed another third thereof, and one-third ‎remains unto this day, hanging in the air of the heaven; and its length is the distance of three ‎day's journey. And so many of the sons of man died in the work of that building, that they ‎could not be even numbered.

And the whole earth was of one language (Gen. 11:1). May it please our master to teach us why a house with an eruv²⁷A legal fiction which establishes the continuity of a community so as to make certain types of activities permissible on the Sabbath within the designated area. has an eruv. Thus did our masters instruct us:²⁸Y. Eruvin 6:7, Buber Tanhuma 22. R. Jacob the son of R. Aha asked R. Abahu whether it was necessary to place an eruv in an area having a common courtyard if others had previously placed one there, and he replied: The School of Shammai states that he must do so, while the School of Hillel maintains that it is not necessary. The law is in accordance with the opinion of the School of Hillel. R. Joshua the son of Levi said: They instituted the practice of placing an eruv in an area with a common courtyard only to advance the cause of peace. How does it achieve that goal? If a woman sends her son to deposit the eruv and her neighbor is kind to him and kisses him, his mother will undoubtedly say to herself: Truly she must love him, and she in turn will become fond of the woman who loves her son, no matter how she felt toward her previously. Hence, you find that peace prevails between them because of the eruv. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: I established peace in My world, but these wicked men arise to foment conflict in it. Whence do we know this? From the fact that they fought against the Holy One, blessed be He, as is related in the chapter And the whole earth was of one language and one kind of words (Gen. 11:1).

And the whole earth was of one language (Gen. 11:1). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: Slay them not, lest my people forget, make them wander to and fro by Thy power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield. For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips (Ps. 59:12). David uttered this verse in reference to Doeg and Ahithophel.²⁹Doeg informed against the priests in Nob (I Sam. 22:9–19), and Ahithophel advised Absalom to go in unto his father’s concubines (II Sam. 16:20–22). He cried out to the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the Universe, slay them not as you do other men, lest my people forget the miracles you performed (in my behalf). Make them instead to wander to and fro under Your control so that they may roam about in this world. And bring them down, that is, from their exalted position. Why? For they have rebelled against You.

Another explanation of Thou art fairer than the children of men. This refers to Abraham, for the Holy One, blessed be He, did not speak to any generation prior to his, as it is stated: And God said unto Abraham (Gen. 17:19). Grace is poured upon thy lips is said because he pleaded in behalf of the Sodomites: That be far from Thee (halilah) to do after this manner (ibid. 18:25). Some say That be far from Thee would be a profanation of Thy name (halil shemkha) to do this, while others say it means to be set aside (halelah), as in the case of an unchaste woman who is set aside. R. Huna said: It would be a profanation of the name of God if He were to destroy the righteous with the wicked, for men would then say: He did this to the generation of Enoch (which suffered a flood), the generation of the flood,²⁶All were punished, righteous or not. (and) the generation of the dispersion²⁷Punishment for building the Tower of Babel, though all were not involved. (Gen. 11:1–9), for they refrained from repenting. Grace is poured upon thy lips implies that you should be convinced that it (the law) will go forth from your descendants, since I gave him the Torah and he will teach it to your descendants, as is said: He gave unto Moses.

And the whole earth was of one language (Gen. 11:1). What is written in Scripture before this verse? These are the families of the sons of Noah … and of these were the nations divided in the earth (Gen. 10:32). This is followed by the verse and the whole earth was of one language.

(Gen. 11:1:) NOW THE WHOLE EARTH HAD ONE LANGUAGE AND THE SAME WORDS. Let our master instruct us: In regard to a house in which one establishes an 'eruv, is it correct that there must be an 'eruv or not?⁸⁸Tanh., Gen. 2:16; see ‘Eruv. 49a. R. Jacob bar Aha had questioned R. Abbahu.⁸⁹Cf. y‘Eruv. 6:7 (24d). He said to him: The Bet Shammay say one is necessary, while the Bet Hillel say it is not necessary; and a ruling (halakhah) is according to the Bet Hillel.⁹⁰‘Eruv. 13b. R. Joshua ben Levi said:⁹¹y‘Eruv. 3:2 (20d); 7:9(24cd). They only instituted the 'eruv of courtyards to foster ways of peace. In what way? A woman sends her child to her acquaintance (whom she dislikes for the 'eruv of courtyards). When she (the acquaintance) kisses and embraces him, his mother says: Indeed she does love me; so let my heart be with her. Thus it turns out that they make peace because of the 'eruv. The Holy One said: I put peace in my world, but these wicked ones arose to put in dissension. And where is it shown that they took issue with the Holy One? From what they have read on the matter (in Gen. 11:1): NOW THE WHOLE EARTH HAD ONE LANGUAGE AND THE SAME WORDS. But the generation of the dispersion also arose and revolted against the Holy One when they sought to ascend to the firmament. They said: He has no right to choose the upper regions for himself.⁹²Gen. R. 38:6. They began to utter blasphemous words. {Thus it is stated:} [And where is it shown? From what we have read on the matter:] NOW THE WHOLE EARTH HAD ONE LANGUAGE….

[(Gen. 11:1:) NOW THE WHOLE EARTH HAD ONE LANGUAGE.] This text is related (to Ps. 59:12 [11]): DO NOT KILL THEM LEST MY PEOPLE FORGET; MAKE THEM WANDER BY YOUR POWER AND BRING THEM DOWN.⁹³Tanh., Gen. 2:17; cf. Gen. R. 38:1. Against whom did David speak this scripture? He spoke it against none other than Doeg and Ahithophel. David said to the Holy One: Sovereign of the World, do not kill them by a death that you use on the rest of Adam's children; but {make them wander in the world} [MAKE THEM WANDER BY YOUR POWER] to be homeless nomads in the world. [AND BRING THEM DOWN:] and bring them down from their arrogance. Why? (Ps. 5:11 [10]:) BECAUSE THEY REBELLED AGAINST YOU. (Ps. 59:13 [12]:) FOR THE SIN OF THEIR MOUTH AND THE WORD OF THEIR LIPS < means > that they had sinned with their mouth and again with their lips. Doeg said (in I Sam. 22:9): I SAW THE SON OF JESSE COME TO NOB…. Ahithophel said to Absalom (in II Sam. 16:21): GO IN TO YOUR FATHER'S CONCUBINES…. < That was > THE SIN OF THEIR MOUTH, which they had sinned with their mouth. THE WORD OF THEIR LIPS: By the < actual > utterance on their lips. Ergo (in Ps. 59:13 [12], cont.): {THEY WERE TRAPPED IN THEIR SPEECH} [LET THEM BE TRAPPED BY THEIR PRIDE].

(Gen. 11:1:) NOW THE WHOLE EARTH HAD ONE LANGUAGE. What is written above on the matter (in Gen. 10:32)? THESE ARE THE FAMILIES OF NOAH'S DESCENDANTS.⁹⁴Tanh., Gen. 2:18. Then after that < comes >: NOW THE WHOLE EARTH HAD ONE LANGUAGE. Solomon has said (in Prov. 27:22): IF YOU POUND THE FOOL IN A MORTAR WITH A PESTLE [ALONG WITH THE GRAIN, HIS FOLLY WILL NOT LEAVE HIM].⁹⁵See Gen. R. 38:2. In the case of one who beats the fool, while that one is raising the rod to give him a second blow, he forgets the first time. WITH A PESTLE ALONG WITH THE GRAIN: While he is raising < the rod for > the first time, it is already forgotten. Thus HIS FOLLY WILL NOT LEAVE HIM.

Another interpretation (of Prov. 27:22): IF YOU POUND THE FOOL IN A MORTAR. R. Nehemiah the son of R. Samuel bar Nahman said: To what are they comparable? To a full bottle when locusts climb up on it. The first < climbed up > and fell. [The second < climbed up > and fell. The third < climbed up > and fell.] But the second did not learn from the first {nor the second from the third} [nor the third from the second]. So are the wicked. The first arises, grows powerful, and falls; but the second does not learn from the first. Thus the generation of Enosh arose and cried out to idols, as stated (in Gen. 4:26): THEN THERE WAS PROFANATION IN CALLING < OTHER GODS > BY THE NAME OF THE LORD.⁹⁶The verse is consistently understood in this sense throughout rabbinic literature. What did the Holy One do? He called for the sea and flooded them, as stated (in Amos 5:8, 9:6): THE ONE WHO CALLS FOR THE WATERS OF THE SEA AND POURS THEM OUT UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.⁹⁷Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, Bahodesh 6; Gen. R. 23:7; see ySheq. 6:2 (50a). The generation of the flood arose and provoked the Holy One to anger, as stated (in Job 21:14): YET THEY SAID TO GOD: LEAVE US ALONE. So they perished from the world and did not learn from the generation of Enosh. [The generation of the dispersion arose and did not learn from the former generations.] Ergo (in Prov. 27:22): IF YOU POUND THE FOOL IN A MORTAR WITH A PESTLE, ALONG WITH THE GRAIN. This is the generation of the dispersion, in that they were bringing forth words of blasphemy against the Unique One of the world, as stated (in Gen. 11:1): NOW THE WHOLE EARTH HAD ONE LANGUAGE AND THE SAME WORDS. R. Berekhyah the Priest said: What is the meaning of ONE LANGUAGE (SPH)? That they were one family (rt.: ShPH). Another interpretation: ONE LANGUAGE (SPH), in that they poured out (rt.: ShPH) retribution for the world. [AND THE SAME WORDS, which they uttered against the Unique One of the world.]

RABBI ELIEZER said: They begat their sons and increased and multiplied like a great reptile, six at each birth, and they were all one people, and one heart, and one language, as it is said, "And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech" (Gen. 11:1). They despised the pleasant land, as it is said, "And it came to pass, as they journeyed in the east" (Gen. 11:2). They went to the land of Shinar, and found there a large stone, very extensive, and the whole plain, and they dwelt there, as it is said, "And they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there" (ibid.).

Another interpretation (of Gen. 11:1): AND THE SAME (ehad in the plural) WORDS, which they uttered against two unique ones of the world:⁹⁸Gen. R. 33:6. Against the Holy One, according to what is written (in Deut. 6:4): HEAR, O ISRAEL, THE LORD IS OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE (ehad). Also against Abraham, as stated (in Ezek. 33:24): ABRAHAM WAS ONE (ehad), {AND HE LOVED HIM}.

Another interpretation (of Gen. 11:1): NOW THE WHOLE EARTH HAD [ONE LANGUAGE]. R. Ayyevu said in the name of R. Eleazer the son of R. Jose the Galilean: Those who come into the world have taken issue with the Holy One in three places:

Once in the days of Joshua, as stated (in Josh. 9:2): THEN < ALL THE KINGS > GATHERED TOGETHER [WITH ONE ACCORD] TO FIGHT AGAINST JOSHUA [AND AGAINST ISRAEL]. What is the meaning of TOGETHER? That they took issue with the Holy One.⁹⁹The verbal form of TOGETHER (YHD) is used to denote the declaration of God’s unity by reciting Deut. 6:4.
Once in the days of Gog and Magog, as stated (in Ps. 2:2): THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TAKE THEIR STAND … < AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS ANOINTED >.¹⁰⁰See Ber. 7b; ‘AZ 3b; PRK 9:11; Lev. R. 27:11; Esth. R. 7:23; M. Pss. 2:4; cf. Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, Shirata, 7.
Here, as stated (in Gen. 11:1): NOW THE WHOLE EARTH HAD [ONE LANGUAGE AND THE SAME WORDS], words of blasphemy < which > they were uttering against the Holy One. Even though the scriptures have not specified < the blasphemies >, our masters have specified some of them. What were they saying? After a thousand years and one day plus six hundred and fifty-six years, a flood is coming to the world.¹⁰¹According to Seder ‘Olam Rabbah, there were 1,656 years from Adam to the flood. One can arrive at the same figure by simply adding up the years in the biblical genealogies. The one day may be understood in apposition to the thousand years, since one day for God is like a thousand years. Then the heavens are to be shaken, and the waters above shall fall upon us. But come and let us make ourselves purgoi {i.e., columns},¹⁰²The Greek word denotes towers. so that if the heavens fall, they will support them. Ergo (in Gen. 11:1): AND THE SAME WORDS.

And thus do you find with the men of the tower (of Bavel), that they rebelled against the Holy One Blessed be He only out of satiety, as it is written (Ibid. 11:1-2) "And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they sat there." The "sitting" here refers to eating and drinking, as in (Shemoth 32:6) "And the people sat down to eat and drink, and they arose to 'play.'" This is what caused them to say (Bereshith, Ibid. 4) "Come, let us build for ourselves a city and a tower with its top in heaven, and let us make a name for ourselves." What is said of them? (Ibid. 8) "And the L-rd scattered them from there over the face of all the earth."