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These emigrants to Shinar were evidently dissatisfied with a patriarchal life, and desirous of founding a great monarchy.

I. AMBITION, or the perversion of the divinely-implanted principle, "Excelsior."

I. —

1. Cautions us to beware of our own hearts; and —

2. Counsels us to be careful of the Divine will.

II. ASSUMPTION, or the presupposition of man's independence of God. It —

1. Cautions us to remember our entire dependence; and —

2. Counsels us to regard the Divine preeminence as essential to our happiness.

III. ASSOCIATION, or the persuasion that human unity means human perpetuity. It —

1. Cautions us against forgetting that God must come into any scheme after unity; and —

2. Counsels us about fulfilling the Divine ideal of unity in Him.Lessons:

1. Moral towers of Babel (great or small) should be erected in God's name, and carried through in God's strength.

2. Moral towers of Babel (great or small), if not so attempted and accomplished, tend to dishonour God's name, and to disown God's strength.

3. Moral towers of Babel (great or small), thus dishonouring Him, are sure, sooner or later, to be overthrown by God, who has all forces at His command; and —

4. Moral towers of Babel (great or small) conceived in God's name, constructed by God's strength, and contributing to God's glory, are certain of the Divine permission and permanence.

(W. Adamson.)

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KJV: And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

WEB: They said, "Come, let's build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reaches to the sky, and let's make ourselves a name, lest we be scattered abroad on the surface of the whole earth."