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As many of these people began moving from the eastern regions into the western part of Mesopotamia, they settled down on a plain in the land of Shinar. Since stone was not readily available, they discovered how to make bricks and use tar for mortar to build their structures.

People (to each other): Come on, let’s make bricks out of mud and bake them in the fire. Then we can build all we want. Let’s go build ourselves a city with a huge tower that reaches into heaven. That way we will make a name for ourselves. If we don’t, we’ll run the risk of being scattered all over the earth.

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As people moved eastward,[a] they found a plain in Shinar[b](A) and settled there.

They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks(B) and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone,(C) and tar(D) for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens,(E) so that we may make a name(F) for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered(G) over the face of the whole earth.”(H)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 11:2 Or from the east; or in the east
  2. Genesis 11:2 That is, Babylonia