Genesis 11:2 - As they traveled from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there.
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What does "Genesis 11:2" mean?
Genesis 11:2 is a simple statement that sets the scene for the Tower of Babel story. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"As they traveled from the east..." This refers to the descendants of Noah (specifically, those who had been dispersed after the flood). The direction "east" implies they were moving westward from where they had initially settled, which, based on earlier chapters in Genesis, was likely somewhere in the mountains of Ararat (modern-day eastern Turkey).
"...they found a plain in the land of Shinar..." Shinar is an ancient name for Mesopotamia, the fertile region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (modern-day Iraq). Plains are flat, open areas of land, ideal for settlement and agriculture.
"...and they lived there." This indicates that these people settled in the plain of Shinar, making it their new home. This is a crucial detail because it establishes the location where the subsequent events of the Tower of Babel (their attempt to build a tower to reach heaven) will occur.
In essence, the verse means:
A group of people, migrating from the east, discovered a flat, fertile area in Mesopotamia (Shinar) and decided to settle there. This new settlement became the base for their future endeavors, including the building of the Tower of Babel.
This seemingly simple verse is important because it explains the population movement and sets the geographical stage for one of the most well-known stories in the Bible.
Genesis 11:2 - As they traveled from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there.
What does "Genesis 11:2" mean?
Genesis 11:2 is a simple statement that sets the scene for the Tower of Babel story. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"As they traveled from the east..." This refers to the descendants of Noah (specifically, those who had been dispersed after the flood). The direction "east" implies they were moving westward from where they had initially settled, which, based on earlier chapters in Genesis, was likely somewhere in the mountains of Ararat (modern-day eastern Turkey).
"...they found a plain in the land of Shinar..." Shinar is an ancient name for Mesopotamia, the fertile region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (modern-day Iraq). Plains are flat, open areas of land, ideal for settlement and agriculture.
"...and they lived there." This indicates that these people settled in the plain of Shinar, making it their new home. This is a crucial detail because it establishes the location where the subsequent events of the Tower of Babel (their attempt to build a tower to reach heaven) will occur.
In essence, the verse means:
A group of people, migrating from the east, discovered a flat, fertile area in Mesopotamia (Shinar) and decided to settle there. This new settlement became the base for their future endeavors, including the building of the Tower of Babel.
This seemingly simple verse is important because it explains the population movement and sets the geographical stage for one of the most well-known stories in the Bible.