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The Sin of Shinar (Genesis 11:4) the Sin of Shinar (Genesis 11:4) W EJT (2011) 20:1, 29–39 0960–2720 EJT (2011) 20:1, 29–39 0960–2720 The sin of Shinar (Genesis 11:4) The sin of Shinar (Genesis 11:4) W. Creighton Marlowe W. Creighton Marlowe SUMMARY SUMMARY tower indicated a desire to have communion with God tower indicated a desire to have communion with God Research related to the so-called Tower of Babel story or the gods. The arrival in Shinar shows the people were Research related to the so-called Tower of Babel story or the gods. The arrival in Shinar shows the people were in Genesis 11:1-9 continues to debate the exact nature already migrating and multiplying. Their fear of being in Genesis 11:1-9 continues to debate the exact nature already migrating and multiplying. Their fear of being of the sin described in verse 4, which caused the lord scattered was the fear of defeat and deportation. The of the sin described in verse 4, which caused the lord scattered was the fear of defeat and deportation. The to punish the people with confusion and dispersion. story in Genesis 11 builds on 10:8-10 and the history of to punish the people with confusion and dispersion. story in Genesis 11 builds on 10:8-10 and the history of This article offers an atypical answer to this question. Nimrod. These Shinarites were guilty of using violence as This article offers an atypical answer to this question. Nimrod. These Shinarites were guilty of using violence as The attempt to “make a name” is reasonably defined had been the case with people God judged since Gen- The attempt to “make a name” is reasonably defined had been the case with people God judged since Gen- by the narrative in its immediate and OT context, not esis 4. The sin was that of building a fierce reputation by the narrative in its immediate and OT context, not esis 4. The sin was that of building a fierce reputation as attacking God or avoiding migration, but pride that (“a name”) to keep from being scattered by others with as attacking God or avoiding migration, but pride that (“a name”) to keep from being scattered by others with led to an abuse of power. The building of a ziggurat or similar plans for cruel conquest. led to an abuse of power. The building of a ziggurat or similar plans for cruel conquest. ******** ******** ZUSAMMENFASSUNG oder eines Turmes weist auf den Wunsch hin, mit Gott ZUSAMMENFASSUNG oder eines Turmes weist auf den Wunsch hin, mit Gott oder den Göttern Gemeinschaft zu haben. Die Ankunft oder den Göttern Gemeinschaft zu haben. Die Ankunft Für die Forschung über die so genannte Turm-von-Babel- der Leute in Schinear zeigt, dass sie bereits migrierten Für die Forschung über die so genannte Turm-von-Babel- der Leute in Schinear zeigt, dass sie bereits migrierten Geschichte in Genesis 11, 1-9 geht die Debatte über die und sich vermehrten. Ihre Furcht vor Zerstreuung war Geschichte in Genesis 11, 1-9 geht die Debatte über die und sich vermehrten. Ihre Furcht vor Zerstreuung war eigentliche Natur der Sünde weiter, die in Kapitel 11, 4 eigentlich auf ihre Angst vor Niederlage und Deportation eigentliche Natur der Sünde weiter, die in Kapitel 11, 4 eigentlich auf ihre Angst vor Niederlage und Deportation beschrieben wird. Diese hat Yahweh veranlasst, die Men- zurückzuführen. beschrieben wird. Diese hat Yahweh veranlasst, die Men- zurückzuführen. schen durch Verwirrung und Zerstreuung zu bestrafen. Die Geschichte in Genesis 11 baut sich auf die Erzäh- schen durch Verwirrung und Zerstreuung zu bestrafen. Die Geschichte in Genesis 11 baut sich auf die Erzäh- Der vorliegende Artikel bietet einen ungewöhnlichen lung in Kapitel 10,8-10 und der Nimrod-Geschichte Der vorliegende Artikel bietet einen ungewöhnlichen lung in Kapitel 10,8-10 und der Nimrod-Geschichte Beitrag zu dieser Diskussion. Der Versuch der Men- auf. Die Leute von Schinear wurden der Gewaltanwen- Beitrag zu dieser Diskussion. Der Versuch der Men- auf. Die Leute von Schinear wurden der Gewaltanwen- schen, sich selbst einen Namen zu machen (11, 4) wird dung schuldig, wie bereits die Menschen, die seit den schen, sich selbst einen Namen zu machen (11, 4) wird dung schuldig, wie bereits die Menschen, die seit den durch die Erzählung in ihrem unmittelbaren Kontext und Ereignissen in Genesis 4 unter Gottes Gericht gefallen durch die Erzählung in ihrem unmittelbaren Kontext und Ereignissen in Genesis 4 unter Gottes Gericht gefallen auch den weiteren alttestamentlichen Zusammenhang waren. Ihre Sünde bestand darin, daß sie sich den Ruf auch den weiteren alttestamentlichen Zusammenhang waren. Ihre Sünde bestand darin, daß sie sich den Ruf logisch erläutert. Dabei ging es nicht um einen Angriff der Gewalttätigkeit zugelegt hatten („einen Namen”), um logisch erläutert. Dabei ging es nicht um einen Angriff der Gewalttätigkeit zugelegt hatten („einen Namen”), um auf Gott oder um Zentralisierung, sondern um Stolz, der nicht von jenen zerstreut zu werden, die ähnliche Pläne auf Gott oder um Zentralisierung, sondern um Stolz, der nicht von jenen zerstreut zu werden, die ähnliche Pläne zu Machtmissbrauch führte. Der Bau einer „Ziggurat” einer grausamen Übernahme hegten zu Machtmissbrauch führte. Der Bau einer „Ziggurat” einer grausamen Übernahme hegten ******** ******** RÉSUMÉ pouvoir. La construction d’une ziggourat manifestait un RÉSUMÉ pouvoir. La construction d’une ziggourat manifestait un désir d’obtenir la communion avec Dieu ou avec les désir d’obtenir la communion avec Dieu ou avec les Dans le cadre de la recherche sur le récit de la tour de dieux. L’arrivée à Shinéar montre que les gens étaient Dans le cadre de la recherche sur le récit de la tour de dieux. L’arrivée à Shinéar montre que les gens étaient Babel (Gn 11.1-9), on continue à débattre de la nature déjà en train de migrer et de se multiplier. La crainte de Babel (Gn 11.1-9), on continue à débattre de la nature déjà en train de migrer et de se multiplier. La crainte de exacte du péché mentionné au verset 4 et qui a conduit la dispersion s’explique comme une crainte de défaite et exacte du péché mentionné au verset 4 et qui a conduit la dispersion s’explique comme une crainte de défaite et Yahvé à châtier les gens en semant la confusion et en les de déportation. L’histoire de Genèse 11 prolonge celle Yahvé à châtier les gens en semant la confusion et en les de déportation. L’histoire de Genèse 11 prolonge celle dispersant sur la terre. L’auteur propose ici une réponse de Nimrod (10.8-10). Les habitants de Shinéar se ren- dispersant sur la terre. L’auteur propose ici une réponse de Nimrod (10.8-10). Les habitants de Shinéar se ren- originale à cette question. La tentative de se faire un nom daient coupables de violence, tout comme les gens qui originale à cette question. La tentative de se faire un nom daient coupables de violence, tout comme les gens qui peut se comprendre en fonction du récit, de son contexte ont subi le jugement de Dieu depuis le chapitre 4. Leur peut se comprendre en fonction du récit, de son contexte ont subi le jugement de Dieu depuis le chapitre 4. Leur immédiat et de l’ensemble de l’Ancien Testament : il ne péché consistait à se bâtir une réputation féroce (« un immédiat et de l’ensemble de l’Ancien Testament : il ne péché consistait à se bâtir une réputation féroce (« un s’agit pas d’une opposition à Dieu ni d’un refus de la nom ») pour éviter d’être dispersés par d’autres ayant de s’agit pas d’une opposition à Dieu ni d’un refus de la nom ») pour éviter d’être dispersés par d’autres ayant de migration, mais de l’orgueil qui a conduit à un abus de semblables projets de conquête. migration, mais de l’orgueil qui a conduit à un abus de semblables projets de conquête. ******** ******** EJT 20:1 • 29 EJT 20:1 • 29 • w. CreIgHton Marlowe • • w. CreIgHton Marlowe • Introduction oppression against humanity. The problem was Introduction oppression against humanity. The problem was This article was sparked by P. J. Harland’s obser- first and foremost horizontal (which is inevitably This article was sparked by P. J. Harland’s obser- first and foremost horizontal (which is inevitably vation that, “The account of the building of the vertical). Of course warfare and enslavement of vation that, “The account of the building of the vertical). Of course warfare and enslavement of tower of Babel in Gen. xi presents an enigma. In others had become the focus of the people who tower of Babel in Gen. xi presents an enigma. In others had become the focus of the people who contrast to the other stories of the primeval his- had already abandoned any religious instructions contrast to the other stories of the primeval his- had already abandoned any religious instructions tory the sin which the people commit is not made they may have had about the sinfulness of such tory the sin which the people commit is not made they may have had about the sinfulness of such explicit.”1 Harland discusses the two different behaviour. explicit.”1 Harland discusses the two different behaviour. traditional views: 1) the Christian interpretation The idea that Genesis 11:1 places the story at a traditional views: 1) the Christian interpretation The idea that Genesis 11:1 places the story at a time when one and only one language was in exist- time when one and only one language was in exist- that the sin was that of human pride trying to 5 that the sin was that of human pride trying to 5 take power from God and 2) the Jewish explana- ence globally will also be questioned.
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