Sir William Jones (1746-1794), was an accomplished scholar in this language, and in 1786 he wrote: Sanskrit was the ancient and classical language of India. “We have examined all possible forms which language can assume, and we now ask, can we reconcile with these three distinct forms, the radical, the terminational, the inflectional, the admission of one common origin of human speech? I answer decidedly, Yes” (Muller 46-47). In his book, Science of Language, the celebrated professor wrote: Muller (1823-1900) was one of the world’s foremost comparative philologists, i.e., one who studies ancient languages and observes their similarities and differences. The fact is, however, there is absolutely no valid reason for questioning the reliability of the biblical narrative-and for the following reasons: Philologyįirst, language studies have led many scholars to the conclusion that the varied human tongues ultimately can be traced to a common source. Bowie sees the account as a “child-like” “story-answer” characterized by “symbolism,” which was simply primitive man’s way of explaining the origin of different human tongues (1952, 562-565). The approach of religious modernism is scarcely better. “It is highly unlikely that the human inhabitants of the whole earth have ever spoken only one language” (Allen 1990, 43, 44). One infidel has classified this narrative as a “nonsensical” legend. Skeptics answer negatively and openly scoff at the account. 11:8).ĭid the biblical account the Tower of Babel have its basis in actual history? The sacred decree was implemented, human languages were born, and men were scattered abroad upon the face of the earth (Gen. “Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech” (Gen. The divine Godhead was displeased with the unholy enterprise, hence declared: Intent on making a name for themselves and remaining relatively localized in direct disobedience to Jehovah’s command to fill the earth (Gen. An ambitious humanity congregated in Shinar (Babylon) and set about to build a great tower, the height thereof reaching unto heaven. One of the beginnings in Genesis is the record of how human beings came to speak different languages.Īccording to the Bible, originally “the whole earth was of one language” (Genesis 11:1). The people built the tower to make a name for themselves but the Lord responded by giving them different languages to confuse them and then scattered them.The book of Genesis is a narrative dealing with “beginnings,” as the title of the document indicates. It explains that it was built with bricks instead of stone and that tar was used for mortar. The Bible tells the story of the tower in Genesis 11. Hodge believes that the ancient king may have overseen repairs to the tower, but not its construction. George identifies the man as Nebuchadnezzar and says inscriptions on the tablet show that he commissioned the tower. The relief that George studied depicts a step-like image of a tower with text that translates at the "temple tower of the city of Babylon." It shows the figure of a man wearing a conical hat and carrying a staff next to the text. "The Tower of Babel was built actually well before Nebuchadnezzar," he said, "It would have been built about 900 years before." He thinks the Smithsonian and George are in error, however, in believing that the tablet shows that Nebuchadnezzar built it. George was able to interpret the text and found that its account of the tower's construction is identical to the biblical story.īut George also believes that the text shows that the Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar II built the tower and that's where scholars disagree.īodie Hodge, a researcher with Answers in Genesis, told Christian News Network that he agrees that the tablet confirms the biblical tower and agrees that it dates back to 600 B.C. Because it was privately owned, linguists have not been able to study it until now. tablet was discovered in Babylon more than 100 years ago. His work is featured in a new episode of "Secrets" on the Smithsonian Channel. Andrew George, professor of Babylonian at SOAS University of London. An ancient tablet provides the first ever image of the tower of Babel and offers a "very strong piece of evidence" that it was a real building.
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