The nations separated, and Babel

Says “All these are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their generations and nations. From these the nations of the earth spread out after the flood.” (10:32, BSB). The Hebrew of the last clause is and from these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood; the verb is the one used in 10:5, nifredu. Toledot, from 10:1, returns in by their generations. The four-part formula has already named languages at 10:5, 20 and 31. Nimrod’s first city is bavel, the word of 11:9, in the land of Shinar, the land in which 11:2 has the people settle.

Implies All nations descend from Noah’s one family (10:1, 32), fulfilling 9:1 and 9:19. The Most High’s dividing of the nations, and the boundaries of the peoples, are taken up in Deut 32:8 and are not restated here.

Uncertain Chapter 10 may be placed before chapter 11 by theme, so that 11:1–9 explains how the languages and the separation of 10:5, 20, 31 and 32 arose; or the two may follow in time order, which is harder to fit with 11:1, “one language and a common form of speech.” Calvin’s editor notes that “the events here placed first, in the order of narration, were subsequent in the order of time.” How languages in this chapter sits with 11:1 is open on both views. Genesis 11:1–9 is pointed to and is not treated. No lean is taken.