Genesis 11:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Observe how human nature tends to resist its limitations, consistently longing for more and aspiring to exist in realms beyond its reach. This insatiable desire often leads to the downfall of many, as individuals struggle to comprehend the confines of their existence while endlessly seeking greater heights. Consequently, those who become consumed by material possessions, even amidst abundant wealth and influence, disregard their own nature in pursuit of ever-increasing aspirations, ultimately leading them to a perilous fall. This phenomenon is evident in our daily lives, with many remaining undeterred by the experiences of those who have stumbled. Even if they temporarily find restraint, they swiftly forget and revert to the same paths, falling into the same depths once more.

This city, referred to as “a mixture” in the Book of Genesis, is indeed the Babylon whose establishment astonishes even secular historians. The name Babylon translates to “mixture.” Consequently, it is concluded that its founder was the renowned giant Nimrod, as previously noted. The Scripture indicates that, in the beginning, his reign commenced in Babylon, which functioned as a leading city among others, serving as the center for rulers, even though it had not yet reached the ambitious scale intended by its creators. The plan was for it to be extraordinary, soaring as high as the heavens, whether through one tower they intended to elevate above all others or through multiple towers, symbolized as one, akin to how “one soldier” signifies many.

Following Noah's passing, his descendants—sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons—inhabited the mountainous region of Ararat in eastern Armenia for an extended period. As their numbers grew so vast that they began to feel confined in that territory, they ventured eastward in search of a more spacious and bountiful land where they could prosper without the constraints of their large population. They traveled to the area where Arphaxad had previously settled with his tribe, discovering a vast, level expanse in what would eventually be known as the land of Shinar (then referred to as Chaldea and Babylonia), between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and made their home in this fertile region.

The event that led to the separation of the nations arose from the chaos, which Moses highlights through the location, the representation, and the purpose. As they moved westward from the East, they came upon a plain in the region of Siennaar. The route extends southward from Armenia, the initial residence of humanity following the flood, to the territory of Siennaar (Isaiah 9:12). Therefore, it may be that either this passage does not reference the initial migration, or the term "East" is employed in a rather ambiguous manner.

Following the flood, Noah and his family settled in Armenia, the location where the ark came to rest. However, as their numbers grew, this mountainous region became overcrowded, prompting them to journey down the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. They eventually established their residence in the expansive and fertile plain of Sennar, which later became known as Babylon, situated between these two rivers. Although Sennar was located to the south of Armenia, the migration was actually from the northern area. When referred to as coming from the east, it is because Sennar was positioned to the west in relation to the lands considered ‘eastern’ by ancient peoples, namely those situated beyond the Tigris.