The Tower of Babel | The Weird Bible Podcast: Episode 4

Aidan and @Wendigoon are back, and they're answering the question you've all been asking: why was the Tower of Babel destroyed? It's on the tip of everyone's tongue, the most important issue of the era. Clearly. But it is a fascinating, and largely misunderstood, story. We'll also be talking about the discovery of an ancient Hebrew tablet at Mt. Ebal, in Israel. Grab a hot drink, sit back, and enjoy the Weird Bible...

[@syntheticat-3]

Isaiah and Aidan pronouncing "Babel" completely differently is such a brilliant unintentional meta on the tower itself

[@flamecayenne3325]

“We are 22 minutes over” next episode is almost 4 hours long

[@TheWeirdBible]

Listen...

[@matthewhawthorne8411]

@@TheWeirdBible WE LOVE IT never stop god bless you

[@ventusvindictus]

​@@TheWeirdBible "That's... why I'm here." - Obi-Wan, 2002

[@jacobjonesofmagna]

Shout out to the guy making the Sopranos reference that neither Isaiah or Aidan got

[@MeanBeanComedy]

Yeah, *Whiff!*

[@joshdude1975]

You’ve never seen the sopranos.

[@jacobjonesofmagna]

@@joshdude1975 ????

[@Daniel_Lancelin]

_Oof, Madonn'!_

[@Broke_Honkey]

As a believer I was choked up to hearing about Steven asking God to forgive the people who where stoning him right until wendigoon said “this gets me so hard” I knew what he meant but it threw me off for sure 😂

[@ItsSquonkingTime]

Geeze bro 😂

[@achildr1]

Firmly believe the other dude noticed and kept himself from responding…to which I give him credit. 👏🏻

[@LK-xk4nh]

As someone who was raised in the ethiopian orthodox church its so interesting to hear yalls perspective. My dad is a teacher in the church and so between him and yall im grtting much more interested in the history side of ky faith.

[@immortallegacy100]

I think people forget that The Great Pyramid would've been built around the same time as The Towel of Babel, and The Great Pyramid is over 450 feet tall (or 137 meters). According to Josephus, who I recommend all Christians read, The Tower of Babel was wider than it was tall, so much so that it seemed to diminish its height from afar. With that said, Josephus wrote that it was still very high and work was done nonstop at a maddening pace.

[@ItsSquonkingTime]

Interesting

[@davidgusquiloor2665]

I remember being confused almost all my life about why the story of the Tower of Babel was so matter of fact about the place being named Babel *because* of the confusion of the tongues. Untill someone finally explained that "Babel" literally means confusion.

[@jarman_2000]

On the topic of beyblade, in bayblade lore, Moses parts the red sea with his beyblade.

[@mattmoustache]

Sopranos reference within the first two minutes very nice 👌

[@TheReshAleph]

I don't know if you guys read comments on old content, but here it goes. I'll explain giants! First of all, Christians are lucky to have you both. You are amazing people with amazing values. Please continue to keep doing what you are doing. Second, I found this very fun to listen to as an Orthodox Jew. There is so much that you get about these stories from even basic Hebrew. Like how the word used to describe Nimrod is also used for GIANTS. While mine isn't perfect, I know enough to find out anything you'd need. I'm also more than willing. I am not interested in any debate but I saw Isaiah's face light up when he learned the Hebrew name for Numbers. I would love to contribute to that.

[@mistydhudd]

His face really did light up. I hope they see your comment and take you up on the offer.

[@xqt6339]

Just a heads up you never actually explained giants, just said that Nimrod was described as one in Hebrew

[@TheReshAleph]

@xqt6339 Looks like I didn't. My guess is I thought my comment was long enough or I was saving it. I'd have to rewatch the video cause I don't remember the context, but I could if you'd like a better explanation. Especially if you are interested in stuff like Torah commentary and Midrash. IIRC, the word used to describe to Nimrod is the same used to describe Og, the king of Bashon, who was a giant. Other than relying on a simple translation, his height is described as several cubits more than an average person.

[@aliendaydreamer7931]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="86">1:26</a>:24 you know those cross shaped things on the back of tow trucks? They pinned him to that. Either that or they took his tires away and put him on cinderblocks for three days in someone's front lawn

[@tristanmakin9493]

In the NKJV I believe it says the tablet on mount ebol was supposed to be made completely with stone and using only stone tools

[@michaelhenderson6786]

Idk, every translation I’ve ever owned I’ve looked into the translating process, and nearly all of them use the earliest known manuscripts to translate from. It’s a very common misconception that the Bible has been translated from many different translations, but that is factually untrue. Many of the Bible translations we have today have the potential to be MORE accurate than the KJV, because they translate earlier sources than was available when KJV was being made.

[@benjaminbatema6963]

Because Nimrod was great hunter of men and part of the reason he building the tower was because he was afraid of another flood and the flood happened in part because people were killing each other I think that makes Nimrod one of the earliest recorded serial killers.

[@Blaaake]

It’s crazy to think that the scar in the earth from the tower and the proceeding temples built over the same site still exists. Expedition Bible has a great video covering it.

[@mimilopmemes7915]

omg i remember the story of Joseph from Veggie Tales! i never knew the real story.

[@gethsoldsmith]

Wait till you hear about the real life pirates who don't do anything

[@ZennZennster]

I love stories like this as a metaphorical explanation for interesting quirks of humanity. Im very certain as to Gods existance AND the wonder of human imagination! ❤

[@brotesser1452]

I mean I don't understand Saxon (Sächsisch) and they don't understand my Bavarian but we can both comunicate with regular german (hoch deutsch). I imagine it must have been a bit like that back then.

[@xqt6339]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="87">1:27</a>:50 I personally use the NASB and NRSVue to read it in English, NA28 for Greek, New JPS for Hebrew, and The Message if I have some translation issues.

[@thecancelledclub665]

I’m confused a little bit, aiden (sorry if is spelt it wrong) but how would Neanderthals fit in with a biblical viewpoint of history?he mentioned it briefly within the first 15 mins. Is that something that can be cleared up?

[@mountaingirlzstuff4314]

New sub here, really diggin' hearin' y'all's bābel babel

[@zewensenpai]

not a christian but one of the most based pod on the wide net

[@Kilthan2050]

The crusades, in the long term, worked, in that eventually the islamic expansion was stopped. And the crusade period did not really end until King Jon III and the charge of the winged hussars.

[@SplashM0unta1n]

The reason for the linen rule is exactly what you guys had guessed. It was a very difficult process to make clothes and even more so to use more than one color so it was like a sign of excess roughly

[@davidsandrock7826]

I find it interesting that God saw fit to stop the construction of the tower when it was not at all a threat to him in any way.

[@fartgarfunkeljr]

Why confuse their language unless there was a chance it would have worked? Was the tower so dangerous that it warranted such a correction?

[@peanutbutter6720]

Because of their intent and their pride. They couldn’t have actually gotten to heaven, we’ve sent satellites outside of our solar system and never reached God. A tower couldn’t do better

[@Abysalss]

As punishment for the attempt.

[@stevendouglas3781]

No, it was to save us from ourselves. Wanting to usurp God is evil and leads to further evil. God isn’t threatened by anything. There is nothing we can do to affect him except make him sad by pulling away from him. It’s a battle for our souls. Total unification of a fallen world is hell.

[@stevendouglas3781]

⁠@@peanutbutter6720Heaven isn’t in space. Reaching upwards is a metaphysical / spiritual symbol for hierarchy. God is infinitely “above” us. Space is meant to reveal what God is like. Vast, eternal, powerful, beautiful, scary, etc. But its not where he literally dwells.

[@peanutbutter6720]

@@stevendouglas3781 I know that, but they didn’t. That’s why they built a tower to try and reach God.

[@farmerskeletor]

I'm personally partial to the NKJV because it keeps much of the thought and poetry of the KJV while being accessible to read

[@RelativelyBest]

Those contributions titles are hilarious because it sounds like the people at the feast are trying to one-up each other. "What do you bring to the party?" "Unrestrained sensuality! What do _you_ bring to the party?" "The destruction of Babylon!"

[@Idengard]

Thank you now I know what’s that floating hand doing there

[@syntheticat-3]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2725">45:25</a> on Moses not including the name of the Pharaohs: while this is not an explanation, this is another instance in the Pentateuch where the title is used rather than the name of a ruler. In Genesis 20 and 21, Abraham encounters a ruler in a neighboring territory referred to as "Abimelech." My pastor recently pointed out that Abimelech is a title (it means "father-king" or "father of a king,") not a name. I always thought that was his name! But it's not--it's just the same as calling the pharaoh "Pharaoh" instead of whatever his real name was.

[@BonsonIsland]

If Maccabees weren’t included in bibles because they didn’t have the printing press how come Catholics and Orthodox do have Maccabees but Protestant bible don’t. One of which came about around the time of the printing press.

[@domg.1011]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2442">40:42</a> I KNEW IT I KNEW YOU GAVE OFF THOSE VIBES <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2697">44:57</a> Japan still does that, I visited some of my mom's old host-families & they said it was the 50th year or smth, but to me it was 2017, the two thousandth & seventeenth year of my lord, for them it was the 50 somethingth year of their lord's reign. A lot of the counting makes sense too for counting on your fingers. You might say base 8 bc you have 8 regular fingers, you might say decimal base 10 bc we have 10 fingers (that's what we do), or you might say base 12 if you're an ancient hebrew, because you have 12 digits on one hand. Take your thumb & count pinky base, pinky middle, pinky tip; ring base, ring middle, ring tip; middle base, middle second, middle tip; index base, index middle, index tip; you can count on your fingers using your thumb & pointing to each digit. After that you can use your other hand to count how many rows of 12 you've done, how many hands you have counted. | | | i | | | | | | | | | palm <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="86">1:26</a>:19 if there was a cars pope there was a cars jesus Me: unless you go by the theory that cars are crustaceans in the far future that inhabit old car skeletons, or they are bugs that evolved to mimic cars... in which case jesus was human jesus in the distant past... Wendigoon: how did they crucify cars jesus? My brother, hearing me repeat this out loud: Nail gun .through the tire <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="107">1:47</a>:32 I've met evangelicals (or exvangelicals) who believe(d) that dinosaurs weren't real. One was in a family where all the kids were trained to yell "that's not right!" anytime anyone said smth like "12 000 years ago" or anything more than about 6 000.

[@jowshwah934]

When is the pod coming back?

[@kat-601]

One of the books leftout was 39 verses. I can't remeber atm the Name, was a lost scroll found with details that needed to be hidden.

[@mrghost3272]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="93">1:33</a>:35 The reason Japanese writers keep adding Bible figures in anime, is because Japanese people in general have a high liking for parts of it. Allegedly every time they mention God. They really do mean God of the Bible respectively. They don't find Christians good however because there was a cult that bombed some buses a time ago "in the name of god." So they're sceptical if maybe they might be entering another cultish practice. ((TLDR, Japanese cartoon makers aren't adding biblical figures like a Family guy writer would.))

[@andrade9172]

When I read "cult that bombed" I thought of the US government lol

[@DUKEHadToDoItToEm]

There's also the fact that Christianity is one of the top 3 religions in Japan and has been for about 400-600 years now

[@scubafire4]

Just wanting to follow up and see if you now know that the varsity athlete diss was in fact, a reference from the sopranos

[@zoof3605]

Comment for the algorithm

[@ItsSquonkingTime]

For the rithm!!!

[@daveh1065]

I would love a collaboration with MythVision Podcast. His channel is about the history of the Bible & other scripts. I think he would come on yalls channel.

[@jamesmullins330]

unironically watched the entire thing completely unaware it was a reupload, because i thought this month's episode dropped early :/

[@PolishBigfootCircle11]

To answer the linen question, God wanted Israel to be pure. The point was to make them a holy people who were not intermixed with the surrounding nations. God wanted Israel to be set apart.

[@johnnydollar579]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="107">1:47</a>:42 The West Borough Baptist Church is why.

[@KevinMartin314]

I thonk it makes perfect sense. Humans are bold. If my grandpa told me a story about a powerful being that tried to kill him id probably go after it too

[@joshsheler7036]

thonk

[@KevinMartin314]

@@joshsheler7036 thonk you for pointing that out

[@Rork333]

Go find those specefic linens and run them thru the drier together and watch the lightening and tell me that wouldnt have terrified moses and his flock for them to just keep getting zapped while walking thru the desert

[@turtltost9079]

If anything Church-related was remotely like the first 5 mins or so I'd basically live there lol

[@matthewhawthorne8411]

This is exactly what my Sunday school was like I’m sorry you haven’t had that experience maybe try other churches the love of god had been manipulated for thousands of years but god loves is all the same as if we were perfect beings

[@Bob-Jenkins]

The Hitch-hiker's Guide To The Galaxy have a "bable fish" which is inserted into one's ear so that it can translate any language. They pronounce it the way you don't, like babe(el) not 'babble'. I'm not sure which is the best way but because you come from the Continental United States we'll forgive you ;)

[@Mrrain..]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="647">10:47</a> been try to found this part

[@aaronbenitez6412]

A possible reason that the tower was built was not necessarily to transcend in hight but rather in spiritual or dimensional plain. According to the Bible people were living longer during this period of time and of course were much more closer to the point of creation which means they more than likely had a better idea of what was going with the world, how it was founded and how things worked. Thus they were in my belief not as ignorant as we portray them in history today. As i said i believe the knew more about the interworking of our planet, our surroundings and the dimensions in between. Whatever tower they were building, in my belief was not to get to heaven by height but maybe to get to God through transcending spiritual planes of existence.

[@smartalecgaming3358]

Wait, but if G-d is not the author of confusion, as you said, then why/how does he confuse their languages?

[@True_RepentanceRR]

He is not the AUTHOR of confusion when it comes to his own divine word (The Bible.) He confused the people that were constructing the tower of Babel because they were filled with pride and genuinely thought they could get to God on their own accord which is completely false.

[@stevendouglas3781]

Total unification of a Fallen World would be Hell.

[@salvtrooper113]

I wonder what Aiden thinks of Freemasonry having its origin with Nimrod and the Tower of Babel.

[@gabeholm9954]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2577">42:57</a> that’s literally Superman (cal el)

[@LethargicGM]

Comment for the Bibl.

[@LeastFav]

Biblicity

[@bendover5001]

Biblyde

[@garysnotsowildadventures3045]

The 120 years is a two way proclamation. Saying firstly that God would flood the earth in 120 years from that statement and limiting peoples live to 120 years after that point.

[@Auto_PiI0T]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="63">1:03</a>:00

[@USSRBot]

Why did Jesus cross the road? He came back from the other side.

[@jarman_2000]

In bayblade lore, Moses parts the red sea with his beyblade.

[@cynthiagibson6793]

Wendogoon been smoking

[@matthewredacted4201]

I like the deep dives and details and I really appreciate a lot of the points made. For example, I never considered the parallel between the iconoclasm fights with the rise of Islam and its dogma. But I feel like some of these speculations are blatant euhemerism. Just because something is in the Bible doesn’t mean we need to shoehorn in an acceptable historical explanation which although not consistent with the interpretation of the writers, can satisfy us if we squint our eyes nearly to the point of closing them.

[@pdg3513]

What about the NIV Bible?

[@Mr-Wonderful]

NIV is pretty decent, but some concepts get lost in translation. In my opinion the NKJV is a good middle ground between the original text and the modern translation

[@EnokInTheTunic]

My theory is that it wasn't a tower necessarily but a portal of some kind. You can't build a tower to heaven even with today's technology. It's not possible, so why would God even bother with it? So I think maybe fallen angels had knowledge on how to build such a "tower" and helped out. Especially being right after the flood, we know angels intermingled with humans

[@odinplayzgamez8568]

I believe it was more about the hubris of people believing they were capable of building a tower to heaven, not about the possibility they could succeed.

[@theresa4554]

"...really already? Already you guys are on some new bullshit." You didn't paraphrase. I have a few different translations and they all say that.

[@USSRBot]

A lot of let us like there were more than one. Hummmm

[@lukewilsontv]

Number systems were the original language, right? Written word developed from man’s need to keep track of things

[@bdog3132]

I feel like the beyblade Moses is blasphemous because you’re taking something God did and saying actually a beyblade did that. Unless Beyblades are a conduit for the power of God which is a whole nother can of worms

[@yeetus_reetus_deeleetus]

That bleyblade thing is absolutely BONKERS

[@FernNicLaren]

so Moses was performing automatic writing for God? got it.

[@Gyulp-fp3tw]

Slay

[@corrinvondrachen1097]

On the subject of views...how do people of faith rectify the rampant inbreeding that would occur from two people being the origin point of humans? What was the first daughter's name? Given my interest in genetics I'd love to know how this is viewed or amswered.

[@bendover5001]

Its an explanation for the origin of sin. If you wanted to take it literally, I would guess God made them in such a way that their offspring would not succumb to stagnant genes 🤷

[@DanielGomez-yk8cu]

Some Nephillim Survived The Flood. The Bible Says: "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also AFTER THAT, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown." (Genesis <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="364">6:4</a>)

[@nobody.important971]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="75">1:15</a>:13. When a Catholic sees a little girl

[@stevendouglas3781]

No, it was probably built extremely tall and demons probably helped inspire the technology for it. While God is omniscient he doesn’t punish like the minority report. He probably scrambled their languages the second before they were too far gone. God is patient. Also from the strategic standpoint of God, if he wanted to dissuade the type of usurping unification that the tower represented, he would let it grow immense so it would be remembered and it’s destruction would be traumatic. Things need to play out.

[@beanman853]

Is the life of Brian blasphemy?

[@7megan7]

What are you two "baybelling" on about?😂

[@akilahcopeland559]

imo The attribution to Nero in Revelation is invoking the spirit of Nero. In the sense that, it is my belief, at least, that Nimrod, Gilgamesh, Ra.. all the same. As well as Apollo, Nero, Osiris... all invoking the same spirit(s)/principalities. Also, the flood didn't rid the world of Nephilim, at least not their spirits, but I believe it wiped out the largest warring Nephilim kingdoms.

[@daveh1065]

Would Jesus be okay with modern Christianity? Would he be happy with Paul & him changing so much? Didnt the other apostle left with Paul disagree with alot of what Paul was saying? As he also was known to argue with former apostles, which I thought it was just the 12, but apparently there were more, that came & went...personally I think Jesus wouldnt be happy with modern day or even historic organized religion, I think they missed his point on many accounts, but Im not sure. I think its a personal connection between yourself & God & or Jesus...

[@peanutbutter6720]

Jesus said Peter was the rock of the church and Peter endorsed Paul’s writings so I can’t imagine he’d be upset. And as for the arguments, we’re allowed to have different interpretations of scripture. Think of it more as people in two different denominations not agreeing on points rather than one of them being completely wrong.

[@3TurdsInATrenchcoat]

Jesus dictates letters to the churches of the time in the book of Revelation pointing out their flaws. I think organized religion will always have its problems because humans are sinful by nature, but I think there is an understanding of how things change with time and forgiveness that comes with the ultimate sacrifice.

[@jacobe2995]

Was the other guy high?

[@CreamerOfTheDairySquad]

Want a story about the tower of beyblade? Check my replies

[@CreamerOfTheDairySquad]

In the days of old, when all the Earth spoke a single language, the people came together in the fertile land of Shinar. Their hearts were united by a common vision, a dream of reaching the heavens. They did not plan to build a tower of stone and mortar, but something more extraordinary-a towering structure that would showcase their greatest invention: the Beyblade. These Beyblades were no ordinary toys. Crafted from the finest materials, they were imbued with the mystical power of ancient Jewish relics. Each Beyblade was inscribed with the sacred letters of the Hebrew alphabet, giving it unique abilities drawn from the Sephirot, the ten attributes through which God interacts with the world. Nimrod, a mighty warrior and a descendant of Noah, led this ambitious project. He sought to challenge the divine order, believing that through the power of their united Beyblades, they could reach the heights of the celestial realms and even challenge the angels. The people toiled day and night, constructing a grand arena at the top of the towering structure. They named it the Tower of Beyblade. The structure spiraled towards the sky, its peak piercing the clouds. At its heart was a massive platform where the greatest Beyblade battles would take place, each match a test of skill, strategy, and divine favor. As the tower grew taller, the Beyblades grew more powerful. They harnessed the energy of the Elements, the forces of creation, and the spirit of the Golem, the legendary guardian created by the Maharal of Prague. The people believed that their combined strength would allow them to ascend to the heavens. However, their ambition did not go unnoticed. The celestial beings, the Malachim, saw the rising tower and the growing hubris of humanity. They whispered their concerns to the Almighty, who decided to intervene. But instead of confusion and scattering, as in the ancient story, God chose a different path. One fateful day, as the people gathered for the greatest Beyblade tournament yet, the sky darkened, and a celestial voice echoed through the tower. "You have sought to reach the heavens not with reverence, but with pride. Your unity and ingenuity are admirable, but your intent has strayed." A blinding light enveloped the tower, and the Beyblades began to glow with an otherworldly aura. When the light faded, the people found that their Beyblades had changed. Each blade now bore different symbols and letters, representing different languages and cultures. The sacred inscriptions that once unified their power had diversified, each one now a fragment of the whole. The people could no longer understand each other's Beyblades, and their battles, once harmonious, became chaotic and unpredictable. They realized that their true strength lay not in challenging the heavens, but in embracing the diversity of their gifts and working together with humility. The Tower of Beyblade stood as a monument to their efforts, a reminder of the power of unity and the danger of hubris. The people dispersed across the Earth, taking with them the lessons of the tower. They continued to spin their Beyblades, now celebrating their differences and honoring the divine spark within each of them. And so, the legend of the Tower of Beyblade was passed down through the generations, a story of ambition, divine intervention, and the enduring power of unity in diversity.

[@opinionpaladin6007]

Jojos part 7, the parts Jesus's body are absorbed by the main character to cast spells essentially. Probably blasphemy lol

[@jfunk6932]

I like a lot about this podcast (although the constant laughing is a bit disruptive). However, wouldn't it be important to understand the origins of the original biblical texts? At the very least perhaps it's good to know that the commonly used bible in Jesus' day was the Greek Septuagint, and He would have used it (Yes He spoke Aramaic but he would have spoken Greek as well.). The Hebrew text came from the original masoretic text, which is where most of the current translations (including the KJV) originate from. All in all, there isn't much deviation between the modern translations (the Dead Sea Scrolls will verify this) because of this continuity. But translations such as the Message really shouldn't even be called a bible for numerous reasons that would take way to long to type here. Maybe you guys could consider talking about the origin of the translations ?

[@nchan4679]

Well they needed to start in the plains due to how high the tower would have to be, the base would have had to have been miles squared, which couldnt have been done on top of a very rocky uneven mountain. They had to start in the flatest expanse of earth. So while funny, your advice to start building on a mountain top doesnt work bros

[@lancejobs]

...And that is why Pepe Silvia was on the Arc and Killed Noah! <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2430">40:30</a>