Here they decided to build a city, and in it a tower of such stupendous height as should render it the wonder of the world. 119 These enterprises were designed to prevent the people from scattering abroad in colonies. God had directed men to disperse throughout the earth, to replenish and subdue it; but these Babel builders determined to keep their community united in one body, and to found a monarchy that should eventually embrace the whole earth. Thus their city would become the metropolis of a universal empire; its glory would command the admiration and homage of the world and render the founders illustrious. The magnificent tower, reaching to the heavens, was intended to stand as a monument of the power and wisdom of its builders, perpetuating their fame to the latest generations.

Her ville de bygge en by med et tårn af en så kolossal højde, at det blev verdens vidunder. Alt dette blev planlagt for at forhindre folket i at spredes i kolonier. Gud havde befalet, at menneskene skulle sprede sig over hele verden, opfylde og underlægge sig den; men disse Babelbyggere besluttede at bevare deres samfund forenet i een gruppe og at grundlægge et kongedømme, som til sidst skulle omfatte hele jorden. Således ville deres by blive hovedstaden i et verdensomspændende rige. Dets herlighed ville tiltvinge sig hele verdens beundring og hyldest og gøre dets grundlæggere berømte. Det mægtige tårn, der skulle nå til himmelen, var tænkt som et monument over dets bygmestres magt og visdom, og det skulle forevige deres ry til fjerne slægter.