Genesis 11:5 - Divine inspection of human arrogance.

The Divine Descent to Investigate

The verse states, "And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower" (Genesis 11:5). Rashi explains that this anthropomorphic language—Hashem "coming down"—is not to be taken literally, as G-d is omnipresent. Rather, it signifies that Hashem lowered His presence, so to speak, to investigate the actions of humanity with precision and justice. This mirrors His approach in other instances, such as with Sodom (Genesis 18:21), where He "descends" to judge fairly before executing punishment.

The Sin of the Tower Builders

The Midrash (Pirkei D'Rabbi Eliezer 24) elaborates that the builders of the Tower of Bavel sought to rebel against Hashem by constructing a tower to "wage war against Heaven." Rambam (Moreh Nevuchim 1:4) interprets their sin as idolatry—they worshipped the celestial bodies and sought to challenge divine authority. The phrase "the children of men" (בְּנֵי הָאָדָם) emphasizes their hubris, as they acted in the manner of Adam HaRishon, who also sought independence from G-d's will.

The Tower as a Symbol of Unity in Sin

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 109a) describes how the generation of the Tower acted with harmony in their defiance. Unlike the generation of the Flood, who sinned through theft and violence, this generation sinned through collective rebellion. The Sforno notes that their unity was misdirected—instead of using their cooperation for divine service, they sought to "make a name for themselves" (Genesis 11:4), prioritizing human glory over divine purpose.

Hashem’s Response: Dispersion and Confusion

Rashi (on Genesis 11:7) explains that Hashem’s decision to "confuse their language" was a measured response. Rather than destroying them like the Flood generation, He disrupted their unity, forcing them to disperse. The Ramban adds that this was an act of mercy—by scattering them, Hashem prevented them from collectively reinforcing their sinful ambitions.

• Rashi: The "descent" signifies divine judgment, not physical movement.
• Midrash: Their sin was rebellion, akin to idolatry.
• Talmud: Their unity in sin warranted a unique punishment.
• Sforno: Their cooperation was misused for selfish ambition.
• Ramban: Dispersion was an act of divine compassion.