Discovery BoxGenesis 8:9 
Context8:9 The dove could not find a resting place for its feet because water still covered 1 the surface of the entire earth, and so it returned to Noah 2 in the ark. He stretched out his hand, took the dove, 3 and brought it back into the ark. 4
Genesis 11:4
Context11:4 Then they said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens 5 so that 6 we may make a name for ourselves. Otherwise 7 we will be scattered 8 across the face of the entire earth.”
1 tn The words “still covered” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
2 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Noah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Heb “it”; the referent (the dove) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tn Heb “and he brought it to himself to the ark.”
5 tn A translation of “heavens” for שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) fits this context because the Babylonian ziggurats had temples at the top, suggesting they reached to the heavens, the dwelling place of the gods.
6 tn The form וְנַעֲשֶׂה (vÿna’aseh, from the verb עשׂה, “do, make”) could be either the imperfect or the cohortative with a vav (ו) conjunction (“and let us make…”). Coming after the previous cohortative, this form expresses purpose.
7 tn The Hebrew particle פֶּן (pen) expresses a negative purpose; it means “that we be not scattered.”
8 sn The Hebrew verb פָּוָץ (pavats, translated “scatter”) is a key term in this passage. The focal point of the account is the dispersion (“scattering”) of the nations rather than the Tower of Babel. But the passage also forms a polemic against Babylon, the pride of the east and a cosmopolitan center with a huge ziggurat. To the Hebrews it was a monument to the judgment of God on pride.
