CONFUSION of Tongues. By this phrase is generally understood that miraculous interpolation of the Deity mentioned in the book of Genesis, to cause mankind defect from their attempt to build the tower of Babel, and to make them separate, and divide themselves into different nations.

It hath been much disputed whether there were more languages than one before the flood; and many arguments have been adduced by learned men on both sides. This question, however, it is easy to see, can never be determined; but whether it was so or not, it is plain there must have been but one for some time after the flood, as all mankind were descended from one family. As to the confusion of tongues and dispersion of mankind, it is an event mentioned by profane as well as the sacred historians*. They write that mankind used one and the same language till the overthrow of the tower of Babylon; at which time a multiplicity of tongues was introduced by the gods; whereupon wars ensued, and those whose speech happened to be intelligible to one another, joined company, and seized the countries they chanced to light upon.

With regard to the manner, however, in which this confusion was effected, there is a great variety of sentiments. Several learned men, prepossessed with an opinion that all the different idioms now in the world did at first arise from one primitive language to which they may be reduced, and that the variety which we find among them is no other than what must naturally have taken place in so long course of time, have thence been induced to believe that there were no new languages formed at the confusion, but that the most that was done at that time was only to fetter the builders of Babel at variance with one another by creating a misunderstanding among them. This some imagine to have been effected without any immediate influence on their language; which seems contrary to the words and obvious intention of the sacred historian. Others have imagined it brought about by a temporary confusion of their speech, or rather of their apprehensions, causing them, while they continued together, and spoke the same language, yet to understand the words differently. A third opinion is, that a variety of inflexions was introduced, and perhaps some new words, which disturbed and perverted the former manner of expression. But this, though it might occasion different dialects, yet could not create new languages; and seems not to answer the intention of Moses, which was to inform us not only how mankind were at first dispersed into so many nations, but to account for their different languages; a thing very difficult if not impossible to be done, without having recourse to the immediate interpolation of divine power. For though time, intercourse with foreign nations, commerce, the invention and improvement of arts and sciences, and the difference of climates, cause very considerable alterations in languages; yet the utmost effect we can imagine them to have will not come up to the point in question. Upon the whole, therefore, it seems most probable, that on the confusion at Babel there were new languages formed; and that these languages were the roots of all others that are, that have been, or that will be spoken while the world remains.

In what manner these new languages were formed, is a matter not easy to be determined. From the manner in which this event is related by Moses, some have concluded that God effected it by immediately inducing an oblivion of their former tongue, and instantaneously infusing others into their minds. The Jews imagined this to be done by the ministry of angels, 70 of whom descended with God, and were each of them set over a nation, to whom they taught a peculiar language; but that the ancestors of the Jewish nation retained the primitive language. Others have supposed, that God did no more than cause them to forget their old language, leaving them to form new ones in the best manner they could; but this must have taken up some time, and could but ill have answered the necessities of mankind; and the way in which Moses expresses himself seems to imply that it was done instantaneously.

As to the number of different languages formed at this time, we are not less in the dark than as to the manner in which they were formed. It is most probable, that the languages of the chief families were fundamentally different from each other, and that the sub-languages or dialects within each branch, for the sake of immediate intercourse, had a mutual affinity, some more, and some less, according as they settled nearer or farther from each other; which was sufficient to bring about the designs of God, divide mankind into distinct societies, and open a new scene of Providence, by which his wisdom might display itself in the government of the world.