The Tower of Babel

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: Behold, I would destroy them with the earth. I would bring a flood to wipe this earth clean. 00:00:12 Speaker 3: Remembered me, remember my family and the animals with me. 00:00:19 Speaker 1: God hadn't forgotten Noah, the Creator remembered him and all the beasts within the ark. 00:00:26 Speaker 2: Go out from the ark, Noah, as a sign of my covenant with you, I have set my bow in the clouds. 00:00:35 Speaker 1: The never ending pattern of sin and struggle didn't cease with the flood. Cup after cup, Noah drank away his sorrows, yet it only numbed the pain. His youngest son, Hand watched from a distance, Disdain etched on his face as he witnessed his father's shameful display. 00:00:58 Speaker 4: I present to you, honorable, the stoic and the righteous, Noah, naked and sleeping in his own vomit hem. 00:01:10 Speaker 5: You've disgraced our father. Cursed be Canaan for what his father has done. Shut up, old man. 00:01:18 Speaker 1: Men's sins stretched alongside Noah's descendants. But God's promises remained. His faithfulness wouldn't waver even in the face of human imperfection. The sons of Noah spread across the land, hands stretching out to seize the promise God gave them. Jafforth sired many sons, whose clans became the people of the coastlands. They were voyagers, fishermen, and tradesmen of great renown. Their influence stretched beyond the seas to lands untouched. The sons of scaled the hill country of the east. They were people of the promise, just as God had foretold, from his line would come Terror, the father of Abraham. Yet the sons of Ham were cursed with ambition. His sons were Canaan, Egypt, Put and Cush. Out of the line of Cush came a man unlike any other, a man of strength, influence, and power. His name was Nimrod. Nimrod stood atop the hill, a silhouette against the dying light of the sun. The air was thick with the scent of earth and blood. The spoils of his latest hunt arrayed around him. His cloak, fashioned from the pelts of lions, billowed in the evening breeze. To his people, he was not just a man. He was a legend, a giant among mortals, hunter favored by the Creator. As the last rays of sunlight bled out of the sky. Nimrod descended from the hill with the carcass of a stag carried over his shoulders, his eyes sharp and piercing as an eagle's, scanned the crowd at the bottom. They looked upon him with awe and reverence, whispers of his name rippling through the assembly like a prayer. The whispers rose like a song, eventually becoming a chant singing his glory. The great Hunter's gaze fell upon the carcass of a stag, its antlers spanning wide, a testament to its once proud stature. Nimrod's hand rested on its flank, his fingers brushing against the coarse fur. 00:03:47 Speaker 3: To night, we feast, We honor the life taken, and we give thanks to the Creator for his bounty. 00:03:54 Speaker 1: He watched as his men began to prepare the feast, the crackle of firewood and the save recent of roasting meat filling the air. Nimrod turned away, his mind already drifting to thoughts of the hunt to come. He craved another challenge in the wilds of China. For Nimrod, the hunt was more than a means of survival. It was a test, a sacred right that affirmed his dominance over nature and man alike. His camp was a sprawling expanse of tents and makeshift shelters, filled with warriors and craftsmen, women and children. It was a kingdom in its infancy, a realm forged from blood and sweat, under the rule of a man who feared nothing. As he walked through the camp, his people parted before him, their eyes shining with admiration. Nimrod's presence was a promise of protection and prosperity. In his tent, lit by the flickering light of torches, Nimrod sat before a man of his domain. It was drawn from charcoal on parchment crafted from tanned pelts. The parchment was marked with symbols and drawings, a record of his conquests and the cities he had founded, Babel, Erek, Akad, and Kalna. His kingdom was growing, and with it his power. Yet Nimrod's ambitions stretched further still. He envisioned a city like no other, a monument to his greatness, a testament to human ingenuity and divine favor. A shadow fell across the entrance of his tent. Nimrod looked up to see one of his trusted servants a man named Elum standing there with a grim expression. 00:05:49 Speaker 6: My lord, the scouts have returned. There are whispers of descent among some of the tribes. 00:05:57 Speaker 3: What's the matter. 00:05:58 Speaker 6: Your bow is mighty, Lord Limrod, and your arrow strong, but it's reach wanes. In the borderlands, some tribal elders seek to make a name for themselves by stretching further out. They want to scatter as the descendants of Jpth and Shem have troubling. It was the divine mandate passed from the forefathers, was it not. We are meant to stretch outward and fill the earth. 00:06:30 Speaker 3: Yes, but that isn't how greatness is achieved, Elam. Greatness is built brick by brick, stone by stone on top of one another. If we spread and disperse, we weaken what we've built Here. Pray scatter outward, but the predators gather together. 00:06:52 Speaker 6: Would you like me to send more men to the borderlands to impose your will? 00:06:57 Speaker 3: No? No, that would be short sighted. Why use force against each other when we can use force for each other. These people dissent because they want to be significant. They don't want to live in my shadow. But what if I could somehow manufacture greatness for them? What if I could give them the feeling of greatness under my rule? 00:07:24 Speaker 6: Are you suggesting you give up some of your power and divide it among the elders? 00:07:31 Speaker 3: Ah? Oh, no, sweet Elam, I don't need to relinquish freedom or power. I need to rally them under an ideology, a cause that gives them a sense of significance. But it will all be under my rule. 00:07:48 Speaker 6: Will you build a temple? 00:07:51 Speaker 1: Nimrod rose to his feet, his stature imposing even in the confines of the tent. He opened the flap of his tent and looked up, gazing at the night sky. The stars scattered like diamonds across the velvet darkness. 00:08:08 Speaker 2: Not a temple. 00:08:10 Speaker 3: Temples are for gods. We are men. We will build a tower. 00:08:18 Speaker 1: Nimrod turned to his friend and grabbed his shoulders, his massive hands nearly wrapped around his entire back. He shook him enthusiastically. 00:08:27 Speaker 3: I have been blessed by God with the strength and the will to lead. I will lead them to greatness. Upward. We will ascend. People want to scatter abroad for greatness. They want to go into the unknown and venture out. No, no, true greatness. He is found above. We will build a city so great, so large, that it reaches the heavens. 00:08:55 Speaker 6: I can begin preparations. We can consolidate the tribes and bring them closer together. Of all your kingdoms, where shall this tower be? Where will the people gather? 00:09:11 Speaker 1: Nimrod looked back at Elam with a glint in his eye. His mind was set, his path clear. He would build his tower, and it would reach the heavens. In doing so, he would carve his name into the annals of history, a name spoken with reverence and fear for generations to come. For Nimrod, the Mighty Hunter, was more than a man. He was a force of nature, a king among kings, destined to leave his mark on the world, and nothing, not even the will of God, would stand in his way. 00:09:49 Speaker 3: Bring them to battle. 00:09:53 Speaker 1: Nimrod's dreams were turned to stone and stacked upon each other. His kingdom rose from the plains of China. The city he founded was a marvel of architecture and ambition, its walls high and strong, and streets bustling with life. Babel, Erek, Akad, and Kalma. These were the jewels of his realm, each a testament to his vision and might. Yet for all their splendor, they were but the beginning of Nimrod's ground design. In the heart of Babel, Nimrod stood atop a balcony overlooking his city. 00:10:35 Speaker 2: Below. 00:10:36 Speaker 1: The streets teemed with people, Merchants hawking their wares, craftsmen plying their trades, children playing and laughing. 00:10:45 Speaker 3: It was a. 00:10:45 Speaker 1: City alive with energy and purpose, a city that bore the mark of its king. Nimrod's gaze was steady, his expression one of pride and determination. This was his creation, his legacy, and he would see it flourish. Elam interrupted his gaze. 00:11:07 Speaker 6: My Lord, the council is assembled. They await your command. 00:11:13 Speaker 1: Nimrod nodded, his eyes lingering on the city for a moment longer before he turned and strode Inside. The council chamber was a grand hall. Firs from Nimrod's hunts laced the ground. The pelts of bears, lions, and wolves draped over his throne, centered at the head of a large table. Beside the table sat the leaders of China, men who had sworn fealty to Nimrod and shared in his vision for the kingdom. 00:11:44 Speaker 3: Welcome, friends, our kingdom thrives. But there is still much to be done. The cities we have built are merely stepping stones to our ultimate goal, a city that will be the envy of the world, a tower that will touch the heavens. 00:12:04 Speaker 1: Murmurs of agreement rippled through the council. Nimo's ambitions were well known, and his charisma had won him the loyalty of even the most skeptical among them. Yet as he spoke, a note of caution crept into a few voices. 00:12:20 Speaker 2: My Lord, there. 00:12:22 Speaker 6: Are whispers of unrest among some of the tribes. They fear that our ambition may bring the wrath of God upon us. 00:12:33 Speaker 3: Haven't you heard the songs? I am Nimrod, the hunter who stands before God. He is the one who has blessed us with this land and this power. It is our duty to use it to its fullest. We will build this tower, and in doing so, we will show the world that the people of Babo and the entire region of Shanar are not to be trifled with. 00:13:05 Speaker 5: The tower is how we reach God. The tower is how we reach greatness. 00:13:11 Speaker 3: Perhaps together we can reach paradise again. Maybe we could be like God himself. 00:13:20 Speaker 1: The council members nodded Nimrod's words had a way of dispelling doubts, of igniting a fire in the hearts of his followers. He was a leader unlike any other, a man whose vision extended beyond the horizon, whose will could bend even the most obstinate to his cause. In the days that followed, Nimrod's vision began to take shape. Plans were drawn, resources gathered, and work on the tower commenced. The people of Babel toiled day and night, their efforts guided by the hand of their king. The tower rose steadily, its base scrowed and robust, its height a testament to human ingenuity and ambition. Yet for all the progress made, some harbor doubts. Among them was Javon, a builder of great skill and wisdom, who had been tasked with overseeing the construction. One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Javon approached Nimrod. His expression troubled. 00:14:28 Speaker 5: My Lord, I fear our ambition may be our undoing. Some speak of omens. God may not look kindly upon our attempt to reach the heavens. 00:14:40 Speaker 3: It is God who has given us the strength and the will to achieve greakness. We honor him by striving for the impossible and pushing the boundaries of what is known and possible. Fear not, javan we are destined for glory. 00:15:00 Speaker 1: Javon nodded, though the worry did not leave his eyes. As he departed, Nimrod watched him go, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his mind. He pushed it aside, focusing instead on the task at hand. The tower would be built, and it would stand as a monument to his reign, a symbol of the indomitable spirit of China. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. The tower rose higher and higher, its shadow stretching long across the plains. The people of Babel looked upon it with a mixture of awe and pride, their faith in Nimrod unshaken, for in their king they saw a man who could turn dreams into reality and lead them to unimagined heights. And so, under the watchful eye of Nimrod, the Tower of Babel continued to rise. Fires burned in the heart of Babel, casting long shadows that danced across the half built tower. Nimrod stood on a platform high above the ground, surveying the work below. The structure was a marvel, its base broad and solid, climbing steadily towards the sky. Every stone laid, every brick set was a step closer to his vision. Below, people were chanting and singing. A smile curled on the edges of Nimrod's face. It was working. They had made the tower a religion in itself. They wouldn't dream of leaving it, or leaving him. They would remain because their greatness was tethered to the tower. Nimrod turned to his gathered advisers, their faces illuminated by the flickering light. They were his most trusted lieutenants, the pillars upon which he built his kingdom. Even in their eyes he could see the flicker of doubt. Javon stepped forward, his eyes earnest. 00:17:09 Speaker 5: My Lord, the towers design is sound. The higher we go, the more challenging it becomes. The weight materials and labor owes a new set of challenges. We must be cautious. 00:17:23 Speaker 3: Cautian has its place, Jami, But this is not a time for fear. It is a time for boldness. We will face these challenges and overcome them, just as we have overcome all others. 00:17:39 Speaker 1: The days that followed were a blur of activity. The people of Babel worked tirelessly, driven by their desire to be part of something greater than themselves. Yet as the tower grew, so did the whispers of descent. Some questioned the wisdom of such an undertaking, fearing the wrath of the yellow him. Others worried about the strain it placed on resources and labor. Nimrod heard these whispers, but paid them no heed. He had come too far, sacrificed too much to be swayed by fear and doubt. 00:18:15 Speaker 2: One night, as. 00:18:16 Speaker 1: The stars shone brightly above, Nimrod found himself alone at the base of the tower. He placed his hand on the cool stone, feeling the pulse of the dream that lived within it. The tower was more than a monument. It was his legacy, a mark that would endure long after he was gone. A figure approached, and Nimrod turned to see Javon standing there, his expression thoughtful. 00:18:45 Speaker 5: My Lord, I have seen many wanderers. 00:18:48 Speaker 3: In my time. What this tower? 00:18:52 Speaker 5: This is something beyond anything I ever imagined. 00:18:57 Speaker 3: It is the work of our many hands, Javan, But it is also the work of one vision, a vision that we share. 00:19:06 Speaker 1: Javon looked up at the tower, his eyes reflecting the firelight. 00:19:11 Speaker 3: Do you ever fear. 00:19:13 Speaker 5: My lord, that that we are reaching to hide, that God might take offense? 00:19:22 Speaker 1: Nimrod's smile faded, his expression turning solemn. 00:19:27 Speaker 3: I have heard this exhausted warning too many times. Has the allowem not given us the earth, the sky, and the strength to build to dream? If we do not use these gifts, if we do not strive for greatness, then we dishonor him. This tower is not an affront, It is an offering. 00:19:55 Speaker 1: Javon nodded slowly, his doubts not entirely dispelled. Nimrod sensed his trepidation. Irritated, the king continued his pontificating. 00:20:06 Speaker 3: And why should I fear him anyways? Did he not flood the earth? Did he not curse my grandfather Ham? If he doesn't accept my offering, then maybe I shall build my tower even higher higher than him. Maybe then it is he who will fear me. 00:20:27 Speaker 1: Nimrod's voice reverberated through the empty stone halls. Javon said nothing. Together, they stood silently, gazing up at the tower that reached ever closer to the heavens. Dawn broke, casting a golden light over the plains of China. Babel awoke to the sound of hammers, chisels, and stone being set upon stone. Nimrod watched them with pride, his heart swelling with the knowledge that they were building something that would endure, something that would be remembered for generations to come. As the day wore on, the heat grew oppressive. The sun beat down mercilessly on the workers, sweat pouring from their brows as they toiled under the watchful eyes of the overseers. Nimrov's presence was a constant, his shadow falling over every aspect of the project. He was a man possessed, driven by a vision that consumed him. The sounds of construction filled the air. Hammers and chisels rang out in a symphony of labor, mingling with the shouts of foremen and the grunts of workers. Nimrod moved among them, his presence a constant reminder of the stakes. He spoke with the Masons, offering words of encouragement and were necessary stern rebukes. His people needed to see that their king was as invested in this endeavor as they were. In the midst of the chaos, cry went out Nimo turned to see a group of workers gather around a fallen scaffold, a man pinned beneath the wreckage. He strode over, his expression grimm. 00:22:12 Speaker 3: What happened here? 00:22:13 Speaker 6: The supports gave way, my lord, it was an accident. 00:22:16 Speaker 3: There are no accidents, only failures of preparation and vigilance. Ensure that that man receives the care he needs, and see to it that the supports are reinforced properly. We cannot afford any more mistakes. 00:22:30 Speaker 6: Yes, my lord, it will be done. 00:22:33 Speaker 1: Javon came out from among them, eyes intense with anger. 00:22:37 Speaker 5: I told you that something like this might happen. It will continue if we don't relent. 00:22:42 Speaker 3: We will only relent when I stand atop my tower, looking out of the world like it's an apple fitting in the palm of my hand. 00:22:50 Speaker 1: Nimrod gestured to the crowd, charisma dripping from him like sweat. 00:22:54 Speaker 3: Are the people of Babel cowards? Will you shrink back, get the first sign of weakness? Will you scatter and scurry like prey? Or will you gather and build like predators? We will make a name for ourselves. We will be great. We will build something to rival Eden. 00:23:17 Speaker 1: The crowd cheered. The Javons slunk back into the rubble, helping the fallen workers to their feet. The Lord God saw Babel. The tower rose brick by brick, reaching toward the heavens, a monument to human pride and unity. But the people of Babel were sorrowfully mistaken. No earthly structure could pierce the divine realm, the celestial plains where the Almighty dwelt. These realms existed beyond the mortal coil, destined to one day reside in the hearts of those who trusted in him. Seeing the path to their doom, the Counsel of God convened to thwart their endeavors. 00:24:01 Speaker 2: They are one people, unified in language and yet unified to destruction. This is only the beginning of what they will do. Soon, they will have the power to do whatever their heart desires, and nothing will be impossible. 00:24:21 Speaker 1: God knew men's hearts. He knew that their plans ultimately led to their demise, so he crafted a. 00:24:29 Speaker 2: Plan of his own. Come let us go down there and confuse their language so that they may not understand one another's speech. The words used to unite them under an impure cause will become confusing to them. They shall be the city of Babylon chaos. 00:24:52 Speaker 1: The sky above Babel darkened with the approach of a summer storm. Thunder rumbled in the distance, alone and ominous growl that seemed to echo the unease growing among the people of China. Nimrod stood atop the incomplete tower, his eyes scanning the horizon. The wind whipped his cloak around him, but he stood unmoved. A statue of unyielding resolve. Elm approached the balcony, worry etched on his brow. 00:25:25 Speaker 6: My Lord, there are omens. We cannot ignore the storms, but one the oracle speak of divine displeasure. People fear that we have angered the Elohim. 00:25:42 Speaker 1: Nimrod snarled as he looked out at the incoming storm, his face scrunched with a contemptuous scowl. 00:25:49 Speaker 3: Yeah, he's threatened by us. He's worried that we will become too great for him to conne traw. He is right to fear me. 00:26:05 Speaker 1: Nimrod turned to Elim, his gaze piercing. 00:26:09 Speaker 3: The people need to see strength, not fear. 00:26:13 Speaker 1: As Elim departed, Nimrod's eyes returned to the horizon. The storm clouds gathered thick and black, reflecting the turmoil within his kingdom. He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his vision pressing down on him. He could not afford to falter. Now the tower must rise. As the storm raged on, Nimrod ascended the tower once more, standing defiant against the elements. Lightning flashed late in the dark sky, and thunder cracked like the voice of an angry God. Yet Nimrod stood firm, a solitary figure against the wrath of nature. The reins descended like arrows. They beat against Nimrod's broad shoulders. His eyes eyes glowed in the lightning, reflecting an ancient evil, like the serpent of old. 00:27:06 Speaker 3: I can't be like God, the. 00:27:10 Speaker 1: King shouted downward at some of the remaining workers. His voice bellowed like the thunder above. 00:27:16 Speaker 3: Yet, Jabbah, yeather, are the able bodied men in the city. Today we build this tower in the highest of the Creator. Today we seize greatness for ourselves. 00:27:28 Speaker 1: Nimmod laughed at heavens. When Javon arrived, Nimrod commanded for the furnaces to be lit. 00:27:35 Speaker 3: More breaks, jabban, more mortar. We will not be dispersed we will be one city, one utopia, one monumental human greatness. 00:27:48 Speaker 1: Javon peered up at ned, then down at the foundation of the tower. The reins eroded some of the mortar, the winds shifting the scaffolding at the top. Javon's eyes widened in alarm. Nimrod was courting disaster. He had to act before it was too late. Turning to Elam, he shouted. 00:28:08 Speaker 5: Ilam, Nimrod, Nasamo nan san al Maasa. 00:28:12 Speaker 1: Ilam stared at Javon with confusion. Perhaps Javon was suffering from an illness. He cocked his head to the side and responded with concern. 00:28:21 Speaker 6: Yavan Malik sma ant asahim alasta abla mala Casseh. 00:28:28 Speaker 1: The two men stared blankly at each other. I'm sure what they heard. They couldn't understand each. 00:28:34 Speaker 5: Other Na Anna avmaka why luck and Nanulazi Nimrod Gabon and Yavna and Saban may Tari. 00:28:43 Speaker 1: Javon couldn't play any more guessing games. Shoving Elam aside, he sprinted up the tower steps. The rain slid, steps slid under his feet, but he pressed on, finally reaching Nimrod, the King thrashed atop the tower, raising his fists in defiance. Javon reached out her hand. 00:29:01 Speaker 5: And shouted, Nimrod Inzel yes, Sabah Satan salvich, what's the matter? 00:29:09 Speaker 3: Jabba has fear stolen your tongue. Come and bask in the glory of our creation. 00:29:17 Speaker 1: Nimrod looked down below. Confusion reigned. People shoved each other, panic setting in. Nimrod turned to Javon, but before he could speak, a brick slipped from beneath his feet. Nimrod fell back, catching himself from the scaffolding. It bent to his weight, then snapped. Javon stepped forward, but it was too late. Nimrod plummeted, his screams muted by the thundering skies. Nimrod struck the earth unseen in the chaos, God had confused their language. People trusted only those they could understand, forming tribes and leave, leaving Babel to seek peace elsewhere. Thus the tribes of the ancient world grew beyond the shadow of their utopia. God's command to fill the earth was fulfilled through the diversity of language and thought. Nimwod's body lay beneath the tower's shadow, slowly the elements claimed the stones, and the sands of time covered its greatness. It returned to dust, the destiny of every man since the Great Four. This Prey dog comproduction is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Slabager, and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People. Narrated by Paul Coltefianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior Rose, Xanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris bag You can hear more Prey dot Com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People, please rate and leave a review.