As the people of the world moved eastward, Genesis 11:1-9 records, "they found a plain in Shinar and settled there." In rebellion against God, there they decided to live in one place and erect a huge tower in order to make a name for themselves. God descended to them and, confusing their language, scattered them abroad in confusion. From that point on, the area was known as Babel (and Babylon), as "Babel" sounds like the Hebrew word for "confused."
