themselves by building a great defensive tower and walled city. There is a vivid contrast between God’s opposition to human attempts to make a name for themselves and God’s intention to give Abram a great name. This contrast matches the contrast between fearful human attempts to safeguard their unity in one place by building a walled city, “lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth” (erets), and Abram’s willingness to follow God’s call to leave his own place and people and go to