How did the nation of Israel begin in the Bible timeline?
After the Tower of Babel around 2200 B.C., another 200 years passed. Because of false, pagan religions and idolatry, God then called one man, Abraham, from the flow of humanity. Out of Abraham's call came the appearance of the nation of Israel, the Jew.
Les explains the timeline in round figures: Noah's Flood was around 2400 B.C., 1600 years after Adam. Then 200 years after the Flood came the Tower of Babel, around 2200 B.C., where the nations appeared and God confused the languages. Another 200 years later, because of the false religions, pagan religions, and idolatry that came in at Babel, God did something totally different. He let the human race coming from Adam flow like a river, and out of that river of humanity, with the call of one man called Abraham, came the appearance of the nation of Israel, the Jew.