This week’s portion is about six chapters, but it only has about three sections. Those sections are Noah’s calling, the Flood or Great Deluge, and Noah’s genealogy with the Table of Nations. That doesn’t mean we don’t have a lot to address. Many things are happening behind the scene from what we read in these six chapters. We may not even be able to chase all the rabbits down their holes in what we’ll find this week. Let’s look at a few things.
At the end of last week, Genesis 6:1 told us the name of Noah’s three sons. The second verse of this week’s portion tells us those three names again and in the same order. But those three names are not in their birth order. The text doesn’t mention the birth order, but careful observation will show us the possible order. Although, we still may not be able to determine the age of Noah at the time of his sons’ births.
God tells Noah to build an ark that will hold two of every kind of animal to keep them from the flood. More than once, the text says the animals will come two by two. But, more than once, the text says to bring two of every kind of unclean animal and seven of every kind of clean animal. Is this a contradiction in the text?
There’s another possible discrepancy in the text, and it has to do with the timing of the first several months on the ark. Chapter 7 says that it was the 27th of the second month when the waters burst forth and that the floodwaters raised above the whole earth for 150 days. Chapter 8 says it was the 27th of the seventh month when the ark ran aground. That would be five full months in 150 days, making the months 30 days long, each. With the moon cycle being 29.5 days, how can each month be 30 days long?
Next is the controversial Genesis 9:3 verse. What does that mean? By itself, verse three seems to be clear in what it says. But, based on the evidence found in other passages, we can determine the instruction given to Noah. We’ll let Scripture interpret Scripture.
Right after that controversial section comes another controversy. What did Ham do that was so bad such that his father cursed him and his offspring? And why does the text mention more than once that Ham is the father of Canaan?
Chapter ten is a sleeper for most people. There are a lot of names of the offspring of Noah’s three sons. We won’t be able to spend much time here, unfortunately. I encourage you to read through the list and see how many names you know about, including the names of cities in the list. They will show up in later stories throughout the bible. Following these names to see where the people groups settled could be a fascinating study but is too in-depth for this study.
I mentioned last week that chapter 11 has differences between the Septuagint and the Hebrew Masoretic. This time there is a 650-year difference in the genealogy from Noah down to Abram/Abraham. And, once again, the listed order of Abram and his brothers is not in accord with their birth order.
We’ll go over all of these potential irregularities, contradictions, and controversies in the days to come.