The Flood Studies in the Book of Genesis Genesis 6-9 © John Stevenson, 2009

Genesis 1-6 Genesis 7-11 Creation history Noahic history Adam’s sons (4:1-16) Noah’s sons (9:18-29) Technological Development of Mankind (4:17-26) Ethnic Development of Mankind (10:1-32) Ten Generations from Adam to Noah (5:1-32) Ten Generations from Noah to Terah (11:10-26)

Genesis 6:1-2 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.

Genesis 6:3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

Genesis 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

Sons of God refer to Angels Septuagint supports this interpretation Sons of God are angels in Job Angels in heaven do not marry, but these angels were not in heaven The resulting offspring produced giants Supported in Apocryphal book of Enoch as well as in Jude 6.

Sons of God refer to Descendants of Seth Preceding chapters set forth contrast of two lines Men began to call on the name of the Lord It is mankind that is punished in the flood Sonship is a common theme in the Old Testament Marriage of godly seed to ungodly people is a common theme in Genesis

Sons of God refer to Kings and Rulers Aramaic lends itself to this interpretation Elohim refers to human judges in Ex 21:6; 22:8-9 and in Psalm 82:1, 6 Similar use in Babylonian texts Kings often referred to as Elohim in east Actions paralleled in Lamech Nephilim refer to fallen ones

Genesis 6:5-6 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

Genesis 6:7-8 The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Noah’s three sons (6:10) Covenant with Noah (6:18) • Promise to destroy the earth with a flood Command to take food (6:21) Noah & Family enter the ark (7:1) Flood on the earth (7:11 – 8:13) Noah & Family come out of ark (8:14) Command not to eat blood (9:14) Covenant with Noah (9:8-17) • Promise not to destroy the earth with a flood Noah’s three sons (9:18)

Genesis 6:14 Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch. tb;Te Same word is used for the ark into which the baby Moses was placed

Genesis 6:15 This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.

The Lord shuts the door and it rains 40 days and nights (7:15-16) Waters increase until the mountains are covered (7:18-20) 150 days waters prevail (7:21-24) God Remembers Noah (8:1) 150 days waters abate (8:3) Waters decrease until the mountain become visible (8:4-5) At the end of 40 days Noah opens the window (8:6)

What light does the New Testament thrown onto the Flood Narrative?

...the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you  not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience  through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:20-21).

All flesh was to be destroyed in the flood. The Ark The Ark All flesh was to be destroyed in the flood. All mankind is under condemnation. The ark was designed and planned by God (Genesis 6:14-16). Our hope in Christ was designed by God before the world began (Ephesians 1:4). Noah’s part was to build the physical structure of the ark (Genesis 6:22). Christ was born of a human mother (Matthew 1:21).

God made known to Noah this plan of salvation (Genesis 6:13). The Ark The Ark God made known to Noah this plan of salvation (Genesis 6:13). God has made known to us His plan of eternal salvation (Romans 16:25-26). Noah believed the Lord (Hebrews 11:7). We must believe in Christ (John 3:16). The ark had only one door (Genesis 6:16). Christ is the only door to salvation (John 10:9).

Genesis 6:16 You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.

Genesis 7:11-12 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened. 12 The rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights.

Was the Flood Local or Universal?

Universal language The waters lifted the ark up above the earth (7:17). The waters prevailed and increased upon the earth (7:18). The waters prevailed exceeding upon the earth (7:19). All the high hills were covered (9:19). The water rose 15 cubits above the mountains (7:20).

Universal language All flesh died upon the earth (7:21). The waters prevailed for 150 days (7:24).

The Biblical account says that the waters covered the whole earth. Universal Flood Local Flood The Biblical account says that the waters covered the whole earth. The word aretz (“earth”) is often used to describe a local area. The Biblical language goes out of its way to use language of totality. The account is given from the viewpoint of the narrator is from his perspective the destruction is total.

The size of the ark indicates that this was no local flood. Universal Flood Local Flood The size of the ark indicates that this was no local flood. The size of the ark is not related to the extent of the flood. The purpose of the ark was punishment of world-wide sin. In a local flood some could have escaped. God could have made certain all flesh was destroyed without flooding the entire globe. There are world-wide traces of a flood. The evidence is questioned as to its universality.

Genesis 8:1 But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided.

Genesis 6 Genesis 7 Genesis 8 God warns Noah God delivers Noah God remembers Noah The ark is built The ark is used to save Noah from the flood The ark comes to rest in the mountains of Ararat Noah building the ark Noah in the ark Noah coming out of the ark The earth filled with violence The earth filled with water Noah to go out & fill the earth

Genesis 8:4 In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat.

Ararat

What is the significance of the various sorts of birds being sent out?

Genesis 8:15-17 Then God spoke to Noah, saying, 16 “Go out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and your sons' wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you, birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.”

Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Genesis 8:21 The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.”

Genesis 8:22 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease.”

Genesis 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.”

Genesis 9:2 The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given.

Genesis 9:3-5 Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant. 4 Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother I will require the life of man.”

Genesis 9:6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.”

Genesis 9:8-10 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, 9 “Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth.”

What is a... Covenant

Noah, his descendants, and every living creature GOD Covenant Noah, his descendants, and every living creature

Genesis 9:11 “I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.”

Genesis 9:12-13 God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; 13 I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.”

Genesis 9:18 Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem and Ham and Japheth; and Ham was the father of Canaan.

Genesis 9:20-22 Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.

Genesis 9:23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away, so that they did not see their father's nakedness.

Genesis 9:24-25 When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him. 25 So he said, “Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brothers.”

Genesis 9:26-27 He also said, “Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant. 27 May God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.”

T.p.y: tp,y< Genesis 9:26-27 He also said, “Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant. 27 May God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.” T.p.y: tp,y<

To whom does the pronoun refer? Genesis 9:26-27 He also said, “Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant. 27 May God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.” To whom does the pronoun refer?

To whom does the pronoun refer? 27 May God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.” To whom does the pronoun refer?

Adam Noah Placed into a Garden Plants a Garden Eats the fruit of the tree Drinks of the fruit of the vine Results in recognizing his nakedness Results in lying naked in his tent Results in a curse Results in a lasting division of the seed Followed by a genealogy to demonstrate the division

Adam Noah His eyes were opened and he knew he was naked. He awoke from his wine and knew what his younger son had done. He was judged and cursed by God. He placed a curse upon Canaan.