Disciple Bible Study: Week 3, Reading 2

I’m participating in Disciple Bible Study, a 34 week intensive. Every day, we have different readings (except on the seventh day…resting!). I have decided to document my initial noticings from a close reading of the scripture. Well, an attempt at a close reading.

Week 3, Reading 2:  Genesis 6-9

Noticings:

• 6:1-4 - These are weird verses.  Questions...
• What does the words Sons of God here mean for Christianity?
• Here is where G*d is saying that people have a mortality rate.
• Hey, Jewish friends, got some good Midrash?

The Flood Narrative

• 6:5 - wickedness of human cause the destruction of the earth.  Hmm.  Familiar?
• 6:19 - and the critters came 2x2
• 7:2 - seven pairs of clean animals and two pairs of unclean animals (who says the Bible does't contradict itself?)
• 7:6 - really?  Noah was 600?  Right after the statement that 120 years is enough?
• 7:9 - back to 2x2 animals
• 8:1 - G*d remembered Noah...would G*d forget?
• 8:1 - G*d remembered Noah and all the animals, etc.  Not people-centric.
• 8:7 - What is up with the raven?
• 8:20 - Sacrificed every clean animal (that's why they needed 7!)  This is a big honking job!
• 8:21 - When G*d smelled the odor, then G*d makes the promise never to do this again.  The odor.
• 9:2 - Now beasties fear humans
• 9:3 - All animals given to humans for food
• 9:6 - Whoever sheds the blood of a human, by a human shall that person's blood be shed...
• Doesn't this apply to everybody?
• What does shed mean?  What about indirect causes of death through injustice?
• 9:11 - Covenant establishment
• 9:13 - the sign (rainbow)
• 9:20 - Noah has the first vineyard!  So, I wonder how they made this discovery of drunkenness?  Can you imagine the first hangover?  The verb that is translated "became drunk" means simply to "drink one's fill."
• 9:24 - What exactly did Ham do to Noah?  What is unspoken here?  It can't be simply seeing nakedness and talking to his brothers.  That seems too normal.
• Ham of Canaan - Beginning of the conflict with the Canaanites.  Such an ancient difference.  Still seems to be living itself out.
• Sad that this was what people used to justify the slavery of the Africans.