A Worldwide Flood

1. A Worldwide Flood ANE “Great Flood” Traditions • Epic of Gilgamesh (Babylonian; 19th cent BCE) • The god Ea plans to destroy the world • Gilgamesh must build a boat for himself and his family • Eridu Genesis (Sumerian; 17th cent BCE) • Ziusudra told to build a boat by god Enki • Seven-day flood

2. A Worldwide Flood ANE “Great Flood” Traditions Various other accounts from: • Persian culture • Arabic culture • Chinese culture • Aztec culture

3. A Worldwide Flood • Genesis 6:1-8: Humanity’s wickedness grieves God • Genesis 6:9-22: Noah pleases God A contrast develops between the one man who has found favor with YHWH and the rest of humanity. Here the theological themes of “covenant” and “divine retribution” make their first impact on Pentateuchal theology.

4. A Worldwide Flood • Genesis 7–8: The water fills the earth then subsides • Genesis 9:1-17: God’s covenant with Noah • Genesis 9:18-29: Sin reenters the picture • Genesis 10: Nations descended from Noah

5. A Worldwide Flood The Great Flood: Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6-10) • Punishment / Divine retribution • Protection / Exclusion / Preservation • New creation • Covenant and Hope

7. From Primeval to Patriarchal History 10 These are the descendants of Shem. When Shem was one hundred years old, he became the father of Arpachshad two years after the flood; 11 and Shem lived after the birth of Arpachshad for five hundred years, and had other sons and daughters. 12 When Arpachshad had lived for thirty-five years, he became the father of Shelah; 13 and Arpachshad lived after the birth of Shelah for four hundred and three years, and had other sons and daughters. 14 When Shelah had lived for thirty years, he became the father of Eber; 15 and Shelah lived after

8. From Primeval to Patriarchal History the birth of Eber for four hundred and three years, and had other sons and daughters. 16 When Eber had lived for thirty-four years, he became the father of Peleg; 17 and Eber lived after the birth of Peleg for four hundred and thirty years, and had other sons and daughters. 18 When Peleg had lived for thirty years, he became the father of Reu; 19 and Peleg lived after the birth of Reu for two hundred and nine years, and had other sons and daughters. 20 When Reu had lived for thirty-two years, he became the father of Serug; 21 and Reu lived after

9. From Primeval to Patriarchal History the birth of Serug for two hundred and seven years, and had other sons and daughters. 22 When Serug had lived for thirty years, he became the father of Nahor; 23 and Serug lived after the birth of Nahor for two hundred years, and had other sons and daughters. 24 When Nahor had lived for twenty-nine years, he became the father of Terah; 25 and Nahor lived after the birth of Terah for one hundred and nineteen years, and had other sons and daughters. 26 When Terah had lived for seventy years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

10. From Primeval to Patriarchal History 27 Now these are the descendants of Terah. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot. 28 Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans. 29 Abram and Nahor took wives; the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah. 30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31 Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and

11. From Primeval to Patriarchal History they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan; but when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 The days of Terah were two hundred and five years; and Terah died in Haran.