Last time, I mentioned the nine generations (Hebrew = toledoth) from Adam to Noah that the author gives in Genesis 5. The writer uses the same trope again in Genesis 11 (after the whole Babel (which in Hebrew is the name for Babylon) thing) and traces nine generations from Noah’s son, Shem, to Terah, Abram’s father.
Some other items I noted:
Abram travelled to the land of Canaan who was an actual person. In Genesis 9:18, Noah’s sons are named and Ham’s son Canaan is mentioned specifically. As the story moves along in chapter 9, Noah gets drunk and passes out, and “lay uncovered in his tent”. (Gen.9:21) Ham sees this, goes outside and tells his brothers who then take a blanket, walk backward into the tent so as not to see their father’s nakedness and cover him up. Something you do with drunks, I guess. Noah goes postal when he sobers up and curses — Canaan! Wha…..?
I intend to go searching for reasons for this one but suffice it to say now that this is a bit of a puzzle. (Scroll down to Context of Gen.9:18)
Anyway, once Abram hears God calling him away from his father’s house, he travels to the land of Canaan. One would assume from the name that about 8 generations ago, Canaan the Cursed found his way to this land and his descendants settled it up. In the history of Israel, Abraham’s descendants spend a great deal of time and energy wresting the land away from a distant cousin.
I am led to wonder at the internecine struggles and warfare of the Middle East. I know that current bloodshed dates WAAAAAy back but I didn’t know it dated back to the time just after the flood. The Matthew passage that coincides with the Genesis reading seems to speak to this incivility:
‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:21-26
The New International Version uses the word “raca” which the NRSV translates as “insult” in the above passage. I could not help but think about “macaca”. Sorry. But Senator Allen learned a thing or two about insults and being held liable to councils this past year, didn’t he?
Matthew 5 is the chapter that holds the Beatitudes and Jesus telling his disciples that he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. If one reads the entirety of Matthew 5 and is familiar with the Ten Commandments, one can see how Jesus is filling out the precepts given on Sinai. For example in the passage quoted above, commenters write that Jesus takes the prohibition against killing beyond the physical act of taking life to a warning about anger — which is a type of killing.
Woe is us! Having actions under prohibition is one thing. To have our emotions under the same law? We are lost! The good news is that Jesus has brought not merely fulfillment of the law — an encompassing sphere of behavior and attitudes — but a way of grace that allows us the opportunity to fail and try again.
Thanks be to God!
