This week the story of parsha “Noach” completes, with Genesis chapters 10 through 11, and what happens AFTER the flood. But, arguably, still part of the ‘days of Noah.’
This time we pick up the narrative with the events just after the eight human survivors emerge from the Ark. Some time later, there is a somewhat enigmatic recounting of Ham having done SOMETHING — interpretations and even speculations vary greatly — that result in a curse; not on Ham himself, but his youngest son, who bears a name that subsequently becomes infamous: Canaan.
The Erev Shabbat reading continues through the rise of another son of a son of Ham, Nimrod, and a building whose name has become synonymous with incoherent language. And a genealogy that results in YHVH taking a whole new path with man:
The Sabbath day midrash, from Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship, admittedly asks more questions than we can answer — at least without looking closely at the modern parallels. After all, the ‘Days of Noah’ arguably didn’t END with the Flood.
So it’s the contrasts in this parsha, from the Flood through the Tower of Babel, that we examine. That first event, says the Bible, was a direct result of wickedness, and violence, and YHVH’s observation that “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” It looks a lot like “lawlessness abounds” – then as now. But the subsequent rebellion, where men decided – unanimously? or by coercion? – to “make a name” for themselves, and thwart the will of the One Who brought the Flood to do anything similar, looks more like a ‘Collectivist’ or even authoritarian outrage.
And His response was different, too, and set the stage for a very different way of dealing with Adam-kind.
“Noach – finale: From Anarchy to Collectivism – to Patriarchy”
Service information:
Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship worship services and teachings are broadcast live every Sabbath, via Paltalk. (www.paltalk.com has both the link, and the app.) The “room name” is “Walking Torah with Shabbat Shalom Mesa,” and can be found via the paltalk search, then bookmarked.
Erev Shabbat services begin at 7:00 PM Mountain Time Friday evenings (9 PM Eastern, 8 PM Central)
Live Sabbath teachings begin shortly after 11 AM Mountain time on Sabbath day (Saturday).
email: mark@markniwot.com
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
