genesis 8-9 - the flood (part 2)

In which we conclude the story of Noah’s ark.

When we last left Noah, he, his family, and two or seven of every animal on Earth were sealed inside the ark, floating atop a deluged Earth. In Chapter 8, God “remembers” Noah, and causes the waters to recede. This takes quite a long time – or at least it seems to, given the attention paid to each successive step in the process; Noah et al. don’t leave the ark until the 18^th verse of a 22-verse chapter.

At one point, Noah sends forth a raven to test whether the waters have receded fully. He then sends forth a dove. Once again, the documentary hypothesis arises: the raven comes from one source, and the dove from another (I don’t remember which from which).

Also, the dove, on its second trip outside the ark, brings back an olive leaf “pluckt off” [a tree, presumably] (Genesis 8:11). How could an olive tree survive a massive deluge, followed by at least 150 days of submersion in water, followed by the rapid recession of that water? And don’t say, “Because God did it,” because that’s just stupid.

I’ve paid virtually no attention to the specific periods mentioned here, because, not only am I not interested in them, but they are not interesting in themselves. For the denouement of a global flood, this chapter is surprising dull.

So Noah et al. finally leave the ark. This includes the animals. We return here to the Jahwist source, as Noah sacrifices one pair of each of the “clean” animals. Remember how the Priestly source designated only two pairs of animals, while the Jahwist source designated seven pairs of “clean” animals and birds? Here is where that becomes important. By the time the Priestly source was written, only members of the priesthood were permitted to make sacrifices. Noah, not being a priest (the priesthood would not be established until the time of Aaron), would have not been permitted to make a sacrifice, so the number of animals was reduced to two.

The Jahwist source, however, had no problem with laymen making sacrifices. Noah’s sacrifice is a burnt offering, and the LORD (Yahweh) “smells a sweet savour” arising from it. This is further evidence of Yahweh’s bloodthirsty nature.

Chapter 8 ends with Yahweh promising not to destroy the earth again. Chapter 9 begins with Elohim promising the same thing, except he is more long-winded*. First, Elohim tells Noah et al. that the animals are there for them to do with as they please (Genesis 9:2), a verse that has been used to justify ages of animal cruelty. Then Elohim commands Noah et al. to “be ye fruitful, and multiply” (Genesis 9:7), which might be fine for the Bronze Age when these words were first written, but nowadays is a recipe for overpopulation.

Oddly, Elohim also takes the time to prohibit the eating of animals that are still alive! (Genesis 9:4) Was this prohibition actually necessary?

Finally we get to the “covenant”, in which Elohim promises not to destroy the earth again. This takes a full ten verses; Elohim could take lessons in brevity from Yahweh. The rainbow is established as a symbol of the covenant, which I find quite nice, actually. Since rainbows are produced by water vapor in the air, it ties in nicely with the flood itself, and is a reminder of God’s contrition.

And that’s it. I will discuss the second half of Genesis 9 next time.

*I realize the hypocrisy inherent in me accusing someone else of being long-winded. Nevertheless, I doubt anyone will ever establish a religion based on the ranting of some random blogger, so I feel justified in doing so.