Genesis 6, 7, 8

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons: Genesis 6; Genesis 7; Genesis 8.
  • Bereshit 6: Massoretic, Hebrew, Aramaic, JPS.
  • Bereshit 7: Massoretic, Hebrew, Aramaic, JPS.
  • Bereshit 8: Massoretic, Hebrew, Aramaic, JPS.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Navigating the Bible: Text/Rabbinic commentary and Divrei Torah.
  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org: Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8.
  • "God's Grief," Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit.
  • Chapter VII of The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Clement of Rome (ca. 96).
  • Chapter CXXVII, Dialogue With Trypho, Justin Martyr. (c 160)
  • Chapter XXIV, Apology for the Christians, Athenagoras of Athens. (c 177)
  • I.XVIII.3, I.XVIII.4, IV.X.1, IV.XVI.1, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter II, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
  • III.2, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Exegetical Fragments,  (Scroll down to SECTIONS II., III.) (pseudo?-) Hippolytus (c 210).
  • Chapter IV, On Monogamy, Tertullian (c. 215)
  • VI.LVIII, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
  • I.4, Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius of Caesarea, (c. 320).
  • From Calvin's Commentary: Genesis 6; Genesis 7; Genesis 8.
  • From the Geneva Notes: Genesis 6; Genesis 7; Genesis 8.
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary: Genesis 6; Genesis 7; Genesis 8.
  • The Manner in Which the Salvation of the Soul is to be Sought (Gen 6:22). Sermon by Jonathan Edwards.
  • From Wesley's Notes: Genesis 6; Genesis 7; Genesis 8.
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871): Genesis 6; Genesis 7; Genesis 8.
• Contemporary References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • Commentary, Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-18, Mark Throntveit, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "Like the charming tales in Kipling's Jungle Book, the stories in Genesis 3-11 originally tried to answer age-old questions such as: Why is childbirth painful? "
  • The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Howard Wallace Audrey Schindler, Morag Logan, Paul Tonson, Lorraine Parkinson, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
    • "In this flood story, the violence of the earth is the reason for God’s bringing the flood.  Perhaps in the recent cyclone and flooding, there has been a sense of the violence of the earth itself, the forces of nature uncontainable even in our time of technological expertise."
  • Genesis 6:9-22, 7:24, 8:14-19, Pentecost 3, Commentary, Background, Insights from Literary Structure, Theological Message, Ways to Present the Text. Anna Grant-Henderson, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Two major issues arise for me when I read about the destruction of the earth. First, is the idea that God chooses to destroy creation which was accounted good in Gen 1, as though the earth has become corrupt as well as the humans. Second, is the idea that God deliberately destroys humans and I believe this is a world view which is confronted by the revelation of Jesus Christ who revealed a God who does not kill people in judgement."
  • "Creation Undone," Daniel Deffenbaugh, Seeds of Shalom, 2008.
    • "...we are left with an oft-overlooked affirmation of our peculiar destiny: as human beings and all other living creatures are destroyed together, so also are we saved together."
  • Desert Scribblings, Genesis 6:11-22, 7:24, 8:14-19, Geoff McElroy.
    • "The theme of judgment in the flood narrative is counterbalanced by the theme of covenant, namely that God will not destroy the creation."
  • "Rainbow Sign: Learning from the Story of the Flood," Rabbi Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center.
  • "TEVA: The Ark and the Word that Heals Us from the Flood," Rabbi Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center.
    • "Teva, the word for the Ark that saved the future from the Flood, is also the word for "word." As Noah could not simply contemplate the Teva/Ark but had to enter it to save the creatures, so we have been taught — by the Baal Shem Tov, for instance — that we cannot simply mouth a Teva/word of prayer, but must ourselves go deep within it, to save and heal ourselves."
  • "The Flood," from the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "Then, too, God’s judgment is often allowing things to take their own course. The account of the flood seems almost like creation reverted to the conditions of the second day of creation."
  • Parshah Noach, text, commentary & articles from Chassidic Masters, sermons, etc from Chabad Lubavitch.
  • Parshas Noach, Divrei Torah from The Project Genesis Torah Study. Index to numerous Orthodox articles and studies on Genesis 6:9 - 11:32.
  • Parshat Noach, articles and commentary by the Jewish Community of Atlanta, at The Torah From Dixie.
• Articles & Background:
  • "Apocalypse," program highlights, discussion & reflection questions and more from the Bill Moyers PBS series Genesis: A Living Conversation.
    • "Was Noah a bystander -- someone who stood by and did nothing to help others -- or a survivor -- someone who suffered but managed to live? Or is he both? Or neither?"
  • "Before the Legend of Noah: Flood Stories Predating the Noah Story"
  • Great Flood Myths from different times and places.
  • Flood Stories from Around the World, Mark Isaak.
  • "An Overlooked Message: The Critique of Kings and Affirmation of Equality in the Primeval History," Robert K. Gnuse, Biblical Theology Bulletin, 2006.
    • "Kings who receive the strident barbs of the author include not only Mesopotamian rulers, but also, by implication, the rulers of Israel and Judah, who likewise abused their powers. This exilic critique of kings is also, in turn, part of the great biblical message affirming human equality and dignity, and it speaks a powerful egalitarian word to any age."
  • "When Bad Things Happen to Bad People," Rabbi Jane Rachel Litman. Torah Commentary at BeliefNet.
    • "Contemplating the destruction of an entire civilization is disturbing, and so it should be."
  • "Building Arks and Dreams," Nancy Mayer, Sojourners.
    • "Noah wasn't the wealthiest guy. God didn't wrap the ark in a red bow and leave the keys under the Christmas tree. Yet under God's tutelage, Noah built his family a houseboat and in turn is credited with saving the human and (not-so-human) race."
  • "Ballard and the Black Sea: The Search For Noah's Flood," National Geographic.
  • "Into the Ark, a Modern Poem" by Wislawa Szymborska. From Jewish Heritage Online Magazine's Topic of the Month: Rain.
  • "Sons of God and Giants: Cultural and Historical Context in Genesis 6:1-4," Dennis R. Bratcher, Christian Resource Institute.
    • "We must leave this story against that ancient background, and understand what it is doing as a theological statement. It is a way to introduce the idea that the world is deteriorating and getting even worse, which is the setting for the flood narrative that begins in the following verses."
  • "The Old and New Challenges of Reading Noah in the Christian Tradition," Dr. Christopher M. Leighton, Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies Electronic Library.
    • "What do we Christians really see reflected back to us when we stare into the depths of the story of Noah? An occasion for hope, grounds for despair, a tale of destruction or a promise of rebirth, a story of heroism or a sorry memory of cowardice, a challenge to do things the same or do things differently?"
  • "Like Noah, Like Utnapishtim: Dispatching Birds in Ancient Times," Jewish Heritage Online Monthly, 2000.
    • "The bird-dispatching episode, which makes its appearance repeatedly in numerous ancient flood myths, derives from the practice of mariners in ancient times to take shore-sighting birds aboard and to release them in order to determine their proximity to land"
  • "The Seven Commandments of the Sons of Noah," Moshe Greenberg, in Jewish Heritage Online Monthly's Topic of the Month, "Seven."
    • "Thus, not only are all humans as Adamites a single family, precious in God's sight, but by observance of the universal moral laws laid upon the Noahites they may be perfectly reconciled with God and enjoy the ultimate bliss."
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  • Barré, Lloyd M., "The Riddle of the Flood Chronology," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 1988.
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  • Bartholomew, Craig G., "Covenant and Creation: covenant Overload or Covenantal Deconstruction," Calvin Theological Journal, 1995.
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  • Florence, Anna Carter, "After the Flood," Journal for Preachers, 2002.
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  • Florence, Anna Carter, "Before the Flood," Journal for Preachers, 2002.
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  • Forrest, Robert W. E., "Paradise Lost Again: Violence and Obedience in the Flood Narrative,"  Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 1994.
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  • Fretheim, Terence E., "God and Violence in the Old Testament," Word & World, 2004.
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  • Fretheim, Terence E., "The God of the Flood Story and Natural Disasters," Calvin Theological Journal, 2008.
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  • Gnuse, Robert Karl, "A Process Theological Interpretation of the Primeval History in Genesis 2-11," Horizons, 2002.
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  • Landy, Francis, "Noah's Ark and Mrs. Monkey," Biblical Interpretation, 2007.
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  • Rendtorff, Rolf, "'Covenant' as a Structuring Concept in Genesis and Exodus," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1989.
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  • Shaviv, Samuel, "The Polytheistic Origins of the Biblical Flood Narrative," Vetus Testamentum, 2004.
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  • Sparks, Kenton L., "Enūma Elish and Priestly Mimesis: Elite Emulation in Nascent Judaism," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2007.
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  • Van Wolde, Ellen, "A Text-Semantic Study of the Hebrew Bible, Illustrated with Noah and Job," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1994.
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  • Walker, Graham B., Jr., "Noah and the Season of Violence: Theological Reflections on Genesis 6:5-9:17 and the Work of René Girard," Review & Expositor, 2006.
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• Reviews:
  • Wright, Archie T., The Origin of Evil Spirits: The Reception of Gen 6:1-4 in Early Jewish Literature. Mohr Siebeck, 2005. Review by Grant Macaskill, Review of Biblical Literature, 2007.
• Sermons:
• With Children:
  • "Noah's Ark," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • The Story of Noah's Ark, activities & crafts for children, DLTK's Printable Crafts for Kids.
  • "Noah's Ark: God's Plan to Save Us," "Noah's Ark: The Great Flood," "Noah's Ark: Rainbows & Promises," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
  • "Rain! Rain! Rain!" Linda Edwards, The Children's Chapel.
  • "Noah Builds the Ark," "God Sends a Great Flood," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
  • "Word Search on Genesis 6," "Crossword on Genesis 7," "Word Search on Genesis 8," Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
  • On Noah's Ark Coloring Mural, Jan Brett.
  • "Noah and the Great Flood," online computer java-based coloring pages from Grace Baptist Church of Feeding Hill.
• Drama:
  • "Noah and His Ark (well...sort of)," Janelle S. Ponte, dramatix.
  • "30 Days in the Ark," Dan Wilson, dramatix.
  • "Noah: Mission Floatation," Glenn A. Hascall, dramatix.
  • "The News about Noah," Derek Conrad, Kara Kaufman, Kelsey Kaufman, Fran Rempel, and Deb Rempel, dramatix.
  • "Noah and the Rainbow Ark," Freddie Green, dramatix.
  • "Bruce's Flood," Trevor Fletcher, dramatix.
  • "Noah's Story," Puppet Productions, puppet script at Puppet Resources.
  • "Seniors Day Drama" monologue, Ross Olson.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
  • Grim Forecast, Tardiness, Found Yet Lost, No Room, Reverend Fun Cartoon, gospelcom.net. Check for printing permissions at right-hand side of destination page.
  • Troubled Waters, Family Trip, Failed Preacher? Not Just a Boat, After Eden Cartoons, Dan Lietha, Answers in Genesis.
  • Genesis 6:5-6, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns, midi files, scores at Blue Letter Bible/Cyber Hymnal:
    • The Hour-Glass (Genesis 6:3)
    • Welcome for Me (Genesis 8:10-11)
  • At Oremus Hymnal:
    • A mighty fortress is our God
    • A safe stronghold our God is still
    • Be still and know that I am God
    • Lord of our life, and God of our salvation
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • I Sing the Mighty Power of God
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Noah (Ark, Rainbow, etc)
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Covenant
  • Noah/Flood
• Study links and resources for the Book of Genesis