Pre-Flood Conditions

Genesis 06 (Text Analysis):1-4 - The Nephilim

Genesis 6:1-4 #j-source

“Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of Elohim saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And the YHWH said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.’ There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of Elohim came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.”

  • Divine Name: YHWH (YHWH) - J characteristic
  • Sons of God: Divine beings or Seth’s line interpretation
  • Divine Limitation: Spirit won’t strive forever
  • Lifespan Reduction: 120 years maximum
  • Nephilim: Giants/mighty men
  • Moral Corruption: Improper divine-human union

Divine Decision to Destroy (6:5-8)

Genesis 6:5-8 #j-source

“Then the YHWH saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the YHWH was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the YHWH said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I made them.’ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the YHWH.”

  • Divine Observation: Wickedness assessment
  • Anthropomorphic Emotion: God sorry and grieved
  • Divine Regret: “Sorry that He had made man”
  • Universal Destruction: All life to be destroyed
  • Grace Introduction: Noah finds favor
  • Emotional God: Characteristic J anthropomorphism

P Source Introduction of Noah (6:9-22)

Genesis 6:9-10 #p-source

“This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”

  • Toledot Formula: “This is the genealogy” (P characteristic)
  • Divine Name: Elohim (God) - P usage
  • [[Noah’s Character]]: Just, perfect, walked with God
  • Sons Listed: Shem, Ham, Japheth

Genesis 6:11-13 #p-source

“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So Elohim looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. And Elohim said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.’”

  • Corruption Theme: Earth corrupt before God
  • Violence Emphasis: Different from J’s moral wickedness
  • Divine Assessment: Systematic evaluation
  • Universal Destruction: End of all flesh

Genesis 6:14-16 #p-source

“Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.”

  • Ark Instructions: Detailed construction specifications
  • Precise Measurements: 300 × 50 × 30 cubits
  • Technical Details: Window, door, three decks
  • Gopherwood: Unknown wood type
  • Systematic Planning: Characteristic P precision

Genesis 6:17-22 #p-source

“And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female… Thus Noah did; according to all that Elohim commanded him, so he did.”

  • Flood Announcement: God bringing waters
  • Covenant Introduction: First mention of covenant with Noah
  • Two of Each Kind: P’s version of animal numbers
  • Obedience Formula: “According to all that Elohim commanded”