The Tower of Babel

Here are class notes from Sunday, October 21:

We studied the new rules (Noah's law) following the flood:

1) "Golden Age", when man and beast lived in harmony, was over.
2) Meat was now available for food BUT blood was NOT.
3) A divine prohibition against taking human life

SUMMARY: It is OK for animals to be killed for food (no blood) BUT human life is sacred.

We also examined the covenant God made with his world: "No more elimination of all life by flood" which was unconditional: no requirement is laid on mankind. The sing of the covenant was the rain BOW (weapon) put in the clouds.

The last days of Noah as a farmer and vinegrower was symbolic since his name means "one who settles down". In his drunken stupor he was belittled by his youngest son. Ham was cursed for his sin with his children being made slaves.

We also examined Noah's descendants and noted that the various nations (tribes) were the later inhabitants of the Fertile Crescent area, with Nimrod (Ham's descendant) being the probable founder of Babel. Each had their own language.

The Babel Tower story is a retelling of the dispersion (probably from a priestly viewpoint) that affirms God's role in the scattering.

-- Harrell