This is basically an outline and analysis of the Flood as it happened in the Scriptures. I don't think that people have studied the concepts in Gen. 6-9 enough.
Firstly, I am going to claim that the Flood narrative lasts from Gen. 6:3 (contemplation of destruction) until Gen. 8:22 (final contemplation). Gen. 9 is then an appendix to the Flood narrative.
One of the most interesting things about the Flood narrative is the alternation of the terms "YHWH" (LORD) and "Elohim" (God). The alternations are thus:
1. LORD: Gen. 6:3-8 (Contemplation of destruction)
2. God: Gen. 6:9-22 (Instructions to build ark)
3. LORD: Gen. 7:1-8 (Instructions to come into ark)
4. God: Gen. 7:9-16a (Entry into ark)
5. LORD: Gen. 7:16a - 24 (Flood)
6. God: Gen. 8:1-19 (End of Flood/Recreation)
7. LORD: Gen. 8:20-21 (Contemplation of no further destruction)
Notice how the alternation between "LORD" and "God" occurs 7 times.
Another interesting thing - God speaks to Noah a total of 7 times in the Scriptures:
1) Gen. 6:13-21
2) Gen. 7:1-4
3) Gen. 8:15-17
4) Gen. 9:1-7
5) Gen. 9:8-11
6) Gen. 9:12-16
7) Gen. 9:17
Something else - when commanding Noah to build the ark, God lists 7 qualifications for the ark:
Gen. 6:14
1) Wood
2) Rooms
3) Pitch
4) Dimensions
5) Window
6) Door
7) Floors
As far as the Flood itself goes, a special Hebrew word is used for Flood, 'mabbul.' This word is used only when referring to the Flood of Gen. 6-9 in the Scriptures, so it is especially significant. 'Mabbul' sets the Flood of Gen. 6-9 apart from any other flood.
There is a clear chiastic construction concerning the Flood narrative. For example, the order of days mentioned represents a chiasm:
7 days (7:10)
40 days (7:12, 17)
150 days (7:24, 8:3)
40 days (8:6)
7 days (8:10, 12)
Thus the pattern is 7-40-150-40-7.
Several other patterns of note:
1. YHWH (7:1-5)
2. Noah (7:6-10)
3. Noah (7:11-16a)
4. YHWH (7:16b)
1. Warning (6:13)
2. Command (6:14-16)
3. Warning (6:17)
4. Command (6:18-21)
1. Entry into ark (7:6-9)
2. Flood (7:10-12)
3. Entry into ark (7:13-16)
4. Flood (7:17-24)
The word "Gabar" for "prevail":
1. Imperfect tense (7:18)
2. Perfect tense (7:19)
3. Perfect tense (7:20)
4. Imperfect tense (7:24)
Another pattern:
A) Command (7:1-4)
B) Command executed (7:5-9)
C) Flood (7:10-12)
B) Command executed (7:13-16)
D) Prevailing waters (7:17-20)
E) Everything destroyed (7:22-23)
D) Prevailing waters (7:24)
The Flood is obviously an "uncreation" narrative. This can be shown by comparing Gen. 1:2 with Gen. 8:1. In Gen. 1:2 the Spirit (ruah) of God moved upon the face of the waters. In Gen. 8:1 a wind (ruah) from God assuages the waters. God is uncreating the earth in the global flood, and then recreating it beginning with Gen. 8:1, hence the parallel to Gen. 1:2.
Theology of the Flood
As far as the theology of the Flood is concerned, basically God sees that natural man is so evil that the only solution that he has is the complete extermination of natural man. This same basic theme is repeated elsewhere in the Scriptures. In other words, the only solution, the only option that God has is the eradication of the entire human race. This has very powerful theological implications, and shows just how depraved mankind (outside of obedience to God's commands) is in God's sight.
The reason why water is used as a destructive agent is because water represents absolute divine love (God). In other words, water represents the judgment of absolute divine love. See Rev. 22:1, Jn. 7:37-38, etc., for a further illustration.
If there had been no Noah, there never would have been any 'history.' God's point is to totally wipe out his creation. Had not Noah gotten in the way, there never would have been a Roman Empire, an England, an America, etc. This again has very powerful theological implications.
So, that's a brief analysis of the Flood.
Firstly, I am going to claim that the Flood narrative lasts from Gen. 6:3 (contemplation of destruction) until Gen. 8:22 (final contemplation). Gen. 9 is then an appendix to the Flood narrative.
One of the most interesting things about the Flood narrative is the alternation of the terms "YHWH" (LORD) and "Elohim" (God). The alternations are thus:
1. LORD: Gen. 6:3-8 (Contemplation of destruction)
2. God: Gen. 6:9-22 (Instructions to build ark)
3. LORD: Gen. 7:1-8 (Instructions to come into ark)
4. God: Gen. 7:9-16a (Entry into ark)
5. LORD: Gen. 7:16a - 24 (Flood)
6. God: Gen. 8:1-19 (End of Flood/Recreation)
7. LORD: Gen. 8:20-21 (Contemplation of no further destruction)
Notice how the alternation between "LORD" and "God" occurs 7 times.
Another interesting thing - God speaks to Noah a total of 7 times in the Scriptures:
1) Gen. 6:13-21
2) Gen. 7:1-4
3) Gen. 8:15-17
4) Gen. 9:1-7
5) Gen. 9:8-11
6) Gen. 9:12-16
7) Gen. 9:17
Something else - when commanding Noah to build the ark, God lists 7 qualifications for the ark:
Gen. 6:14
1) Wood
2) Rooms
3) Pitch
4) Dimensions
5) Window
6) Door
7) Floors
As far as the Flood itself goes, a special Hebrew word is used for Flood, 'mabbul.' This word is used only when referring to the Flood of Gen. 6-9 in the Scriptures, so it is especially significant. 'Mabbul' sets the Flood of Gen. 6-9 apart from any other flood.
There is a clear chiastic construction concerning the Flood narrative. For example, the order of days mentioned represents a chiasm:
7 days (7:10)
40 days (7:12, 17)
150 days (7:24, 8:3)
40 days (8:6)
7 days (8:10, 12)
Thus the pattern is 7-40-150-40-7.
Several other patterns of note:
1. YHWH (7:1-5)
2. Noah (7:6-10)
3. Noah (7:11-16a)
4. YHWH (7:16b)
1. Warning (6:13)
2. Command (6:14-16)
3. Warning (6:17)
4. Command (6:18-21)
1. Entry into ark (7:6-9)
2. Flood (7:10-12)
3. Entry into ark (7:13-16)
4. Flood (7:17-24)
The word "Gabar" for "prevail":
1. Imperfect tense (7:18)
2. Perfect tense (7:19)
3. Perfect tense (7:20)
4. Imperfect tense (7:24)
Another pattern:
A) Command (7:1-4)
B) Command executed (7:5-9)
C) Flood (7:10-12)
B) Command executed (7:13-16)
D) Prevailing waters (7:17-20)
E) Everything destroyed (7:22-23)
D) Prevailing waters (7:24)
The Flood is obviously an "uncreation" narrative. This can be shown by comparing Gen. 1:2 with Gen. 8:1. In Gen. 1:2 the Spirit (ruah) of God moved upon the face of the waters. In Gen. 8:1 a wind (ruah) from God assuages the waters. God is uncreating the earth in the global flood, and then recreating it beginning with Gen. 8:1, hence the parallel to Gen. 1:2.
Theology of the Flood
As far as the theology of the Flood is concerned, basically God sees that natural man is so evil that the only solution that he has is the complete extermination of natural man. This same basic theme is repeated elsewhere in the Scriptures. In other words, the only solution, the only option that God has is the eradication of the entire human race. This has very powerful theological implications, and shows just how depraved mankind (outside of obedience to God's commands) is in God's sight.
The reason why water is used as a destructive agent is because water represents absolute divine love (God). In other words, water represents the judgment of absolute divine love. See Rev. 22:1, Jn. 7:37-38, etc., for a further illustration.
If there had been no Noah, there never would have been any 'history.' God's point is to totally wipe out his creation. Had not Noah gotten in the way, there never would have been a Roman Empire, an England, an America, etc. This again has very powerful theological implications.
So, that's a brief analysis of the Flood.
