Genesis 10 follows the story of Noah and the flood. It is possibly one the most "scintillating" chapters in the Bible, complete with Hittites, Hamathites, Girgashites, and Mosquitobites (Okay. I made up the last one.) When reading the Bible, I always considered chapter 10 to be one of those canonical speed bumps on the way to the good stuff. As it turns out, this little passage has a lot more than I realized.
Chapter 10 is called the "Table of Nations." It gives an account of the origins of each of the peoples known to the Israelites when Genesis was authored. Each origin is traced to one of Noah's three sons, Japheth, Ham, and Shem. There are a total of seventy different people groups listed. This is significant because the numbers seven and ten signified completeness. Seven multiplied by ten signified a large complete number. The number seven is used in a variety of ways in this passage.
In addition to the genealogy, there is a critical side note:
Gen 10:8-12
8 Cush became the father of Nimrod; he was the first on earth to become a mighty warrior. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD." 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, and Accad, all of them in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, and 12 Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city.
NRSV
The literal meaning of the name Nimrod is "We shall rebel." Nimrod was a descendant of Ham through Cush. At the end of Chapter 9, we learn that Ham's brothers, Shem and Japheth, were blessed. Ham's youngest son Cannan was cursed, and no blessing was given to Ham's other sons. The curse was, in effect, upon Ham's entire line. Cannan was mentioned in the symbolic connection between Ham and Cannan as the youngest sons. Nimrod is among the cursed.
When verse nine talks about the "mighty hunter," it does not mention his deer-hunting abilities. It means Nimrod was a predatory conqueror. The phrase "before the Lord" is superlative to emphasize that so great was Nimrod's prowess that it could not escape the Lord's attention.
Where the rest of the genealogy is given in terms of established people groups, Nimrod's accomplishment is given in terms of the great cities he built on the plains of Shinar (modern-day Iraq.) These cities were not simply places of economic commerce. These cities were more like mystical temples. For instance, the name Babili, Babylonian for Babel, means "Gate of God." It was referred to also as the "seat of life."
Cain was cursed, went into the east to the land of Nod (wandering), and settled. (Moving east symbolized regression since the sun rose in the east and set in the west.) He started a family and a city to initiate his life apart from God. He sought to create an illusion reinforcing his delusion of autonomy and power. Likewise, Nimrod was cursed and migrated east to the plains of Shinar. He was the impetus behind creating the first great cities with their cultic life. He, too, was about creating illusions to reinforce his delusions but with even greater audacity. The Spirit of Cain was back.
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will spotts said...
I said this before, but I'm really enjoying this series.
June 22, 2005 6:26 PM
Posted by: Michael Kruse | Aug 01, 2005 at 09:26 AM