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Genesis 6:9–9:29

Toledot of Noah

The flood

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    genealogical note6:9–10Noah's three sons enumerated; Noah's righteousness
  2. b
    God sees (rāʾâ) that the earth (hāʾāreṣ) is ruined (šāḥat)6:11–12all flesh (kol-bāśār) has ruined (šāḥat) its way
  3. c
    God's instructions to Noah in light of his coming destruction of life on earth6:13–22directions regarding food
  4. d
    they enter the ark at God's command7:1–9Noah takes "clean animals and (clean) birds"
  5. e
    flood begins, ark is closed7:10–16after seven days; forty days
  6. f
    waters rise7:17–20series of clauses depicting prevailing waters; mountains (hehārîm) are covered and ark is borne over them
  7. g
    CLIMAX: all life on land dies; only Noah and those with him are spared7:21–24
  8. f′
    waters recede8:1–5series of clauses depicting receding waters; mountains (hehārîm) are uncovered and ark rests on one of them
  9. e′
    flood ends, ark's window is opened8:6–14after seven days; forty days
  10. d′
    they exit the ark at God's command8:15–19Noah takes some "clean animals and clean birds" and offers them to God
  11. c′
    God's instructions to Noah in light of his renewal of life on earth9:1–7directions regarding food
  12. b′
    God promises to never again ruin (šāḥat) the earth (ʾereṣ) with flood9:8–17God will never again ruin (šāḥat) all flesh (kol-bāśār); God will see (rāʾâ) the rainbow
  13. a′
    genealogical note9:18–19Noah's three sons enumerated

Noah's nakedness

David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament

  1. a
    Noah becomes drunk and falls asleep9:20–21
  2. b
    Ham, Canaan's father, acts shamefully9:22
  3. c
    Shem and Japheth act righteously (in contrast to Ham)9:23
  4. d
    CENTER: Noah discovers what has happened9:24
  5. b′
    Canaan, Ham's son, is cursed9:25
  6. c′
    Shem and Japheth are blessed (in contrast to Ham's son)9:26–27
  7. a′
    Noah dies9:28–29