Guiding Questions: Genesis 9

This is part of the Tanakh Yomi Project.

This is part of the Tanakh Yomi Project.

  1. What does Genesis 9:1 repeat from the blessing of the creation story?
  2. How is Genesis 9:2 radically different from the creation story?
  3. Does Genesis 9:3 explain the terror and fear stated in verse 2 and how does it depart from relationships between life forms as posited in Genesis 1?
  4. Why is the blood of animals/birds not to be consumed with the flesh – is it because it contains the essence of life in the opinion of the author? To whom/what does that essence belong?
  5. How is “human blood spilling” to be accounted for – and is only human blood spilled by humans?
  6. And, what is the lot of a human who “spills human blood”, i.e. murder? Is this a new mandate not in the creation story?
  7. Are these regulations for all humanity (i.e. commands to Noah’s descendants) or only for a portion or some portions of humanity?
  8. What is the perpetual covenant? (Genesis 9:10-11)
  9. The sign of the endless covenant (Genesis 9:13) is the bow – meaning, with the bow hanging, it will not again …?
  10. How is this specified in Genesis 9:15?
  11. Again, as in Genesis 8:1, does God “require recall”?
  12. Why the specificity that Canaan is descended from Ham?
  13. Does Genesis 9:19 validate the creation story thesis – that all humanity has common ancestry (i.e. Noah – his sons)?
  14. Why is Noah “a man of the soil” and not a shepherd?
  15. What time has elapsed (been accordionized) between the “planting” and the “drinking”?
  16. Is this is a call for “alcoholic abstinence”?
  17. What is objectionable in Ham’s conduct – and how is this documented in the action of Yafet and Shem?
  18. Has Ham been identified elsewhere as the “youngest” son?
  19. Why, if Ham is “guilty,” is Canaan, his son denounced and demeaned?
  20. Is this, then, the text’s preference as to the “proper” relationship of the nations at a later time?

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  • Exploring Judaism

    Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. Our goal is to create content based on three core framing: Meaning-Making (Why?), Practical Living (How?), and Explainers (What?).

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Perek Yomi materials originally produced by the USCJ and Dr. Morton K. Siegel.
We are grateful to be able to share this material.

Author

  • Exploring Judaism

    Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. Our goal is to create content based on three core framing: Meaning-Making (Why?), Practical Living (How?), and Explainers (What?).

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