May 9, 2008
Chapter Five of Genesis is essentially an inventory that lists the fathers, from Adam all the way to Noah. Why was it necessary for YHVH Elohim to list these men in His records? As mentioned before, these ones belonged to Him and thus His name had been inscribed upon them for His redemptive purposes. These forefathers form the genealogy of the “firstborn”. The meanings of their names outline a prophetic picture:
Adam: man; Seth: appointed; Enosh: mortal; Kenan: sorrow; Mahalalel: one who praises Elohim; Jarad: will come down; Enoch: dedicated; Methuselah: his death shall send; Lemech: hidden king (the letters for the word "king" - "melech" - are jumbled up and hence hidden in "Lemech"), and Noah: rest. Thus, from the very beginning YHVH hints at His redemptive plan for Mankind. The message that these names form is therefore: To man is appointed mortal sorrow, (but) one who praises Elohim will come down and dedicate (himself), his death bringing the king (although hidden – and may I add, for a time) and rest.
The above mentioned patriarchs of humanity were all firstborn, or had filled that position because of unfaithfulness of an older brother. Each of them was like a prince in YHVH’s Kingdom Order, and therefore did not belong to himself. They carried the anointing as elders, or redeemers, of the family and potential possessors of the birthrights after the death of the father. However, because of the sin nature in them, having been born of the natural lineage of Adam, they could never qualify to inherit the spiritual Kingdom of YHVH and enjoy the full benefits of their place as YHVH's servant-princes and priests, for they themselves were in need of a redeemer. Nevertheless, they still held the rights of the "firstborn". Noah and his son Shem were the last of the firstborn patriarchs who lived before YHVH's judgment, in the form of a flood, made an end of that world, and its habitation.
Noah both trusted YHVH, and was obedient to Him. Had Noah not been more righteous than his contemporaries (ref. Genesis 6:9) he obviously would not have qualified for the position of the firstborn, but "Noah found favor in the eyes of YHVH" (Genesis 6:8) and YHVH preserved him and his family. YHVH needed to have this firstborn to father and populate the earth again and to continue the lineage of the ones who belonged to Him and who carried His name, according to the laws that govern His Kingdom. Noah was the only rightful heir to the promises and blessings that the Creator gave to Adam, that is to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and have dominion, or rule, over all living things.
After, the flood waters receded, YHVH established an additional covenant with His family, the rainbow in the clouds. The rainbow is a very significant sign, as man is likened to a mist, or a cloud (ref. Psalms 91:11; James 4:14 etc.), but when the unseen rays of the sun hit those little particles they reveal the hues of the light. How much more will the beauty of His glory shine through us, His vessels of righteousness, and revealing the essence of His nature?
Scripture records that Noah was five hundred years old when his three sons were born. Interestingly, because of the wording in Genesis 5:32 some speculate that they had to be triplets. But even if that were the case, only one could have been the first to emerge out of the womb. Additionally, Shem’s name is first on the list of the siblings, and thus we are safe in drawing the conclusion that he belonged to the firstborn order. This fact was also borne out when Noah spoke over his sons (ref. Genesis 9:25-27).
These words were uttered sometime after the family came out of the ark, in the wake of a strange and puzzling episode. Noah, who had planted a vineyard, enjoyed its fruit (wine) to the point of becoming so inebriated that he exposed himself. His son Ham looked upon his father's nakedness, whilst his brothers took meticulous care not to do so. There is a lot of speculation concerning what had actually occurred that day, as it is rather odd that one male looking on the nakedness of another would generate such grave consequences, as was the case in this situation. Torah defines for us what constitutes "exposing or uncovering of nakedness": “The nakedness of your father's wife you shall not uncover; it is your father's nakedness” (Leviticus 18:8 emphasis added); and again: “And the man that lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness" (Leviticus 20:11). If Ham had indeed sexually defiled his father’s wife, his own mother, or even looked upon her, it indeed would have been a major transgression.
Ham's action resulted in a curse over his fourth born son, Canaan, who was destined to be a slave of slaves. It was the latter's territory that YHVH gave to Abram and his firstborn progeny. This will be covered in more detail later.
Shem’s right as a firstborn was made even clearer, judging by Noah's own words: “…blessed be YHVH Elohim of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. Elohim shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant'" (Genesis 9:26-27). Several important Torah facts are presented in this short blessing. It is imperative to stress these matters at the outset, because this prediction is an embryonic form of what is approaching maturity in our day and age.
As we have already seen, it says: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations" (Psalm 145: 13). Consequently YHVH was establishing His Kingdom arrangement in the family of Noah and his firstborn son Shem. Notice that Canaan was to be a servant of the servants. Who are the servants that he was to serve? Shem and Japheth, each of whom, respectively, was also to be a servant; Japheth was to serve in the tent of Shem. This statement established Shem as the responsible head of his father’s house, or tent. But how was Shem to serve? This takes us back to the firstborn position. As such, he was to serve his father and the One to whom he belonged, that is, YHVH Elohim. Shem was the prince of the family and responsible for the well-being of all his relatives; he was to be his brothers’ keeper and redeemer. YHVH inscribed His name upon Shem because Shem belonged to Him. Noah, therefore, blessed and praised YHVH, the Elohim of Shem. At this point in time YHVH was governing the family through Noah. But then a problem arose…
Ephraim
Chapter Five of Genesis is essentially an inventory that lists the fathers, from Adam all the way to Noah. Why was it necessary for YHVH Elohim to list these men in His records? As mentioned before, these ones belonged to Him and thus His name had been inscribed upon them for His redemptive purposes. These forefathers form the genealogy of the “firstborn”. The meanings of their names outline a prophetic picture:
Adam: man; Seth: appointed; Enosh: mortal; Kenan: sorrow; Mahalalel: one who praises Elohim; Jarad: will come down; Enoch: dedicated; Methuselah: his death shall send; Lemech: hidden king (the letters for the word "king" - "melech" - are jumbled up and hence hidden in "Lemech"), and Noah: rest. Thus, from the very beginning YHVH hints at His redemptive plan for Mankind. The message that these names form is therefore: To man is appointed mortal sorrow, (but) one who praises Elohim will come down and dedicate (himself), his death bringing the king (although hidden – and may I add, for a time) and rest.
The above mentioned patriarchs of humanity were all firstborn, or had filled that position because of unfaithfulness of an older brother. Each of them was like a prince in YHVH’s Kingdom Order, and therefore did not belong to himself. They carried the anointing as elders, or redeemers, of the family and potential possessors of the birthrights after the death of the father. However, because of the sin nature in them, having been born of the natural lineage of Adam, they could never qualify to inherit the spiritual Kingdom of YHVH and enjoy the full benefits of their place as YHVH's servant-princes and priests, for they themselves were in need of a redeemer. Nevertheless, they still held the rights of the "firstborn". Noah and his son Shem were the last of the firstborn patriarchs who lived before YHVH's judgment, in the form of a flood, made an end of that world, and its habitation.
Noah both trusted YHVH, and was obedient to Him. Had Noah not been more righteous than his contemporaries (ref. Genesis 6:9) he obviously would not have qualified for the position of the firstborn, but "Noah found favor in the eyes of YHVH" (Genesis 6:8) and YHVH preserved him and his family. YHVH needed to have this firstborn to father and populate the earth again and to continue the lineage of the ones who belonged to Him and who carried His name, according to the laws that govern His Kingdom. Noah was the only rightful heir to the promises and blessings that the Creator gave to Adam, that is to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and have dominion, or rule, over all living things.
After, the flood waters receded, YHVH established an additional covenant with His family, the rainbow in the clouds. The rainbow is a very significant sign, as man is likened to a mist, or a cloud (ref. Psalms 91:11; James 4:14 etc.), but when the unseen rays of the sun hit those little particles they reveal the hues of the light. How much more will the beauty of His glory shine through us, His vessels of righteousness, and revealing the essence of His nature?
Scripture records that Noah was five hundred years old when his three sons were born. Interestingly, because of the wording in Genesis 5:32 some speculate that they had to be triplets. But even if that were the case, only one could have been the first to emerge out of the womb. Additionally, Shem’s name is first on the list of the siblings, and thus we are safe in drawing the conclusion that he belonged to the firstborn order. This fact was also borne out when Noah spoke over his sons (ref. Genesis 9:25-27).
These words were uttered sometime after the family came out of the ark, in the wake of a strange and puzzling episode. Noah, who had planted a vineyard, enjoyed its fruit (wine) to the point of becoming so inebriated that he exposed himself. His son Ham looked upon his father's nakedness, whilst his brothers took meticulous care not to do so. There is a lot of speculation concerning what had actually occurred that day, as it is rather odd that one male looking on the nakedness of another would generate such grave consequences, as was the case in this situation. Torah defines for us what constitutes "exposing or uncovering of nakedness": “The nakedness of your father's wife you shall not uncover; it is your father's nakedness” (Leviticus 18:8 emphasis added); and again: “And the man that lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness" (Leviticus 20:11). If Ham had indeed sexually defiled his father’s wife, his own mother, or even looked upon her, it indeed would have been a major transgression.
Ham's action resulted in a curse over his fourth born son, Canaan, who was destined to be a slave of slaves. It was the latter's territory that YHVH gave to Abram and his firstborn progeny. This will be covered in more detail later.
Shem’s right as a firstborn was made even clearer, judging by Noah's own words: “…blessed be YHVH Elohim of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. Elohim shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant'" (Genesis 9:26-27). Several important Torah facts are presented in this short blessing. It is imperative to stress these matters at the outset, because this prediction is an embryonic form of what is approaching maturity in our day and age.
As we have already seen, it says: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations" (Psalm 145: 13). Consequently YHVH was establishing His Kingdom arrangement in the family of Noah and his firstborn son Shem. Notice that Canaan was to be a servant of the servants. Who are the servants that he was to serve? Shem and Japheth, each of whom, respectively, was also to be a servant; Japheth was to serve in the tent of Shem. This statement established Shem as the responsible head of his father’s house, or tent. But how was Shem to serve? This takes us back to the firstborn position. As such, he was to serve his father and the One to whom he belonged, that is, YHVH Elohim. Shem was the prince of the family and responsible for the well-being of all his relatives; he was to be his brothers’ keeper and redeemer. YHVH inscribed His name upon Shem because Shem belonged to Him. Noah, therefore, blessed and praised YHVH, the Elohim of Shem. At this point in time YHVH was governing the family through Noah. But then a problem arose…
Ephraim
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