Moses, Chapter 8 Genesis, Chapter 6

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1 And all the days of Enoch were four hundred and thirty years.

See the appendix at the conclusion of this document for a brief discussion of the use of holy numbers in this Scriptural passage.

2 And it came to pass that Methuselah, the son of Enoch, was not taken, that the covenants of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to Enoch; for he truly covenanted with Enoch that Noah should be of the fruit of his loins.3 And it came to pass that Methuselah prophesied that from his loins should spring all the kingdoms of the earth (through Noah), and he took glory unto himself.

PoGP Institute Manual: A list of the “sons of God,” which began in Moses 5:8–25, continues in Moses 8 with the addition of Lamech (v. 5), Noah (v. 9), and Noah’s three sons (v. 12). These brethren were all holders of the higher priesthood (see D&C 107:40–52; for more information about Methuselah, see D&C 107:50, 52–57).

4 And there came forth a great famine into the land, and the Lord cursed the earth with a sore curse, and many of the inhabitants thereof died.5 And it came to pass that Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and begat Lamech;6 And Methuselah lived, after he begat Lamech, seven hundred and eighty-two years, and begat sons and daughters;7 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years, and he died.8 And Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two

years, and begat a son,9 And he called his name Noah, saying: This son shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.

Matches with Gen 5:29 Noah: no-ach 5146 נח – “rest”; the adjectival form of the same root means “comfortable”

Comfort: nacham נחם 5162 – “to comfort, be comforted”; “to comfort oneself, be comforted”; “to be sorry, to console oneself, repent, regret”

10 And Lamech lived, after he begat Noah, five hundred and ninety-five years, and begat sons and daughters;11 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years, and he died.12 And Noah was four hundred and fifty years old, and begat Japheth; and forty-two years afterward he begat Shem of her who was the mother of Japheth, and when he was five hundred years old he begat Ham.13 And Noah and his sons hearkened unto the Lord, and gave heed, and they were called the sons of God.14 And when these men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, the sons of men saw that those daughters were fair, and they took them wives, even as they chose.

1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

Began: chalal חלל 2490 – “to profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin”

14b: TG Marriage, Interfaith; Marriage, Marry.

OT Institute Manual: Elder Joseph Fielding Smith wrote:

“Because the daughters of Noah married the sons of men contrary to the teachings of the Lord, his anger was kindled, and this offense was one cause that brought to pass the universal flood. You will see that the condition appears reversed in the Book of Moses. It was the daughters of the sons of God who were marrying the sons of men, which was displeasing unto the Lord. The fact was, as we see it revealed, that the daughters who had been born,

What can we learn about the title “daughter” or “son of God” if those born outside of the covenant-keeping people were referred to as “daughters” or “sons of men” if they were not keeping God’s commandments (or were born of those who weren’t doing so)?

evidently under the covenant, and were the daughters of the sons of God, that is to say of those who held the priesthood, were transgressing the commandment of the Lord and were marrying out of the Church. Thus they were cutting themselves off from the blessings of the priesthood contrary to the teachings of Noah and the will of God.” (Answers to Gospel Questions, 1:136–37.)

15 And the Lord said unto Noah: The daughters of thy sons have sold themselves; for behold mine anger is kindled against the sons of men, for they will not hearken to my voice.

PoGP Institute Manual: “Today there are foolish daughters of those who hold this same priesthood who are violating this commandment and marrying the sons of men; there are also some of the sons of those who hold the priesthood who are marrying the daughters of men. All of this is contrary to the will of God just as much as it was in the days of Noah” (Answers to Gospel Questions, 1:136–37).

16 And it came to pass that Noah prophesied, and taught the things of God, even as it was in the beginning.17 And the Lord said unto Noah: My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for he shall know that all flesh shall die; yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years; and if men do not repent, I will send in the floods upon them.

3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Always: ‘olam עולם 5769 – “for ever”

Strive: deen 1777 דין – “to judge, contend, plead”; “to contend, strive”

OED “to strive” – 1. To be in a state of variance of mutual hostility. 3. To contend, carry on a conflict of any kind; esp. to contend with another or each other for (the possession of) something or for (a cause or principle). 6. To contend in rivalry; to seek to surpass another or each other; to compete in a trial of strength or skill. 8b. To struggle, endeavor

How does the Spirit contend with us? With what in us is the Spirit contending? How do we ensure that we don’t drive the Spirit away from trying to possess us?

to make one’s way, against a natural force, e.g. winds, waves. Const. with, against.

Flesh: basar 1320 בשר – “flesh as frail or erring (man against God)

18 And in those days there were giants on the earth, and they sought Noah to take away his life; but the Lord was with Noah, and the power of the Lord was upon him.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Robert Alter, The Five Books of Moses: A Translation with Commentary: In regards to the word ‘giants,’ which refers to the Hebrew word nephilim… “The only obvious meaning of this Hebrew term is ‘fallen ones’ – perhaps, those who have come down from the realm of the gods; but then the word might conceivably reflect an entirely different, un-Hebraic background. In any case, the notion of semidivine, heroic figures—in Numbers the Nephilim are thought of as giants who are offspring of miscegenation between gods and women—again touches on common ground with Greek and other mythologies.”

19 And the Lord ordained Noah after his own order, and commanded him that he should go forth and declare his Gospel unto the children of men, even as it was given unto Enoch.

19a: D&C 107:52 – “Noah was ten years old when he was ordained under the hand of Methuselah.”

Noah was given the Melchizedek priesthood at 10 years old, and so had been given years and years (590) to preach repentance before the Flood came. What does that teach us about the Flood? About the mercy of God?

20 And it came to pass that Noah called upon the children of men that they should repent; but they hearkened not unto his words;

What was the world like when the Lord called Noah to preach the gospel? (See Moses 8:20–22.) What similarities can you see between the people of Noah’s day and the people of our day? How could the people of Noah’s day have avoided destruction? (See Moses 8:23–24.) How can listening to and following the

prophets help us avoid spiritual and temporal destruction?

21 And also, after that they had heard him, they came up before him, saying: Behold, we are the sons of God; have we not taken unto ourselves the daughters of men? And are we not eating and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage? And our wives bear unto us children, and the same are mighty men, which are like unto men of old, men of great renown. And they hearkened not unto the words of Noah.22 And God saw that the wickedness of men had become great in the earth; and every man was lifted up in the imagination of the thoughts of his heart, being only evil continually.

5 ¶And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Enoch, Noah’s great-grandfather, saw in a vision the wickedness of Noah’s generation and the resulting flood (Moses 7:41–52). Enoch was sorrowful because of this wickedness, and he asked the Lord to have mercy on Noah and his children. The Lord promised Enoch that He would never again destroy the world by flood (Moses 7:51). The Lord also promised Enoch that Noah would be his descendant, and thus Enoch’s seed would continue on the earth even after the flood (Moses 7:52; 8:2, 6, 8–9). The Lord renewed this covenant with Noah after the flood (Genesis 9:8–17; note that the Joseph Smith Translation of verses 9 and 11 refers to the Lord’s covenant with Enoch; see also Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 9:21–25).

Imagination: yay-tser 3336 יצר – “form,

framing, purpose, framework”; “purpose, imagination, device (intellectual framework)”

Thoughts: makh-ash-aw-baw 4284 מחשבה – “thought, device”; “device, plan, purpose”; “invention”

23 And it came to pass that Noah continued his preaching unto the people, saying: Hearken, and give heed unto my words;24 Believe and repent of 24c: 2 Ne. 32:5 – “For

your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, even as our fathers, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost, that ye may have all things made manifest; and if ye do not this, the floods will come in upon you; nevertheless they hearkened not.

behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.”

25 And it repented Noah, and his heart was pained that the Lord had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at the heart.

6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Repented: nacham 5162 נחם – “to be

sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted”; see note at far right

Notice the wordplay of Noah’s name, his purpose as stated in verse 9 of chapter 8 (Noah, “comfort, repent” and “comfort us”), as well as restored here in the inspired JST (Noah, “comfort, repent” and “it repented Noah”). The inspired Joseph Smith translation of Moses 8 took place in February 1831; the Prophet began studying Biblical Hebrew in 1836. He therefore would have had no knowledge of the true Hebraic nature of this wordplay until 5 years after his translation, if at all. Just a little shout out to the Gospel being true.

26 And the Lord said: I will destroy man whom I have created, from the face of the earth, both man and beast, and the creeping things, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Noah that I have created them, and

7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

Destroy: machah מחה 4229 – “to wipe, wipe out”; “to blot out, obliterate”; while ‘destroy’ is an adequate translation here, it might also lose the double-meaning of also being blotted out

that I have made them; and he hath called upon me; for they have sought his life.

of the book of life

27 And thus Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord; for Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generation; and he walked with God, as did also his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

28 The earth was corrupt before God, and it was filled with violence.29 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth.

29a: D&C 85:6 – “And the anger of God kindleth against the inhabitants of the earth; and none doeth good, for all have gone out of the way.”

30 And God said unto Noah: The end of all flesh is come before me, for the earth is filled with violence, and behold I will destroy all flesh from off the earth.

PoGP Institute Manual: President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “So the Lord commanded Noah to build an ark into which he was to take his family and the animals of the earth to preserve seed after the flood, and all flesh that was not in the ark perished according to the Lord’s decree. Of course this story is not believed by the wise and the great among the children of men, any more than was Noah’s story in his day” (Doctrines of Salvation, 3:39).

9 ¶These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Just: tsaddiq צדדיק 6662 – “righteous (as justified and vindicated by God”; in the LDS sense of the word, ‘justified’ indicates “to be pardoned from punishment for sun and declared guiltless” (The Guide to the Scriptures)

Perfect: ta-meem 8549 תמים –

“complete, whole…”; “…unimpaired, innocent”; “what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and

9c: HEB complete, whole, having integrity.

OT Institute Manual: “The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith many things in relation to the ancient prophets and the keys which they held. In a discourse on the Priesthood July 2, 1839, the Prophet made known what the Lord had revealed to him in relation to the missions of the ancient prophets and seers. In the course of his remarks he said this:

“‘… Noah, who is Gabriel; he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood; he was called of God to this office, and was the father of all living in his day, and to him was given the dominion. These men held keys first on earth, and then in heaven. … ’ [Smith, Teachings, pp. 157–58.]

“Luke reveals the coming of the angel Gabriel to Zacharias to inform him that his wife would bear a son. He also appeared to Mary and announced the birth of our Lord and Savior.

“Gabriel then is Noah according to this revelation.” (Smith, Answers to Gospel

fact” Questions, 3:138–41.)

“Noah, who built the ark, was one of God’s greatest servants, chosen before he was born as were others of the prophets. He was no eccentric, as many have supposed. Neither was he a mythical figure created only in legend. Noah was real. …

“Let no one downgrade the life and mission of this great prophet. Noah was so near perfect in his day that he literally walked and talked with God. …

“Few men in any age were as great as Noah. In many respects he was like Adam, the first man. Both had served as ministering angels in the presence of God even after their mortal experience. Adam was Michael, the archangel, but Noah was Gabriel, one of those nearest to God. Of all the hosts of heaven, he was chosen to open the Christian era by announcing to Mary that she would become the mother of the Savior, Jesus Christ. He even designated the name by which the Redeemer should be known here on earth, saying He would be the Son of God. …

“… The Lord decreed that [the earth would be cleansed] by water, a worldwide deluge. Therefore, from among his premortal spirit children, God chose another great individual—His third in line, Gabriel—to resume the propagation of mankind following the flood.” (Mark E. Petersen, Noah and the Flood [1982], 1–4.)

10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Shem: shem 8035 שם – “name”

Ham: cham 2526 חם – “hot”

Japheth: yeh-feth יפת 3315 – “opened”

11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

Corrupt: shah-chat 7843 שחת – “to

destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay”

11b: D&C 88:18 – “Therefore, it [the earth] must needs by sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory;”

12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Why did Noah build the ark? (See Hebrews 11:7.) Church leaders have counseled each of us to “build a personal ark” (W. Don Ladd, in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 36; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, 29). What can we do to protect ourselves and our

13c: Some Hebrew texts: from the earth.

families spiritually? Which commandments do you feel are especially important in protecting us today? (You may want to use the pamphlet For the Strength of Youth [34285] in your discussion.)

14 ¶Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

What qualities did Noah demonstrate in building the ark? (Answers could include faith, obedience, and hard work.) How can we strengthen these qualities in ourselves?

President Spencer W. Kimball explained that when Noah built the ark, “there was no evidence of rain and flood. … His warnings were considered irrational. … How foolish to build an ark on dry ground with the sun shining and life moving forward as usual! But time ran out. The ark was finished. The floods came. The disobedient and rebellious were drowned. The miracle of the ark followed the faith manifested in its building” (Faith Precedes the Miracle [1972], 5–6).

Ark: taybah 8392 תבה – “vessel which Noah built”; “basket vessel in which Moses was placed”

14a: Ether 6:7 – “And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.”

14b: HEB “nests,” compartments.

OT Institute Manual: “The ark: the Hebrew word means ‘box’ or ‘chest.’ It is used elsewhere only for the watertight ‘basket’ in which the baby Moses floated on the Nile—an interesting parallel.

“The ark is vast, designed to float, not sail—and there were no launching problems! An 18-inch cubit gives the measurements as 450 x 76 x 45 feet or 137 x 23 x 14 metres.” (Alexander and Alexander, eds., Eerdmans’ Handbook to the Bible, p. 132.)

15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

Cubits: ‘ammah אממה 520 – “a measure of distance (the forearm), roughly 18 in”

16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

Window: tsohar צהר 6672 – “noon, midday”; “…in simile as bright…”; significantly, this is the only instance in which this word in the Hebrew is translated as window

16a: tsohar; some rabbis believed it was a precious stone that shone in the ark. Ether 2:23 – “And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels? For behold, ye cannot have windows, for they will be dashed in pieces; neither shall ye take fire with you, for ye shall not go by the light of fire.”

17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

17b: TG Earth, Cleansing of.

18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

18a: JST Gen 8:23-24 – “…my covenant, even as I have sworn unto thy father, Enoch, that of thy posterity shall come all nations. And thou…”

19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

What can we do to be temporally prepared in case of calamity or other need? (See the quotations below and the quotation from Elder L. Tom Perry on page 54.) Why do many of us procrastinate making the necessary preparations? How can we become more committed to preparing now?President Ezra Taft Benson said, “The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1987, 61; or Ensign, Nov.

22b: Heb 11:7 – “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

1987, 49).

Elder W. Don Ladd taught: “When it starts raining, it is too late to begin building the ark. … We … need to listen to the Lord’s spokesmen. We need to calmly continue to move ahead and prepare for what will surely come. We need not panic or fear, for if we are prepared, spiritually and temporally, we and our families will survive any flood. Our arks will float on a sea of faith if our works have been steadily and surely preparing for the future” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 37; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, 29).

Genesis, Chapter 7

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1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

a: Matt 24:37-38 – “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. / For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,”

2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.5 And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him.6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.7 ¶And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.

OT Institute Manual: “… Methuselah, the son of Enoch, was not translated [with Enoch’s city], ‘that the covenants of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to Enoch; for he truly covenanted with Enoch that Noah should be of the fruit of his loins.’ (Moses 8:2.) But during the nearly 700 years from the translation of Enoch to the flood of Noah, it would appear that nearly all of the faithful members of the Church were translated, for ‘the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion.’ (Moses 7:27.)” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 804.)

8 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,9 There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.10 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.11 ¶In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

Broken up: bakah 1234 בקע – “to split, cleave, break open, divide, break through, rip up…”; “to be rent open”

Windows: arrubah ארבבה 699 – “lattice, window”; noticeably and significantly a different word than that which is referred to as ‘window’ in the instructions on the preparation of the ark

12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.13 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;14 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh,

wherein is the breath of life.16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

a: OR it rose high above the ground.

18 And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.

a: Ps 104:6 – “Thou coverdst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.” 2 Pet 3:6 – “Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:”

OT Institute Manual: Orson Pratt declared: “The first ordinance instituted for the cleansing of the earth, was that of immersion in water; it was buried in the liquid element, and all things sinful upon the face of the earth were washed away. As it came forth from the ocean floor, like the new-born child, it was innocent; it rose to newness of life. It was its second birth from the womb of mighty waters—a new world issuing from the ruins of the old, clothed with all the innocence of this first creation.” (In Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 4:20.)

“The earth, in its present condition and situation, is not a fit habitation for the sanctified; but it abides the law of its creation, has been baptized with water, will be baptized by fire and the Holy Ghost, and by-and-by will be prepared for the faithful to dwell upon” (Brigham Young, in Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 4:20).

See the appendix at the end of this document for a discussion on the “spiritual/physical life cycle” of the earth, as it were.

20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the

OT Institute Manual: “Now I will go back to show you how the Lord operates. He destroyed a whole world at one time save a few, whom he preserved for his own special purpose. And why? He had more than one reason for doing so. This antediluvian people were not only very wicked themselves, but having the power to propagate their species,

earth, and every man: they transmitted their unrighteous natures and desires to their children, and brought them up to indulge in their own wicked practices. And the spirits that dwelt in the eternal worlds knew this, and they knew very well that to be born of such parentage would entail upon themselves an infinite amount of trouble, misery and sin. And supposing ourselves to be of the number of unborn spirits, would it not be fair to presume that we would appeal to the Lord, crying, ‘Father, do you not behold the condition of this people, how corrupt and wicked they are?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Is it then just that we who are now pure should take of such bodies and thus subject ourselves to most bitter experiences before we can be redeemed, according to the plan of salvation?’ ‘No,’ the Father would say, ‘it is not in keeping with my justice.’ ‘Well, what will you do in the matter; man has his free agency and cannot be coerced, and while he lives he has the power of perpetuating his species?’ ‘I will first send them my word, offering them deliverance from sin, and warning them of my justice, which shall certainly overtake them if they reject it, and I will destroy them from off the face of the earth, thus preventing their increase, and I will raise up another seed.’ Well, they did reject the preaching of Noah, the servant of God, who was sent to them, and consequently the Lord caused the rains of heaven to descend incessantly for forty days and nights, which flooded the land, and there being no means of escape, save for the eight souls who were obedient to the message, all the others were drowned. But, says the caviller, is it right that a just God should sweep off so many people? Is that in accordance with mercy? Yes, it was just to those spirits that had not received their bodies, and it was just and merciful too to those people guilty of the iniquity. Why? Because by taking away their earthly existence he prevented them from entailing their sins upon their posterity and degenerating them, and also prevented them from committing further acts of wickedness.” (John Taylor, in Journal of Discourses, 19:158–59.)

22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

What happened when the flood came? (See Genesis 7:23.) What “arks” do we have today that can help save us from the evil around us? (You may want to list responses on the chalkboard and invite class members to tell how these “arks” have helped protect them. Possible responses include our homes and families, friends, temples, seminary, Church meetings, prayer, the

Remained: sha’ar 7604 שאר – “to be spared”

scriptures, and living prophets.) How can we help others find refuge in these “arks”?

24 And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.

Genesis, Chapter 8

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1 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;

b: OR subsided.

2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.

c; OR had decreased.

4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.

Rested: nu-ach 5117 נוח – “to

rest”; significant that the rest came in the seventh month (as Biblical rest almost exclusively occurs on the seventh, the seventh day, the seventh year, etc.)

OT Institute Manual: Elder Joseph Fielding Smith said: “We read that it was in the seventeenth day of the second month when the great deep was broken up, and the rain was forty days. The Ark landed at Ararat on the seventeenth day of the seventh month, therefore there were five full months of travel when the Lord drove the Ark to its final destiny. Without any question a considerable distance separated the point where the Ark commenced the journey and where it landed. There can be no question to contradict the fact that during the flood great changes were made on the face of the earth. The land surface was in the process of division into continents. The rivers mentioned in Genesis were rivers that existed in the garden of Eden long before the land was divided into continents and islands. [Genesis 2:11.]” (Answers to Gospel Questions, 2:94.)

5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month,

were the tops of the mountains seen.6 ¶And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:

Window: chal-lone 2474 חללון – “window (piercing of the wall)”; significantly not the word used in the instructions to construct the ark

7 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;

After the rain stopped, why did Noah send out a dove from the ark? (See Genesis 8:8.) What happened the first two times he sent out the dove? (See Genesis 8:8–11.) What happened the third time? (See Genesis 8:12.)

9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;

a: OR waited another.

11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.13 ¶And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of

Covering: נח 4372 – “covering”; if the ark had

the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.

been constructed as commonly depicted (with a door and windows, etc.), Noah would not have had to “pierce the wall” (see v. 6) to send forth the dove and then “remove the covering of the ark” to see if the land was dry. He could have just looked.

14 And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.15 ¶And God spake unto Noah, saying,16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee.17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.

a: Gen 35:11 – “And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;”

Reinforcement of the commandment to all flesh (animals as well as humans) to “be fruitful and multiply”; see Gen 1:22.

18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him:19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.

a: HEB families.

20 ¶And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

What was the first thing Noah did after leaving the ark? (See Genesis 8:20; see also Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 9:4.) How can we show our

a: JST Gen 9:4-6 – “4 And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord, and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar; and gave thanks

gratitude to the Lord when he helps us through a difficult situation?

unto the Lord, and rejoiced in his heart.5 And the Lord spake unto Noah, and he blessed him. And Noah smelled a sweet savor, and he said in his heart;6 I will call on the name of the Lord, that he will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake, for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and that he will not again smite any more every thing living, as he hath done, while the earth remaineth;”

21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Youth: na-oor 5271 נעור –

“youth, early life, childhood”’ significantly, not birth

a: Eph 5:2 – “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

b: Alma 10:22 – “Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the prayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by flood, as were the people in the days of Noah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword.”

c: OR because of man.

Robert Alter, The Five Books of Moses: A Translation with Commentary: “The word for ‘fragrance’ (or perhaps, something pleasing or soothing), nihoah, is always attached to ‘odor’ as a technical term linked with sacrifices, and it probably puns here on the name Noah.”

22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Genesis, Chapter 9

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Miscellaneous Sources Lesson Notes

1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.

Delivered: natan 5414 נתן – “to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to…”

OT Institute Manual: In the Joseph Smith Translation of this passage is a significant addition that clarifies the Lord’s commandment to Noah: [See the JST, left.]

This expansion concerning the shedding of the blood of animals is supported by Doctrine and Covenants 49:18–21, which says that the animals are to be used for food, but concludes with this warning:

“And wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.”

President Spencer W. Kimball spoke at some length in a general priesthood meeting on the practice of killing animals simply for sport (see “Fundamental Principles to Live and Ponder,” Ensign, Nov. 1978, pp. 44–45.)

3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

a: JST Gen 9:10-15 – “10 But, the blood of all flesh which I have given you for meat, shall be shed upon the ground, which taketh life thereof, and the blood ye shall not eat.11 And surely, blood shall not be shed, only for meat, to save your lives; and the blood of every beast will I require at your hands.12 And whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for man shall not shed the blood of man.13 For a commandment I give, that every man’s brother shall preserve the life of man,

for in mine own image have I made man.14 And a commandment I give unto you, Be ye fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly on the earth, and multiply therein.15 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I will establish my covenant with you, which I made unto your father Enoch, concerning your seed after you.”

b: Lev 17:11-14 – “11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.12 Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.13 And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.”

5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.7 And you, be ye fruitful,

and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.8 ¶And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

c: JST Gen 9:16-17 – “…earth, And I will establish my covenant with you, which I made unto Enoch, concerning the remnants of your posterity.” Moses 7:51-52.

12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

What did God put in the sky after the flood was over? (See Genesis 9:13.) What did God say the rainbow was to represent? (See Genesis 9:12–13, 16–17.) What covenant did God make with Noah? (See Genesis 9:8–11, 15; see also Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 9:21–22, 24.)

OT Institute Manual: “The Lord hath set the bow in the cloud for a sign that while it shall be seen, seed time and harvest, summer and winter shall not fail; but when it shall disappear, woe to that generation, for behold the end cometh quickly” (Smith, Teachings, p. 305).

“I have asked of the Lord concerning His coming; and while asking the Lord, He gave a sign and said, ‘In the days of Noah I set a bow in the heavens as a sign and token that in any year that the bow should be seen the Lord would not come; but there should be seed time and harvest during that year: but whenever you see the bow withdrawn, it shall be a token that there shall be famine, pestilence, and great distress among the nations, and that the coming of the Messiah is not far distant’” (Smith, Teachings, pp.

340–41).14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

b: JST Gen 9:20 – “…which I have made between me and you, for every living creature…”

16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

a: JST Gen 9:21-25 – “21 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, which I made unto thy father Enoch; that, when men should keep all my commandments, Zion should again come on the earth, the city of Enoch which I have caught up unto myself.22 And this is mine everlasting covenant, that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth, and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy;23 And the general assembly of the church of the firstborn shall come down out of heaven, and possess the earth, and shall have place until the end come. And this is mine everlasting covenant, which I made with thy father Enoch.24 And the bow shall be in the cloud, and I will establish my covenant unto thee, which I have made between me and thee, for every living creature of all flesh that shall be upon the earth.25 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and thee; for all flesh that shall be upon the earth.”

17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I

have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.18 ¶And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.

Overspread: nah-phatz נפץ 5310 – “to shatter, break, dash, beat in pieces”; “to scatter, disperse, overspread, be scattered”

JPS Translation: “These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole world branched out.”

20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:

Husbandman: ish ha-adamah

127האדמה איש – “man of the ground”; “tiller man”

21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

Nakedness: ‘ervah ערוה 6172 – “exposed, undefended”

23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

OT Institute Manual: Most members of the Church are aware that a priesthood garment, symbolic of the covenants made in the temple, is worn by those who have participated in the endowment ceremony in the temple. This garment is a representation of the coat of skins made by the Lord for Adam and Eve after the Fall (see Genesis 3:21; Moses 4:27). The idea of a garment made of skins that signified that one had power in the priesthood is found in several ancient writings. Hugh Nibley discussed some

of these ancient writings and their implications for the passage in Genesis:

“Nimrod claimed his kingship on the ground of victory over his enemies [see Genesis 10:8–10; Reading 4-21]; his priesthood, however, he claimed by virtue of possessing ‘the garment of Adam.’ The Talmud assures us that it was by virtue of owning this garment that Nimrod was able to claim power to rule over the whole earth, and that he sat in his tower while men came and worshiped him. The Apocryphal writers, Jewish and Christian, have a good deal to say about this garment. To quote one of them: ‘the garments of skin which God made for Adam and his wife when they went out of the garden and were given after the death of Adam … to Enoch’; hence they passed to Methuselah, and then to Noah, from whom Ham stole them as the people were leaving the ark. Ham’s grandson Nimrod obtained them from his father Cush. As for the legitimate inheritance of this clothing, a very old fragment recently discovered says that Michael ‘disrobed Enoch of his earthly garments, and put on him his angelic clothing,’ taking him into the presence of God. …

“Incidentally the story of the stolen garment as told by the rabbis, including the great Eleazer, calls for an entirely different rendering of the strange story in Genesis [9] from the version in our King James Bible. They seemed to think that the ’erwath of Genesis [9:22] did not mean ‘nakedness’ at all, but should be given its primary root meaning of ‘skin covering.’ Read thus, we are to understand that Ham took the garment of his father while he was sleeping and showed it to his brethren, Shem and Japheth, who took a pattern or copy of it (salmah) or else a woven garment like it (simlah) which they put upon their own shoulders, returning the skin garment to their father. Upon awaking, Noah recognized the priesthood of two sons but cursed the son who tried to rob him of his garment.” (Lehi in the Desert and the World of Jaredites, pp. 160–62.)

Therefore, although Ham himself had the right to the priesthood, Canaan, his son, did not. Ham had married Egyptus, a descendant of Cain (Abraham 1:21–24), and so his sons were denied the priesthood.

26 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

a: JST Gen 9:30 – “…servant, and a veil of darkness shall cover him, that he shall be known among all men.”

27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.28 ¶And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he

died.

Notes on Chapter 10: While chapter 11 isn’t included in the Scripture set for this lesson, most skip over these chapters without understanding their importance. The chapters recording family genealogy serve at least two important purposes. First, the family line serves to provide, for the Jews, a sort of line of authority, as it were, from Adam to the end of the Old Testament (where canonized, non-commentarial Scriptures cease for non-Messianic Jews); this practice is much like that of Latter-day Saints maintaining their priesthood line of authority. Second, and perhaps of more significance to Latter-day Saints (and Christians, in general), the provided lineages, when the numerous lineages throughout the Scriptures are linked together, provide the proof of the fulfillment of the prophecy that indicates Jesus Christ was to come of Davidic lineage.

Also, verse 32 of the chapter, which reads “These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.” It has been long established by scholars that these three descendants were each split and then inhabited the various parts of the world with such specificity in the Biblical account that they can be inferred by the careful reader. See the Table of Nations, below. For more information, LDolphin.org has a great collection of resources.

OT Institute Manual: Genesis 10:8–9. What Sort of Man Was the Founder of Babylon?

The Joseph Smith Translation indicates, not that Nimrod was “a mighty hunter before the Lord” (Genesis 10:9), but that he was “a mighty hunter in the land” (JST, Genesis 10:5).

One scholar said the following of Nimrod:

“Though the words are not definite, it is very likely he was a very bad man. His name Nimrod comes from … marad, he rebelled; and the Targum [ancient Jewish translations or paraphrases of the scriptures], on 1 Chron. i. 10, says: Nimrod began to be a mighty man in sin, a murderer of innocent men, and a rebel before the Lord. The Jerusalem Targum says: ‘He was mighty in hunting (or in prey) and in sin before God, for he was a hunter of the children of men in their languages; and he said unto them, Depart from the religion of Shem, and cleave to the institutes of Nimrod.’ The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel says: ‘From the foundation of the world none was ever found like Nimrod, powerful in hunting, and in rebellions against the Lord.’ The Syriac calls him a warlike giant. The word … tsayid, which we render hunter, signifies prey; and is applied in the Scriptures to the hunting of men by persecution, oppression, and tyranny. Hence it is likely that Nimrod, having acquired power, used it in tyranny and oppression; and by rapine and violence founded that domination which was the first distinguished by the name of a kingdom on the face of the earth.” (Clarke, Bible Commentary, 1:86.)

Thus, in the same patriarchal age, Melchizedek (see Reading 5-9) established a Zion after the pattern of Enoch, the prototype of the true city of God, the freest of all societies, and Nimrod established a Babylon that gave its name to the prototype of the kingdom of Satan, the antithesis of Zion (see Nibley, Lehi in the Desert, pp. 154–64).

OT Institute Manual: Genesis 10:25. Was the Earth Divided in the Days of Peleg?

“The dividing of the earth was not an act of division by the inhabitants of the earth by tribes and peoples, but a breaking asunder of the continents, thus dividing the land surface and creating the Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere. By looking at a wall map of the world, you will discover how the land surface along the northern and southern coast of the American Hemisphere and Europe and Africa has the appearance of having been together at one time. Of course, there have been many changes on the earth’s surface since the beginning. We are informed by revelation that the time will come when this condition will be changed and that the land surface of the earth will come back again as it was in the beginning and all be in one place. This is definitely stated in the Doctrine and Covenants. [D&C 133:18–20 is then cited.]” (Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 5:73–74.)

Genesis, Chapter 11

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1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

Why did the descendants of Noah decide to build a tower? (See Genesis 11:4.) What do you think they wanted to accomplish by “making a name” for themselves? What is the difference between making a name for ourselves and taking upon us the name of Christ? What responsibilities do we take upon ourselves when we bear the name of Christ? (See Mosiah 18:8–10.)

Name: shem שם 8034 – “name”; “reputation, fame, glory”; “the Name (as designation of God)”

There are several ways to interpret the sin of building the Tower of Babel. It is commonly thought that the damnable sin was pride. Given the Hebrew definition of “name” (left), is it plausible that the sin may have been idolatry? Could they have been trying to circumvent thePlan of Salvation and become gods without God’s help?

5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

Imagined: zamam זמם 2161 – “to have a thought, devise, plan, consider, purpose”

JPS Translation: “and the Lord said, ‘If, as one people with one language for all, this is how they have begun to act, then nothing that they may propose to do will be out of their reach.’”

7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one

What resulted from the attempt to build a tower to heaven? (See Genesis 11:5–9.) Why can’t we

another’s speech. reach heaven on our own or by human methods? What is the Lord’s way for us to reach heaven?

8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

Left off: chadal 2308 חדל – “to

stop, cease, desist, forego, cease to be, leave undone, forbear”

a: JST Gen 11:6 – “…city, and they hearkened not unto the Lord…”

9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Just as Noah and his family were saved from the flood because of their righteousness, the Lord also protected righteous people at the time of the tower of Babel. Briefly discuss the story of Jared and his brother, as found in Ether 1:1–5, 33–37, and why their language was not confounded.

Babel: bavel בבל 894 – “confusion (by mixing)”

Confound: balal 1101 בלל – “to

mix, mingle, confuse, confound”

a: HEB balal, “mix,” “confound” (a word play on Babel).

OT Institute Manual: In addition to providing an explanation for the numerous languages now found on the earth, this account of the tower of Babel shows how quickly man forgot the lessons of the Flood and turned again from the Lord. The Book of Mormon shows that the actual confounding of the languages may not have been an instantaneous thing but may have happened over an unknown length of time. Jared asked his brother to call upon the Lord and request that their language not be confounded. This request was granted. Then Jared asked his brother to plead that the language of their friends stay the same as theirs. This request, too, was granted. (See Ether 1:33–38.) These events imply that the confounding of the languages did not happen in an instant. (For more information on the tower of Babel, see Bible Dictionary, s.v. “Babel.”)

10 ¶These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:11 And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

OT Institute Manual: This chronology of the patriarchs teaches several things. (Compare the scripture account with the chart given in Maps and Charts.) For example, Shem lived long enough that he was contemporary with the next ten generations. In other words, he was still alive when Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were born. This circumstance is one of the reasons why some have wondered if Shem was also Melchizedek.

In ancient Jewish traditions Melchizedek is often thought to be Shem, the son of Noah. Melchizedek is a title meaning “king of righteousness,” even though it is also used as a proper name. A modern writer examined the question of whether Shem and Melchizedek could be the same person and concluded that, while we cannot say for sure, the possibility is clearly there. He said:

“Let us examine first what we know about Shem. Although the Bible names Shem as the eldest son of Noah (Gen. 5:32), modern-day revelation places Japheth as the eldest (Moses 8:12). Both reports, however, are harmonious in naming Shem as the progenitor of Israel and in the fact that the priesthood descended through Shem to all the great patriarchs after Noah. (1 Chron. 1:24–27.) In this patriarchal order of priesthood, Shem stands next to Noah. He held the keys to the priesthood and was the great high priest of his day.

“Living contemporary with Shem was a man known as Melchizedek, who was also known as the great high priest. The scriptures give us the details of Shem’s birth and ancestry but are silent as to his ministry and later life. Of Melchizedek, however, the opposite is true. Nothing is recorded about his birth or ancestry, even though the Book of Mormon states that he did have a father. (Al. 13:17–18.) Concerning his ministry and life we have several interesting and important facts. (Gen. 14:18–20; Heb. 7:1–4; Al. 13:17–18.)

“All of this provokes some questions and calls for answers. Were there two high priests presiding at the same time? Why is the record silent concerning Shem’s ministry? Why is nothing known concerning Melchizedek’s ancestry?

“Because of this state of knowledge on our part, many Saints and gospel scholars have wondered if these men were the same person. The truth is, we do not know the answer. But an examination of the scriptures is fascinating, because it seems to indicate that these men may have been one and the same. For example, here is the case for their oneness:

“1. The inheritance given to Shem included the land of Salem. Melchizedek appears in scripture as the king of Salem, who reigns over this area.“2. Shem, according to later revelation, reigned in righteousness and the priesthood came through him. Melchizedek appears on the scene with a title that means ‘king of righteousness.’“3. Shem was the great high priest of his day. Abraham honored the high priest Melchizedek by seeking a blessing at his hands and paying him tithes.“4. Abraham stands next to Shem in the patriarchal order of the priesthood and would surely have received the priesthood from Shem; but D&C 84:5–17 says Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek.“5. Jewish tradition identifies Shem as Melchizedek.“6. President Joseph F. Smith’s remarkable vision names Shem among the great patriarchs, but no mention is made of Melchizedek.“7. Times and Seasons [15 Dec. 1844, p. 746] speaks of ‘Shem, who was Melchizedek. … ’“On the other hand, there is a case for their being two distinct personalities. Many persons believe D&C 84:14 is proof that there are perhaps several generations between Melchizedek and Noah. The scripture says, ‘Which Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek, who received it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah.’

“If it does turn out that Shem and Melchizedek are the same person, this scripture should prove no stumbling block, because it could be interpreted to mean that priesthood authority commenced with Adam and came through the fathers, even till Noah, and then to Shem.” (Alma E. Gygi, “Is It Possible That Shem and Melchizedek Are the Same Person?”Ensign, Nov. 1973, pp. 15–16.)

In the Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis 14, several verses are added about Melchizedek that greatly increase the available knowledge of this

great high priest (see JST, Genesis 14:25–40).12 And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:13 And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.14 And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:15 And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.16 And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:

Peleg: peh-leg 6389 פלג –

“division”

a: Earth, Dividing of.

17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.20 And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:21 And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:23 And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:

a: Abr 2:1 – “Now the Lord God caused the famine to wax sore in the land of Ur, insomuch that Haran, my brother, died; but Terah, my father, yet lived in the land of Ur, of the Chaldees.”

25 And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.26 And Terah lived

seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.27 ¶Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

Milcah: mil-cah 4435 מלכה –

“queen”

Sarai: suh-rai 8297 שרי –

“princess”30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child.31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

Notes on Holy Numbers in the Flood Account

Thoughts from the Webers:

A note on the use of numbers in the Flood account (and, generally, also in the Creation account) as used symbolically and in a holy sense: The number 7 is used in the Flood chapters a total of 7 times. The number 7 is thought of by the Hebrew mystics (Kabbalists) as representing the completed fertilizing act, thereby signaling conception and what follows, Creation. The number 40, also used very frequently in the Flood account (and, significantly, elsewhere), calls to mind the archetype of the maternal creative principle. Specifically, the womb is hearkened, where Creation waits for birth. Taken with a grain of salt (for the Latter-day Saint reader, at least), we can see some weightier significance in the Flood. In the Creation account, we see the use merely of the number 7 with repetition (in the absence of the number 40). In the Flood, we see the reCreation with both the conception and the use of waters to rebirth the earth and humankind.

General information on the Kabbalistic meanings of holy numbers (adapted from InnerTech.com):

.ALEPH – The dual principle, in the mind of the All Powerful, Wise and Understanding Creator, that represents an image of all that exists and all that does not exist, the positive and the negative, life and death א 1”.BETH – The symbol of all habitations (places where things live) and receptacles. It is the symbol of anything that “contains ב 2.GIMEL – The activity or the motion of contained, limited existence or nonexistence ג 3DALET – The archetype of physical existence. The conceptual planned prototype of physical existence. “I am the door. whoever enters through me will be saved.” John 10:9 ד 4.HEH – The principle or concept of universal life. The female principle behind creation. The arms hold or bind, as in a covenant or as in love ה 5.WAW (vav) – The archetype of male fertilization that is required for creation ו 6.ZAYIN – The completed fertilizing act. Creation follows. Actually the proto-Hebrew is more of a “plow” which prepares the soil to accept the seed. Conception ז 7”.CHET – The enclosure of all unevolved cosmic energy (like the mind or consciousness.) “As a man thinks in his heart, so he is ח 8.TET – The symbol of the initial female energy. That gives birth to the creation ט 9.YOD – The opposite of Aleph where Aleph represents concepts that could change, YOD is a symbol of what exists in a steady state, continuity י 10.CAPH – The archetype or prototype of receivers, or containers, from which other containers are copies כ 20.LAMED – The principle of the conscious connecting link. For example, it is the shepherds staff with a hook ל 30MEM – The archetype of the maternal creative principle. The womb, where the creation waits for birth. (Born of Water) מ 40.NUN – The archetype of all individual existences. All physical life comes from a seed or sperm and from the egg. All Spiritual life comes from spiritual conception נ 50.SAMEKH – The archetype of male fertility or sperm and the protective gonads ס 60.AYIN – The illuminating principle behind the act of conception. That life either physical or spiritual comes from the same process. The (mystical) union between male and female ע 70”.PEH – The opening from which comes all unevolved cosmic energy. “For out of the mouth come evil thoughts פ 80.TZADI – The symbol of womanhood. The female “side” (mistranslated “rib” ) was taken from Man leaving Man with only the male side צ 90QUPH – The exalted state of Aleph. The end of death and the negative. Ancient Hebrew letter pictures a sun splitting the horizon line. The sun sets on death and rises on ק 100.RESH – The archetype of universal cosmic containers. The English word “raise” comes from this word. The symbol of a head that has been raised up to contain full knowledge ר 200.SHIN – The Spirit of Elah. Some say the “Teeth Shine.” But the face does shine, when full of joy and peace and the set-apart Spirit. A full smile causes the teeth to show ש 300”.TAV – The copies of All cosmic existence. They carry the likeness of their Father. “He that has seen me has seen the Father ת 400 CAPH SOFIT – The final attainment of individual existence as conceived at the beginning. Like the ARMS above that grasped at the time of conception, the PALM of the Hand now holds what was dreamed about, and ך 500waited in

the womb, and is now manifested in Reality..MEM SOFIT – The cosmic state of fertility in Man, both in mind and body. The Father as the Conceiver of Eternal Life. Androgynous Man becomes a cosmic creator. Note the change of emphasis from 6 and 60 ם 600.NUN SOFIT – The interplay between cosmic energies (symbolized by male and female) leading to greater creation ן 700.PEH SOFIT – Like Peh [80] and Chet [8] from the mouth eternal words forever shape the future ף 800 .TZADI SOFIT – The eternal force or archetype of womanhood as part of future creation [the ruach or Holy Spirit is the Mother]. Physical men and woman are born-again as individual “Sons” in the final manifestation ץ 900The two

“sides” of the “proto-Man”, like the two loaves of the Wave Loaves Offering, remain separate and equal “Sons” in the eyes of their Family [Elahim]

Specific (not necessarily mystical) information on the following frequently used symbolic Scriptural numbers can be found at the corresponding link:

Overview1 – Symbol of Unity3 – Divine Perfection7 – Spiritual Perfection12 – Perfection of Governing Body40 – Probationary Period of Trial and Learning

Notes on the Life Cycle of the Earth:

Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine under the sub-title “Earth” (in the 1968 third printing, this entry occurs on pages 210-211):

This earth or planet which we inhabit was created as a place where we could gain our physical bodies and undergo the probation of mortality. Not only does it play an important part in the plan whereunder men may work out their salvation but the earth itself is subject to certain laws of progression and salvation because of which it eventually will become a fit abode for exalted beings. This earth was created as a living thing, and the Lord ordained that it should live a celestial law. It was baptized in water and will receive the baptism of fire; it will die, be resurrected and attain unto a state of celestial exaltation. In the course of its eternal existence, it is destined to pass through certain stages of existence. (Doctrine of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 72-89; Parley P. Pratt, Voice of Warning, ch. 5.)

1. SPIRIT EARTH. - We may suppose, as is the case with all other forms of life, that this earth was created first as a spirit, and that it was thereafter clothed upon with tangible, physical element. We know that the Creators planned all things incident to the creation in advance; and that all things were created "spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth." (Moses 3:5-9; Abra. 4:31; 5:3-5.)

2. EDENIC EARTH. - Following its physical creation, the earth was pronounced good. It was in a terrestrial or paradisiacal state. There was no death either for man or for any form of life, and "all the vast creation of animated beings breathed naught but health, and peace, and joy." (2 Ne. 2:22; Voice of Warning, pp. 89-91.)

3. TELESTIAL EARTH. - When Adam fell, the earth fell also and became a mortal sphere, one upon which worldly and carnal people can live. This condition was destined to continue for a period of 6,000 years, and it was while in this state that the earth was baptized in water. (D. & C. 77:6-7, 12; Man: His Origin and Destiny, pp. 415-436, 460-466.)

4. TERRESTRIAL EARTH. - "We believe ... that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory." (Tenth Article of Faith.) Thus, the earth is to go back to the primeval, paradisiacal, or terrestrial state that prevailed in the days of the Garden of Eden. Accompanying this transition to its millennial status the earth is to be burned, that is, receive its baptism of fire. It will then be a new heaven and a new earth, and again health, peace, and joy will prevail upon its face. (D. & C. 101:23-32; Isa. 65:17-25; Mal. 3:1-6; 4:1-6; Man: His Origin and Destiny, pp. 380-397)

5. CELESTIAL EARTH. - Following the millennium plus "a little season" (D. & C. 29:22-25), the earth will die, be resurrected and become like a "sea of glass" (D. & C. 130:7), attain unto "its sanctified, immortal, and eternal state." (D. & C. 77:1-2.) Then the poor and the meek - that is, the godfearing and the righteous - shall inherit the earth; it will become an abiding place for the Father and the Son and celestial beings will possess it forever and ever. (D. & C. 88:14-26, 111.)

Also, the life cycle of the earth is exemplified in some Scriptures (these are certainly not inclusive):

The Birth of the Earth – Genesis 1:2 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” The Hebrew meaning of the word ‘moved’has the connotation of a hen brooding over her as-yet unhatched baby chicks.

The Baptism by Immersion of the Earth – The Scriptures cited within this lesson speak to this tenet.

The Baptism of Fire of the Earth – Scriptures concerning the burning of the earth by fire in the last days can be found under the Topical Guide under “Earth, Cleansing of.”

The Terrestialization of the Earth – As is discussed above, the Tenth Article of Faith provides clarification on what is the transfigurement of the earth.

The Celestialization of the Earth – Elder McConkie discusses this point (and corresponding Scriptural passages) well above.