Nimrod: First Conqueror (Genesis 10:6-12)

Noah cursed his son Ham to live as the lowliest servant to his other two sons (Genesis 9:24-5). To escape the consequences of his grandfather’s curse, Nimrod energetically sought enough power to be instead a curse to others. He was the first on Earth to become a mighty warrior (Genesis 10:8).

Even more interestingly, he was a mighty conqueror before Yahweh (v. 9a). This means that Yahweh was aware of all that he did. It also means that Nimrod knew that his lust for power violated his relationship with Yahweh yet arrogantly dared Yahweh to make his curse effective.

The City: Nimrod to Babel

Today we continue our reflections on the spiritual nature of the city with the help of Jacques Ellul’s The Meaning of the City (pp. 9-20).

Ham (Genesis 9:18-28). After the Flood, Noah planted a vineyard and then made some wine, got drunk, and fell asleep naked. That’s the way his youngest son Ham found him. The next morning Noah cursed Ham for seeing him naked: “Cursed be Canaan [son of Ham]; lowest of slaves shall he be to his brothers” (Genesis 9:25, New Revised Standard Version, here and following).

Two responses to being cursed are possible. First, one may seek reconciliation with the one who pronounced the curse and be blessed instead. Two, one may seek enough power to keep the curse from having its intended effect.