Pattern Analysis for Genesis 9:18-29

Pattern Analysis Methodology

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Rhetoric

This PARALLEL SYMMETRY is a narrative about how Noah, after everything was released from the ark, became naked in his drunkenness. The problem in this brief story is not that Noah was drunk or naked, but that Ham showed poor discretion regarding Noah′s nakedness.

1) Ham showed indifference towards his father while Shem and Japheth used good discretion. The two A elements present that indifference as corruption, not love, whereas the two B elements reveal the proper attitude. This then is an emphatic CONTRAST between the A and B elements. Canaan was corrupt and therefore cursed; Shem and Japheth showed wisdom and was therefore blessed.

Structured Themes

PARALLEL SYMMETRY:

... the curse upon Ham and Canaan ...

a genealogy marker

BEGINNING MARKER:  ___ ___ ____ __ ____ ___ ____ ___ __ ___ ___ ____ ____ ___ ___ ___ ________ ___ ___ ___ ___ ______ __ _______ _____ _____ ____ ___ ____ __ _____ ___ ____ _____ ___ _____ _____ ___ __________  (v18,19) 

Noah the farmer became drunk and naked

PRELIMINARY:  ____ ____ _____ _______ ___ _______ _ _________ __ _____ __ ___ ____ ___ ______ ______ ___ _________ _______ ______ ___ _____  (v20,21) 

Ham did nothing about Noah′s shame

A 

____ ___ ______ __ _______ ___ ___ _________ __ ___ _______ ___ ____ ___ ___ ________ ________  (v22)

Shem and Japeth covered Noah′s shame

B 

___ ____ ___ _______ ____ _ _______ ___ ____ __ ____ ____ _____ _________ ___ ______ ________ ___ _______ ___ _________ __ _____ _______ ___ _____ _____ ____ ______ _____ __ ____ ____ ___ ___ ___ _____ ________ __________  (v23)

a change of time

SUB-UNIT MARKER:  ____ ____ _____ ____ ___ _____ __ ____ ____ ___ ________ ___ ___ ____ __ ____  (v24) 

cursed be Ham′s son Canaan

A′ 

__ __ _____ _______ __ _______ _ _______ __ ________ __ _____ __ __ ___ __________  (v25)

blessed by Shem and Japheth

B′ 

__ ____ _____ ________ __ ___ _____ ___ ___ __ _____ ___ ___ ______ __ ___ ________ ___ ___ _______ ________ ___ ___ ___ _____ __ ___ _____ __ _____ ___ ___ ______ __ ___ _________  (v26,27)

a genealogy marker

ENDING MARKER:  ____ _____ _____ _______ ___ _____ _____ _____ ___ ______ __ ___ ___ ____ __ ____ ____ ____ _______ ___ _____ ______ ___ __ _____  (v28,29)