What FLOOD?

OneAccord · #1 08-29-2009, 06:56 AM

Found an interesting passage and I wondered if anyone can help shed some light on it.

Jos 24:2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, [even] Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

Jos 24:3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

This seems to say that Terah and Abraham lived BEFORE the flood of Noahs day. Yet, according to Gen. 11:11-26, there are some 11 generations between Noah and Abraham. Or, is is possible that God wasn't referring to Noah's flood, but another flood that the Bible doesn't tell us about? I looked the word "flood" up in Strongs and found that it means:

1) stream, river

a) stream, river

b) (underground) streams

Do these passages refer to the Red Sea? Or is it, by speaking of "Your fathers", referring to Shems lineage, the children of Israel?

Your help is appreciated!

Pressing-On · #2 08-29-2009, 07:22 AM

I've always understood the passage to be referring to the river Euphrates, which was the northern border of the land of Israel - the promised land.

Esther · #3 08-29-2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Found an interesting passage and I wondered if anyone can help shed some light on it.

Jos 24:2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, [even] Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

Jos 24:3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

This seems to say that Terah and Abraham lived BEFORE the flood of Noahs day. Yet, according to Gen. 11:11-26, there are some 11 generations between Noah and Abraham. Or, is is possible that God wasn't referring to Noah's flood, but another flood that the Bible doesn't tell us about? I looked the word "flood" up in Strongs and found that it means:

1) stream, river

a) stream, river

b) (underground) streams

Do these passages refer to the Red Sea? Or is it, by speaking of "Your fathers", referring to Shems lineage, the children of Israel?

Your help is appreciated!

As I understand it the flood of Noah's day was covering the world.

If Abraham was on the other side I believe it would have been a local type flooding. Like Katrina did to New Orleans.

Pressing-On · #4 08-29-2009, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esther

As I understand it the flood of Noah's day was covering the world.

If Abraham was on the other side I believe it would have been a local type flooding. Like Katrina did to New Orleans.

I agree. Mainly because the Euphrates is often mentioned as being "the flood," because during the rainy season it would flood much of the land.

pelathais · #5 08-29-2009, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I agree. Mainly because the Euphrates is often mentioned as being "the flood," because during the rainy season it would flood much of the land.

P.O. is right on here (again, all things said in my humble opinion). But, "right on."

The underlying Hebrew words are different between Genesis 6:17 (an example of "flood" as "deluge") and Joshua 24:2 (example of "flood" as "stream").

The "flood" Joshua refers to is the Euphrates River. Abram and his kin had lived in Ur and then later Haran on "the otherside of the flood" (river).

But the idea of water as both a geographic barrier and a dividing line in one's own life is probably also what Joshua intended. The people he was speaking to had (or their parents had) crossed out of Egypt through a "flood." That "flood" made a seperation between themselves and their past lives in Egypt.

So when Joshua harkens back to the "flood" beteen Haran and Canaan he's saying that Abraham, their patriarchal ancester, had to go through an experience much like their own. "False gods" and an "old life" on the otherside of the "flood." A new life and new opportunities "here" in Canaan.

The connection to Christian baptism is probably obvious. Hopefully, it's obvious.

And Joshua didn't have the KJV Bible with it's English wording that made the associations ("flood"), nonetheless the symbolism is there.

pastorrick1959 · #6 08-30-2009, 08:23 AM

Thanks to PO, Esther and Pel for responding. I agree with your assessment. The language of the OT can be confusing at times, but, careful study (and the help of my friends) can clear up some confusion in this simple mind of mine.

Speaking of confusion... if you are wondering why PastorRick is writing this, its because he isn't. OneAccord is. I'm at PastorRicks house in Tennessee, on PastorRicks computer, using PastorRicks username, and drinking PastorRicks coffee.

I went to a gospel concert in Huntland, Tennessee last night and heard the Freemans and the Gardners. If you ever have the chance to hear the Gardners, you won't be disappointed. Some really great folks. Michell, Micheal (twins) and Sis Regina make up the Gardners. Mitchell is pastor of the Huntland Pentecostal Church, founded by their dad, Malcomb Gardner.

Oh, and since, I'm disguised as PastorRick, I guess I should throw in a plug for the Christian Tabernacle in Decherd, Tennessee. If travelling near Franklin County, Tennessee, you're welcome to visit PastorRick (a.k.a., Ricky Taylor) and church. They'll treat you so many ways, you're bound to like one or two of them.

So, now that I've probably broken every rule in the book by using someone elses username, I will go gracefully into that good night...er...day. Going to visit the Keith Springs Moutain Church of Jesus this morning.