When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose… when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord… Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:1-9).

While the enigmatic identity of the “sons of God” continues to be debated, most scholars interpret this phrase as describing celestial beings who descend to the Earth and procreate with human women.

The Jewish apocalyptic Book of Watchers also interprets the story in this way, which inspired Ridley Scott’s movie Noah, starring Russell Crowe (2014).

This is why the events of the movie differed from your Sunday School recollection of the Noah story.

Empires built on violence

Anyway, the narrative serves as an origin story for the great empires and the legendary warriors who founded them, “the men of renown.”

These figures were lauded for their supernatural feats of violence.

For example, Nimrod was remembered for founding the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires through his great military might (Gen 10:8-11).

In pursuit of power, riches, and honour, these warriors led armies into battle against one another, flooding the land with murderous violence (Gen 6:11).

Noah’s righteous refusal

In contrast to the rest of his generation, who destroy each other, Noah finds favour in the eyes of the Lord on account of his uniquely righteous conduct.

Noah’s refusal to engage in the violent conflict surrounding him ultimately saves his life.

While the flood consumes all flesh, Noah is insulated from the carnage, floating safely above the waters of chaotic violence.

Thanksgiving on the mountain

When the waters finally subside, our righteous hero, Noah, offers a thanksgiving sacrifice to his god upon the sacred mountain (Gen 8:20).

Violence and conflict have a way of drawing us into a destructive spiral.

When we are hurt or slighted, something within us cries out for retribution and vengeance.

Resisting the destructive spiral

But Noah provides a positive example through his refusal to engage in the violent conflict which consumed his generation.

Only by resisting this urge to seek revenge can we avoid the destruction wrought through strife and conflict in our own lives.

• Dr Simon Skidmore is a Brisbane-based biblical scholar and educator. He is the creator of The Mimetic Exegete podcast, which applies mimetic theory to biblical texts, offering unique insights and practical applications. His recent book, Capital Punishment in the Pentateuch, explores ritual killing through René Girard’s mimetic theory.