Noah's Curse: The Biblical Justification of American Slavery"A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren." So reads Noah's curse on his son Ham, and all his descendants, in Genesis 9:25. Over centuries of interpretation, Ham came to be identified as the ancestor of black Africans, and Noah's curse to be seen as biblical justification for American slavery and segregation. Examining the history of the American interpretation of Noah's curse, this book begins with an overview of the prior history of the reception of this scripture and then turns to the distinctive and creative ways in which the curse was appropriated by American pro-slavery and pro-segregation interpreters. |
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Page 4
... land and sea barriers, but also ethnic, cultural, and language barriers. God has made people different one from another and intends those differences to remain.” The letter went on to explain that “Bob Jones University is opposed to ...
... land and sea barriers, but also ethnic, cultural, and language barriers. God has made people different one from another and intends those differences to remain.” The letter went on to explain that “Bob Jones University is opposed to ...
Page 5
... land [Nimrod] went into Assyria” (v. 11); “Afterward the families of the Canaanites spread abroad” (v. 18); “To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided (v. 25)—as well as by orthodox ...
... land [Nimrod] went into Assyria” (v. 11); “Afterward the families of the Canaanites spread abroad” (v. 18); “To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided (v. 25)—as well as by orthodox ...
Page 6
... land of Shinar,” v. 10) led early Bible readers to cast Nimrod as the antagonist in the drama of the Tower. This interpretive move linked a character without a narrative to a narrative without identifiable characters11 and contributed ...
... land of Shinar,” v. 10) led early Bible readers to cast Nimrod as the antagonist in the drama of the Tower. This interpretive move linked a character without a narrative to a narrative without identifiable characters11 and contributed ...
Page 15
... land of Nod. During the European Enlightenment, pre-Adamism was embraced as a challenge to the biblical account of human origins, and in the nineteenth century it was welcomed by advocates of white superiority. While “scientific ...
... land of Nod. During the European Enlightenment, pre-Adamism was embraced as a challenge to the biblical account of human origins, and in the nineteenth century it was welcomed by advocates of white superiority. While “scientific ...
Page 18
... land of Shinar,” identified in Genesis 11:2 as the location for the Tower of Babel, has proved a fertile field for racist readings of the Bible. In modern South Africa, where Noah's curse has played a very minor role in white arguments ...
... land of Shinar,” identified in Genesis 11:2 as the location for the Tower of Babel, has proved a fertile field for racist readings of the Bible. In modern South Africa, where Noah's curse has played a very minor role in white arguments ...
Contents
3 | |
21 | |
HONOR AND ORDER | 63 |
NOAHS CAMERA | 123 |
REDEEMING THE CURSE | 175 |
Notes | 223 |
Bibliography | 299 |
Index | 314 |
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According Adam African American antebellum appear argument association Babel became become Bible Bible readers biblical blessing Book brothers Cain called Canaan century chapter character Christian Church cited Civil claim Commentary culture death descendants desire distinct divine early earth fact father Flood forces Genesis 9 Girard given God’s Ham’s Hamites Hebrew honor human Ibid influence institution interpretation James Japheth John land legend Letters means mind nakedness nature Negro Nimrod Noah Noah’s curse notes observes original Palmer patriarch Presbyterian present Priest prophecy proslavery Providence published question race racial racism readings of Genesis rebellion reference reflected regarded relations religion religious role Scripture segregation separation servitude sexual Shem slave slavery social society sons South Southern story tents theme tower tradition University Press victim violence writes York