___
Based on those words Watchtower teaches that prior to the flood God-fearing humans did not eat flesh.[1-2] Does Genesis say anything else about food and eating prior to the flood?
Prior to the flood we find these statements:
Snakes do not eat literal dust. Yet for early worshippers to see truth in these words they had to be able to see snakes eating “dust.”[3]
Though snakes do not eat dust they do eat carrion flesh.[4]
A theological view espoused by Watchtower is that a dead human body is no longer “man” [Hebrew: A•dham] but, rather, no more than the pre-soul formed “dust from the ground”.[5] Hence a dead human body is “dust from the ground.”
In terms of the condition of a dead flesh-and-blood body, Watchtower teaches that as it goes with men so it goes with animals.[6] Hence dead animal carcasses are no longer "animal." They are formed “dust from the ground”. Dead animal and human flesh is “dust”.--(Job 7:5; See also Genesis 3:19 “dust you are” NWT)
A dead body is “dust” from this perspective. The biblical presentation is that snakes would eat “dust”. This theological presentation fits empirical data that snakes eat carrion. Abel saw that God was true to what he promised because he could watch snakes eat “dust” in the form of carrion. Hence carrion flesh is a food item depicted in pre-flood Genesis.
Of Genesis 4:1
A creative work of God was the female mammary organ to produce milk for offspring to eat. Hence milk is a food item depicted in pre-flood Genesis.
Of Genesis 6:21
Animals were created to live and to die.[7] God created some animals to eat carrion flesh.[8] Animals that eat dead flesh serve an indispensible function in a healthy environment. Hence dead flesh is a sort of food.
If we accept as literal the text of Genesis 6:21 then Noah was directed to include dead flesh as a “sort of food” to take onto the ark prior to the flood of his day.
Conclusion
The Genesis account included green vegetation, flesh and milk as food items prior to the flood. Specifically the flesh was in the form of carrion.
Though explicit Watchtower doctrine runs contrary, Watchtower teaching does nevertheless directly support this conclusion. Flesh was already a food eaten prior to the flood of Noah’s day.
Marvin Shilmer
____________
References:
1. The Watchtower, December 15, 1961 p. 766
2. Insight on the Scriptures Volume 1, 1988 p. 843
3. The Watchtower, December 15, 1962 pp. 749-750
4. DeVault et al, Scavenging by snakes: An examination of the literature, Herpetologica, 58(4), 2002, 429–436.
5. Victory Over Death, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1986 p. 12; See also: The Watchtower, April 1, 1999 p. 16
6. Insight on the Scriptures Volume 1, 1988 p. 596; See also: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life, 1995 p. 82
7. Awake, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, July 8, 1972 pp. 7-8.
8. Awake, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, January 22, 1992 p. 22; See also: Insight on the Scriptures Volume 1, 1988 p. 110; Reasoning From the Scriptures, 1989 p. 86
“And God went on to say: “Here I have given to you all vegetation bearing seed which is on the surface of the whole earth and every tree on which there is the fruit of a tree bearing seed. To you let it serve as food. And to every wild beast of the earth and to every flying creature of the heavens and to everything moving upon the earth in which there is life as a soul I have given all green vegetation for food.” And it came to be so.”--(Genesis 1:29-30 NWT)
Based on those words Watchtower teaches that prior to the flood God-fearing humans did not eat flesh.[1-2] Does Genesis say anything else about food and eating prior to the flood?
Prior to the flood we find these statements:
”Jehovah God proceeded to say to the serpent: “Because you have done this thing, you are the cursed one out of all the domestic animals and out of all the wild beasts of the field. Upon your belly you will go and dust is what you will eat all the days of your life.”--(Genesis 3:14 NWT)Of Genesis 3:14
”Now Adam had intercourse with Eve his wife and she became pregnant. In time she gave birth to Cain and said: ‘I have produced a man with the aid of Jehovah.’”--(Genesis 4:1 NWT)
“And as for you, take for yourself every sort of food that is eaten; and you must gather it to yourself, and it must serve as food for you and for them.”--(Genesis 6:21 NWT)
Snakes do not eat literal dust. Yet for early worshippers to see truth in these words they had to be able to see snakes eating “dust.”[3]
Though snakes do not eat dust they do eat carrion flesh.[4]
A theological view espoused by Watchtower is that a dead human body is no longer “man” [Hebrew: A•dham] but, rather, no more than the pre-soul formed “dust from the ground”.[5] Hence a dead human body is “dust from the ground.”
In terms of the condition of a dead flesh-and-blood body, Watchtower teaches that as it goes with men so it goes with animals.[6] Hence dead animal carcasses are no longer "animal." They are formed “dust from the ground”. Dead animal and human flesh is “dust”.--(Job 7:5; See also Genesis 3:19 “dust you are” NWT)
A dead body is “dust” from this perspective. The biblical presentation is that snakes would eat “dust”. This theological presentation fits empirical data that snakes eat carrion. Abel saw that God was true to what he promised because he could watch snakes eat “dust” in the form of carrion. Hence carrion flesh is a food item depicted in pre-flood Genesis.
Of Genesis 4:1
A creative work of God was the female mammary organ to produce milk for offspring to eat. Hence milk is a food item depicted in pre-flood Genesis.
Of Genesis 6:21
Animals were created to live and to die.[7] God created some animals to eat carrion flesh.[8] Animals that eat dead flesh serve an indispensible function in a healthy environment. Hence dead flesh is a sort of food.
If we accept as literal the text of Genesis 6:21 then Noah was directed to include dead flesh as a “sort of food” to take onto the ark prior to the flood of his day.
Conclusion
The Genesis account included green vegetation, flesh and milk as food items prior to the flood. Specifically the flesh was in the form of carrion.
Though explicit Watchtower doctrine runs contrary, Watchtower teaching does nevertheless directly support this conclusion. Flesh was already a food eaten prior to the flood of Noah’s day.
Marvin Shilmer
____________
References:
1. The Watchtower, December 15, 1961 p. 766
2. Insight on the Scriptures Volume 1, 1988 p. 843
3. The Watchtower, December 15, 1962 pp. 749-750
4. DeVault et al, Scavenging by snakes: An examination of the literature, Herpetologica, 58(4), 2002, 429–436.
5. Victory Over Death, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1986 p. 12; See also: The Watchtower, April 1, 1999 p. 16
6. Insight on the Scriptures Volume 1, 1988 p. 596; See also: Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life, 1995 p. 82
7. Awake, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, July 8, 1972 pp. 7-8.
8. Awake, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, January 22, 1992 p. 22; See also: Insight on the Scriptures Volume 1, 1988 p. 110; Reasoning From the Scriptures, 1989 p. 86
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