Torah reading for Nov. 16, 2024

This week’s reading from the three-year Torah cycle is Genesis 5:1–6:8. It features the genealogy from Adam to Noah, showing the decline in humanity’s morality leading up to the Flood. Contrasted are the godly line of Seth and the increasing corruption in humanity.

Genesis 6:1–8 discusses the “sons of God” and their interactions with human women, which many interpret as leading to widespread evil, prompting God’s judgment. The account stresses God’s grief over human wickedness but also introduces Noah as a righteous figure chosen to preserve humanity through the coming deluge.

Starting after Sukkot 2024, Hallel Fellowship switched to a three-year cycle of Torah and parallel Bible readings (2024–2027), outlined by TorahResource. While there’s ancient evidence for a triennial cycle, a major benefit is to provide more time to mine more of Scripture for lessons.

Readings

Genesis 5:1–6:8
Isaiah 30:8–15
Matthew 23:1–39

Corresponding reading in 1-year Torah cycle

Torah reading Beresheet (בראשית): Genesis 1:1-6:8

Studies

"From sacred to sacrilege Sons of God, 'daughters of men" & erosion of God's words In juman traditions (Genesis 5-6; Isaiah 29-30; Matthew 23)." Adobe Firefly generated palette-knife-style image showing two long-haired bearded men opposing each other, with one on the left with a warmer color tone and the one of the right showing cooler tones.

From sacred to sacrilege: ‘Sons of God,’ ‘daughters of men’ and erosion of God’s words in human traditions (Genesis 5–6; Isaiah 29–30; Matthew 23)

Daniel November 16, 2024

Unraveling the sacred numbers and differing genealogies in Genesis 5–6, Isaiah 29–30, and Matthew 23 reveals a timeless struggle between flesh and the Spirit. Just as the Messiah exposed the hypocrisy of religious leaders, we too are called to move beyond outward piety and cultivate a genuine relationship with God, aligning our actions with His teachings. This study challenges us to be true “sons of God” (Romans 8:14), walking in the Spirit and resisting the temptations that have ensnared humanity since the “days of Noah” (Isaiah 54:9; Matthew 24:37; Luke 17:26; 1Peter 3:20).

Genesis 1:1–6:8: God commanded, but why should I listen?

Jeff October 29, 2016

If you were to chop off Genesis 1–5, you would not be able to competently answer this about the instructions and teachings of the Father and Messiah: “Why should I do that?” Two-thirds of children from Christian homes will walk away from their faith to varying degrees, and one of the main reasons for that fall off is they are not given honest answers about the authority of the Scriptures.

Genesis 1:1–6:8: The Creator shows why to ‘have no other gods before [Him]’

Daniel October 10, 2015

Some Bible versions translate Gen. 1:1 as “In the beginning, God created…” or “In the beginning of God’s creating the heavens and the earth….” בְּרֵאשִׁית Bereysheet (Genesis) is not a science book. It is not designed to teach you how God created anything. The purpose of the beginning of Bereisheet is to teach us who God is, what He did and how powerful He is, much like Devarim (Deuteronomy) starts with reminding the people who God is and why the Ten Commandments say to have no other gods before Him.

Each Name Tells a Story: The Significant of Noah’s Ancestors

Richard October 13, 2012

Each one of the patriarchs listed here are listed for a reason: to show us where Noah came from. Each one of the these patriarchs had other sons and daughters besides those mentioned here, but God singles out these particular men to teach a specific lesson.

A graphic with a green background featuring a man in a thoughtful pose, wearing a straw hat and a green button-up shirt. The text on the graphic reads: "Food for Thought: Generations of Adam and Seth" in yellow and white cursive font, with "Genesis 5" highlighted in yellow. A subtle watermark at the bottom right corner reads "hallel.info."

Generations of Adam and Seth (Genesis 5)

Richard December 6, 2008

The lineage represented in Genesis 5 are the leading righteous figures before the flood. The names of these men can teach us about the working of God in a world much like our own, growing increasingly dark as judgment approaches.