Who is Nimrod, the Mighty Hunter Before the Lord mentioned briefly in Genesis 10? How important is he and what can we know about him? Could he actually play a part in the end-times?
Who is Nimrod?
– Genesis 10:8-10; 1 Chronicles 1:10
– Nimrod = “The Rebel”, this could be a title instead of a name. He could’ve been known by other names
– Josepheus: Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. He was the grandson of Ham, the son of Noah a bold man, and of great strength of hand. He persuaded them not to ascribe it to God, as if it were through his means they were happy, but to believe that it was their own courage which procured that happiness. He also gradually changed the government into tyranny seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of God, but to bring them into a constant dependence upon his own power. He also said he would be revenged on God, if he should have a mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to be able to reach! and that he would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers! (Ant. I: iv: 2)
– As a mighty king, there would be archeological evidence in the area mentioned in the Bible. This is area of Sumer. There are references to a great king of that time.
– Was the Epic of Gilgamesh about Nimrod?
– The timing and the location was the same
– Gilgamesh is described in the epic exactly as Josepheus describes Nimrod.
– Gilgamesh is described as:
– “shepherd” (as a leader)
– From Uruk (Erech in Genesis 10)
– A giant (11 cubits tall) “mighty” in Genesis 10:8 can be translated as giant (gibbor)
– Builder of cities
– A vile man who “takes women”
– A mighty hunter
– The Epic of Gilgamesh features a god-creature named Huwawa (similar sounding to Yahweh) who creates a global flood. Gilgamesh then declares his vengeance and seeks to destroy him.
Book of Jasher accounts of Nimrod
– Adam and Eve’s garments were passed down to Enoch > Methuselah > Noah > Ham stole them and gave them to Cush who gave them to Nimrod at age 20
– Becomes King after a great battle he waged
– Becomes friends with Terah, Abram’s father. Then tries to have Abram killed as a child because of a prophecy about him. Abram is then secretly raised by Noah and Shem.
– Built the Tower of Babel with the families of Phut Mitzraim, Cush, and Caanan (600,000 people) in a valley East of Shinar.
– The goal of the tower was to reach God and make war with Him and replace him with their gods.
– During construction they’d fire arrows into heaven which returned to the ground with blood (a ruse by God)
– God confounded their language. The 3 divisions of man all had differing punishments. 1/3 became like apes and elephants, 1/3 slew each other by God’s influence, 1/3 scattered abroad
– Nimrod continued to rule Shinar and was called Amraphel (Genesis 14:9)
– Nimrod throws Abram in the fire for destroying Terah’s idols. He walks out unburned.
– Nimrod releases Abram and about 300 followers
– Nimrod goes to battle against Chedolaomer of Elam and loses.
– Nimrod teams up with them against Sodom
– Nimrod is beheaded by Esau son of Isaac.
Resources
The Book of Jasher
The Book of Jubilees
Babylon Rising – Rob Skiba