abraham & family how israel came into being genesis 12-50

Abraham & FamilyAbraham & Family

How Israel Came into BeingHow Israel Came into Being

Genesis 12-50Genesis 12-50

Genesis:Genesis:Literary StructureLiterary Structure

First Obvious Literary Development: First Obvious Literary Development: Two Major Genre SectionsTwo Major Genre Sections• 1-11 Cosmological Origins Myths1-11 Cosmological Origins Myths

Myth=story which explains realityMyth=story which explains reality

• 12-50 Ancestor Hero Stories12-50 Ancestor Hero Stories Stories which help identify our characterStories which help identify our character


Second Obvious Literary Second Obvious Literary Development: Four Story CyclesDevelopment: Four Story Cycles• 1-11 Origins Story Cycle1-11 Origins Story Cycle

What is the nature of reality?What is the nature of reality?

• 12-25 Abraham Story Cycle12-25 Abraham Story Cycle Who are we as a unique people?Who are we as a unique people?

• 26-36 Jacob Story Cycle26-36 Jacob Story Cycle What is our character as a people?What is our character as a people?

• 37-50 Joseph Story Cycle37-50 Joseph Story Cycle How did we get to Egypt?How did we get to Egypt?


Third Obvious Literary Development: Third Obvious Literary Development: Creation plus Ten “Generations”Creation plus Ten “Generations”• 1:1-2:3 Creation (the norm)1:1-2:3 Creation (the norm)• 2:4-4:26 “Heaven & Earth” (-)2:4-4:26 “Heaven & Earth” (-)• 5:1-6:8 “Adam” (-)5:1-6:8 “Adam” (-)• 6:9-9:29 “Noah” (+)6:9-9:29 “Noah” (+)• 10:1-11:9 “Sons of Noah” (-)10:1-11:9 “Sons of Noah” (-)• 11:10-26 “Shem” (+)11:10-26 “Shem” (+)• 11:27-25:11 “Terah” (Abraham) (+)11:27-25:11 “Terah” (Abraham) (+)• 25:12-18 “Ishmael” (-)25:12-18 “Ishmael” (-)• 25:19-35:29 “Isaac” (Jacob) (+)25:19-35:29 “Isaac” (Jacob) (+)• 36:1-37:1 “Esau” (-)36:1-37:1 “Esau” (-)• 37:2-50:26 “Jacob” (Joseph) (+)37:2-50:26 “Jacob” (Joseph) (+)

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Abraham Story Cycle: 12-25Abraham Story Cycle: 12-25 Abram is an Aramean (Iraqi)Abram is an Aramean (Iraqi) Abram’s father began a journey that Abram’s father began a journey that

Abram continuesAbram continues Abram experiences a series of four Abram experiences a series of four

covenant-making events with “God”covenant-making events with “God”• Note: name for God throughout Abram stories Note: name for God throughout Abram stories

is “Yahweh,” except in Melchizedek’s speech at is “Yahweh,” except in Melchizedek’s speech at the end of Genesis 14 and the covenant-the end of Genesis 14 and the covenant-making ceremony of Genesis 17 (“Elohim”)making ceremony of Genesis 17 (“Elohim”)

• Implications:Implications: In general, the Abram/Abraham stories are to be read In general, the Abram/Abraham stories are to be read

in retrospect from the time of Israel at Sinaiin retrospect from the time of Israel at Sinai The language of the Genesis 17 covenant reflects the The language of the Genesis 17 covenant reflects the

terminology that Abram would have experienced in terminology that Abram would have experienced in his dayhis day

Ancient Near EasternAncient Near EasternCovenant TypesCovenant Types

General “Parity Agreements”General “Parity Agreements”• Between Equals (cf. Jacob & Laban in Between Equals (cf. Jacob & Laban in

Genesis 31:36-54), for mutual benefitGenesis 31:36-54), for mutual benefit Babylonian “Royal Grants”Babylonian “Royal Grants”

• Gift of a king or nobleman to Gift of a king or nobleman to someone without long-term someone without long-term reciprocal behaviorsreciprocal behaviors

Hittite “Suzerain-Vassal Hittite “Suzerain-Vassal Covenants”Covenants”• Social construct for reciprocal Social construct for reciprocal

relationship between a ruler and relationship between a ruler and peoplepeople

Abraham & CovenantsAbraham & Covenants

Genesis 12Genesis 12• Royal Grant: landRoyal Grant: land

Genesis 13Genesis 13• Royal Grant: landRoyal Grant: land

Genesis 15Genesis 15• Royal Grant: sonRoyal Grant: son

Genesis 17Genesis 17• Suzerain-Vassal: Suzerain-Vassal:

land, son, and land, son, and relationship of relationship of obedience obedience (circumcision)(circumcision)

Abram’s response:Abram’s response:• Leave landLeave land

Abram’s response:Abram’s response:• Fight for landFight for land

Abram’s response:Abram’s response:• Connive to get Ishmael as sonConnive to get Ishmael as son

Abraham’s response:Abraham’s response:• Faith & Trust (cf. 22)Faith & Trust (cf. 22)

Implication for Israel: Implication for Israel: Obedience/Response Obedience/Response strengthens faithstrengthens faith

Abraham & His SonsAbraham & His Sons

IshmaelIshmael• Born to a slave Born to a slave

concubineconcubine• Loved by AbrahamLoved by Abraham• Not chosen to carry Not chosen to carry

the direct covenant the direct covenant blessingblessing

• Father of many Father of many near eastern tribes near eastern tribes and peoplesand peoples

IsaacIsaac• Born to a chosen Born to a chosen

and free wifeand free wife• Loved by AbrahamLoved by Abraham• Chosen to carry the Chosen to carry the

direct covenant direct covenant blessingblessing

• Father of Esau and Father of Esau and Jacob, the latter Jacob, the latter who became who became “Israel”“Israel”

Genesis diagrammedGenesis diagrammedCreation

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Abraham & the Sacrifice of Isaac: 22Abraham & the Sacrifice of Isaac: 22

A “test” of commitments (Suzerain-Vassal A “test” of commitments (Suzerain-Vassal Covenant)Covenant)

Note: it was not unusual for people to Note: it was not unusual for people to believe that deities required human believe that deities required human sacrificesacrifice

The unusual part of this story is that The unusual part of this story is that Yahweh communicates that he is not one Yahweh communicates that he is not one who requires thiswho requires this

Abraham proves his loyalty and Yahweh Abraham proves his loyalty and Yahweh provides for an alternative sacrificeprovides for an alternative sacrifice

The name of the place is “Moriah”The name of the place is “Moriah”• ““God sees” or “God will be seen”God sees” or “God will be seen”• For location, note 2 Chronicles 3:1For location, note 2 Chronicles 3:1

The Jacob Story Cycle: 26-36The Jacob Story Cycle: 26-36

Isaac’s story is quickly told:Isaac’s story is quickly told:• A divinely appointed wife from the A divinely appointed wife from the

family (24)family (24)• A pair of sons who are opposites and in A pair of sons who are opposites and in

competition (25)competition (25)• Repetitions of Abraham’s life (26)Repetitions of Abraham’s life (26)

Jacob’s story: 27-35Jacob’s story: 27-35

A conniver from birth (25:21-34)A conniver from birth (25:21-34) Favored by his mother (Rebekah)Favored by his mother (Rebekah) Cheated his father (Isaac), brother (Esau), Cheated his father (Isaac), brother (Esau),

uncle (Laban) and daughter (Dinah)uncle (Laban) and daughter (Dinah) Worked for wives and cattle from his uncleWorked for wives and cattle from his uncle Cheated by his uncleCheated by his uncle Afraid of his brotherAfraid of his brother Cowardly, wrestler with God (“Israel”)Cowardly, wrestler with God (“Israel”) Receives the Covenant blessing & Receives the Covenant blessing &

mandate (35)mandate (35)

The Joseph Story Cycle: 37-50The Joseph Story Cycle: 37-50

Joseph the Dreamer (37)Joseph the Dreamer (37) Joseph the Slave (38)Joseph the Slave (38) Joseph the Interpreter of Dreams (39-Joseph the Interpreter of Dreams (39-

41)41) Joseph the Egyptian Ruler (42-44)Joseph the Egyptian Ruler (42-44) Joseph the Savior of his Family (45-Joseph the Savior of his Family (45-

47)47) Jacob passes the covenant blessing Jacob passes the covenant blessing

and dies (48-50)and dies (48-50)

Genesis asGenesis asSinai Covenant PrologueSinai Covenant Prologue

Explains the character of reality, Explains the character of reality, including original goodness and the including original goodness and the devastating effects of sindevastating effects of sin

Informs Israel of God’s long-standing Informs Israel of God’s long-standing plan to reassert divine connection, plan to reassert divine connection, and this through a communityand this through a community

Identifies Israel’s unique origins and Identifies Israel’s unique origins and charactercharacter

Explains Israel’s recent historyExplains Israel’s recent history

Genesis PatternsGenesis PatternsCreation

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Genesis PatternsGenesis Patterns 1-11 Origins Story Cycle1-11 Origins Story Cycle

• What is the nature of reality?What is the nature of reality? Divinely Good, Contaminated by EvilDivinely Good, Contaminated by Evil

12-25 Abraham Story Cycle12-25 Abraham Story Cycle• Who are we as a unique people?Who are we as a unique people?

Miraculously born to be God’s witness to the nationsMiraculously born to be God’s witness to the nations 26-36 Jacob Story Cycle26-36 Jacob Story Cycle

• What is our character as a people?What is our character as a people? Deceitful Connivers who Wrestle with GodDeceitful Connivers who Wrestle with God

37-50 Joseph Story Cycle37-50 Joseph Story Cycle• How did we get to Egypt?How did we get to Egypt?

By dreaming our own dreamsBy dreaming our own dreams• How did we get out of Egypt?How did we get out of Egypt?

By dreaming the dreams of GodBy dreaming the dreams of God

abraham & family how israel came into being genesis 12-50

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