Introduction to Genesis

1. Introduction to Genesis SITS 2011 By Cloyce Sutton II With many thanks and apologies to the poor brother who must decipher this mess.

2. A Timely Study See Appendix 1 — P 43f • Recent case of Martin Gaskell. • Denied employment at the University of Kentucky because… • He questions evolutionary theory • He tries to harmonize the Bible and science • Encourages students to look at both sides

3. Derek Kidner “There can scarcely be another part of Scripture over which so many battles, theological, scientific, historical and literary, have been fought, or so many strong opinions cherished. This very fact is a sign of the greatness and power of the book, and of the narrow limits of both our factual knowledge and our spiritual grasp.”

4. Presentation Overview Title, Torah & Canonicity (p 1-4) Authorship (p 5-12) Date & Historicity (p 12-29) Structure, Outline & Literary Features(p 29-37) Reading & Interpreting Genesis (p 37-41)

5. Appendices Kentucky-Bred Snobbery (p 43f) Traditional View of the Documentary Hypothesis (p 45) Typical Source Analysis of Genesis (p 46f) OT “Source Books” (p 48) Time Periods of the Flood (p 49) Chronology of the Patriarchs (50) Genesis in the NT (p 51ff)

6. Hebrew Title • Hebrew — • bereshit — tyvarb • “In the beginning” • All books in the Pentateuch take their titles from the first word in the (Hebrew) text: • Exodus = These are the names (shemot) • Leviticus = And he called (vayyiqra) • Numbers = In the wilderness (bemidbar) • Deuteronomy = These are the words (debarim)

7. Greek & Latin Titles • LXX • “Genesis” — genesiß • “origin, source, race, creation, generations • Latin • “Liber Genesis” = The Book of Genesis • “Liber Genesis HebraiceBereshit” = The book of Genesis, [known] in Hebrew [as] Bereshit” • “Incipit LiberBresith id est Genesis” = Here begins the book Bresith which is Genesis

8. Genesis in the Torah • Hebrew Bibles are called “Tanakh” — ]nt • Acronym representing the three sections of the Hebrew Scriptures • Torah — hrt = Law • Nebi’im — .yaybn = Prophets • Ketubim — .ybwtk = Writings • See Luke 24.44 • Genesis begins the Torah

9. Torah • Torah is usually translated as “law” in English. • Carries a wide range of meaning: • law • guidance • instruction • discipline

10. OT/NT Descriptions of Torah May refer to the whole Torah or part(s) of it: • The law • The book of the law • The book of the law of Moses • The book of Moses • The law of the Lord • The law of God • Etc.

11. Authorship — DH View • Documentary Hypothesis • The view that the Pentateuch is of composite and late authorship • Three or more groups of authors • Not Moses • No earlier than ca. 850 BC • If Moses did not write, then the contents are suspect (ie, their historicity).

12. Earliest Advocates of DH • B Spinoza • J Astruc • J G Eichhorn • J S Vater • W M L De Wette • H Ewald • W Vatke • V Hupfeld • K H Graf • J Wellhausen • S R Driver

13. Opponents of DH Early More Recent O T Allis E J Young R K Harrison G L Archer, Jr K A Kitchen D Kidner G J Wenham • E W Hengstenberg • F Delitzsch • J Orr • U Cassuto

14. DH Assumptions • Linear evolution of Israelite culture • Late development of writing • Different Divine names imply different sources • Duplicate or similar stories indicate different sources • Anachronisms indicate different sources • Composite stories indicate different sources

15. DH Sources • “J” = “Yahwist” • In Judah, Solomon’s time, prefers “YHWH” • “E” = “Elohist” • N Israel, Divided monarchy, prefers “Elohim” • “D” = “Deuteronomist” • Not in Genesis, Josiah’s time • “P” = “Priestly” • Post exilic, concerned with chronological, liturgical, legal & genealogical matters

16. See Appendix 2, p 45

17. Sources in Genesis See Appendix 3, p 46.

18. DH Critiques (#1) • Assumption: • Linear evolution of Israelite culture • Answer: • Non-linear development is a better explanation.

19. DH Critiques (#2) • Assumption: • Writing did not exist at the time Moses. • Answer: • Archaeology has demonstrated that writing existed well before the time of Moses.

20. DH Critiques (#3) • Assumption: • Multiple names for God indicates multiple sources. • Answer: • Other ANE sources use multiple names for deity. • May be explained on stylistic grounds.

21. DH Critiques (#4) • Assumption: • Duplicate or similar stories indicate multiple sources. • Answer: • Differences between the stories suggest that the stories are actually different. • May be explained as the author’s use of “type scenes.”

22. DH Critiques (#5) • Assumption: • Anachronisms indicate that the documents are much later than the stories. • Answer: • Anachronisms are a valid, but much overstated concern. • They appear to be little more than minor scribal modifications.

23. DH Critiques (#6) • Assumption: • Different vocabulary and literary styles indicate multiple sources. • Answer: • Best explained on literary grounds. • Variety of words and styles reflect literary capabilities of the author. • Variety of words and styles add depth to the composition.

24. DH Critiques (#7) See Appendix 3, p 46. • Assumption: • Composite (interwoven) stories indicate multiple sources. • Answer: • A highly subjective criticism. • Often, dividing into sources renders any single account unintelligible.

25. DH Critique Conclusion — G Rendsburg “The evidence… points to the following conclusion: there is much more uniformity and much less fragmentation in the book of Genesis than generally assumed. The standard division of Genesis into J, E, and P strands should be discarded. This method of source criticism is a method of an earlier age, predominantly the 19th century. If new approaches to the text, such as literary criticism… deem the Documentary Hypothesis unreasonable and invalid, then source critics will have to rethink earlier conclusions and start anew.”

26. Moses as Author • Biblical references to his writing activities. • His unique position: • Born an Israelite • Born as a Levite • Raised as an Egyptian • Familiarity with both cultures • Familiarity with regional geography

27. Some Difficulties • Torah books anonymously written • No explicit references as author • Consistent use of 3rd person references • Author never refers to “I” or “we” in narratives(contrast Luke or Nehemiah) • Speeches with “I” or “we” references always bracketed with 3rd person introductions.

28. Authorship Summary (1) R. Averback “From a literary point of view, Moses was a collector of the patriarchal traditions (genealogies and their associated stories) and the author of the patriarchal accounts in Genesis 12-50. From a historical point of view, he wrote as the leader who God used to birth the nation of Israel, which had grown out of the pastoral enclosed nomadic patriarchal family…” (cont’d)

29. Authorship Summary (2) R. Averback “… and continued as a fully developed network of clans and tribes. From a theological point of view, he wrote as a levitical priest who was the mediator of the theocratic covenant and law in Israel and wrote the patriarchal narratives in Genesis 12-50 with these priestly legislative concerns in mind.”

30. Possible Dates For Moses • Generally: • 15thc BC (early Exodus view) • or 13thc BC (late Exodus view) • Depends upon length of Egyptian sojourn • MT (430 years) versus LXX (215 years) • Compare: • Exodus 12.40 • 1 Kings 6.1 • Judges 11.26

31. Genealogies in Genesis Gn 4.16-24 — Cain’s descendants Gn 5 — Adam’s descendants Gn 10 — Table of Nations Gn 11 — Shem’s descendants

32. Genealogies as Chronologies Challenges: Incomplete genealogies Ambiguous relationships Variations in ancient versions Symmetry suggests mnemonic purpose Odd overlaps External archaeological data

33. Narrative Synchronisms • Flood “calendar” • See Appendix 5 (p 49) • Lives & Ages of the Patriarchs • See Appendix 6 (p 50) • Use of time in the Abraham story

34. Historicity of Genesis NT assumes their historicity… Patriarchal faith examples Noah & baptism Enoch & godliness Jacob, Esau & election Esau & godlessness Melchizedek & Jesus as priests Abraham & justification Promise to Abraham • Jesus’ genealogy traced to Adam • Doctrine of sin & resurrection tied to Adam • First sin & woman’s role • Curse upon the earth • Curse upon the serpent • Sarah & wives today • Marriage & divorce See “Genesis in the NT” — Appendix 7, p 51ff.

35. Antiquity — Internal Evidence Divine names used only in Genesis Patriarchal names used only in Genesis Place names found only in Genesis “Angelology” Unique practices only in Genesis Would-be anachronisms

36. Internal Evidence Summary “The many different kinds of internal biblical evidence cited above reinforce the case viewing Genesis as an authentic mirror of early historical tradition and weaken a claim of later inventiveness.” — N Sarna

37. Antiquity & Archaeology (1) Primeval History (chp 1-11) • Similarities w/ ANE creation accounts • Similarities w/ ANE flood accounts • Historicity of “Table of Nations” • See following charts • Tower of Babel • See following charts

38. Table of Nations • 3rdm BC — 12 names • Early 2ndm BC — 19 names • Late 2ndm BC — 34 names • Early 1stm BC — 31 names • Late 1stm BC — 9 names • Unknown — 34 names Some of the places span several periods.

39. From the MacMillan Bible Atlas — Map #15

40. Tower of Babel • Might be an ancient “ziggurat” • But note: • “Tower” translates migdal — lDgm • Normally refers to a fortified military structure • See Judges 9.46-57; 2 Chronicles 26.9-15 • Recently discovered Sumerian text speaks of a time when all the earth spoke one language.

41. Primeval Antiquity Summary “Genesis 1-11, according to my own rough count, contains 64 geographical names, 88 personal names, 48 generic names and 21 identifiable cultural items… Each one of these has the potential for exposing the text to error… Genesis 1-11 clearly does not fit into the categories of myth, legend, parable, allegory, fairy tale, typology, or saga.” — W Kaiser

42. Antiquity & Archaeology (2) Personal names Place names Migration patterns War of Genesis 14 Family life Business & legal customs Egyptian culture

43. DH Skepticism “We attain no historical knowledge of the patriarchs, but only of the time (1st m BC) when the stories about them arose in the Israelite people…” — J Wellhausen

44. Relevant Sources Mari (Syria) — 18th c BC, Akkadian Boghaz-Koy (NE Turkey) — 16th c BC, Hittite Nuzi (N Iraq) — 15th c BC, Hurrian Ras Shamra (Syria) — 15th c BC, Ugaritic Amarna (Egypt) — 14th c BC, Egyptian

45. Patriarchal Names Same or similar personal names verified Name formation verified Egyptian names verified Place names verified

46. Geo-Political Setting Migration patterns of Abraham & patriarchs confirmed Occupations of the patriarchs confirmed War of Genesis 14 is reasonable only at this time period

47. Patriarchal Family Life Adoption of someone as an heir verified Barren woman using surrogate verified Adoption of son-in-law as legal heir verified Long-distance marriage arrangements verified Sale of birthrights confirmed Deathbed blessings verified

48. Patriarchal Business & Law Slave prices verified Treaty or contract forms verified

49. Egypt in Genesis Settle in Goshen valid only in the period represented in Genesis Accurate Egyptian terminology Accurate portrait of Egyptian ideals, culture, lifestyle

50. Antiquity of Genesis “We are compelled, once and for all, to throw out Wellhausen’s bold claim that the patriarchs were merely a glorified mirage of or from the Hebrew monarchy period. For such a view there is not a particle of supporting factual evidence, and the whole of the foregoing indicative background material is solidly against it.” — K Kitchen