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Middle Bronze Age II 1800-1650

Middle Bronze Age II 1800-1650. Traditional era of Israel’s ancestors family stories in Genesis are unlikely to appear in written records surviving from ANE patriarchal customs (wife-sister, surrogate wife [Hagar], Rachel’s theft of teraphim) patriarchal names (Isaac; Jacob) and the Amorites

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Middle Bronze Age II 1800-1650

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  1. Middle Bronze Age II 1800-1650 • Traditional era of Israel’s ancestors • family stories in Genesis are unlikely to appear in written records surviving from ANE • patriarchal customs (wife-sister, surrogate wife [Hagar], Rachel’s theft of teraphim) • patriarchal names (Isaac; Jacob) and the Amorites • ancestors were ass nomads

  2. Israel’s ancestors in MBII? • an Amorite movement? • Tomb of Beni Hasan (1890 BCE) • Execration texts (Personal and place names) • Abraham and Sarah separated from their people--hence not part of an Amorite movement

  3. Anachronisms in the accounts • a great nation--only after time of David • Philistines--arrived ca 1200BCE • Arameans (Isaac’s and Jacob’s wives) appeared ca 1100 BCE • Arabs around 800 BCE (Abraham father of Arabs) • camels

  4. Arguments for antiquity of the traditions about the ancestors • religion of the ancestors (God of the fathers; El Elyon; El Shaddai, El Olam) • Jacob portrayed in unflattering manner • In the first millennium Israel’s relationship to Arameans was hostile, but it is close in these stories. • Genesis 14? Chedorlaomer, Tidal, Amraphel, Arioch

  5. Gen 12:1-3 • All God’s promises have come true: land, descendants (great nation), great name • By you shall all the families of the earth be blessed. • The “answer” to the question posed by Genesis 1-11 • “Why” does God choose us?

  6. Being a blessing to the nations • Abraham’s intercession for Sodom (Moab and Ammon) • Isaac ready for peace with the Philistines (ch 26) • Jacob--material aid for Arameans • Joseph--blessing to Potiphar and Egypt • Exodus. Pharaoh: Go…get me a blessing.

  7. The Wife-Sister stories in Genesis 12:10-20 and 20:1-18 • Did Abraham tell the truth in saying that his wife was his sister? • Is Abraham described as being particularly selfish? • Was Sarah kept “safe” in the ruler’s house? • How did the ruler discover that the woman in his court was really the patriarch’s wife?

  8. Wife-Sister stories (continued) • Is Abraham given the title of prophet? What does “prophet” mean in this context? • Describe the significance of the animals Abraham acquires in 12:16 and in 20:14. • What is the overall message of the story in chapter 12? in chapter 20?

  9. The (near) sacrifice of Isaac • Hebrew narrative contrasted with the Odyssey • What would have happened if… • Abraham had actually sacrificed Isaac • Abraham had told Isaac what he was doing • Isaac had seen his father tremble as he raised the knife • Abraham had found the substitute ram on the way up the mountain

  10. The (near) sacrifice of Isaac (continued) • typological connection with crucifixion • popular motif in Christian art • in Judaism a meritorious act that reassures people that they are safe as Isaac’s descendants; God remembers Isaac and heeds prayer of Jewish people • in Islam Ishmael was the one who was almost sacrificed (one and only son)

  11. The (near) sacrifice of Isaac (continued) • Rejection of human sacrifice • Mt. Moriah = site of temple • vv. 15-18 blessings are a reward for a particular act of Abraham • Abraham believed and obeyed even though every proof of God’s goodness was taken away.

  12. The Last Days of Abraham • The Cave at Machpelah--the only real estate owned by the ancestors • Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah all buried in Cave of Machpelah • Abraham and Keturah have six sons--he gave them gifts and had them move out of the land. 25:1-6

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