Durham E-Theses Abraham, blessing and the nations: A philological and exegetical study of ...

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Durham E-Theses
Abraham, blessing and the nations: A philological and
exegetical study of Genesis 12:3 in its narrative context
Gruneberg, Keith Nigel
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Gruneberg, Keith Nigel (2001) Abraham, blessing and the nations: A philological and exegetical study of
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Blessing and the Nations
Abraham~
A Philological and Exegetical Study of Genesis
12:3 in its Narrative Context
Keith Nigel Griineberg
The copyright of this thesis rests with
the author. No quotation from it should
be 1mblished in any form, including
Electronic and the Internet, without the
author's prior written consent. All
information der;ved from this thesis
must be acknowledged appropriately.
Submitted for the degree of PhD
University of Durham
Department of Theology
2001
1
Keith Nigel Griineberg
Abraham, Blessing and the Nations: A Philological and Exegetical Study of Genesis
12:3 in its Narrative Context
The meaning of Genesis 12:3 is much controverted. This study, considering the final form
of Genesis, argues that it is in the first place a promise of security and greatness to Abraham
and Israel, but that in its context, following Genesis 1-11, it also indicates a divine plan to
extend blessing to all the earth's peoples. In receiving God's blessing, Abraham/ Israel act
as models and/ or pioneers of blessing for others. God's actions remain free, but also invite
appropriate human response.
Examination of the near-parallels to Genesis 12:3a in Genesis 27:29b and Numbers 24:9b
shows that they are concerned more with the security of the person blessed than with the
possibility of others gaining blessing.
Detailed discussion of the Hebrew niphal concludes that it normally has either passive or
'middle' force (and is very rarely reflexive). No 'middle' sense found elsewhere for the
niphal plausibly fits '-'li:::l, and hence the niphal in Genesis 12:3 (and 18:18 and 28:14) is
passive: analysis of these passages in their contexts supports this grammatical conclusion.
The hithpael in general this study argues to be usually 'middle' in force, though sometimes
passive and occasionally reflexive. The hithpael of '-'li:l when used outside Genesis is
probably a 'speech action middle', meaning 'utter blessing', and this sense fits Genesis
22: 18 and 26:4: this is argued to be compatible with understanding the niphal as a passive.
The semantics of '-'li:::l are also discussed. 'Blessing' in the Old Testament essentially
relates to divine bestowal of prosperity onto humans, though God grants humans in certain
circumstances the privilege of invoking his blessing on others. (The sense of '-'li:J also
extends to, for example, greeting and to praising God.)
Abraham, Blessing and the Nations
A Philological and Exegetical Study of Genesis
12:3 in its Narrative Context
Keith Nigel Grtineberg
Submitted for the degree of PhD
University of Durham
Department of Theology
2001
Contents
Acknowledgements 5
Declaration 6
Abbreviations 7
Chapter 1 Introduction 10
1.1 Rationale for this study 10
1.2 Method 12
Chapter 2 Parallels to Genesis 12:3a 22
2.1 Introduction 22
2.2 Genesis 27:29b
2.2.1 The context 22
2.2.2 The blessing 26
2.2.3 Conclusion 30
2.3 Numbers 24:9b
2.3.1 Narrative context 31
2.3.2 The oracles 37
2.3.3 Numbers 24:9 39
2.3.4 Conclusion 41
Chapter 3 The Niphal in Hebrew 43
3.1 Introduction 43
3.2 The niphal as a 'middle' stem 55
3.3 Passive niphals 66
3.4 Reflexive niphals 71
3.5 Conclusion 75
Chapter 4 Parallels to Gen 12:3b with the Niphal 77
4.1 Introduction 77
4.2 Genesis 18:18 77
4.2.1 The context 78
4.2.2 The promises 82
4.2.3 Conclusion 90
4.3 Genesis 28:14 90
4.3.1 The narrative and the promises 91
4.3.2 Conclusion 98
Chapter 5 Blessing 100
5.1 Introduction 100
5.2 Etymology and diachronic study 102
5.3 Cursing 105
5.4 The content of blessing given to a human 110
5.5 God's blessing 114
5.6 Humans blessing humans: especially ~li:J pie! 115
5.7 Greeting, thanking, congratulating 119
5.8 The word l1i:J, especially as applied to humans 121
5.9 The word 'ilLiK 125
5.10 Humans blessing God 127
5.11 The pual 128
5.12 The word ;"'l:li:J 129
5.13 Conclusion 133
Chapter 6 Genesis 12:3 135
6.1 Genesis 1-11
6.1.1 Introduction 135
6.1.2 Is there a 'primeval history'? 135
6.1.3 Themes in Genesis 1-11
i) Creation 140
ii) Sin 141
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iii) 'Punishment' 144
iv) Grace 145
6.1.4 12: 1-3 in context 148
6.2 The syntax of Genesis 12: 1-3 154
6.3 Genesis 12:3 in its context
6.3 .I Introduction 165
6.3 .2 The context of the promises 168
6.3.3 The promises 174
6.3.4 'I shall make you a great nation' (v2a) 176
6.3.5 'I shall bless you' (v2b) 178
6.3.6 'I shall make your name great' (v2c) 179
6.3.7 'You shall be a blessing' (v2d) 183
6.3.8 'I will bless those who bless you, while the one 184
who abuses you I will curse' (v3a)
6.3.9 'All the families of the earth shall be blessed 190
through you' (v3b)
Chapter 7 The Hithpael of ..Jl1~ 204
7.1 The hithpael in Hebrew
7 .I.! Introduction 204
7 .I .2 The hi thpael as a middle form 207
7.1.3 Passivehithpaels 213
7 .1.4 Reciprocal hithpaels 217
7 .1.5 Hithpaels denoting presenting oneself in a certain way 218
7 .1.6 Reflexive hithpaels 219
7 .1.7 Conclusion 223
7.2 The hithpael of ..Jl1::l outside Genesis
7.2.1 Introduction 223
7.2.2 Isaiah 65:16 224
7 .2.3 Psalm 72: 17 226
7.2.4 Jeremiah 4:2 230
7 .2.5 Deuteronomy 29: 18[ 19] 232
7 .2.6 Conclusion 233
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Chapter 8 lParallels to Genesis 12:3b with the Hithpael 235
8.I Introduction 235
8.2 Genesis 22: I 8
8.2.1 Narrative context 235
8.2.2 'Because you have done this' 238
8.2.3 The promises 241
8.2.4 Genesis 22: I 8 243
8.2.5 Conclusion 248
8.3 Genesis 26:4
8.3.1 The promises 248
8.3.2 Verse 4b 253
8.3.3 Conclusion 254
Chapter 9 Conclusion 255
Bibliography 260
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This thesis would not have been possible without the help of various people and bodies:
My supervisor, Revd Dr Waiter Moberly has always been available to answer my questions
and to review my work; and he has always avoided forcing his opinions onto me. He has
also demonstrated his concern for me as a person, not just as a student. I have benefited in
addition from interest taken in me and my work by other staff and students of the University
of Durham Theology Department, especially Dr C.T.R. Hayward and Professor J.D.G.
Dunn.
My friends and family have supported me personally during my research, and ensured that I
had a life beyond study. In the last year especially Liane has enriched my life and
encouraged me with the thesis. The community at Cranmer Hall throughout ensured I was
never short of human company and friendly concern. I am very conscious of support in
prayer from family and friends- and also from many people I know less well, particularly at
St Matthew's Church, Cheltenham.
The Arts and Humanities Research Board provided the funding which enabled my second
and third years of research. That for the first year was provided by the Ministry Division of
the Church of England and by the Diocese of Oxford.
'BibleWorks' software has proved an invaluable tool and has made many tasks far simpler.
(Most of the figures for word usage etc. in what follows are .derived from it: I have not
checked these elsewhere where absolute precision was unimportant.)
The Old Testament claims that the fear of Yhwh is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge
(Ps Ill: I 0; Prov I :7; 9: I 0). If what follows evidences or advances knowledge or wisdom,
it is only fitting to acknowledge the God who is at its source and who has sustained me in its
pursuit.
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