Encountering the Book of Genesis

235 Pages·2003·19.04 MB·English

by  Bill T. Arnold

Encountering
the Book of Genesis
Encountering Biblical Studies
Walter A. Elwell, General Editor and New Testament Editor
Eugene H. Merrill, Old Testament Editor
Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey
Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer
Readings from the Ancient Near East: Primary Sources for Old
Testament Study
Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer, editors
Encountering the New Testament: A Historical and Theological
Survey
Walter A. Elwell and Robert W. Yarbrough
Readings from the First-Century World: Primary Sources for
New Testament Study
Walter A. Elwell and Robert W. Yarbrough, editors
Encountering the Book of Genesis: A Study of Its Content and
Issues
Bill T. Arnold
Encountering the Book of Psalms: A Literary and Theological
Introduction
C. Hassell Bullock
Encountering the Book of Isaiah
Bryan E. Beyer
Encountering John: The Gospel in Historical, Literary, and
Theological Perspective
Andreas J. Kostenberger
Encountering the Book of Romans: A Theological Survey
Douglas J. Moo
Encountering the Book of Hebrews: An Exposition
Donald A. Hagner
Encountering
the Book of Genesis
Bill T. Arnold
DB Baker Books
A Division of Baker Book House Co
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49516
© 1998 by Bill T. Arnold
Published by Baker Academic
a division of Baker Book House Company
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 495166287־
www.bakeracademic.com
Printed in the United States of America
All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means—for example, electronic, photocopy,
recording—without the prior written permis­
sion of the publisher. The only exception is
brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging־in־Publication
Data is on file at the Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C.
ISBN 0-8010-26385־
Photo acknowledgments:
Alfred J. Hoerth: p. 127
Biblical Illustrator Photo/David Rogers/The
British Museum, London, England: p. 47
Biblical Illustrator Photo/David Rogers/The
Louvre, Paris: p. 61
Biblical Illustrator Photo/James McLemore:
pp. 59, 63
Chris Miller: pp. 22, 71, 80, 82 (2), 107,183
Darwin Archive/Syndics of the Cambridge
University Library: p. 26
Phoenix Data Systems: pp. 34, 38,45, 79 (2), 85,
91,108,110, 111, 122,153,172,177
For my parents
Reverend and Mrs. Walter L. Arnold
Who prove the truth of Wisdom's counsel:
Hear, my child, your father's instruction,
and do not reject your mother's teaching;
for they are a fair garland for your head,
and pendants for your neck.
—Prv 1:8-9
Contents in Brief
Editor's Preface 11 PART 3:
Publisher's Preface 13 Encountering Jacob: God's
To the Student 15 Troubled Servant (Genesis
Author's Preface 16 25-36)
Abbreviations 17
9. Jacob Struggles with His Family
Before You Begin ... 17
(25:19-31:55) 117
10. Jacob Struggles with God
PART 1:
(32:1-37:1) 131
Encountering God's Creation
(Genesis 1-11) PART 4:
1. The Grandeur of God's Perfect Encountering Joseph: God's
Creation (1:1-2:3) 21 Model Servant (Genesis 3750־)
2. The History of the First Human
11. Joseph in Egypt (37:2-41:57) 143
Family (2:4-4:26) 31
12. Joseph over Egypt
3. What's Wrong with This
(42:1-50:26) 155
Picture? 43
4. Sin's Contamination of Creation
PART 5:
(5:1-11:26) 55
Encountering the Authorship
of Genesis
PART 2:
13. Evidence for Authorship 167
Encountering Abraham: God's
14. Interpretations of
Faithful Servant (Genesis 12-25)
the Evidence 181
5. The Beginning of Our Faith Conclusion: Genesis
Heritage (11:27-14:24) 69 and Beyond 199
6. Tracking Abram and His
Family 77 Notes 207
7. "Then God Gave Him the Bibliography 219
Covenant" (15:1-17:27) 89 Glossary 221
8. Standing on the Promises of God Subject Index 225
(18:1-25:18) 99 Scripture Index 231
7
Contents
Editor's Preface 11 Who Were Israel's Terah's Family (11:27-32)
Publisher's Preface 13 Neighbors? The Call of Abram and the
Author's Preface 15 • The Mesopotamians Promises of God (12:1-9)
To the Student 16 • The Egyptians Abram in Egypt (12:10-20)
Abbreviations 17 • Peoples of Syria-Palestine Trouble with Lot (13-14)
Study Questions
Before You Ancient Theories of
Begin... 17 Creation and Early 6. Tracking Abram and His
Human History Family 77
• Ancient Near Eastern Outline
PART 1 Parallels to Genesis 1 Objectives
Encountering God's ° Egypt Where in the World Are
° Mesopotamia These Places?
Creation (Genesis 1-11) • Ancient Near Eastern • Mesopotamia
Parallels to the Themes of ° Ur of the Chaldeans
1. The Grandeur of God's Genesis 2-4 ° Haran
Perfect Creation Israel: A Picture, a Mirror, • Canaan
(1:1-2:3) 21 or a Window? ° Shechem
Outline Significance for Modem ° Oak of Moreh
Objectives Christians o Bethel and Ai
How Did It All Begin? Key Terms o The Negev
Details of Genesis 1 Study Questions o Hebron
• The Recurring Creation 4. Sin's Contamination of ° Oaks of Mamre
Formula
Creation (5:1-11:26) 55 o Gerar and Beersheba
• The Symmetry
Outline Looking for Mr. Abram
of Genesis 1
Objectives • Categories for Ancient
• The Role of Genesis 1:1-2 History
So, What Happened Next?
Significance of Genesis 1 The Children of Adam ° The Early Bronze Age
• Sovereignty of God and Eve (5:l-6:8) ° The Middle Bronze Age
• Goodness of Creation The Flood (6:9-9:29) ° The Late Bronze Age
• Role of Humankind • Review of the Narrative ° The Iron Age
Key Terms • Parallels with Ancient • Possible Dates for the
Study Questions Literature Patriarchs
2. The History of the First • Problems after the Flood ° A Date in Early Bronze III
Human Family (9:18-29) ° A Date in Middle Bronze I
° A Date in Middle Bronze II
(2:4-4:26) 31 Where Did All These
o A Date in the Late Bronze Age
Outline Nations Come From?
o A Date in the Iron Age
Objectives Shem Again?
• Religion of the Patriarchs
What's Different about Postscript on Genesis 1-11
Genesis 2-4? Key Term Key Terms
Events inside the Garden Study Questions Study Questions
of Eden (2-3) 7. "Then God Gave Him
• Adam and Eve in the the Covenant"
Garden (2) PART 2 (15:1-17:27) 89
• Adam and Eve Expelled Encountering Abraham: Outline
from the Garden (3)
God's Faithful Servant Objectives
Events outside the Garden Melchizedek and the King
of Eden (4) (Genesis 12-25) of Sodom (14:17-24)
Key Terms Defining Abram's Special
Study Questions 5. The Beginning of Our Relationship with God
3. What's Wrong with This Faith Heritage (15)
Picture? 43 (11:27-14:24) 69 • "I Am Your Shield"
Outline Outline (15:1-6)
Objectives Objectives • "I Am the Lord" (15:7-21)
8
Contents
Hagar and Ishmael (16) • Jacob's Children • Joseph in Charge of
Signs of God's Covenant (29:31-30:24) Potiphar's House (39)
(17) • Jacob's Prosperity • Pharaoh's Cupbearer and
Study Questions (30:25-43) Baker (40)
8. Standing on the • Trouble with Laban (31) • Pharaoh's Dreams (41)
Promises of God ° Jacob Leaves Mesopotamia Key Term
(18:1-25:18) 99 (31:1-21) Study Questions
° Laban Pursues Jacob (31:22-42)
Outline 12. Joseph over Egypt
o Jacob and Laban Make a Parting
Objectives (42:1-50:26) 155
Covenant (31:43-55)
Promised Son and Problem Outline
Study Questions
Nephew (18-19) Objectives
10. Jacob Struggles with
• Abraham and Sarah The Rationale for the
God (32:1-37:1) 131
Entertain Guests (18) Joseph Narrative
Outline
• Sodom and Gomorrah The Sons of Jacob Are
Objectives
(19) Reunited (42-45)
Jacob Meets God, Jacob
Abraham and Abimelech • First Trip to Egypt (42)
Meets Esau (32-33)
(20) • Second Trip to Egypt
• Jacob Prepares to Meet
The Promised Son—At Esau (32:3-21) (43-45)
Long Last! (21:1-21) Settling in Goshen (46-47)
• Jacob Meets God
Agreement with Abimelech (32:22-32) • Vision at Beersheba
(21:22-34) (46:1-4)
• Jacob Meets Esau (33)
Abraham's Great Test (22) • In Egypt (46:547:12־)
The Violation of Dinah (34)
Family Matters (23:1-25:18) • Joseph during the Famine
Back to Bethel (35)
• The Death of Sarah (23) (47:13-31)
Esau Epilogue (36)
• A Suitable Wife for Isaac The Deaths of Jacob and
Key Term
(24) Joseph (48-50)
Study Questions
• The Death of Abraham • Jacob Blesses Ephraim
(25:1-18) and Manasseh (48:1-22)
Key Term PART 4 • Jacob Blesses His Sons
Study Questions Encountering Joseph: (49:1-28)
• The Death and Burial of
God's Model Servant Jacob (49:29-50:21)
PART 3 (Genesis 37-50) • The Death of Joseph
Encountering Jacob: (50:22-26)
God's Troubled Servant 11. Joseph in Egypt Key Term
(37:2-41:57) Study Questions
(Genesis 25-36)
Outline
Objectives
9. Jacob Struggles with His The Context of the Joseph PART 5
Family (25:19- Narrative 143 Encountering the
31:55) 117 • Contrast between Esau Authorship of Genesis
Outline and Jacob
Objectives • What Is Different about
13. Evidence for Author­
Of Twins and Birthrights the Joseph Narrative?
ship 167
(25:19-34) • What Is the Same about
• Birth of the Twins the Joseph Narrative? Outline
(25:19-28) Joseph and His Brothers Objectives
Evidence on the
• Stolen Birthright (37)
Authorship of the
(25:29-34) • A Tale of Two Dreams
(37:2-11) Pentateuch
Isaac and Abimelech (26)
• Biblical References
Jacob Steals the Blessing • Joseph in the Pit
(37:12-24) • Jewish and Christian
(27)
Tradition
The Ladder (28) • Joseph in Potiphar's
House (37:25-36) • Grammatical Evidence
• Jacob's Escape from Esau
(28:1-9) The Judah Interlude (38) • Sociopolitical Evidence
• Jacob's Dream (28:10-22) • Judah and Tamar • Manuscript Evidence
(38:1-30) • Redactional Evidence
Jacob and Laban (29-31)
• Jacob Marries the • The Place of Genesis 38 • Ancient Near Eastern
Daughters of Laban Joseph's Rise over Egypt Parallels
(29:1-30) (39-41) • Religious Perspective
9
Contents
Requirements of the • Form Criticism and o Rolf Rendtorff
Evidence Tradition Criticism o Canonical and Literary Criticism
• A Word about Words • Historical Criticism • Conclusions
• What Is the Most That • Literary Criticism Key Terms
Could Be Said? • Canonical Criticism Study Questions
• What Is the Least That Survey of Scholarship on
Could Be Said? Conclusion:
the Book of Genesis
Genesis and
Possibilities of the • Eighteenth Century
Evidence ° Jean Astruc Beyond 199
• Moses, the Yahwistic o Johann G. Eichhorn Outline
Innovator • Nineteenth Century Objectives
• Moses, the Delegator of ° W. M. L. de Wette From Paradise to the
Authority Patriarchal Promises
o Heinrich Ewald
• oMf oPsreosp, htheec yFountainhead Oo HWeirlhmealmn WVa. tHkeupfeld and Eduard • TPharea Pdrisoeblem with
• Scribes of Israel's Riehm • The Promises to Abraham
Monarchy o K. H. Graf and Abraham Kuenen • The Promises to Isaac
• The Role of the Exilic o Julius Wellhausen • The Promises to Jacob
Community • Conservative Responses and Joseph
Key Terms o Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg From the Patriarchs to
Study Questions o James Orr Moses
14. Interpretations of the • Early and Mid-twentieth From Moses to Jesus
Evidence 181 Century Study Questions
° Archaeology and the Ancient
Outline
Near East Notes 207
Objectives
o William F. Albright Bibliography 219
Nature of Biblical ° Hermann Gunkel Glossary 221
Criticism ° Albrecht Alt and Martin Noth
Subject Index 225
Survey of the Methods o Gerhard von Rad
• Textual Criticism • Recent Developments Scripture Index 231
• Source Criticism and ° Thomas L. Thompson and John
Redaction Criticism Van Seters
10