Implied Law in the Abraham Narrative: A Literary and Theological Analysis (JSOT Supplement Series)

265 Pages·2002·12.44 MB·English

by  James K. Bruckner

JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
SUPPLEMENT SERIES
335
Editors
David J.A. Clines
Philip R. Davies
Executive Editor
Andrew Mein
Editorial Board
Richard J. Coggins, Alan Cooper, J. Cheryl Exum, John Goldingay,
Robert P. Gordon, Norman K. Gottwald, John Jarick,
Andrew D.H. Mayes, Carol Meyers, Patrick D. Miller
Sheffield Academic Press
A Continuum imprint
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Implied Law in the
Abraham Narrative
A Literary and Theological Analysis
James K. Bruckner
Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
Supplement Series 335
Copyright © 2001 Sheffield Academic Press
A Continuum imprint
Published by
Sheffield Academic Press Ltd
The Tower Building, 11 York Road, London SE1 7NX
71 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017-653
www.SheffieldAcademicPress.com
www.continuumbooks.com
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Typeset by Sheffield Academic Press
Printed on acid-free paper in Great Britain by MPG Books Ltd, Bodmin, Cornwall
ISBN 1-84127-241-8
CONTENTS
Preface 7
Abbreviations 8
Chapter 1
INTERPRETING PRE-SINAI LAW 11
Chapter 2
METHODOLOGY: A PLURALITY OF METHODS FOR READING
LEGAL REFERENTS IN PRE-SINAI NARRATIVES 51
Chapter 3
A SURVEY OF JURIDICAL TERMINOLOGY IN THE
ABRAHAM NARRATIVE 76
Chapter 4
A CLOSE NARRATIVE READING OF LEGAL REFERENTS IN
GENESIS 18.16-19.29: FINDINGS FROM THE INQUEST OF THE
CRY AGAINST THE SODOMITES TO THE SENTENCE THAT
FOLLOWS GOD'S FINDINGS 124
Chapter 5
A CLOSE NARRATIVE READING OF LEGAL REFERENTS IN
GENESIS 20.1-18: THE CONFLICTS AND RESOLUTIONS
CONCERNING SARAH IN ABIMELECH' s TENT 171
Chapter 6
REFLECTIONS ON THE CREATIONAL CONTEXT OF
IMPLIED LAW 199
Chapter 7
IMPLICATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH 212
6 Implied Law in the Abraham Narrative
Bibliography 236
Index of References 250
Index of Authors 258
PREFACE
The final stages of doctoral studies are full of debts of gratitude. I am
especially grateful to my adviser, Dr Terence Fretheim, whose advice
was well timed, whether in giving encouragement or in setting dead-
lines. For his counsel, expertise, hours of editing and interest I remain
in his debt. I am also grateful to my readers, whose commentary, chal-
lenges and encouragement motivated and taught me along the way. I
am appreciative of the direction Dr Richard Nysse gave in the early
stages of my proposal and later, in conversations about God's role in
the narrative. Dr Diane Jacobson was particularly helpful in conver-
sations about wisdom, creation and law.
Thanks are also due to the rest of the biblical faculty at Luther
Seminary, notably Drs James Limburg, Craig Koester, Don Juel, Mark
Throntveit, Mark Hilmer and Roy Harrisville, who convened formative
seminars and taught at the highest standard. It has been a privilege to
listen in the midst of this community of readers.
The many contributions of the faculty, staff and administration at
North Park Theological Seminary all are deeply appreciated. The
faculty have welcomed me as a colleague, understood the labor and
offered practical assistance. The staff has encouraged me in countless
ways, been patient with my preoccupation, and lent hours of technical
support. The administration has provided valuable time and resources,
making the writing task possible.
I am grateful for my extended family. They have been good com-
panions on the way, endlessly patient and renewing. Above all, there is
my wife, Kris. Her sense of humor and joy in living has provided
balance for the journey. Her insights into the text and into my reading
have made the way light.
ABBREVIATIONS
ABD David Noel Freedman (ed.), The Anchor Bible Dictionary
(New York: Doubleday, 1992)
AOAT Alter Orient und Altes Testament
BA Biblical Archaeologist
BASOR Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research
BDB Francis Brown, S.R. Driver and Charles A. Briggs,
A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (Oxford:
Clarendon Press, 1907)
BHT Beitrage zur historischen Theologie
BR Bible Review
BTB Biblical Theology Bulletin
CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly
CHR Catholic Historical Review
CurTM Currents in Theology and Mission
EvT Evangelische Theologie
ExpTim Expository Times
FOTL The Forms of the Old Testament Literature
GKC Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar (ed. E. Kautzsch, revised and
trans. A.E. Cowley; Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1910)
HBT Horizons in Biblical Theology
HTR Harvard Theological Review
HUCA Hebrew Union College Annual
ICC International Critical Commentary
IDE George Arthur Buttrick (ed.), The Interpreter's Dictionary of
the Bible (4 vols.; Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962)
Int Interpretation
JAAR Journal of the American Academy of Religion
JAOS Journal of the American Oriental Society
JETS Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
JJS Journal of Jewish Studies
JNES Journal of Near Eastern Studies
JPSV Jewish Publication Society Version
JQR Jewish Quarterly Review
JR Journal of Religion
JSOT Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
JSS Journal of Semitic Studies
Abbreviations 9
JTS Journal of Theological Studies
NASB New American Standard Bible
NICOT New International Commentary on the Old Testament
NRSV New Revised Standard Version
OIL Old Testament Library
RB Revue biblique
RSV Revised Standard Version
SBLDS SBL Dissertation Series
TDNT Gerhard Kittel and Gerhard Friedrich (eds.), Theological
Dictionary of the New Testament (trans. Geoffrey W.
Bromiley; 10 vols.; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964-)
TDOT G.J. Botterweck and H. Ringgren (eds.), Theological
Dictionary of the Old Testament
TLZ Theologische Literaturzeitung
TS Theological Studies
TTod Theology Today
TWOT R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr and Bruce K. Waltke
(eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (2 vols.;
Chicago: Moody Press, 1980)
VT Vetus Testamentum
VTSup Vetus Testamentum, Supplements
WBC Word Biblical Commentary
WMANT Wissenschaftliche Monographien zum Alten und Neuen
Testament
WTJ Westminster Theological Journal
ww
Word and World
ZAW Zeitschrift fiir die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
ZTK Zeitschrift fur Theologie und Kirche