BS625 Pentateuch

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Session 3:Session 3:

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham Cycle

Genesis 12-20Genesis 12-20

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleGenesis 1-11 is generally referred Genesis 1-11 is generally referred

to as “Primeval History”to as “Primeval History”

Genesis 12-50 is known as the Genesis 12-50 is known as the “Patriarchal History”“Patriarchal History”

These sections are linked by the These sections are linked by the introduction of Abram in 11:27-introduction of Abram in 11:27-

3232

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleI. Genesis 1-11: Primeval HistoryI. Genesis 1-11: Primeval History

How the world began (chs. 1-2)How the world began (chs. 1-2) The birth and spread of imperfection (chs. 3-9)The birth and spread of imperfection (chs. 3-9) How the first civilization became many How the first civilization became many

civilizations (chs. 10-11)civilizations (chs. 10-11)

II. Genesis 12-50: Patriarchal HistoryII. Genesis 12-50: Patriarchal History Abraham and Sarah (chs. 12-24)Abraham and Sarah (chs. 12-24) Isaac and Rebekah (chs. 25-27)Isaac and Rebekah (chs. 25-27) Jacob, Esau, Rachel and Leah (chs. 28-36)Jacob, Esau, Rachel and Leah (chs. 28-36) Joseph and his brothers (chs. 37-50)Joseph and his brothers (chs. 37-50)


Movement from the general (Genesis 1-11) Movement from the general (Genesis 1-11)

to the specific (Genesis 12-50)to the specific (Genesis 12-50)

Genesis is primarily concerned with the story of Genesis is primarily concerned with the story of how Israel became Israel. how Israel became Israel.

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleIn Abram a new thing is In Abram a new thing is

happening. happening.

New planNew plan New personNew person New placeNew place

New promisesNew promises

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleGenesis 12:1-3Genesis 12:1-3

11 Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your your country and your kindred and your

father’s house to the land that I will father’s house to the land that I will show you. show you. 22 I will make of you a great I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a your name great, so that you will be a blessing. blessing. 33 I will bless those who bless I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the curse; and in you all the families of the

earth shall be blessed.’ earth shall be blessed.’

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleYHWH’s “I Wills”YHWH’s “I Wills”::

I will show you a land [I will show you a land [that you shall that you shall possesspossess]]

I will make of you a great nationI will make of you a great nation I will bless youI will bless you [[I willI will] make your name great, so that ] make your name great, so that

you will be a blessing. you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless youI will bless those who bless you I will curse the one who curses youI will curse the one who curses you

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleThree promisesThree promises::

(1) Land(1) Land

(2) Descendants(2) Descendants

(3) Blessing(3) Blessing

These promises become the These promises become the essential elements of “covenant” essential elements of “covenant” and the standards by which the and the standards by which the

covenant with YHWH is measured.covenant with YHWH is measured.

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleThe 5 uses of bless / blessing in 12:1-3 The 5 uses of bless / blessing in 12:1-3

may contrast with the five uses of may contrast with the five uses of curse / cursing in chs. 1-11:curse / cursing in chs. 1-11:

3:14: “cursed are you above the cattle”3:14: “cursed are you above the cattle” 3:17: “cursed is the ground because of 3:17: “cursed is the ground because of

you.”you.” 4:11: “you are cursed from the ground”4:11: “you are cursed from the ground” 5:29: “the ground which the Lord has 5:29: “the ground which the Lord has

cursed”cursed” 9:25: “cursed be Canaan”9:25: “cursed be Canaan”

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleFaithfulness and (Dis)Obedience Faithfulness and (Dis)Obedience

in Genesis 1-12: in Genesis 1-12: Adam and Eve disobeyAdam and Eve disobey Cain displays faithlessnessCain displays faithlessness Noah displays faithlessnessNoah displays faithlessness Disobedience, arrogance, and Disobedience, arrogance, and

hubris are displayed at Babelhubris are displayed at Babel


in Genesis 1-12: in Genesis 1-12: But Abram obeysBut Abram obeys


in Genesis 1-12: in Genesis 1-12: But Abram obeysBut Abram obeysCompare 11:4, “let Compare 11:4, “let usus make a name make a name

for for ourselvesourselves. . . .”. . . .”


in Genesis 1-12: in Genesis 1-12: But Abram obeysBut Abram obeysCompare 11:4, “let Compare 11:4, “let usus make a name make a name

for for ourselvesourselves. . . .”. . . .”

with 12:2, “with 12:2, “II ( (YHWHYHWH) will make ) will make youryour name great. . . .”name great. . . .”

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleYHWH says to Abram:YHWH says to Abram:

I will show you (i.e., give you) a LANDI will show you (i.e., give you) a LAND

I will BLESS you and make you great. I will BLESS you and make you great.

I will bless all the families of the earth through I will bless all the families of the earth through you (i.e., you will have many DESCENDANTS)you (i.e., you will have many DESCENDANTS)

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleThree types of ANE covenant:Three types of ANE covenant:

(1) Suzerainty treaty (sometimes called (1) Suzerainty treaty (sometimes called Suzerain-vassal treaty)Suzerain-vassal treaty)

(2) Land grant treaty(2) Land grant treaty

(3) Parity treaty (treaty between equals)(3) Parity treaty (treaty between equals)


Abram (“great father”) is promised that Abram (“great father”) is promised that he will have many descendants.he will have many descendants.

Sarai (“princess” / “woman of high Sarai (“princess” / “woman of high rank”) will be the mother of many rank”) will be the mother of many

descendantsdescendants

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleGenesis 15: The Covenant Proper:Genesis 15: The Covenant Proper:

11 After these things the word of the Lord After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, ‘Do not be came to Abram in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.’ reward shall be very great.’ 22 But Abram But Abram said, ‘O Lord God, what will you give me, said, ‘O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ 33 And And Abram said, ‘You have given me no Abram said, ‘You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.’ house is to be my heir.’ 44 But the word of But the word of

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham Cyclethe Lord came to him, ‘This man shall not the Lord came to him, ‘This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.’ issue shall be your heir.’ 55 He brought him He brought him outside and said, ‘Look towards heaven outside and said, ‘Look towards heaven and count the stars, if you are able to and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ your descendants be.’ 66 And he believed And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. as righteousness. 7 7 Then he said to him, ‘I Then he said to him, ‘I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.’ possess.’ 88 But he said, ‘O Lord God, But he said, ‘O Lord God,

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham Cyclehow am I to know that I shall possess it?’ how am I to know that I shall possess it?’ 9 9

He said to him, ‘Bring me a heifer three He said to him, ‘Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtle-dove, and a ram three years old, a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.’ young pigeon.’ 1010 He brought him all these He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. birds in two. 1111 And when birds of prey And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. them away. 1212 As the sun was going down, As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and aa deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham Cycledeep and terrifying darkness descended deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. upon him. 1313 Then the Lord said to Abram, Then the Lord said to Abram, ‘Know this for certain, that your offspring ‘Know this for certain, that your offspring shall be aliens in a land that is not theirs, shall be aliens in a land that is not theirs, and shall be slaves there, and they shall be and shall be slaves there, and they shall be oppressed for four hundred years; oppressed for four hundred years; 1414 but I but I will bring judgement on the nation that will bring judgement on the nation that they serve, and afterwards they shall come they serve, and afterwards they shall come out with great possessions. out with great possessions. 1515 As for As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried inpeace; you shall be buried in

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham Cyclea good old age. a good old age. 1616 And they shall come And they shall come back here in the fourth generation; for the back here in the fourth generation; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.’ complete.’ 1717 When the sun had gone down When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire-pot and a and it was dark, a smoking fire-pot and a flaming torch passed between these flaming torch passed between these pieces. pieces. 1818 On that day the Lord made a On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land, from the river descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, Euphrates, 1919 the land of the Kenites, the the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, theKenizzites, the

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleKadmonites, Kadmonites, 2020 the Hittites, the the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, Perizzites, the Rephaim, 2121 the the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.’ Girgashites, and the Jebusites.’


Genesis 12: the contract contains Genesis 12: the contract contains contingencies; Abram must contingencies; Abram must obeyobey

Genesis 15: YHWH swears by himself Genesis 15: YHWH swears by himself and ratifies the covenant (notice v. and ratifies the covenant (notice v.

6)6)

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleGenesis 17:1-8Genesis 17:1-8

YHWH changes Abram’s name:YHWH changes Abram’s name:11 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. and be blameless. 22 And I will make my And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.’ make you exceedingly numerous.’ 33 Then Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, him, 44 ‘As for me, this is my covenant with ‘As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be theyou: You shall be the

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham Cycleancestor of a multitude of nations. ancestor of a multitude of nations. 55 No No longer shall your name be Abram, but your longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 66 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. come from you. 77 I will establish my I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and toto be God to you and to

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham Cycleyour offspring after you. your offspring after you. 88 And I will And I will give to you, and to your offspring after give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their perpetual holding; and I will be their God.’ God.’

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleAbram (“great father”) now becomes Abram (“great father”) now becomes AbrahamAbraham

(“father of multitudes”). (“father of multitudes”).



The problem is that Abraham has no legitimate The problem is that Abraham has no legitimate offspring (i.e., children through his wife). offspring (i.e., children through his wife).

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleAbram (“great father”) now becomes Abram (“great father”) now becomes Abraham Abraham


The problem is that Abraham has no legitimate The problem is that Abraham has no legitimate offspring (i.e., children through his wife).offspring (i.e., children through his wife).

- Abraham is 99.- Abraham is 99.





- Sarah (notice name change) is 90. - Sarah (notice name change) is 90.





- Sarah (notice name change) is 90. - Sarah (notice name change) is 90.

- And in her “good years” she bore no children. - And in her “good years” she bore no children.

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleOther elements of Abraham’s presentationOther elements of Abraham’s presentation::

Peacemaker (Gen 13)Peacemaker (Gen 13) Warrior (Gen 14)Warrior (Gen 14) Prophet (Gen 20)Prophet (Gen 20) Fear / Failure to trust YHWH (Gen 12 & 20)Fear / Failure to trust YHWH (Gen 12 & 20)

The Abraham CycleThe Abraham CycleConclusion:Conclusion:

Abraham is a model of flawed Abraham is a model of flawed faithfulnessfaithfulness

YHWH remains faithful throughoutYHWH remains faithful throughout YHWH is doing a new thing that YHWH is doing a new thing that

begins with Abraham and continues begins with Abraham and continues through his descendantsthrough his descendants

The “covenant” is defined by Land, The “covenant” is defined by Land, Descendants, and BlessingDescendants, and Blessing

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