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

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

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

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

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?

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.

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?

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?

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

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)

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.

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