Abstract
The text of Genesis 45:1–15 belongs to the composition of Joseph’s narrative. This literary unit has an affinity with Genesis 37 that records the filial crime of Joseph’s brothers against him (Joseph) as they intend to solve their conflict through a heinous act. The literary composition of Genesis 45 has been studied by commentators and scholars of the Old Testament from diverse perspectives. However, none of the scholars have studied the text from the standpoint of a retrospective narrative. A retrospective narrative is a literary technique expressed in a literary construct when a narrator flashes back to a past event, recreates the discourse and brings the episode into the present.Contribution: This article contributes to scholarship as it argues that the literary unit of Genesis 45:1–15 is encoded in a device of a retrospective narrative. This is found in verses 4–8 of the pericope as the narrator artistically recreates the filial crime of the brothers against Joseph in Genesis 37 when they sold him into slavery.
Highlights
Jacob’s paternal favouritism towards Joseph apparently instigated his brothers’ hatred against him in Genesis 37 (Bruce 1986:138)
This article aims to employ the device of a retrospective narrative to read Genesis 45:1–15
This article argues that the narrator of Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers in Genesis 45 employs a device of retrospective narrative as he looks back on the heinous act of Joseph’s brothers in Genesis 37 when they sold him out into slavery
Summary
Jacob’s paternal favouritism (unfair preferential treatment to one person at the expense of another) towards Joseph apparently instigated his brothers’ hatred against him in Genesis 37 (Bruce 1986:138). Old Testament commentators and scholars have written extensively on Joseph’s forgiveness and reconciliation with his brothers in Genesis 45 employing different perspectives. It is discovered that no scholar has approached the text of Genesis 45 in the orbit of a retrospective narrative. This article aims to employ the device of a retrospective narrative to read Genesis 45:1–15. This article argues that the narrator of Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers in Genesis 45 employs a device of retrospective narrative as he looks back on the heinous act of Joseph’s brothers in Genesis 37 when they sold him out into slavery. Assuaging the severity of his brothers’ crime, Joseph theologically explicates that his brothers intended evil to him by selling him into slavery but God transposed their evil act into good
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
