The Pentateuch: Genesis

Abstract

The Pentateuch:Genesis Christopher T. Begg, CFC Alan J. Moss, David A. Leiter, John W. Wright, Fred W. Guyette, William J. Urbrock, and John Thomas Willis 281. [Pentateuch: P] Anette Schellenberg, "'And God Separated Light from the Darkness' (Gen 1:4)—On the Role of Borders in the Priestly Texts of the Pentateuch," Borders, 23-41 [see #621]. S.'s essay investigates the role of borders in the Priestly (P) texts of the Pentateuch. "P is well known for its interest in separations, as seen first and foremost in its use of the verb bdl in the hiphil ("to distinguish, separate"), which takes both God and humans as its subject." S. further shows that all borders referred to by P serve to make the world a livable space, with most of these being connected with Yhwh's decision to dwell "in the midst" of the Israelites. Because Yhwh is holy, his presence requires a sanctuary that is kept holy, as well as a special class of priests—requirements that can only be met if separations are made and borders are respected. P is highly concerned with such separations and borders; at the same time, however, it also reflects a great deal of realism and pragmatism and a theology that transcends categories. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 282. [Genesis] Martina Kepper, "What to do with borders when they become obsolete? Strategies of re-defining border concepts in the Hebrew and Greek Text of Genesis," Borders, 43-59 [see #621]. K.'s starting point in this essay is the notion of the eretz yisrael. In contrast to the frequency of its use in modern political discussions, this term is rare and late in the Bible itself. While the Book of Genesis features the concept of the land as promised to the ancestors, the term itself is entirely lacking in Genesis. Instead, the dimensions of the land are demarcated by way of descriptions of the routes Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob took during their time in the land. Thus the land's borders are established by mention of the farthest points reached by them. As archaeological research has shown, the ancestors' itineraries as described in Genesis correspond to the settlements of the Israelites and Judahites during the time of the divided monarchy, with Jacob in the north and Abraham in the south. These borders of settlement became obsolete after the destruction of Samaria, and especially after [End Page 69] the fall of Jerusalem. For the Greek translator of Genesis, they were no longer real borders; at the same time the concept of the eretz yisrael as the land his readers hoped to live in remained important. Moreover, the translator had to deal with the ancestral itineraries as described in his Vorlage in some way. He chose different strategies in rendering the various Hebrew names of towns and landscapes, and by so doing created a new concept of eretz yisrael as a theologically motivated hope for people living in the diaspora. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 283. [Genesis] Gary A. Rendsburg, "Alliteration in the Book of Genesis," Doubling and Duplicating, 79-95 [see #640]. In his study of alliteration in the Book of Genesis, R. points out that numerous examples of this device can be identified in the book, its primarily prosaic character notwithstanding. Moreover, these examples of alliteration show that the device governed the author(s)' word choice, this resulting in the appearance of various hapax legomena. Paying attention to Genesis' alliterations may help clarify the book's unusual word choices and their meanings. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 284. [Genesis] George Savran, "Doubled Requests and Doubled Refusal: The Verb פצר in Biblical Narrative," Doubling and Duplicating, 9-25 [see #640]. S. discusses the pattern of double request and double refusal in several stories in the Book of Genesis and elsewhere in Hebrew Bible from the point of view of literary character development. He argues that such repeated requests allow for the depiction of a more nuanced character, one who is capable of changing his/her mind. In those cases where a request is followed by a double refusal, this intimates...