1. Overview of the Life of Abraham (Genesis 11:10-25:18) Outline (10.1) II. Original Meaning III. Modern Application I. Structure and Content

2. Frequent Evangelical Approach Tenfold Division Toledot passages “ the generations of ” Alternate Approach (popularized by G. von Rad, C. Westermann) Threefold Division Primeval History (1:1-11:9) Coherent by analogy with ANE texts heavens and earth (2:4-4:26) Adam (5:1-6:8) Noah (6:9-9:29) Shem, Ham and Japheth (10:1-11:9) Shem (11:10-26) Terah (11:27-25:11) Ishmael (25:12-18) Isaac (25:19-35:29) Esau (36:1-37:11) Jacob (37:2-50:26) Joseph Story (37:2-50:24) Coherent as Novella Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (11:10-37:1) Genesis Overview (10.2)

3. Early Patriarchal History (11:10-37:1) Later Patriarchal History (37:2-50:26) Primeval History (1:1-11:9) Early Patriarchs (10.3)

4. Life of Abraham (11:10-25:18) Life of Jacob (26:1-37:1) Life of Isaac Early Patriarchal History (10.4)

5. Not Tightly StructuredLoosely Clustered Abraham’s Life (10.5)

6. Death and Progeny (22:1-25:18) Background and Early Experiences (11:10-12:9) Covenant Relationship with God (15:1-17:27) Later Contacts with Others (18:1-21:34) Earlier Contacts with Others (12:10-14:24) Structure of Abraham’s Life (10:6)

7. Gen 12:1-3 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household [and go] to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household [and go] to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Gen 12:1-3 Introduction The LORD had said to Abram, (Acts 7:2-4 ) Introduction The LORD had said to Abram, (Acts 7:2-4 ) Gen 12:1-3 First Set: Imperative followed by three independent verbs "Leave your country, your people and your father's household [and go] to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, First Set: Imperative followed by three independent verbs "Leave your country, your people and your father's household [and go] to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, Gen 12:1-3 Second Set: Imperative followed by three independent verbs and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Second Set: Imperative followed by three independent verbs and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Content of Abraham’s Life (10:7) Gen 12:1-3 Introduction Leave … (imperative) I will make you … I will bless you … I will make … You will surely be a blessing (imperative) I will bless … I will curse … [All peoples] … will be blessed through you. Divine Benevolence Abraham’s Responsibility Blessing to Abraham Blessing to Others through Abraham

8. “Israel’s World” Moses “Abraham’s World” Moses’ Connections Between “That World” and “Their World” (Establishing Backgrounds, Modeling Exemplars, Adumbrating) Connections (10.9)

9. “Abraham’s World” “Israel’s World” Establishing Backgrounds Moses offered background information to meet his audience’s needs. Providing Models and Anti-models Moses provided his audience with examples to follow and to reject. Revealing Adumbrations Moses revealed how the past foreshadowed Israel’s experiences. Moses Types of Connections (10.10)

10. “Abraham’s World” “Israel’s World” Establishing Backgrounds Moses offered background information to meet his audience’s needs. Moses Israel must possess Canaan. Abraham was promised Canaan. Establishing (10.11)

11. “Abraham’s World” “Israel’s World” Providing Models and Anti-models Moses provided his audience with examples to follow and to reject. Moses Israel must go forward despite Canaanites. Abraham went forward despite Canaanites. Modeling (10.12)

12. “Abraham’s World” “Israel’s World” Revealing Adumbrations Moses revealed how the past foreshadowed Israel’s experiences. God revealed himself to Israel as smoke and fire.. God revealed himself to Abraham as smoke and fire. Moses Adumbration (10.13)

13. “Israel’s World” Moses “Abraham’s World” Moses wrote to show how Abraham’s life explained why and how Israel was to leave Egypt behind and to move into the conquest of the promised land. He selected and arranged his account of Abraham’s life to teach the Israelites following him about the importance of obeying this call from God. Central Message (10.14)

14. Main Themes (10.15) Gen 12:1-3 Divine Benevolence to Abraham Abraham’s Responsibility Blessing to Abraham Blessing to Others through Abraham Introduction Leave … (imperative) I will make you … I will bless you … I will make … You will surely be a blessing (imperative) I will bless … I will curse … [All peoples] … will be blessed through you. Divine Benevolence to Israel Israel’s Responsibility Blessing to Israel Blessing to Others through Israel “Abraham’s World” “Israel’s World”

15. Imperialism Davidic Kingship Jerusalem Temple Exile - Hope Events in Narratives Four Parts of Chronicles (9.4) OT Epochal Shifts (10.17) Original Meaning Intervening Covenant Stage Covenant with Moses Covenant with David Early Nationalism Exodus Conquest Law Patriarchal Prelude Election Promises Covenants from Adam to Abraham

16. Shifts in Davidic Covenant (10.18) Divine Benevolence in Exodus, Conquest and Law Israel’s Responsibility in Exodus, Conquest and Law Blessing to Israel in Exodus, Conquest and Law Blessing to Others through Israel in Exodus, Conquest and Law Covenant with David Divine Benevolence in Kingship, Temple Exile - Hope Israel’s Responsibility in Kingship, Temple Exile - Hope Blessing to Israel in Kingship, Temple Exile - Hope Blessing to Others through Israel in Kingship, Temple Exile - Hope “Israel’s World”

17. Climactic Eschatological Stages of Kingdom Events in Narratives Four Parts of Chronicles (9.4) NT Epochal Shifts (10.19) Covenant with Christ Original Meaning Intervening Covenant Stages Modern Application Covenant with Moses Covenants from Adam to Abraham Covenant with David Imperialism Davidic Kingship Jerusalem Temple Exile - Hope Early Nationalism Exodus Conquest Law Patriarchal Prelude Election Promises

18. Shifts in Christ’s Covenant (10.20) Divine Benevolence in Exodus, Conquest and Law Israel’s Responsibility in Exodus, Conquest and Law Blessing to Israel in Exodus, Conquest and Law Blessing to Others through Israel in Exodus, Conquest and Law Covenant with Christ Divine Benevolence in Christ (ICC) Israel’s Responsibility in Christ (ICC) Blessing to Israel in Christ (ICC) Blessing to Others through Israel in Christ (ICC) Covenant with David Divine Benevolence in Kingship, Temple Exile - Hope Israel’s Responsibility in Kingship, Temple Exile - Hope Blessing to Israel in Kingship, Temple Exile - Hope Blessing to Others through Israel in Kingship, Temple Exile - Hope “Israel’s World”