1. Characteristics of Hebrew Narrative
Craig Ho, HKBU
Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives

2. Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives
Lecture objectives
To learn about 8 characteristics of Hebrew narratives based on what we have read in Genesis
Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives

3. Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives
1. Multiple authorship
Many Hebrew stories were first transmitted in oral form and then written down later.
Some of them were modified by later authors by means of insertions, supplementation, or incorporation of parallel accounts
E.g. J parallel accounts (Gen 2-3 // Gen 1[P], Gen 18 // 17 [P], Gen 19 // 6-9 [P])
Two short episodes (Gen 38, 39) have been inserted into the Joseph story (Gen 37-50).
The P flood story was supplemented by the Yahwist (i.e. J).
Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives

4. 2. Contact with Ancient Near East
Biblical authors shared a similar literary with other ANE countries.
E.g. Creation accounts in Psalms 74, 77, and 89. Flood stories in the Epic of Gilgamesh and in Gen 6-9
Polytheistic background in Gen 1:26; 6:1-5 Psalm 82
Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives

5. 3. Respect of older traditions
When newer material was added by subsequent authors / redactors, concern of preserving existing traditions took priority at the cost of not getting complete consistency (e.g. Gen 6-9, 17-18).
Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives

6. 4. Emotions / feelings expressed in actions
Biblical authors rarely describe emotions or feelings of the characters of their stories.
Emotions and feelings are usually indirectly reported through actions instead of using adjectives, e.g. Jacob’s love in first sight of Rachel (Gen 29) or Laban’s interest in wealth (Gen 24)
Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives

7. 5. Repetition as thematic assertion
When something repeats in Hebrew literature, the author is emphasizing what is being said or telling us the main theme of the whole story. E.g. repetitions in Gen 1 => God’s 6 working day => Sabbath
J’s repeated use of the motif of sexual sin (e.g. the sons of God in Gen 6, Pharaoh in 12, Ham in 9, Sodom and Gomorrah in 19, Isaac in the land of the Philistines 26, Shechem’s rape of Dinah in 34, Judah and Tamar in Gen 38, Joseph seduced by the wife of Potiphar in Gen 39)
Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives

8. Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives
6. Religious concern
The Bible is both scriptures and national literature of the Jews.
The Jews tell their experience with God in their literature.
Most stories point us directly or indirect to God and help us to reflect on our own lives.
Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives

9. 7. Symbolic and allegorical
Not all the stories are to be taken literally.
The biblical authors might have been rather sophisticated and were able to use metaphorical languages.
E.g. When “the snake” is taken literally, one would have problem – what kind of language does it use when talking with Eve. “40 days” (Gen 6-9) may also be symbolic.
Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives

10. 8. Revelation in traditions
Jews and Christians take the Bible seriously and understand it to be God’s revelation.
Revelation is usually understood very individualistically: God inspired biblical authors.
Rather we should also understand it as corporally or collectively: anonymous authors share their understanding of God and human problems down the centuries.
Characteristics of Hebrew Narratives