1. CREATION NARRATIVES Genesis 1-11

2. Book of Genesis Genesis falls into two parts:
Creation Narratives: Creation, Fall, Noah & the Ark, Babel (chpts. 1-11)‏
Patriarchs & Matriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph (chpts )‏
Creation Narratives (1-11) were less for historical purposes and more for theological purposes.

3. “Who are the people of Israel and how are they related
Main purpose of Creation Narratives is
to answer foundational “life questions”
about the world & humanity from a
Hebrew world perspective.
Primary question:
“Who are the people of Israel
and how are they related
to all other peoples
of the world?”

4. CREATION NARRATIVES
Theme of creation runs throughout Old Testament outside of Genesis (Psalm 104: 1b-8 / Isaiah 43: 1-2a)‏
Other stories in neighboring lands had creation stories similar to Genesis – Enuma Elish, a Babylonian creation epic.
Similarities are the watery chaos, darkness, and the order of creation
(firmament -> land -> sun & moon -> humanity)‏

5. CREATION NARRATIVES Not an eye-witness account (obviously!)
Is “Day” a literal 24-hour days or a way to express some longer period of time?
From Hebrew perspective, this isn’t the important issue. The writer/s of Genesis, aware of other creation stories, desired to express two primary convictions:
that the world came into being by the God of Israel;
that the God of Israel is the only God and Creator of the universe.

6. TWO CREATION STORIES IN GENESIS:
It all begins with God (“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”)
God is in total control (unlike Enuma Elish, where lesser gods waged war).

7. TWO CREATION STORIES IN GENESIS:
Six days of creation:
1 - Day and night (1:1-5)‏
2 – Sky (1:6-8)‏
3 – Seas, land, vegetation (1:9-13)‏
4 – Sun and moon and stars (1:14-19)‏
5 – Water life and birds (1:20-23)‏
6 – Land creatures and humanity (1:24-31)‏
7 – God rested (2:1-3)‏

8. Note repetition of phrase that separates the days:
“And there was evening
and there was morning,
the XXX day.”
“Us” in vs. 26. Why plural? 3 possibilities:
Word for God here (Elohim) is a plural form
Simply the equivalent of “Let’s do it” as if to say, “I will do it;”
God is pictured as a king, addressing a heavenly court or council.

9. 2. GENESIS 2:4b-3:25 Story of Adam & Eve in the Garden
Main interest is not in process of creation but specifically humanity. God is more personalized.
Change from just “God” (Elohim) in Chpt. 1 to “Lord God” (Yahweh Elohim) – suggesting a different oral tradition.
Synopsis:
Creation of Adam and the Garden (2:4b-14)‏
Warning against the tree of knowledge (2:15-17)‏
Creation of Eve (2:18-24)‏

10. THE FALL Garden of Eden (3:1-24)‏
Garden of Eden & story of the apple is primary way Israel understood existence of evil in the world.
A way that Israel looked backwards to explain a current situation.
Eve often maligned as being the one “at fault.” However, both were at fault and were just as gullible to temptation.
What was their sin?
Trying to be like God.

11. THE FALL Cain and Abel (4:1-26)‏
Cain kills Abel out of jealousy. What was he jealous about? Genesis 4:1-7.
What was his sin?
Jealousy and selfishness
These two “Fall” stories helped Israelites understand the origins & presence of evil in the world.
Stories “explain” existence of sin in the world more than describing how it started.

12. NOAH AND THE FLOOD Other flood traditions:
Gilgamesh Epic – a great flood in Mesopotamia from the Babylonians.
Atrahasis Epic – also in Mesopotamia from the Babylonians.
Biblical flood story (Gen. 5:32-9:19). Used to make some very important theological assertions for God’s people:
God’s judgment on sin;
God’s desire to preserve what was begun in Creation;
God’s promise to reach out to humankind in covenant (the rainbow).

13. NOAH AND THE FLOOD
What caused God to bring the flood – what was the greatest of their sin? Corruption that arises from people’s abuse of the created order.
The Flood leads to Covenant that God makes with Noah and his descendants. (Genesis 8:20-22; 9:8-17).
Covenant is initiated by God, not Noah. God is always the initiator of covenants in the Biblical story.
No more floods from God – a sign of divine mercy.

14. TOWER OF BABEL Last Creation Narrative in Genesis
Very first verse – states that everyone spoke the same language. Key as story unfolds.
Genesis 11:4 – what was their sin?
Trying to be like God – “a tower with its top in the heavens.”
Genesis 11:7 – God confuses their speech so they can’t communicate to keep building. Doesn’t destroy – promise after the flood.

15. IN CONCLUSION: What “life questions” do each of the Creation Narratives seek to address for the Hebrews?
1st Creation story –
How our world came to be
2nd Creation story –
Existence of evil
Noah & the Flood –
God’s unending promise to God’s people (covenant)‏
Tower of Babel –
Existence of other
languages & nationalities

16. IN CONCLUSION: What “life lessons” do each of the Creation Narratives seek to teach the Hebrews?
1st Creation story –
Our command to care for God’s creation
2nd Creation story –
Honor God’s commandments
Noah & the Flood –
Bad things happen when we don’t care for God’s creation
Tower of Babel –
Bad things happen when we try to
“play god.” Work through our differences.

17. PATRIARCHS & MATRIARCHS – Genesis 12-50

18. Gen. 1-11 is a broad sweeping view of history. Gen
Gen is a broad sweeping view of history. Gen concentrates on a particular people – the Hebrews.
Dominated by four “patriarchs” & “matriarchs”:
Abraham Sarah & Hagar
Isaac Rebekah
Jacob - Rachel
Joseph
Literary structure:
12:1-25:11 – Stories of Abram/Abraham
25:19-35:29 – Stories of Jacob, son of Isaac
37:2-50:26 – Stories of Joseph

19. “Kingdom of David” video – Abraham
om-david-saga-israelites/
7:04-13:40

20. ABRAM/ABRAHAM & SARAI/SARAH
Original name was “Abram,” & wife “Sarai”
God made a covenant with Abram.
Covenant – “the practice of entering into a personal relationship with the deity.” (Anderson, 41)‏
Always initiated by the deity
Deity makes demands of the individual/people
Deity also makes promises to the same individual/people
A two-way street

21. Two examples of God’s covenant with Abram/Abraham
Genesis 15: 1-21
Vss. 1-6 – The promise of a child & many descendants
Vss. 7-11; – the promise of land
Vss – the promise of a troubled future for his people

22. Two examples of God’s covenant with Abram/Abraham
2. Genesis 17
Vss. 1-8 – God changes Abram’s name to Abraham: “ancestor of a multitude”
Vss – Covenant through circumcision
Vss – Sarai’s name changed to Sarah & the promise of a child to be named Isaac.

23. ISAAC & REBEKAH
Not much about Isaac by himself (most of his “press time” comes as son of Abraham & father of Jacob)‏
Gen. 24: 10ff – Rebekah is chosen to be Isaac’s wife.
Gen 26:1-5, – God’s covenant with Abraham reaffirmed with Isaac.

24. JACOB & RACHEL Jacob was younger son of Isaac. Esau was older son.
Gen 25: – Jacob bought birthright from Esau in exchange for bean soup!
Gen 27: 1-45
Jacob stole blessing from Esau. Pretended to be Esau; put animal hair on his arms & tricked Isaac into blessing the younger son instead.
Blessings in those days carried much weight with them & typically went to the oldest son. Jacob was encouraged by Rebekah, who favored her younger son.

25. Gen 28:10-22 – God’s covenant with Abraham now reaffirmed with Jacob, in spite of his deception.
Gen. 29: 1-35 – Story of Jacob & Leah/Rachel, daughters of Laban. Had to work seven years, & then another seven years, to marry Rachel.
Gen. 32:1-33:20 – Jacob confronts his past & faces Esau. All seems to be forgiven.
The night before, he wrestles a divine being (32:22ff) & has his name changed to “Israel.” Name change is significant – becomes the name of God’s people.

26. JOSEPH
Joseph’s story differs in at least four significant ways from other patriarchs:
Joseph’s story bears resemblances to wisdom stories:
God communicates with Joseph directly; with others it’s through divine messengers or theophanies (a divine manifestation).
Joseph’s background is Egyptian – marries an Egyptian woman.
Joseph’s story is pretty much one single unified story; the others are a collection of various ones.

27. Gen. 37: 1-36 – Joseph & his brothers’ conflict; the brothers feign Joseph’s death & sell him into slavery to get rid of him. What upsets the brothers? How did they stage his death?
Gen. 39:21-41:56 – Joseph, in Egyptian prison for a crime he didn’t commit, makes the best of the situation & begins interpreting dreams to help out his fellow inmates. What was his “crime?” Whose dreams did he interpret?

28. Gen. 41: 1-57 – Word gets back to Pharaoh, who is haunted by dreams
Gen. 41: 1-57 – Word gets back to Pharaoh, who is haunted by dreams. Joseph is brought before Pharaoh & interprets them & is rewarded – placed second in command in empire.
Gen. 42 ff – Scene changes from Joseph in Egypt to his father & brothers back in Canaan. Joseph recognizes them; they don’t recognize him! How does Joseph react? What is his test to see if his brothers have changed? Gen 44 ff.
In 45: 1-4, Joseph reveals himself to them. Important story.

29. Gen. 47 ff – Joseph brings his father & brother to live in Egypt with him
Gen 48 ff – Jacob, soon to die, blesses Joseph’s younger son, just as Jacob was blessed as the younger son.
Gen 50: – Final word: Joseph dies.

30. PATRIARCHS & MATRIARCHS
Abraham Sarah & Hagar
Isaac Rebekah
Jacob Rachel
Joseph