2. Yahwistic Stories in Genesis1 Yahwistic (J) Stories in Genesis Craig Ho, HKBU

3. Yahwistic Stories in Genesis2 Yahwistic (J) Stories in Genesis Lecture objectives: 1. To survey all the stories in Genesis written by the Yahwist 2. To discover the major literary characteristics about these stories.

4. Yahwistic Stories in Genesis3 The J Stories in Genesis 1. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (2:4-3:24) 2. Cain and Abel - the first murder case (4:1-25) 3. Yahwistic supplements in the flood Story in 6:1-9:17 4. Noah’s curse of his grandson Canaan (9:20 - 27) 5. The tower of Babel (11:1-9) 6. Beginning of Abraham’s story (12:1-17) 7. Abraham and Lot separated (13:1-14) 8. Yahweh’s promise to Abraham (15:1-17) 9. Sarai expelled pregnant Hagar (16:1-16) 10. Yahweh appeared to Abraham and Sarah in the form of three angels (18:1-15)

5. Yahwistic Stories in Genesis4... 11. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (19:16-28) 12. Yahwistic supplement to Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac in 22:1-19. 13. Abraham finds a wife for Isaac (24:1-62). 13. The problem of the beautiful wife (26:1-33) 14. Rebekah and Jacob cheated Isaac (27:1-45) 15. Yahweh’s appearance to Jacob (28:13-20) 16. Jacob deceived Laban (30:25-31:3) 17. Shechem’s rape of Dinah (34:1-31) 18. The affair between Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar (38:1-30) 19. Joseph seduced by the wife of his master (39:1-23)

6. Yahwistic Stories in Genesis5 Motifs Common in many of the J stories 1. ‘Motif’ defined. 2. Sexual offences a. Adam and Eve – sexual knowledge? (2-3) b. Sons of God and daughters of men (6:1-4) c. Noah’s son Ham (9:20-29) d. Pharaoh and Sarah (12) e. Sodom and Gomorrah (19) f. Lot and his two daughters (19: 30-38) g. The rape of Dinah (34) h. Ruben and Bilhah, Jacob’s concubine (35:22) i. Judah and Tamar (38) j. Wife of Joseph’s master (39)

7. Yahwistic Stories in Genesis6 Common motifs in J: 3. Competition between brothers / sisters / wives. a. Cain and Abel b. Abraham and Lot c. Sarai and Hagar d. Jacob and Esau e. Rachel and Leah f. Joseph and his brothers 4. Deception a. The snake b. Abraham

8. Yahwistic Stories in Genesis7 Common motifs in J c. Isaac d. Jacob and his mother Rebekah e. Laban f. Tamar 5. Younger brother / sister favoured a. Abel b. Jacob c. Rachel d. Joseph

9. Yahwistic Stories in Genesis8 Literary characteristics of J 1. The use of the word “curse” Gen 3:14 cursed are you above all cattle, Gen 3:17 cursed is the ground because of you; Gen 4:11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth Gen 5:29 cursed this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the toil Gen 8:21 heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the Gen 9:25 "Cursed be Canaan; Gen 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; Gen 27:12 bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing." Gen 27:13 His mother said to him, "Upon me be your curse, my son; only obey Gen 27:29 Cursed be every one who curses you, Gen 49:7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; & Number of matches: 13

10. Yahwistic Stories in Genesis9 Literary characteristics of J 2. Probably a supplementary layer on top of an older text - P. 3. Frequent interaction between God / his angels and humans: Gen. 18 – three angels visit Abraham and Sarah; Gen. 19 – two angels visit Lot; Gen. 22 – an angel stops Abraham from harming Isaac. 4. Special concern with sexual offences. 5. J supplements are more pessimistic and read like anticlimactic additions to P’s optimistic stories.