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Genesis:
Questions to Consider |
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Genesis: Questions to Consider
Harris. "The Torah" (63-94).
1. What does Torah (or the Pentateuch) mean, and
what is its relationship to Tanak in the Jewish
scriptures?
2. What, according to Harris, is the "heart" of
the Torah?
3. What is the Mosaic Covenant? The Abrahamic
Covenant?
4. What is the "documentary hypothesis" and what
does it explain? (See p, 66 for a table of the
four principal sources of the Pentateuch.)
5. In your notebook, characterize briefly each
of the four principal sources (see Harris,
66 - 71).
6. How does the documentary hypothesis
illuminate the story of Noah's Ark in
particular?
7. In your notebook, briefly characterize the
Priestly and Yahwist versions of Creation--or,
if you prefer, the different emphases of Genesis
1 and 2.
Covenant People: Patriarchs and Matriarchs
1. What perspective does Hebrews 11.1 - 22 give
you on the story of the Patriarchs and
Matriarchs of Genesis? Why does the pilgrimage
to God seem to require exile from the cities of
the earth?
2. In your notebook, write a page on how
Kierkegaard's meditation in Fear and Trembling
changes or illuminates your reading of Genesis
22.
3. What do you learn from Harris about the world
in which Abraham and his descendents lived?
Where was he born; where did he wander? (Refer,
too, to the two historical sheets in your
syllabus, adapted from those used by Dr. Marilyn
Gottschal.)
4. Consider the "cast of characters" in this
family saga: Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Isaac,
Ishmael; Isaac and Rebeccah, Jacob, Esau, and
Laban; Rachel and Leah; Joseph and his brothers.
Make sure you'd be able to write a brief
"profile" of each.
Genesis 12 - 23: Abraham and Sarah
*Genesis 12.1 - 4 -- Abram's "calling out."
1. What does God ask Abram to do--and promise to
Abram in return? What is the context of this
promise?
2. In your notebook, briefly summarize the rest
of the chapter. What are some of the qualities
you see in Abram and Sarai as characters?
Genesis 13.14 - 16
Here God reiterates and sharpens his promise to
Abram. What is the context of this second
promise? What has Abram just done? (Notice,
again, the theme of dividing and twinning seen
as early as Genesis 4.)
Genesis 14.17 - 20 -- A strange interlude.
What do you make of Abram's strange encounter
with Melchizedek, King of Salem? (Take a look at
Hebrews 5-6 for a New Testament, allegorical
reading of this episode.)
*Genesis 15 - 16
1. Notice that God's third reiteration of his
promise to Abram takes place in the context of a
vision. Briefly summarize the chapter--then
notice what happens in Genesis 16. What is the
significance, in your view, of the juxtaposition
of these chapters?
Genesis 17-- A Covenant Renewed.
1. What is different in this fourth iteration of
Yahweh's promise to Abram?
2. Why does Yahweh change Abram and Sarai's
names? (Notice the change in Jacob's name
later.)
3. What is the significance of the new ritual of
circumcision?
*Genesis 18.1 - 15 -- Kairos in chronos: The
epiphany at Mamre.
As you read this chapter, carefully note the
wealth of descriptive detail and deft
psychological touches.
1. Briefly summarize the visitation of the men,
Abraham's response and actions, and the business
of their visit? What, in retrospect, becomes
funny about Sarah's laughter here?
2. What is the topic of conversation during the
rest of the chapter, as Abraham walks the angels
toward Sodom? What do you make of his discussion
with the Lord in this passage (verses 17 - 23)?
Genesis 19 -- the Destruction of Sodom.
1. This story is one of the most compelling in
the entire Bible from the standpoint of feminist
scholarship. Try writing this story from the
standpoint of Lot's daughters.
2. Who turns into a pillar of salt? Why? What
could be the moral and spiritual significance of
this strange event?
3. How do Lot's daughters keep their family's
line from dying out? What view does the narrator
seem to take of their action?
*Genesis 21-- Isaac vs. Ishmael, Sarah vs. Hagar.
Notice how this story is one both of fulfillment
(comic) and separation (tragic).
1. What is the meaning and significance of
Isaac's name?
2. What is the immediate "fall-out" from his
birth?
3. What do you think is the significance of
Yahweh's provision for Hagar?
*Genesis 22-- Fear and Trembling.
Ponder and meditate on this chapter--then
consider, why does Kierkegaard call Abraham the
hero of faith? What does that mean?
Genesis 23 -- Epilogue
1. What is the first and only piece of the
Promised Land that Abraham manages to own?
2. What is the significance of this deferral of
satisfaction?
Genesis 24 - 35: Jacob and Esau
Genesis 24 -- the Idyll of Jacob and Rebeccah
(pastoral)
*Genesis 25.19 - 34 and 27.1 - 28.9
For a New Testament gloss on this story, read
Romans 9.10 - 13.
1. What is Paul's moral and spiritual
interpretation of this tragic story of two
brothers?
2. What is the significance of the incident of
the lentil stew (or, King James, "mess of
potage")?
3. What are we to make of a "hero of faith" who
steals his brother's blessing? What moral sense
do you make of this story? What spiritual sense?
*Genesis 28.10 - 22 -- Jacob's Ladder.
Also read Levertov's poem.
1. What is the context of Jacob's dream?
2. What do you think it means?
Genesis 29 - 31 -- Jacob with Laban; the story of
Rachel and Leah.
1. How does this story of two sisters parallel
the story of Jacob and Esau?
2. How does Rachel show herself a "help meet"
for Jacob? (See especially 31.19 and 31.33 - 35.)
3. How is the dispute between Laban and Jacob
finally settled? (See 31.43 - 55.)
*Genesis 32 -- Jacob wrestles with a Man.
Also read Hopkins' poem.
1. What is the context of Jacob's encounter with
"a man"? Do the events that precede and follow
it have any significance?
2. What do you make of it? Have you ever had a
version of this experience? What would you call
it?
Genesis 33 -- the reconciliation of Jacob and Esau
1. To whose credit does this reconciliation
belong, do you think?
2. What is Jacob's view?
3. What moral sense to do you make of this
ending? What spiritual sense?
Genesis 34 -- the Rape of Dinah
1. What does this story tell you about
patriarchy in the eighteenth century B.C.E.?
2, In your journal, try to write what Dinah
might write about the event.
3. Could such an event occur today? Where?
Genesis 35 -- the birth of Benjamin and the death
of Rachel.
And notice, tragically, that Esau's line becomes
a parenthesis in the narrative.
Genesis 37 - 50 -- the Story of Joseph
Genesis 37 -- the Brothers
1. What is the significance of Joseph's dreams?
2. What is the motive of his brothers in their
crime? Familiar?
3. Notice the Ishmaelites in 37.25.
Genesis 38 -- the interlude of Judah and Tamar.
1. What do you learn from this story about the
importance of a family line?
2. What is the narrator's view of Tamar's
action?
Genesis 39 -- Potiphar's wife.
Genesis 40 -- Joseph's dreams in prison.
Genesis 41 -- Pharoah's dreams.
Genesis 42 - 45 -- Joseph's gentle "revenge."
1. What is the significance of the detail we are
given in 43.24 - 31? How would the story be
different without it?
2. What is the trick of the goblet?
3. What is Judah's response to the crisis, and
how does it relate to his behavior earlier in
the story?
4. In chapter 45.4 - 7 Joseph interprets his
brothers' treachery in a new light. How does
this view change the story from a moral
perspective? From a spiritual one?
Genesis 48 - 49 -- Jacob's blessing on his sons and
grandsons.
What is the significance of Jacob's crossed
hands in blessing Manasseh and Ephraim? How is
Yahweh calling out his people? What is the
process?
Genesis 50 -- Joseph's death in Egypt.
What is the importance of the brothers' promise
regarding his bones?
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