REL 252: Study Guide 9

Harris: ch. 7

Gen 12–50

What in God's name is going on in Gen 15.1–8 with God's name? Pay attention to the capitalized letters. Cf. Gen 4.26 & Ex 6.1–3.

In what ways is God portrayed in Gen so far? In what ways are the interaction & relationship between God & human beings portrayed?

Why would deeply religiously people preserve traditions about their ancestors like Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob that show them lying, cheating, deceiving, stealing to advance their interests? What do these narratives say about God?

In Gen 37.18–36 can you follow the story line (who did what, when, with or to whom, etc.)? See if you can discern J & E (tip: note the "double" characters or puzzling repetitions in the text; also who sold Joseph to whom where?; pay attention to the plural pronouns, e.g., "they").

In Gen 22.1–19 note its literary features. As always with all biblical texts answer the Qs on the 'exegesis guidelines' Web page. What is (are) the meaning(s) of the narrative?

What do you make of the strange absence of God in Gen 37–50? What is the point of such a long narrative with a virtual absence of God?

In Gen 37.18–36 can you follow the story line (who did what, when, with or to whom, etc.)? See if you can discern J & E (tip: note the "double" characters or puzzling repetitions in the text; also who sold Joseph to whom where?; pay attention to the plural pronouns, e.g., "they").

Does Gen 38 make sense to you? When is it right for a woman to seduce her father-in-law by pretending to be a prostitute, and then become pregnant with his child? What is the point of the story?

Can you point out moral practices in Gen of which we would disapprove today?