Big Ideas Simply Explained - The Bible Book

BITBHELE BOOK



BITBHELE BOOK

DK LONDON ASSISTANT ART EDITORS INDEXER Monam Nishat, Simran Saini Marie Lorimer PROJECT EDITOR PROOFREADER Sam Kennedy ILLUSTRATORS Marion Dent Arun Pottirayil, Mohd Zishan ADDITIONAL TEXT SENIOR ART EDITOR Autumn Green, Jeremy Harwood, Gillian Andrews JACKET DESIGNER Vicky Hales-Dutton SENIOR EDITOR Suhita Dharamjit original styling by Victoria Heyworth-Dunne JACKETS EDITORIAL COORDINATOR ILLUSTRATIONS Priyanka Sharma STUDIO 8 James Graham JACKET EDITOR SENIOR DTP DESIGNERS First American Edition, 2018 Claire Gell Shanker Prasad, Harish Aggarwal Published in the United States by DK Publishing 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 SENIOR JACKET DESIGNER DTP DESIGNER Mark Cavanagh Nand Kishor Acharya Copyright © 2018 Dorling Kindersley Limited JACKET DESIGN PICTURE RESEARCHER DK, a Division of Penguin Random House LLC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Aditya Katyal 18 19 20 21 22 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Sophia MTT MANAGING JACKETS EDITOR 001–305929–Feb/2018 All rights reserved. PRODUCER, PRE-PRODUCTION Saloni Singh Gillian Reid PICTURE RESEARCH MANAGER Without limiting the rights under the copyright PRODUCER reserved above, no part of this publication may be Taiyaba Khatoon reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval Mandy Inness PRE-PRODUCTION MANAGER MANAGING EDITOR system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any Balwant Singh means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, Gareth Jones PRODUCTION MANAGER recording, or otherwise), without the prior written SENIOR MANAGING ART EDITOR Pankaj Sharma permission of the copyright owner. Lee Griffiths MANAGING EDITOR Published in Great Britain by ASSOCIATE PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Dorling Kindersley Limited. Kingshuk Ghoshal A catalog record for this book Liz Wheeler SENIOR MANAGING ART EDITOR ART DIRECTOR is available from the Library of Congress. Arunesh Talapatra ISBN: 978-1-4654-6864-2 Karen Self DESIGN DIRECTOR TOUCAN BOOKS DK books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk for sales promotions, Philip Ormerod EDITORIAL DIRECTOR premiums, fund-raising, or educational use. For PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Ellen Dupont details, contact: DK Publishing Special Markets, 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 Jonathan Metcalf SENIOR DESIGNER Thomas Keenes [email protected] DK DELHI SENIOR EDITOR Printed and bound in Hong Kong Dorothy Stannard SENIOR ART EDITOR EDITOR A WORLD OF IDEAS: Ira Sharma Abigail Mitchell SEE ALL THERE IS TO KNOW PROJECT ART EDITORS ADDITIONAL EDITING www.dk.com Vikas Sachdeva, Vikas Chauhan John Andrews, Guy Croton, Larry Porges, ART EDITORS Vicky Richards, Rachel Warren Chadd Sourabh Challariya, Revati Anand EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Michael Clark ASSISTANT EDITOR EDITORIAL INTERN Smita Mathur Zara Mandel

CONTRIBUTORS TAMMI J. SCHNEIDER, PHD, CONSULTANT BENJAMIN PHILLIPS, PHD, CONSULTANT AND CONTRIBUTOR Dr. Tammi J. Schneider is a Professor of Religion at Claremont Graduate University, having received a doctorate Dr. Benjamin Phillips is Associate Dean and Associate in Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania. Her Professor of Systematic Theology at Southwestern Baptist books include: Sarah: Mother of Nations; Judges; Mothers of Theological Seminary’s Houston Campus, where he teaches Promise: Women in the Book of Genesis; and An Introduction courses in Christian doctrine and preaching. He is also to Ancient Mesopotamian Religion. She excavates in Israel. Director of Southwestern’s Darrington Extension, which offers a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies to offenders SHELLEY L. BIRDSONG, PHD in the Texas prison system. Dr. Shelley L. Birdsong is a member of the Religious Studies GUY CROTON faculty at North Central College, Naperville, Illinois. Her interests range from topics such as women in the Bible to Guy Croton is an author and editor who has written, specific text-critical issues in ancient Jeremiah manuscripts. co-written, or edited books and articles on a variety of subjects in a career spanning more than 30 years. A ANDREW KERR-JARRETT Christian Humanist by religious and moral inclination, he studied theology and biblical history as part of his Andrew Kerr-Jarrett read English at Trinity College, degree at the University of Sussex. Cambridge. He is a writer and editor of more than 25 years’ standing. He facilitates seminars and workshops NICHOLAUS PUMPHREY, PHD at the Mount Street Jesuit Centre in London, UK. Dr. Nicholaus Pumphrey is the Assistant Professor of Religious REV. DR. ANDREW STOBART Studies and Curator of the Quayle Bible Collection at Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas. He specializes in Biblical Rev. Dr. Andrew Stobart is a Methodist Minister in Studies, Ancient Near Eastern history and literature, and Darlington, UK, and commissioning editor of Holiness, Islamic Studies. He is currently a senior staff member on an online theological journal published by Wesley House, the Tel Akko Total Archaeology Project in Akko, Israel. Cambridge. He studied theology at the London School of Theology, Aberdeen University, and Durham University, and has contributed to a number of reference works, including DK’s The Illustrated Bible and The Religions Book.

6 CONTENTS 10 INTRODUCTION 42 Come, let us build 72 When you enter the ourselves a city, with land that the Lord GENESIS a tower that reaches will give you as He to the heavens promised, observe GENESIS 1:1–50:26 The Tower of Babel this ceremony The Passover 20 And God said, “Let 44 I will make of you there be light” a great nation 74 Stretch out your hand Creation Covenants over the sea to divide the water 26 Let us make man in our 48 For the sake of ten men The Exodus image, in our likeness I will not destroy it The Garden of Eden Sodom and Gomorrah 78 You shall not murder The Ten Commandments 30 They realized that 50 Now I know that they were naked you fear God 84 They have made for The Fall The Testing of Abraham themselves a golden calf and have worshipped it 36 Am I my brother’s 54 May nations serve you The Golden Calf keeper? and peoples bow down Cain and Abel to you 86 The place will be Esau and Jacob consecrated by my glory 38 At that time people The Ark and the Tabernacle began to call on the 56 Your name will no name of the Lord longer be Jacob 88 It does flow with The Origin of Prayer Jacob Wrestles with God milk and honey The Twelve Spies 40 Only Noah was left, 58 We will see what will and those who were become of his dreams 89 The Lord opened with him in the ark Joseph the Dreamer the donkey’s mouth The Flood Balaam’s Donkey EXODUS TO DEUTERONOMY 90 There is no other Only One God DEXEOUDTUERSO1N:1O–MY 34:12 THE HISTORICAL 66 Though the bush was on BOOKS fire it did not burn up Moses and the Burning Bush 1:1 JOSHUA–ESTHER 10:3 70 All the water was 96 Take up the Ark of changed into blood the Covenant The Ten Plagues Entering the Promised Land

7 98 None went out, and 132 I will go to the king … 154 Surely he took up our none came in if I perish, I perish infirmities and carried The Fall of Jericho Queen Esther our sorrows The Suffering Servant 100 Has not the Lord gone 133 Hear us, our God, for ahead of you? we are despised 156 Before I formed you in Gideon and the Judges Rebuilding Jerusalem the womb I knew you The Prophet Jeremiah 104 The spirit of the Lord WISDOM AND came upon him PROPHETS 160 My heart is poured Samson out on the ground JOB 1:1–MALACHI 4:6 Lament for the Exiles 108 Your people shall be my people and your 138 The Lord is my shepherd, 162 I will remove … your God my God I lack nothing heart of stone and give Ruth and Naomi The Psalms you a heart of flesh The Prophet Ezekiel 110 Speak, for your 144 From everlasting to servant is listening everlasting you are God 164 My God sent His angel, The Prophet Samuel The Nature of God and He shut the mouths of the lions 116 There was no sword 146 Have you considered Daniel in Babylon in the hand of David my servant Job? There David and Goliath is no one on Earth 166 Jonah was in the belly like him of the fish three days 118 The man who did The Suffering of Job and three nights this must die The Disobedient Prophet David and Bathsheba 148 Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord 168 And what does the 120 Cut the living child in Proverbs Lord require of you? two, and give half to one The Prophet Micah and half to the other 152 I am my beloved’s … The Wisdom of Solomon my beloved is mine 172 The remnant of Israel Song of Songs will trust in the name 124 I have directed the of the Lord ravens to feed you there Call for Repentance A Prophet in Hiding 173 Surely the day is 125 Go and present yourself coming; it will burn to Ahab, and I will send like a furnace rain on the land The Day of Judgment Elijah and the Prophets of Baal THE GOSPELS 126 Let me inherit a double MATTHEW 1:1–JOHN 21:25 portion of your spirit The Chariot of Fire 178 And behold, you will conceive in your womb 128 So Judah went into and bear a son captivity, away from The Annunciation her land The Fall of Jerusalem

8 180 A savior has been born 200 “Follow me,” Jesus 228 And taking the five to you; He is the Messiah said, “… I will send you loaves, and the two fish, The Birth of Jesus out to fish for people” he looked up to heaven The Calling of the Disciples Feeding the 5,000 186 They … presented Him with gifts of gold, 204 Love your enemies, 232 Take courage! It is I. frankincense, and myrrh and pray for those Don’t be afraid The Magi who persecute you Jesus Walks on Water Sermon on the Mount 187 He gave orders to kill all 234 His face shone like the the boys in Bethlehem 210 Do to others as you sun, and His clothes Herod’s Infanticide would have them became as white as light do to you The Transfiguration 188 Didn’t you know I The Golden Rule had to be in my 236 For God so loved the Father’s house? 212 This, then, is how world, that He gave His A Child in the Temple you should pray one and only Son The Lord’s Prayer The Nature of Faith 189 Prepare the way for the Lord 214 Whoever has ears, 242 For the Son of Man came The Coming of Salvation let them hear to seek and to save the lost Parables of Jesus Jesus Embraces a 190 The Word became flesh Tax Collector and made His dwelling 216 When he saw him, among us he took pity on him 244 He scattered the coins of The Divinity of Jesus The Good Samaritan the money changers and overturned their tables 194 This is my Son, whom 218 This brother of yours Cleansing the Temple I love; with Him I am was dead … he was well pleased lost and is found 246 She has done a beautiful The Baptism of Jesus The Prodigal Son thing to me Jesus Anointed at Bethany 198 Jesus said to him, 222 From whom do the “Away from me, Satan!” kings of the earth 248 This is my body, which The Temptations of Christ collect duty and taxes? is given for you The Temple Tax The Last Supper 223 So the last will be first, 254 The hour has come, and and the first will be last The Son of Man is delivered Workers in the Vineyard into the hands of sinners Betrayal in the Garden 224 My name is Legion, for we are many Demons and the Herd of Pigs 226 The man who had died came out The Raising of Lazarus

9 256 I don’t know this man 302 Put on the full armor you’re talking about of God Peter’s Denial Armor of God 258 Surely this Man was 304 I want to know Christ the Son of God The Power of the Resurrection The Crucifixion 306 And He is the head of 266 Remember me when you the body, the church come into your kingdom The Body of Christ The Repentant Thief 308 Scripture is God-breathed 268 Blessed are those who The Bible as God’s word have not seen and yet have believed 292 He purified their 312 Know that the testing The Empty Tomb hearts by faith of your faith produces The Council of Jerusalem perseverance 272 Were not our hearts Faith and Works burning within us 294 I admit that I worship while He talked with the God of our ancestors 314 Just as He who called us on the road? as a follower of the Way you is holy, so be holy Road to Emmaus Paul’s Arrest in all you do Holiness 274 Go and make disciples 296 Love is patient, love of all nations is kind. It does not envy, 316 The dead were judged The Great Commission it does not boast, it is according to what they not proud had done ACTS, EPISTLES, The Way of Love The Final Judgment AND REVELATION 322 There will be no more ACTS 1:1– death or mourning REVELATION 22:21 The New Jerusalem 282 Everyone was filled 298 The grace of the Lord 330 DIRECTORY with awe at the many Jesus Christ and the love 340 GLOSSARY wonders and signs of God and the fellowship The Day of Pentecost of the Holy Spirit The Holy Trinity 284 In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk 300 But the fruit of the spirit 344 INDEX The Healing of the Beggar is love, joy, peace, 352 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS forbearance, and kindness 288 He told him the good Fruits of the Spirit news about Jesus The Word Spreads 301 For it is by grace you have been saved, through 290 I am Jesus, whom you faith … not by works are persecuting Salvation through Faith The Road to Damascus

INTRODU

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12 INTRODUCTION T he Bible is the world’s word of the Lord.” By the 1st and translations of the Hebrew most famous book and a century BCE, most Jews had come Bible. This process continues keystone text of Western to recognize the 39 books of the among scholars today, who collect civilization. It has been translated Hebrew Bible, written in Hebrew and compare newly discovered into more languages than any other and Aramaic, as God’s written copies of biblical texts in order text in history, and it remains the word—the scriptures (from to establish a “critical text” from most prolifically published book scriptura, Latin for “writings”). which translations are then made. since the invention of the printing Later, the Christian churches press. Christians worldwide look to of the 1st and 2nd centuries CE The most famous English it as sacred scripture—the written similarly acknowledged the four translation is the Authorized word of God, given by divine Gospels and a range of apostolic Version, also called the King inspiration. It has influenced art, letters, written in Greek, as the James Version, published in 1611. language, music, and literature for word of God, alongside the earlier The Bible Book refers to the New more than 2,000 years: in fact, the Hebrew scriptures. International Version, an English history of Western art cannot be translation from 1978 that aims to fully understood without at least These texts communicate to make the text understandable some knowledge of the Bible. the modern reader through a system to modern readers. of transmission and translation that The Bible’s teachings have began with the ancient Israelites. Book of books also shaped social, economic, and As early as the 3rd century CE, The 66 books of the Bible are political developments, contributing scholars were comparing copies divided into two major sections. to Western civilization’s emphasis The first in the Christian Bible is on the value of the individual rather We did not follow the Old Testament (the Hebrew than the state. It is the subject of cleverly devised stories … scriptures of Judaism, known as academic study by believers and but we were eyewitnesses the Tanakh), comprising 39 books, skeptics, and its words are the which were written for the ancient source of comfort and challenge of His majesty. nation of Israel. It begins with the from pulpits on every continent. 2 Peter 1:16 five books of the Law (the Torah: Genesis to Deuteronomy), and Moved by God proceeds through the Historical The Bible is a collection of 66 Books (Joshua to Esther). Although books, written by some 40 authors, these books are arranged in roughly living on three continents (Africa, chronological order, the writing Asia, and Europe), over 1,400 of the books occurred at various years (c.1200 BCE–c.100 CE). These points along the timeline. For authors understood themselves to example, Psalms was probably be “moved by God” to write “the written quite early, while Isaiah

INTRODUCTION 13 and Amos were contemporaries. Most of the 27 books of the New and even prayers for judgment The third group of books are the Testament were written in the on the wicked. The longest chapter Poetical Books (Job to Song of 1st century CE by Jesus’s apostles, in the Bible is a poem (Psalm 119), in Solomon), followed by the Major although some books, such as which each of the 22 stanzas Prophets (meaning “large books”: Hebrews, are anonymous. They comprises 16 lines beginning with Isaiah to Daniel) and the Minor were written for Christian churches one of the 22 letters of the ancient Prophets (meaning “small books”: and individuals scattered across Hebrew alphabet. The prophetic Hosea to Malachi). These books the eastern half of the Roman books contain parables, historical are considered sacred texts by Empire. The first group of books are accounts, songs, and visions. both Christians and Jews. the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), which present the The Gospels are a unique A small set of books, often life and ministry of Jesus Christ as literary genre, containing speeches, referred to as the Apocrypha (from the fulfillment of the Old Testament sermons, arguments, visions, and the Latin apocryphus, meaning prophecies heralding a savior for miracles, often interpreting events “hidden”) are considered by Roman Israel and the nations. in Jesus’s life as the fulfillment Catholic and Eastern Orthodox of the Old Testament prophecies. Christians to be part of the Old The Book of Acts describes the The letters of the New Testament Testament. These seven books, spread of the message about Jesus contain teaching, encouragement, plus additions to the Books of in the 30 years after His death, and even rebuke. Many use literary Daniel and Esther, were primarily resurrection, and ascension into devices common in Greco-Roman written in Greek from 400–300 BCE. heaven, while the New Testament literature of the 1st century CE ❯❯ They are not regarded as scripture letters, known as “epistles,” are by either Protestant Christians or divided into the Pauline Epistles Man shall not live on Jews, who argue that these books (Romans to Philemon) and the bread alone, but on every deny that there was any prophetic General Epistles (Hebrews to Jude). word from God (the characteristic The final New Testament text is word that comes from of scripture) during the period in the Book of Revelation. the mouth of God. which they were written. Matthew 4:4 Literary genres The New Testament comprises There are many different types the Christian scriptures, 27 books of literature in the 66 books of that are accepted by all Christian the Bible. Historical accounts, denominations as the complete genealogies, and legal texts list of New Testament books. The comprise most of the Law and title “New Testament” arises from Historical books of the Old the prophecy of a new covenant Testament. The Poetical books (“testament”) that God would give contain proverbs, laments, praises, to His people (Jeremiah 31:31–34).

14 INTRODUCTION such as lists of vices and virtues, the prophecy in Genesis (3:17) of believe these covenants converge household codes (instructions about one who will “crush the head of the in the life of Jesus, who claimed family relationships), and topical serpent” and lift the curse of God’s that “[the Scriptures] speak of Me” treatments of moral questions. judgment on humanity and the (John 5:39) and explained how Finally, the most difficult form Earth. Often, God pursues His Moses and all the prophets pointed of literature in the Bible is the purpose by making covenants with to Him (Luke 24:27). apocalyptic texts. Found in the humankind, such as those made Old Testament books of Daniel and with Abraham, Moses, and David. Human weakness is a recurring Ezekiel, and in the New Testament God promised Abraham that his theme in the Bible. Even the Book of Revelation, these highly descendants would become a great greatest leaders are shown to be symbolic texts describe God’s nation (Israel) and that one particular flawed. Jacob was a manipulative triumph over the wicked and descendant would bless the whole liar, Samson fornicated with vindication of the righteous. world. The Mosaic Covenant, also Delilah, David committed adultery called the Law of Moses, was given with Bathsheba and murdered her Key themes through Moses to the nation of husband to cover it up, and even The Bible begins with the creation Israel, setting the terms of their the prophets Elijah and Jeremiah of the world and humanity. This relationship with God. The covenant wanted to give up their calling. original paradise indicates God’s with David promised that one of God uses the weak to confound intent for humanity—to live in David’s descendants would sit on the strong. He makes a slave nation a rich and joyful relationship the throne of Israel forever. Christians into His Chosen People (Israel), a with God and others, exercising murderer into a liberator (Moses), stewardship over God’s world. Within the covers barren women into mothers (Sarah This goal is challenged, however, of the Bible are all and Hannah), and a shepherd when Adam and Eve disobey God, the answers for all the into a king (David). In the New bringing ruin and decay upon problems men face. Testament, God uses murderers themselves and creation. This “Fall” Ronald Reagan (Paul) and flawed leaders (Peter) introduces the central tension in to spread the teaching of Jesus. the biblical narrative; the holiness of God demands the judgment of Early analysis sinful humanity, yet the love of God Traditionally, Jewish scholars, or calls for the restoration of humanity rabbi, focused on memorization of and the fulfillment of God’s purpose the Hebrew scriptures as well as for creation. The rest of the Bible debates over their interpretation is taken up with resolving this and application to Jewish life. tension, culminating, in the New By contrast, early Christian Testament, with the fulfillment of scholars, mostly pastors, analyzed the way in which the scriptures

INTRODUCTION 15 spoke of Christ. Many tools used while the Father, Son, and Holy skepticism and the scientific by these scholars are still popular Spirit are each fully God, yet also method, use historical evidence to today. They included examinations distinct. The 200-year debate, inform their theology, and in order of grammar and analysis of word which took account of the full range to develop conclusions as to the choice, such as the links between of biblical statements on these legitimacy of biblical scripture. the words “Passover” and “passion.” points, without undercutting any, Those who possess a naturalistic Some, such as Clement (c.150–215 eventually led to the Christian worldview (insisting that things CE) and Augustine (354–430 CE), doctrine of the Trinity. are the result of natural causes) adapted pagan philosophy to aid generally reject claims of divine their reading of scripture. Modern perspectives intervention in history. As a result, Modern-day biblical scholars utilize skeptical modern scholarship Christian scholars tended to see many of the same tools as their often employs an archaeological difficulties and differences within ancient counterparts, analyzing, for approach to the Bible, in which scripture as fruitful sources of example, the range of meaning in perceived errors must first be knowledge for those with enough agape (love) across the Bible and sorted through in order to expose faith to ponder them deeply. In contemporary Greek literature. underlying truths. the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE, such Some scholars affirm the ancient scholars struggled to understand Christian conclusions about Lay study how there could be only one God, scripture, while others operate with Study of the Bible is not the sole a skeptical mindset and rely on domain of scholars and clerics, The Bible has been external confirmation—physical but their work can enlighten the the Magna Carta of the evidence or historical records— understanding of the average before accepting biblical accounts reader. Today, a number of readable poor and oppressed. of events. For example, some Bible translations place the sacred The human race is not scholars rejected the biblical books of Judaism and Christianity account of David as the founder into the hands of any interested in a position to of a royal dynasty until the reader. While certain books are dispense with it. discovery of the Tel Dan stele in more difficult to read than others, Thomas Huxley northern Israel in 1993–1994. This and history and the Gospels are battle monument, raised about more engaging than the lineages 200 years after David would have and law codes, those who lived, tells of an Aramean king read carefully can find wisdom, celebrating a victory over “the inspiration, and hope in its pages. house of David.” In cases such The Bible Book is intended to help as this, some Christian scholars, readers to understand more of this through their employment of most significant of books. ■

GENESIS



18 INTRODUCTION Over the course Adam and Eve eat God floods the earth, God makes a of six days, God the forbidden leaving only the covenant with creates the world, fruit and God and then rests expels them patriarch Noah and Abraham to on the seventh. from Eden. those with him on his worship only Him and no other God. Ark to survive. 1:1–2:1 3:6–24 7:11–9:17 15:18–21 2:7–22 4:8 11:1–9 19:28–29 God creates Adam Cain kills his God destroys the Sodom and and Eve, the first brother Abel in Tower of Babel Gomorrah are man and woman, the first example and scatters its destroyed by God who live in the because the people Garden of Eden. of murder in people around the Bible. the world. are sinners. G enesis (Beresht in Hebrew) story of Joseph as a third section. in Deuteronomy, a belief still held by means the origin of The primeval period is concerned traditionalists. However, in the 17th everything. For Jews, with creation, disobedience (the century, Protestant reformers began Genesis is the first of the five books Fall, Cain and Abel), uncreation to doubt the Mosaic authorship. In of the Torah (the Pentateuch in and punishment (the Flood, Tower 1878, the German biblical scholar Greek) that open the Hebrew Bible. of Babel), and recreation. In the Julius Wellhausen published his It not only relates the origin of patriarchal period, God chooses theory that the Torah was written humankind but also how the Jews’ two descendants of Noah— by four authors, whom he labeled ancestors, the Israelites, were Abraham and Sarah—to travel to J, E, P, and D—J for the Jahwist chosen by God to be monotheists. the Promised Land and “be fruitful who used the name YHWH for God; For Christians, the origin story of and multiply.” The narratives then E for the author who used Elohim; Genesis is the first in a pair of follow the exploits of their offspring, P for the Priestly class who wrote bookends, the second of these especially of Abraham’s grandson about genealogies and rituals being Revelation, the last book Jacob, whose sons found the 12 and created the structure for the of the Bible, which describes tribes of Israel. In the final story, narratives of J and E; and D for the the apocalypse. Jacob’s son Joseph brings the author of Deuteronomy. family to Egypt, preparing the Themes and authors ground for the transition to the Many scholars see repetitions Genesis divides into two sections, Book of Exodus. and contradictions in Genesis as the first concerning the primeval a sign of this composite authorship. period, and the second the According to Jewish and Genesis 1 and 2, for example, tell historical, or patriarchal, period, Christian traditions, Moses, different creation stories, with God although some scholars view the inspired by God, penned the creating humans at separate points entire Torah, including his death in the narrative. Abraham tells two

God tests Abraham Jacob tricks his Joseph is sold into GENESIS 19 by asking him to aging father, Isaac, slavery by his sacrifice Isaac, into blessing him Reunited with Joseph, his son. Abraham brothers, who are Jacob dies after proves his loyalty. by pretending to jealous that he is his be Esau. giving his blessing father’s favorite. to each of his 12 sons. 22:1–14 27:1–29 37:12–28 49:29–33 25:33 32:24–32 41:40 50:22–26 Esau sells his Jacob wrestles Pharaoh appoints Joseph dies in birthright to his with God at Joseph as his second Egypt, requesting brother Jacob in his family take his exchange for food. Peniel, after which in command after bones with them he is given a new Joseph interprets when they leave. name: Israel. his dreams. different kings that Sarah is his (c.900 BCE), with the “J” author to nonscholarly readers of the Bible, sister, not his wife (Genesis 12 compiling stories from Judah and perhaps, is the tension between and 20), and Jacob is renamed the “E” author compiling stories Genesis and science. Translation Israel twice (Genesis 32 and 35). from the northern tribes, creating of Gilgamesh, the Babylonian The acceptance of these multiple political narratives to unite the creation story, in 1872 revealed a truths is a fundamental aspect of divided Israelites. flood story similar to the biblical rabbinic Judaism. For Christian one. For some, this confirmed that traditionalists, however, there can Schools of interpretation Genesis was accurate, but for be no contradictions: Genesis 2 is In the 1960s, scholars led by Robert others, it indicated the influence a further explanation of 1; Genesis Alter turned to literary criticism of Babylonian mythology. This 12 and 20 are two separate stories; to unlock Genesis, examining translation came only 13 years after and Jacob’s name is only officially its “final form” in Hebrew. They Darwin published his theory of changed in Genesis 35 after his looked at literary devices, such as evolution in The Origin of Species covenant with God. wordplay (often lost in translation), (1859). In 1925, the Scopes trial to and repetition, and the different determine whether Darwin or Political purpose genres (which might indicate the Genesis should be taught in Wellhausen and other scholars also merging of multiple texts). Tennessee schools pushed the believed the identity of the Genesis issue to the top of US politics. authors could be contextualized In the latter half of the 20th Debate continues in the US today, from theological and political century, scholars shifted criticism as a new wave of creationist implications present in the text. from the text itself to the personal museums seek to demonstrate One theory dates the authors to agendas of its interpreters and that science and Genesis are the reigns of David and Solomon claimed there was no “right” way not necessarily incompatible. ■ to read the Bible. Most interesting

LIGHT”“ALNEDTGTOHDERSEAIBDE, GENESIS 1:3, CREATION



22 CREATION IN BRIEF the relationship between God and of seven days unfold, life springs everything else. With so much into existence. First, God calls out, PASSAGE covered in so few words, it is “Let there be light,” and light Genesis 1:1–2:2 not surprising that the start of appears. Then God makes the sky. THEME Genesis is considered to be one On the third day, God calls the The creation of the of the Bible’s most eloquent yet water to gather into seas, creating universe difficult passages. dry land, on which plants and trees SETTING flourish. On day four, the sun and Primeval period Inside These opening verses were the moon are put in place, along the Garden of Eden, during the most likely written down sometime with a host of stars. Next, God fills time covered by the first 11 in the 6th century bce, while the the sky with birds, and the seas chapters of Genesis. Israelites were being held in exile with all their creatures. On the KEY FIGURE by Babylon, the most powerful state sixth day, God populates the land God Creator of the universe. in the region. The story provided with all kinds of animals, and a hopeful message about God’s finally creates humanity “in his T he first few words of the purposes for his people and for own image” (1:27). At this point Bible—“In the beginning the entire world. In contrast to the in the story, the pinnacle of God’s God created the heavens Babylonians’ own origin story, creative work, God entrusts creation and the earth”—introduce us to Genesis attributes the existence into humanity’s stewardship. On its central character, God. They of the universe to the goodwill of the seventh day, God rests. also reveal the universal scope one God. It served to reassure the of the Bible’s narrative, from Israelites that even on foreign soil, Rhythms of life the heavens to the Earth, and they were not out of the reach of The story of creation has its own present its overarching theme— God’s care, since God had created structural beauty. Each account all land. God did not stand at a of God’s activity is punctuated with distance, but was intimately “and God said,” “and there was involved in the story of the world. evening and there was morning,” “and God saw that it was good.” A world in seven days This rhythm helps to emphasize Genesis 1:1–2:2 tells a single story three key messages of the creation about the beginning of everything. story. The first of these is that God The origin of the universe starts creates simply by speaking. with darkness and emptiness (1:2). Throughout the rest of the Bible, As God’s actions over the course The Babylonians’ creation story This impression on a Neo-Assyrian Believed to have been written pantheon. After a power cylinder seal used to create imprints down during the Israelites’ struggle between the gods, on wet clay shows the battle captivity in Babylon, Genesis Marduk defeats his rival Tiamat, between Marduk and Tiamat. provides a significant contrast ripping open her body and to the Babylonians’ own creation fashioning the two halves into story known as the Enuma the earth and the skies. Marduk Elish (“When on High”). While then destroys another rival the God of Genesis has a loving and uses his blood to create relationship with humans and humankind to perform the regards them as stewards of His work that the lesser gods have creation, the Babylonian god done until then. Marduk also Marduk enslaves humanity. imposes order on the universe by regulating the moon and the Enuma Elish is essentially an stars and takes control of the explanation for the supremacy of weather and calendar. Marduk in the Babylonian

GENESIS 23 See also: The Garden of Eden 26–29 ■ The Fall 30–35 ■ The Flood 40–41 ■ Entering the Promised Land 96–97 ■ The New Jerusalem 322–29 The heavens declare the Glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 the word of God is understood to God’s act of creation is understood The Creation is one of 117 woodcut be powerful and dynamic, able as the giving of order and purpose illustrations by Lucas Cranach the to pronounce blessing, judgment, to the chaos of “the deep.” Elder in Martin Luther’s Bible of and forgiveness. If God’s word can 1534. It shows a benevolent God speak the whole universe into The third message of the story looking down on his creation, with existence, then God’s word can is that God’s creation is “good,” Adam and Eve at the center of bring hope to exiles in Babylon even “very good” (Genesis 1:31). ❯❯ the Garden of Eden. or provide wise advice for ordinary life. The creation of the world by God’s word stands behind the repeated invitation throughout the Bible to “hear the word of the Lord.” The second message is that, while Genesis speaks about the creation of the physical world and all living things, it is also about creating a rhythm to life. Along with the daily rhythm of night and day, there is a weekly pattern of six days of work followed by one day of rest and a seasonal cycle marked by the creation of sun, moon, and stars. Throughout the Old Testament, these daily, weekly, and yearly rhythms are enshrined in Jewish religious practice, with daily prayer, the weekly rest on the Sabbath, and an annual cycle of religious festivals. While it would later become theological orthodoxy to speak about creation ex nihilo (out of nothing), here in Genesis

24 CREATION Contrary to many ancient creation’s innate goodness means The opening of Genesis is a vision philosophies, which saw the that Judaism and Christianity have of the entire creation. This stands physical world as a cumbersome an earthly character. They expect behind many of the Psalms—songs drag on the human spirit, Jewish the spiritual life to have an impact or hymns—later in the Bible, which and Christian thinking begins on the physical world, whether delight in the beauty and variety with an affirmation of the goodness through the rhythms of worship of the created world, and find of the created world. Despite and prayer, or through acts of that creation is a signpost to humanity’s later departure from service and love that promote the the existence and character of God’s intentions, a belief in original goodness of God’s world. God. It is a concept developed in “natural theology,” which uses the beauty and complexity of the world as proof of God’s existence. Natural theology is sometimes explained using the “watchmaker analogy,” in which the skill that brought a watch into existence is “proof” that a watchmaker exists. Those who have faith see the complexity, order, and purpose of the natural world as an indication that the Earth is no accident, but rather designed and made by God. Modern response This creationist view was challenged in the 19th century, when scientific discoveries led to new theories of the universe’s origins. Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (1859) put forth the theory of evolution, which stood in stark contradiction to the Genesis account of a seven-day creation. For some people, the theory of evolution is a reason to reject not only the Genesis account of creation, but the whole Bible. Among Christians, there is a spectrum of responses to the creation story. Some believe it is absolutely true and a reason for rejecting theories of evolution and geological evidence; others view the biblical account as allegorical rather This illuminated illustration of the Creation is from the Bible of Souvigny, produced in Cluny Abbey, France, in the 12th century. In the Middle Ages, even non-religious books often opened with an image of the Creation.

According to the first book GENESIS 25 of Genesis, God created the world, all that is in the world, The symbolism as well as the entire universe of seven in seven days. In Genesis, the world is Day 1: created in six days, followed Light and Day by a seventh day of rest. This is the origin of the Day 7: Day 2: understanding of the number Rest Sky and Sea seven as a perfect, or complete, number throughout Day 6: Animals Day 3: the rest of the Bible. Seven— and Humans Moon and Stars or its multiples—are used to draw the reader’s attention Day 5: Day 4: to something that is complete, Fish and Birds Plants and Trees in the sense that it is all that God wants it to be. For than literal; a third camp seeks to In the beginning instance, in the Hebrew combine the two by promoting the was the Word, and Bible, God has seven different idea of intelligent design that set the Word was with God, names. In the New Testament the process of evolution in motion. and the Word was (Matthew 18:22), Jesus tells God … Through Him his disciples to forgive Current biblical scholarship all things were made. 70 times seven, meaning also considers the Creation story completely and repeatedly. in the context of the period in John 1:1–3 In the book of Revelation, there which it was written down—during is a series of sevens—seven the exile of the Israelites in Babylon letters, seven lampstands, in the 6th century bce. Faced with seven judgments, seven a threat to their identity by King trumpets—that represents the Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, God’s completeness of God’s plan. people are encouraged by the poetic The seven churches that the affirmation in Genesis that the apostle John addresses at the world is a result of God’s good start of Revelation represent and creative purposes, which will the universal church. ultimately triumph over chaos. ■ The menorah, the candlestick used in Jewish rituals, has seven branches. The design of the lamp was revealed to Moses on the top of Mount Sinai (Exodus 25:31).

26 IN BRIEF ILMOMEUAATRNGULEISNI,KIMOENUNAREKSES PASSAGE Genesis 1:1–2:25 GENESIS 1:26, THE GARDEN OF EDEN THEME Creation of humanity SETTING Primeval period Inside Eden, during the time covered by the first 11 chapters of Genesis. KEY FIGURES Adam The first man, made in God’s image, who is the ruler of all animals and steward of the Earth. Eve The first woman, and companion to Adam. Created by God, either at the same time as Adam or by using one of Adam’s ribs. I n chapter 2 of Genesis, God creates the Garden of Eden, an earthly paradise. We cannot know Eden’s exact location, but scholars have proposed several possibilities, including Mesopotamia (now Iraq), Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Armenia. Genesis 2:8 mentions the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers, which both flow into the Persian Gulf via Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. God creates the garden by bringing streams up from the earth and filling the ground with plants that are “pleasing to the eye and good for food.” There are two trees in the middle of the garden—the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The making of man Genesis depicts the creation of humankind in two separate passages. The first of these (1:27),

See also: The Fall 30–35 ■ Covenants 44–47 ■ Entering the Promised GENESIS 27 Land 96–97 ■ The New Jerusalem 322–29 Paradise believed to have been written in Adam is made in God’s image in the 6th century bce by the Jewish Michelangelo’s God creates Adam According to the Bible, the priestly writer referred to as “P,” (c.1512), one of nine scenes from the Garden of Eden is perfection is cursory. It implies that both book of Genesis painted on the ceiling itself—a place of beauty and sexes are formed at the same time, of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. abundance, free of disease, on the sixth day of creation: “So death, and evil, into which God created mankind in his own Eve until Genesis 3:20, after God sets Adam, the pinnacle image,” “male and female he eating the fruit from the Tree of of His creation. After around created them.” the Knowledge of Good and Evil 500 bce, this wondrous place (see pp. 30–35). becomes synonymous with The second passage, chapter the Hebrew term pardes 2:7, attributed to the oldest source Biblical references to God’s (orchard), stemming from of the Pentateuch (the first five image, in which humankind is the Persian word paridayda books of the Bible), known as made, are contradictory. Some (walled enclosure). Jahwist (or “J”), provides more passages ascribe human features, detail and describes God in such as arms, eyes, hands, and a The concept of paradise is human terms. In this account, beard to God and refer to Him as important within Christianity, God forms the man out of dust “walking in the garden” (3:8). Judaism, and Islam. Even and “breathes into his nostrils Others depict him as a type of as He is dying on the cross, the breath of life.” God goes on angel, sheltering humans “under Jesus says to a thief hanging to create Eve when He sees that his wings.” More significant are the beside him, “Truly, I tell you, it is not good for Adam (Hebrew spiritual attributes shared by God today you will be with me in for man) to be alone. Putting Adam and humankind, which include Paradise” (Luke 23:43). The into a deep sleep, God removes a intellect, the capacity for rational Jewish Talmud (the written rib from his side and creates a thought, morality, free will, version of oral law) associates woman from it (2:21). Seeing that creativity, and compassion. paradise with the Garden of this new being closely resembles Eden, and within Islam, the him, Adam composes a poem: Divine spark concept of jannah or “garden” “This is now bone of my bones and Inherent in God giving Adam describes the destination of flesh of my flesh; she shall be called life through His divine breath the righteous after death. ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of is the implication that humans man” (2:23). She is not referred to as themselves—unlike animals—❯❯ Strange and familiar beasts populate the Garden of Eden portrayed in the left-hand panel of Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights, c.1510.

28 THE GARDEN OF EDEN Adam was placed in and unashamed. As they are alone God created all humans as equal, Paradise in perfect with God, some readers assume regardless of gender, race, or any estate … God walked that their days are centered around other characteristics. and did talk with him. worshipping and communing with John Jewel (1522–1571) Him; their relationship with God is Yet the Bible is sometimes cited unlike any other creatures’. in support of claims that women Bishop of Salisbury are inferior to men. Genesis 2:18 In addition to managing the refers to Eve’s creation as Adam’s are blessed with the essence of animals and tending the garden “helper” (Hebrew ezer) and divinity. Mankind’s capacity for (“to work it and take care of it”), therefore potentially subordinate rationality and morality is the the pair are instructed to reproduce to him. However, some scholars reason why no suitable companion (“be fruitful and increase in suggest that ezer should have could be found for Adam among number”). For now, at least, Adam been translated as “companion,” the animals and why God gave and Eve are content with their implying greater equality. Adam and Eve responsibility bountiful lives and observe God’s to look after the Earth and rule one prohibition: while they are free The divine “We” over the animals (1:26–28). In to eat the fruit from the Tree of Life, In Genesis and throughout the Old Judeo-Christian philosophy, these which grants them immortality, to Testament, God is often talked passages have been cited to justify eat the fruit from the mysterious about in the plural—for example, humans using animals to serve Tree of the Knowledge of Good “our” likeness (Genesis 1:26). their own needs. and Evil will be on pain of certain This has triggered much debate death (2:17). and many theories. Possible Yet, despite having divine explanations include polytheism spark and being created in God’s One man, one woman (meaning that God himself is image, Adam and Eve are flawed Adam and Eve are the first couple referring to more than one god), (Matthew 19:26). God is everywhere (2:24–25 says the pair become although this is soundly refuted (Proverbs 5:21) and is superior to “one flesh”) and their union has in passages such as Isaiah 45:6 everything else in the universe traditionally been the yardstick where God states, “I am the (Psalms 115:3), while Adam and for God’s perfect intention for LORD, and there is no other.” Eve are limited. In the 13th century, marriage—one man and one the theologian Thomas Aquinas woman united in matrimony for God pulls Eve from the rib of the defined God as perfect (lacking life. Crucially, the affirmation in sleeping Adam in an image from nothing), immutable, and infinite, Genesis that both sexes are made a manuscript of 1480 based on unlike humans, whom he described in the image of God is often St. Jerome’s 4th-century Latin as spiritually, intellectually, and used to support the concept that translation of the Hebrew Bible. emotionally limited. Original innocence Although their flaws are revealed by subsequent events, Adam and Eve are created without sin and in complete innocence. Genesis 2:25 tells us that they are naked

GENESIS 29 God creates God breathes Adam out of his divine breath into Adam, giving the earth. him life. God puts Adam to Unlike the sleep and removes a animals, Adam has rib from Adam’s body divine spark. God to create woman as a sees that he needs companion for Adam. a companion. The pair tend Yet despite Adam and Eve the garden and their divine commune with God. spark, Adam and The first human couple, They are innocent Eve are limited, Adam and Eve were created— and know no sin. unlike God. as adults—in the image of God. As they were not born Other explanations are that theories of creation, recent surveys in the same way as their God is including his attendant in the United States have revealed descendants, they would not angels in the “us” of Genesis 1:26. a widespread belief in the existence have needed umbilical cords. Another explanation is that the of Adam and Eve. (They are partly Despite this, navels are still plurals here and in Genesis 3:22 supported by a group of scientists present in many artistic (“the man has now become like who have traced human genetic representations of the pair. one of us”) describe a conversation history back many thousands of that God the Father is having with years, potentially to the first men Genesis 2:7 says that God the Son and God the Holy and women.) Adam is created out of dust. Spirit, the Trinity, a concept Adamah is Hebrew for developed in the New Testament. The Bible is clear—in Genesis “ground” or “earth,” a and elsewhere—that Adam is the reference to both Adam’s Human origins first man and not descended from origins and his fate after the The creation of Adam and Eve other humans. Adam is referred to Fall (see pp. 30–35). The word and the events unfolding in the in Luke 3:38 as “the son of God,” Eve means “life.” She and the Garden of Eden are also described just as angels in the Old Testament man are inseparable, made in the Islamic Qur’an. While are made by God (for example, from one flesh, as they come many Christians reject a literal Job 1:6, 38:7 and Daniel 3:25). from the same body (Adam’s) interpretation of Genesis in favor of The Bible depicts Adam as a living and are brought together, both a more allegorical approach that entity with many descendants who, in marital union with each also encompasses evolutionary according to Genesis 5:5, lives until other and in full communion he is 930 years old. ■ with God. Humankind’s remarkable journey begins with Adam and Eve. Without them there is no fall from grace or sin, and thereby no need for suffering, mortality, redemption, atonement, or Jesus Christ.

NAKEDTTHHAETYTRHEEAYLWIZEERDE GENESIS 3:7, THE FALL



32 THE FALL IN BRIEF PASSAGE Genesis 3:1–24 THEME Original sin SETTING Primeval period The Garden of Eden during the time covered by the first 11 chapters of Genesis. KEY FIGURES Serpent In the Christian view, the embodiment of Satan, the archenemy of God. Adam The first man, created by God in His own image on the sixth day of creation. Eve The first woman, created as a companion for Adam, with whom he would populate the Earth. For God knows that I n the third chapter of Genesis, The forbidden fruit from the Tree when you eat from it Adam and Eve’s disobedience, of the Knowledge of Good and Evil punishment, and alienation passes from Eve to Adam in a detail your eyes will be from God pave the way for the from Cornelus van Haarlem’s The Fall opened, and you will emergence of evil, bringing suffering, of Man, c.1592. be like God, knowing discord, and death into a sinless world. Until then, Adam and Eve live It is the serpent, identified in good and evil. and work in paradise, enjoying a Genesis 3:1 as an extremely Genesis 3:5 close relationship with each other crafty animal, that questions and with God. They are forbidden God’s motives in forbidding the only one thing—fruit from the Tree fruit. It slyly implies that God is of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, deliberately withholding something which grows in the center of the desirable—the means by which garden. Eating this, warns God, will Adam and Eve can obtain wisdom result in death. He gives no reasons and be like God. Eve needs little or details for His command, but persuasion. The fruit looks good Adam obeys and avoids the Tree. and she is tempted, so she eats

See also: Sodom and Gomorrah 48–49 ■ David and Bathsheba 118–19 ■ GENESIS 33 The Crucifixion 258–65 ■ Salvation through Faith 301 The role of the serpent By the sweat of your Tree of Life, humans are now brow you will eat mortal and will die. As God informs No one knows why the crafty your food until you Adam, “For dust you are and to serpent is chosen to tempt dust you will return” (3:19). Cast Eve into disobedience. Unlike return to the ground. adrift, humankind is now in most animals in the Bible, it Genesis 3:19 constant danger from the evil is able to talk, implying that within themselves and from others. it is more intelligent than it and gives some to Adam. other animals. Whispering Immediately, the couple see that Humankind and free will into Eve’s ear in Genesis 3:5, they are naked. Ashamed, they In Christian thought, a sinful act it causes her to doubt God. sew fig leaves together to cover is a deliberate action, attitude, or The Genesis account does not themselves and hide. Later, Adam thought against God. This includes mention Satan, although the admits to eating the fruit but things that are done but should wily serpent is seen within blames Eve: “She gave me some not be (sins of commission) and Christianity (but not Judaism) fruit from the tree, and I ate it” those that are not done but should as the devil or his mouthpiece. (3:12). Eve passes on responsibility be (sins of omission). The fact Satan is later specifically too: “The snake deceived me, and that all choices are open to sin alluded to in Revelation 20:2 I ate” (3:13). takes humankind down a path of as “that ancient snake, who perpetual wrongdoing, frequently is the devil, or Satan …” God’s punishments are swift referred to in the Bible as “slavery.” and severe. He condemns the Snakes are not always serpent to crawl and eat dust for For Christians, the exercise of represented as evil entities the rest of its life. Eve is told she free will is central to the story of in the Bible. They are also will suffer excruciating pain in the Fall. Adam and Eve’s actions seen as strong, courageous childbirth and be ruled by her show that human beings have the creatures. For example, husband. Cursing the ground from freedom to make poor choices, Moses’s staff turns into a which Adam was made, God tells but there is a price to pay. Up to snake on his command Adam he must forever toil before this point, Adam and Eve have (Exodus 4:3) and God asks him he can eat. Finally, God expels chosen to obey God. In the face to make a statue of a serpent Adam from the garden—Eve leaves of temptation, they make unwise with the power to heal snake with him—and places cherubim choices that have catastrophic bites (Numbers 21:8). (angelic hybrid creatures) and a results. God insists that the couple flaming sword on the east side face up to what they have done— The serpent descends from the of Eden to keep them out. with every exercise of free will Tree of the Knowledge of Good comes a consequence (desirable and Evil to tempt Eve in the The creation of death or not) for which responsibility defining moment of the Fall. For It soon becomes clear that there is must be taken. its part in the catastrophe, the a price for gaining wisdom—pain, serpent is cursed above all toil, scarcity, fear, and suffering. Theologians have long livestock and all wild animals. Denied access to fruit from the been occupied by the matter of theological fatalism, or the incompatibility between the concepts of free will and God’s omniscience. If people can choose, how can God foresee their choices? Judaism accepts this as a paradox beyond human understanding, believing that God exists outside of time. His knowledge of the past, present, and future does ❯❯

34 THE FALL A cherub drives Adam and Eve [Adam], and death through sin, The Augustinian view of Original from the Garden of Eden with “a and so death spread to all men Sin was formally adopted by the flaming sword flashing back and because all sinned.” In the 5th Roman Catholic Church during the forth to guard the way to the Tree century, St. Augustine (354–430 ce) 16th century. The doctrine was of Life” (Genesis 3:24). developed Paul’s doctrine further, also popular among Protestant saying that spiritual weakness was reformers, such as Martin Luther not interfere with free will. Some inherited via “concupiscence,” or and John Calvin. They equated it Christians reconcile this conundrum sexual intercourse, which deprives with perpetual human longing for by believing that God limits people of self-control. fleshly pursuits that persist even his omniscience to preserve humankind’s dignity and freedom. Judaism and sin point in our lives. Because we have free will (behirah), we are Original sin The doctrine of Original Sin naturally frail and likely to give According to Christian doctrine, became a central tenet of way to our sinful inclinations the consequence of Adam and Christianity but this concept (yetzer). Not all sins are Eve’s disobedience is that all is rejected by Judaism. Instead, committed deliberately, but humans are born sinful, with an Jews believe that we are born those that are will be punished, inborn tendency to succumb to pure rather than tainted by the either here on Earth or later, temptation and disobey God. While sins of our ancestors. They think after death. God is blameless, people are Adam is not to blame for the damned, deserve to suffer, and wrongdoing of his descendants. The many Old Testament require salvation. Known as We commit sin (het in Hebrew, stories concerning the nation Original Sin (or ancestral sin), this meaning “something that goes of Israel and its sins look at the doctrine was set out by Paul the astray”) because we are not nature of human beings, Apostle, in Romans 5:12: “Sin came perfect beings. We must accept the meaning of sin, and the into the world through one man that we all transgress at some potential for the forgiveness of those sins.

The serpent The woman Adam GENESIS 35 God punishes the wrongdoers. The serpent is forced to crawl on its belly and eat dust; Eve and her daughters are destined to endure pain in childbirth; and Adam and his sons will always toil in order to eat. after baptism (the rebirth and the of spiritual death: “You were dead in yourselves be burdened again washing away of hereditary sin). your transgressions and sins …” by a yoke of slavery.” Christians Calvin went further, rejecting the sometimes refer to Christ as the concept of free will in favor of For Christians, it is only through “Second Adam.” The first Adam predestination—the idea that all faith in Jesus Christ, who was sent sins and causes the fall of events are willed by God. by God to die for humankind’s sins, humanity; the second (Christ) that someone can be born again dies and redeems humanity. Both Judaism and Islam and reawaken spiritually. This is reject the idea of Original Sin. a central theme of redemption Blame falls on Eve According to the Qur’an, Adam (the act of cleansing away Original Christianity has traditionally blamed and Eve are equally responsible Sin). Redemption is achieved by Eve—and all womankind—for the for the Fall. After their expulsion receiving God’s grace, through Fall from God’s grace, and seen from the Garden of Eden, they are baptism, and accepting that her as degenerate, morally weak, forgiven by God and become His Jesus Christ died for the sins that and subordinate to man. Paul representatives on Earth. enslave humankind. contributed to this view. In 1 Timothy 2:14, he absolves Adam The wages of sin In his letter to the Galatians and blames Eve, saying, “Adam was Original Sin helps to explain why (5:1), Paul proclaims, “It is for not deceived, but the woman God allows innocent people to freedom that Christ has set us free. was deceived and became a suffer. Personal innocence is no Stand firm, then, and do not let transgressor.” Many medieval immunity against God’s wrath; theologians echoed Paul’s views, everyone is a sinner by nature and Nor can the Apostle mean and Christian art reinforced this (eventually) by choice. “All have that Eve only sinned … interpretation. Michelangelo’s sinned and come short of the glory for if Adam sinned fresco of the Fall (c.1510) in the of God,” says Romans 3:23. willfully and knowingly, Sistine Chapel in the Vatican he became the shows a serpent with the upper Christian doctrine maintains greater transgressor. body and long blonde hair of that because of humankind’s a woman, an image that was Original Sin, every person is born Mary Astell (1666–1731) prevalent during the Renaissance. separated from God. When Paul states in Romans 6:23 that “the English feminist However, Genesis itself does wages of sin are death,” he is not attribute blame for the Fall. referring to Adam’s original sin On the contrary, it indicates that and death as a condemnation by Adam is present when the serpent and separation from God rather speaks to Eve and receives equal than a physical death. The inability punishment, suggesting that they to have a relationship with God is are both culpable. ■ described in Ephesians 2:1 as a form

36 BKARMEEOIPTEMHREY?R’S GENESIS 4:9, CAIN AND ABEL IN BRIEF T he story of Cain and Abel Death of Abel by Andrea Schiavone is the second installment (c.1510–1563) shows Cain committing PASSAGE of the Fall narrative, the first murder in the Bible. The Genesis 4:1–16 describing the first manifestation dying sheep depicted in the background of evil in humankind. Genesis 4 foreshadows the death of Abel. THEME tells how Adam and Eve’s elder The first murder son, Cain, murders his brother, suggestion that disputes over Abel. It follows a similar pattern land use—or any inherent conflict SETTING to the previous chapter: ignoring between the occupations—was Primeval period The divine warnings and committing the source of the animosity unnamed land where Adam, a sin is punished, in this case with between Cain and Abel. Eve, and their children live exile. While Adam and Eve disobey after leaving the Garden God’s specific command, Cain’s sin In the passage, both brothers of Eden. is violent: his anger at God and bring sacrificial offerings to God. jealousy of Abel lead him to commit Abel takes “fat portions from some KEY FIGURES an act of fratricide. of the firstborn of his flock,” while Cain Eldest son of Adam and Cain brings “some of the fruits of Eve and the brother of Abel. Sibling rivalry the soil” (4:3). God responds Like his father, Cain is an Genesis 4 begins with the birth favorably to Abel’s offering, but agriculturalist. of the two brothers to Adam and Eve. When the boys reach Abel Second son of Adam adulthood, they pursue different and Eve and younger brother occupations. The elder brother, of Cain. Abel is a herdsman. Cain, becomes an agriculturalist, a tiller of the soil, like his father; Abel, the second son, becomes a pastoralist, a keeper of sheep and goats. These were the chief occupations during the time in which the authors of Genesis were writing, and tensions sometimes flared up between agriculturalists and pastoralists over the use of the land. However, there is no

GENESIS 37 See also: Joseph the Dreamer 58–61 ■ The Ten Commandments 78–83 ■ The Prodigal Son 218–21 ■ The Final Judgment 316–21 God exiles Cain Murderers Anyone who takes for slaying Abel. shall be put to death. human life is (Genesis 4:12) Murderers will never (Exodus 21:12) to be put to death. enter the Holy City. (Leviticus 24:17) (Revelation 22:15) All murder is If someone kills condemned in the unintentionally they may eyes of the Lord. seek sanctuary. (Deuteronomy 19:4) 1 John 3:12 condemns Cain as “evil”. not to Cain’s, which is less what Cain has done and banishes of Nod (“east of Eden”), God puts a valuable. Cain is jealous of Abel. Cain from the land onto which he mark on Cain. Contrary to popular Noticing Cain’s anger (4:7), God spilled his brother’s blood. “You wisdom, this “mark of Cain” is a warns him that if he does not do will be a restless wanderer on the sign of God’s continued protection, what is right, sin will “crouch” at earth,” God says (4:12). not a brand of shame. God says that the door (the Hebrew word for anyone who kills Cain “will suffer “crouching” being the same as the Unrepentant, Cain says his vengeance seven times over.” Cain Babylonian word for a demon that punishment is more than he can then leaves for the land of Nod. ■ waits in doorways, a play on words bear. Before exiling him to the land by the authors of Genesis, who murder to be recorded by were writing during the Jews’ The sanctity of life the Bible happens five captivity in Babylon in the sixth generations later in Genesis century bce). God tells Cain to The Ten Commandments that 4:26. This time the murderer master the demonic temptation God gives to Moses on Mount is Cain’s descendant Lamech, of sin. Cain, however, does not Sinai in Exodus are clear: “You who kills a man for wounding temper his impulses. Instead, he shall not murder” (Exodus him. Lamech says: “If Cain lures his brother out into the fields 20:13). Cain’s punishment for is avenged seven times, and murders him. murder was exile. God punished then Lamech seventy-seven him, but also showed mercy by times” (4:24). Cain’s punishment extending Cain his protection. When God asks Cain where Abel In Israel during biblical is, Cain says that he does not know. In this way, God sought to times, “Anyone who takes the “Am I my brother’s keeper?” he asks avert a potential cycle of life of a human being is put to (4:9). In another play on words, he violence and retaliation. By death” (Leviticus 24:17), but is insolently asking, “Am I, the marking Cain (Genesis 4:15), He places of refuge were also agriculturalist, the shepherd of my stopped others from taking the created for anyone who killed shepherd brother?” God knows law into their own hands by someone “accidentally and killing Cain. God’s plan seemed unintentionally” (Joshua 20:3). to work, for a time, as the next

38 BNATEAGMTAHENAOTTFOTTICHMAEELLLPOEORONDPTLHEE GENESIS 4:26, THE ORIGIN OF PRAYER IN BRIEF T he first extended prayer prayer in which the person praying in the Bible arises from complains about, or laments, the PASSAGES the anguish of a couple situation and petitions God to Genesis 15:1–6 Abraham longing for children. It bursts forth intervene. This leads to resolution prays for a child. during a conversation initiated by following divine intervention, which God with Abraham. After the King may take the form of a promise. Genesis 21:8–21 Hagar, of Sodom tries to strike a deal that Ishmael, and the well. will obligate Abraham, God tells Petitioning God Abraham not to be afraid. God According to Genesis, the cult of THEME himself will be Abraham’s shield Israel’s God, Yahweh, begins The potential of prayer and “very great reward.” To this during the third generation of Abraham retorts: “What can you human life on Earth, when Adam SETTING give me since I remain childless?” Primeval period During the (Genesis 15:2). God’s answer to this time covered by the first 11 outburst, or prayer, is to take chapters of Genesis. Abraham outside and point to the night sky: “Look up at the heavens KEY FIGURES and count the stars—if indeed you Abraham Son of Terah, the can count them.” God pauses, then ninth son of Noah. adds: “So shall your offspring be.” Sarah Wife of Abraham, who A God who cares is barren for many years. Abraham’s encounter says much about prayer in the Bible. First, it Hagar Sarah’s Egyptian takes place within the context handmaiden and concubine of a dialogue between God and of Abraham. humankind, initiated by God. It assumes there is a God who cares Ishmael Hagar and and can be pleaded with. The Abraham’s son. person praying expresses themself with honesty and vigor, the prayer often taking the form of a lament Prayer beads, used to count prayers, about a painful situation. A common are clasped by members of the pattern involves a crisis, leading to congregation at a Catholic church in Baghdad, following the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005.

See also: Esau and Jacob 54–55 ■ The Exodus 74–77 ■ GENESIS 39 The Prophet Samuel 110–15 ■ The Crucifixion 258–65 The names of God The evolution of prayer Names in biblical times were Petitionary prayer. A prayer in peril. more than just a label: they Abraham prays for an Moses prays for help stood for a person’s being and heir and is rewarded with when his people turn against status. Even more significant were the names of God. The one. Genesis 15:5 him. Exodus 17:4 three names for God most frequently used in the Hebrew A conviction that Bible are El (more than 200 prayer of all kinds times), Elohim (2,570 times), and Yahweh (6,800 times). reaches God. El was both a generic word for “god” and the name of the Silent prayer. Prayer as confession. chief god of the Canaanites— Hannah prays in her Ezra prays and confesses. a benevolent deity portrayed as an old man with a beard. heart. Samuel 1:13 Ezra 9:5–10:4 El is often used in compounds: Everlasting God, God and Eve’s third son Seth has a wife, Sarah, leads to Hagar and her Almighty, Most High God. son called Enosh. At this time, son Ishmael being banished to the Elohim is another generic Genesis tells us, people begin to wilderness, where they run out of word for “god,” emphasizing invoke the name of Yahweh. water. Hagar places Ishmael in the God’s universality. It is used shade of a bush, then sits a short in the first verse of Genesis: Many of the earliest prayers are distance away because she cannot “In the beginning God created petitions for the birth or protection bear to watch her child die. Her the heavens and the earth.” of children. Isaac’s prayer to prayer brings a response from the Yahweh (or YHWH, since Yahweh on behalf of his wife angel of God, who calls out to ancient Hebrew script lacked Rebekah leads to her becoming reassure her of God’s protection. vowels) is the personal name pregnant with the twins Esau She opens her eyes to see a well. of the God of Israel. The name and Jacob. The passion of such is explained in Exodus, during petitions is sometimes expressed Prayers of thanksgiving Moses’s encounter at the in the names given to longed-for Another great strand of prayer, burning bush, where God’s sons. For example, Leah, the first praise and thanksgiving, occurs words are translated: “I am wife of Jacob, names her first son when Abraham sends his servant who I am.” Reuben (“See, a son”), because, she to Mesopotamia to find a wife for explains, “the Lord has seen my Isaac. The servant petitions God for my master Abraham, who has not misery” (Genesis 29:32). success in his mission. When his abandoned his kindness and prayer is answered, he bows down faithfulness to my master.” The Another particularly poignant and worships Yahweh, saying: addition of such praise becomes prayer involves Hagar, the Egyptian “Praise be to the Lord, the God of more common later in the Bible. concubine of Abraham, Isaac’s For believers, biblical examples of father. The jealousy of Abraham’s prayer show that humans can communicate with God and that God listens and responds. In the New Testament, prayer is usually communicated to God in the name of Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit. Prayer relies on promises of the Spirit’s aid in prayer and God’s favorable reception of prayers offered under Jesus’s authority (Romans 8:26 and John 14:13–14). ■

40 OWANNIDLTYHTNHHOOIMASHEINWWTAHHSOELWAERFEKTR,E GENESIS 7:23, THE FLOOD IN BRIEF Genesis establishes But after several humans as stewards generations, humanity has PASSAGE Genesis 6:1–8:14 of the Earth. grown corrupt. But he preserves Noah God resolves to remake THEME and the animals to begin Obedience and a new life after the Flood. the world. trust in God God makes a covenant with Noah that he will not God tells Noah all SETTING destroy the earth again. creatures are given Primeval period The floodwaters sent by God to Human stewardship is into his hands. cover the Earth; Mount Ararat, affirmed in Psalm 8. Humanity must Mesopotamia. now care for the KEY FIGURE Earth and Noah Son of Lamech, who is behave well. a descendant of Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve. A righteous man, Noah becomes father to Shem at 500 years old, and then to Japheth and Ham. A t the end of the first for all the people of the earth had chapter of Genesis, God corrupted their ways” (6:12). His surveys His creation. heart “filled with pain,” He resolves “God saw what he had made,” to “wipe mankind … from the face Genesis tells us, “and it was very of the earth—men and animals, good” (1:31). By the sixth chapter, and creatures that move along the the mood has darkened. “God saw ground, and birds of the air—for I how corrupt the earth had become, am grieved that I have made them.”

GENESIS 41 See also: Creation 20–25 ■ Covenants 44–47 ■ Sodom and Gomorrah 48–49 ■ The Psalms 138–43 ■ The Suffering Servant 154–55 ■ The New Jerusalem 322–29 Noah’s family and the animals leave the Ark when it comes to rest in the Ararat region of Mesopotamia. Simon de Myle’s painting (c.1570) shows aggression and chaos soon returning. back and forth until the land is dry again. The second time, Noah sends out a dove—it returns with an olive leaf in its bill. The next time, the dove does not return. Noah now knows that it is safe to leave the ark. One thing makes Him modify His As the waters rise, God remembers The first covenant intention, however: the existence Noah, and all the animals and Cleansed by water, the world of one “righteous man,” Noah. livestock. In the Bible, remembering emerges anew. Noah, effectively often involves the fulfillment of an a second Adam, makes a sacrifice Remaking the world obligation or promise. Here, God to God, who repeats to Noah and The writers of Genesis used the sends a wind, and the waters his family the blessing made in story of Noah to reflect upon what recede. In a famous passage, Noah Genesis 1: “Be fruitful and increase scholars have called creation, sends out a raven to test how far in number and fill the earth.” God un-creation, and re-creation. God the waters have withdrawn. It flies also enters into a covenant with makes creation good; humanity Noah, the first of a series of spoils it. Patiently, God un-creates Flood stories covenants between God and in order to re-create. Like other humankind. “Never again will all stories in Genesis, The Flood Cultures worldwide have sagas life be cut off by the waters of a shows that God will judge and of cataclysmic floods. In the flood; never again will there be punish sin but also offer salvation case of ancient Mesopotamia a flood to destroy the earth.” The to the faithful and penitent. and the surrounding region, sign of this pact is the rainbow. ■ there are at least three other To deal with human depravity, versions of the Great Flood tablets recording the Babylonian God sends a flood to wipe out “all story, possibly inspired by a epic of Gilgamesh, which may life under the heavens” apart from devastating flooding of the have been written down as early “righteous” Noah, his family, and a Tigris and Euphrates rivers as the 22nd century bce and was full sampling of animal life. God known to have taken place in probably based on an older oral tells Noah to build an ark, or ship, 2900 bce. In the Sumerian flood tradition, the sole human to contain him, his family, and “two story, the equivalent of Noah is survivor of the flood is called of all living creatures, male and Ziusudra, a man known for his Utnapishtim. The third account female, to keep them alive” (6:19). humility. In a version of the flood is the Akkadian epic of Atra- Noah does as God bids. When they narrative found on one of the hasis, written down in around enter the ark, God shuts them in. 1700 bce, whose eponymous hero is “exceedingly wise.” These stories later found their way into Greek and Roman mythology—the Roman poet Ovid tells a version of the flood story in his Metamorphoses.

42 OCTAOUOTRMOTSEWHE,EELLHRVEEETTSAHUVAASETNCBSRIUTEIYLA,DCWHIETSH GENESIS 11:4, THE TOWER OF BABEL IN BRIEF pyramid that reaches toward the sees that if the citizens of Babel heavens. Not surprisingly, they are continue to progress at this rate, PASSAGE proud of this achievement. nothing will be beyond them. Part Genesis 11:1–9 of their power, He decides, lies in High ambitions the fact that they all speak the THEME The story of the Tower of Babel same language. The power of humanity comes at the end of the first section of Genesis, before moving The sin of arrogance SETTING on from the creation of the universe Genesis does not explicitly After the Great Flood to a more particular account of the state the reasons for God’s Shinar, Mesopotamia. ancestral origins of the nation of disapproval, but among the options Israel. The Babel narrative draws suggested by scholars is that the KEY FIGURE on historical realities—people tower is an outward expression People of the world did migrate and Babel was an of the sin of human arrogance. In Descendants of Noah, early name for Babylon—in order a statement of His own, God says, who speak one language. to tell a universal story about “Come, let us go down and confuse humankind’s tendency to behave their language so they will not G enesis 11 describes a against God’s wishes. It is not just understand each other” (11:7). large people journeying the Babylonians who are depicted westward in a mass here, but the whole world, all If … they have begun to do migration. They decide to settle in speaking the same language. this, then nothing that they the land of Shinar, another name for Babylonia, after finding the After settling in Shinar, the propose to do will now Mesopotamian floodplain fertile. people spur themselves on with be impossible for them. Although there is no stone with two emphatic statements: “Come, which to build a city, the people let’s make bricks and bake them Genesis 11:6 are technologically innovative and thoroughly. … Come, let us build learn to create imposing structures ourselves a city, with a tower that using bricks, with bitumen for reaches to the heavens, so that mortar. They establish a great we may make a name for ourselves city and begin to build a ziggurat, and not be scattered over the face a temple tower in the shape of a of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4). Wary of what is happening among the people of Shinar, God visits the city and its tower. He

See also: The Fall 30–35 ■ The Flood 40–41 ■ Sodom and Gomorrah 48–49 ■ GENESIS 43 The Fall of Jerusalem 128–31 ■ The Day of Pentecost 282–83 Gateways to heaven He separates the people of Babel Babel and the Hebrew balal, by language so that they are unable meaning “confuse.” The intention Most Mesopotamian cities, to complete the tower. God then may be to poke fun at Babylon, including Babylon, had scatters them across the world, whose name meant “Gate of God.” ziggurats, which rose from in accordance with His previous A more appropriate name, the the surrounding plain like command in Genesis 1:22 to be Genesis writers may be suggesting, artificial mountains reaching “fruitful and increase in number would be confusion. up to the heavens. These and fill the earth.” temples were seen as Hostility toward Babylon is gateways between the world Political purpose not surprising given that the book of humans and the gods—an The story also has a satirical of Genesis probably took its final act of pride disliked by the undercurrent. In the last verse, form in the 5th century bce, not long God of the Israelites. They for example—“That is why it was after the Judeans had returned to were built with brick—there called Babel—because there the Judah from their enforced exile in was little or no stone in the Lord confused the language of the Babylon following the Babylonian Mesopotamian floodplain— whole world” (11:9)—play is made of capture of Judah. That experience, with solid mud-brick cores a similarity between the name along with the Israelites’ sufferings and exteriors of fired brick. at the hands of other regional Sometimes their sides were Cloud obscures the soaring tip of powers, may help explain the landscaped, as is commonly the Tower of Babel in a painting by an author’s seeming preference for depicted in images of the unknown 16th-century Flemish artist, smaller scattered nations, each Hanging Gardens of Babylon. who set the tower in a busy river port with its own language and with basilicas and mosques. territory, over the consolidation The inspiration for the of power in a single imperial city. ■ story of the Tower of Babel is thought to be the Etemenanki (“House of the Foundation of Heaven and Earth”), a seven- story ziggurat topped by a sanctuary dedicated to the god Marduk. The chief temple of Babylon, the Etemenanki was destroyed by the Assyrian King Sennacherib in 689 bce. Ziggurats have not survived as well as the stone-built pyramids of Egypt but their remains still exist, including those of the Great Ziggurat of Ur in southern Iraq. Partially restored, the Great Ziggurat of Ur, in modern-day Iraq, was built during the Third Sumerian Dynasty, c.2100 bce. Like other ziggurats, it was climbed by sloping ramps.

44 IN BRIEF INMYOWAATUKIILEOALNOGFREAT PASSAGE Genesis 12:1–20:17 GENESIS 12:2, COVENANTS THEME Abraham’s Covenant SETTING Early 2nd millennium bce The Fertile Crescent, Canaan, and Egypt. KEY FIGURES Abraham Son of Terah, who becomes the father of all nations. Sarah Abraham’s famously beautiful wife. Lot Abraham’s nephew, who travels toward Canaan with Abraham and Sarah. Pharaoh Unnamed ruler of Egypt. T he conversion of Abraham by God is one of the most remarkable in the Bible. God’s decision to reveal Himself to this ordinary man resulted in the emergence of three of the world’s major religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Genesis 12:2, God appears to Abraham and urges him to leave his home and go to Canaan. In this critical narrative of posterity, introducing the concept of a people chosen to deliver God’s message of salvation, God tells Abraham: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

GENESIS 45 See also: The Fall 30–35 ■ The Flood 40–41 ■ The Testing of Abraham 50–53 ■ The Ten Commandments 78–83 Abraham Genesis 12:2–3 Noah The Five Great Moses The Abrahamic Faiths Genesis Covenants of Exodus Abraham is one of the most 9:11 the Bible 19:5 important figures in the religions of the Middle East Jesus David and the Western world. He Luke 2 Samuel is universally recognized as 22:20 7:12–17 the father of the three great monotheistic faiths: Judaism, God reiterates his promise on A 16th-century Brussels tapestry Christianity, and Islam. To several occasions. The basic dramatizes the calling of Abraham the Jewish people, Abraham components always remain the and his journey. In fact, the biblical was the founder of Israel same: that Abraham’s descendants passage mentions neither the setting and their first patriarch. He will become a great nation, live in a nor circumstances of the calling. taught them that there is only fruitful land, be blessed, and be a one God and inspired their blessing to all the peoples of the faith with his unquestioning Earth. The nation God promises is obedience and unwavering one of generations of worshippers loyalty to God. in their own land. This is the “covenant”—binding contract—that Christians view Abraham God and Abraham make. God offers as possibly the greatest divine promises in return for the exponent of a human continued faith of Abraham and his relationship with God. They descendants. The covenant is part believe that it is through of God’s plan of establishing a Abraham’s descendant, Jesus, nation of people free from sin. that all God’s promises are fulfilled. In Islam, where he is A momentous journey known as “Ibrahim,” Abraham In a clear demonstration of his is regarded as a great prophet faith, Abraham obeys God’s call whose son Ishmael, by Hagar, to leave his homeland. He is ❯❯ became the father of the Arab peoples and the ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Muslims celebrate Abraham on the festival of Eid-al-Adha, held in memory of Abraham’s willingness to obey God’s command to sacrifice his son (see pp. 50–53).

46 COVENANTS Punished by God, the repentant Pharaoh returns Sarah to Abraham and sends them out of Egypt. Pharaoh permits Abraham to retain the riches he has amassed during his stay. (meaning “exalted father”) to Abraham (“father of many”) in Genesis 17. In this same chapter, God promises Abraham a son— Isaac—whose descendants will found a nation named Israel. The significance of Sarai’s name change to Sarah is less clear. Both names mean “princess,” but “Sarah” may also mean “queen.” Covenants in Judaism accompanied on his great journey Journey to Egypt and Christianity through the Fertile Crescent by his Abraham, Sarah, and Lot’s initial wife Sarah, their nephew Lot, and stay in the Promised Land is brief In religion, a “covenant” servants. They travel along a well- due to a famine. Along with all the denotes a formal alliance or trodden trade route from Harran other people of Canaan, they are agreement between God and in Mesopotamia to Egypt. forced to flee to Egypt in search of humankind, either a religious food. Concerned that Sarah’s great group such as the Israelites Following God’s instructions, beauty may attract the Egyptians’ or humanity in general. The they eventually stop at the Great attention, and that he may be covenant God makes with Tree of Moreh near a place named murdered in order to clear the way Abraham is fundamental to Shechem in the heart of Canaan. for a marriage, Abraham instructs Judaism, as it forms the basis Here, God appears to Abraham Sarah to tell the Egyptians that she for the Jews being the “chosen once more and tells him that his is his sister. people.” God promises to descendants will inherit this new make Abraham the father of “Promised Land”—the chosen land The ruse backfires when a great nation and commands for God’s people. Seeing in advance Pharaoh takes Sarah into his that his descendants must the rewards God has promised him, harem. In turn, Pharaoh rewards obey Him. To this day, Jewish Abraham builds the first of many Abraham for having a beautiful males are circumcised when altars to his Lord (12:7). “sister” and showers him with they are eight days old as a symbol of this covenant. Father of many Blessed is the nation At the time of their departure, whose God is the Lord, the In Christianity, a covenant Abraham and Sarah are 75 and 65 people whom He has chosen has a different significance. years old respectively. Although Christians believe that the these might appear to be very for His own inheritance. New Covenant was instituted advanced ages at which to Psalm 33:12 by Christ at the Last Supper establish a new nation, let alone as part of the Eucharist. have children, the patriarchs were They believe it represents an long-lived. Abraham dies at the age ongoing relationship between of 175 and Sarah at 127. God and his followers that will only come to full fruition with At this stage, Abraham and the Second Coming of Christ. Sarah are referred to as Abram and Sarai. God changes Abram’s name

GENESIS 47 God calls God promises to is Abraham’s half-sister, as well as Abraham to leave his make Abraham’s his wife: “Besides, she really is my homeland and journey to descendants into a sister, the daughter of my father” great nation. (20:12). This means that Abraham’s the land of Canaan. statement to the Egyptians can be God will bless those construed not only as a practical God says all who bless Abraham measure to ensure his survival, but people on earth will and curse those who also as a half-lie, or half-truth. be blessed through curse him. A merciful God Abraham. The ambiguities in the story also Abraham serve to show God as a benevolent, God tells Abraham has faith in God forgiving Lord. Later in the Bible, that his descendants and builds his all kinds of noble acts are ascribed to Abraham (see pp. 50–53), but will inherit the first altar to here he is an ordinary man, an Promised Land. the Lord. example of how God’s work can be carried out through anyone. wealth, servants, and livestock. have long debated when Abraham God allows Abraham to lie to the When God hears that Pharaoh has lived and what were the precise Egyptians in order to save his life, taken Abraham’s wife as his own, circumstances of his existence. but punishes Pharaoh for taking he inflicts plague on Pharaoh and another man’s wife as his own. his household. Realizing he has One commonly held view is Abraham is allowed to retain the been lied to, Pharaoh summons that the story of Abraham’s journey riches he has accumulated because Abraham and asks him why he to Canaan was first related in God is gracious and lenient. pretended Sarah was his sister. the early Persian period (late 6th Although God does not approve After an angry exchange, Pharaoh century bce) by Jewish landowners of Abraham’s actions, He will not commands Abraham and Sarah defending their property in the rescind His promise or His blessing. to leave Egypt, yet he allows face of Jews returning to Judah Abraham to retain the riches he from their captivity in Babylon In order to understand the full has accumulated. Leaving Egypt, (see pp. 128–31). They were keen to impact of God’s choice ofAbraham Abraham, Sarah, and Lot head trace the ownership of their lands as such an important representative toward the Negev. back to their “father Abraham” to on Earth, the reader must look counter the land claims of the beyond his deception in Egypt Traditions and meanings returning exiles. in the broader context of the The biblical account of Abraham’s subsequent events in his life. ■ life is rooted in oral traditions rather Many readers of Abraham’s than historical records, so no true narrative are struck by the moral Nation will not lift up biography of Abraham can be ambiguity at its heart—Abraham’s sword against nation, written. However, the story of lie that Sarah is his sister instead and never again will Abraham’s life is so central to of his wife, which he tells in order the fabric of the Bible that scholars to preserve his own life. As if to they learn war. soften the blow of this deception, Isaiah 2:4 the story later reveals that Sarah

48 NFTOEONRT MTDHEESENTSIRAWOKYIELILOTF GENESIS 18:32, SODOM AND GOMORRAH IN BRIEF L ike the Great Flood, in which Other biblical references God destroyed and remade to Sodom and Gomorrah PASSAGE creation, the destruction of Genesis 18:1–19:29 Sodom and Gomorrah is one of In Deuteronomy 29:22–23, the most dramatic examples Moses refers to the THEME of divine punishment in the Bible. Divine punishment It illustrates the need for human destruction of Sodom beings both to fear God’s power and Gomorrah. SETTING and trust in His judgment. In Isaiah 13:19–22, Isaiah Around 1900 bce In Sodom warns Babylon that it and Gomorrah, two towns in In Genesis 18, Abraham is may end like Sodom the Valley of Siddim, possibly visited by three angels in human and Gomorrah. near the Dead Sea. form. One of them, speaking as if In Ezekiel 16:48–50, he is God, tells Abraham that He God compares KEY FIGURES has come to investigate reports of Jerusalem to Sodom. Abraham Son of Terah and sinful behavior in the towns of In Luke 10:12–13, the future father of all nations. Sodom and Gomorrah. The angel— Jesus cites or God himself—indicates that if places that are The angels God’s messengers the “outcry against Sodom and more damnable. on Earth. Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous” as He has heard, He Lot Abraham’s nephew, will destroy the cities. who has settled with his family in Sodom. The writers of Genesis then reveal the close relationship Lot’s wife A woman who between Abraham and God. may have enjoyed living in Abraham challenges God’s plan the sinful city of Sodom. and humbly asks, though he is “nothing but dust and ashes,” The men of Sodom whether it is right to take such Depicted as a sinful and drastic action. While he is not unfaithful people. prepared to resist God’s wishes, Abraham bargains with Him, confident that the “judge of all earth” (18:25) will do right. Eventually, God agrees that He