Topic I
Continue with the Creation story. Extend the comparison between Genesis 1-2:4a and Genesis 2:4b-3:24.
Make a note of additional redundancies and other ways in which two or more "texts" seemed to be redacted together in Genesis?
Topic II
Taken as a character, Yahweh can be seen to make changes as he goes along. Does Yahweh seem to be learning? How can God learn?
Topic III
Compare the Joseph story and earlier Genesis. What is different about the way it is told. Is the role of Yahweh different? Are assumptions about God different?
Challenge
Find a review of Harold Bloom and David Rosenberg (Bloom essay and Rosenberg translation), The Book of J. Report to the seminar on what Bloom thinks and why most find it a flawed idea.
Background
Judaism and Christianity are historical religions. The Hebrew God acts in history and is known by historical events. A familiarity with the following outline is essential to all of us as we read various Hebrew texts. Familiarize yourself with the sweep of events and the corresponding developments in the march to final form of the "canonical" Hebrew Bible. "Canon" comes from the Hebrew for "reed" or "measure" so that the word has come to refer to a standard.
Chronology of the Hebrew Bible
(all dates BCE, except as noted)
| Hebrew History Biblical text (JEDP progression) | ||
| 2000-1290 | patriarchs | |
| 1290 | succession of Ramses II, building projects in Nile Delta;
forced labor of various groups including "Apiru" (Habiru; Hebrews?) "New king over Egypt who did not know Joseph," Exodus 1.8. |
|
| 1250 | Exodus period | |
| 1225 | Hebrew tribes under Joshua destroy Canaanite cities
Period of Judges |
Yahwist story-tellers from late
Judges to early united kingdom (J) |
| United Kingdom (1020-930) | ||
| 1020 | SAUL unites Israelite tribes as first king | |
| 1009/8 | Death of Saul. DAVID chosen as king of Judah. | |
| 1002/1 | David anointed king of Israel; captures Jerusalem
making it his capital; prophet NATHAN (II Samuel 9-20) |
|
| 970-69 | death of DAVID; anointing of SOLOMON | |
| Ephraim/Israel/Samaria and Judah;
Divided Kingdoms (930-723) |
Elohist materials collecting
in Ephraim/Israel independently (E) |
|
| 931/30 | REHOBOAM succeeds Solomon, but Northern tribes
secede and choose JEROBOAM as king of Israel |
|
| 874/873 | AHAB begins rule in Israel to 851 (I Kings 17-II Kings 10) | |
| 865 | ELIJAH sparks revival of worship of Hebrew God in Israel
(against Jezebel and AHAB) |
|
| 850 | ELISHA succeeds ELIJAH as prophet in Israel (Northern Kingdonm) | |
| 755 | AMOS banished from Bethel; HOSEA begins to prophesy | |
| 723/22 | Fall of Samaria to Assyria; end of northern kingdom | |
| Southern Kingdom Alone (723-586); Judah Alone | Elohist materials brought south
JE compiled by a redactor |
|
| 740/39 | ISAIAH called to prophesy | |
| 640-609 | King JOSIAH of Judah | |
| 621 | reform associated with "recovery" of DEUTERONOMY | JE and D compiled = JED
DH (Deuteronomic Histories) |
| 628/7 | JEREMIAH called to Prophesy | |
| 603/602 | Jeremiah dictates to Baruch in Dec./Jan. | |
| 593 | EZEKIAL called to prophesy | |
| Exile and Persian Rule (586-334) | Priestly redaction of all = JEDP | |
| 588 | Nebuchadrezzar begins siege of Jerusalem on Jan. 15 | |
| 550 | Cyrus gains control of Persia; II and III ISAIAH (chapters 40-55) | |
| 538 | (after fall of Babylon in 539) Cyrus orders return of peoples | |
| 520-525 | rebuilding of the Temple at Jerusalem | |
| ca. 400 | Pentateuch becomes "canonical" | |
| Hellenistic and Roman Rule | ||
| 167 | Antiochus IV Epiphanos installs Temple to Zeus in Jerusalem (Hellenistic syncretism) | BOOK OF DANIEL written Daniel closes text of Hebrew Bible |
| 66-73 C.E. | Jewish Revolt and Roman destruction of the temple |