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2 - The Primary Narrative (Genesis through 2 Kings)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2020

By
Thomas L. Brodie
Edited by
Calum Carmichael
Calum Carmichael
Affiliation:
Cornell University, New York
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Summary

Genesis-Kings stands amid three key approaches to the Bible: quest for symbolic/allegorical meaning (Philo to Middle Ages); quest for factual history (Luther to ca. 1970s and “the collapse of history”); quest for literary artistry/meaning (esp. since James Muilenburg, 1968). Gen-Kgs emerges as a narrative with historical components, and triple focus: (i) human origins, (ii) Israel and Judah, a narrative matching that of other nations, and (iii) primarily a narrative of the human heart. Following literary convention, explicit emphasis on the heart occurs at the beginning (hearts estranged, Gen 6:5-6; 8:21), middle (listen with total heart, Deuteronomy, esp. 6:4-6), and end (Josiah’s total heart, 2 Kgs 23:25). Biblical accounts present diverse human dimensions, whether, for instance, God-like (Gen 1) or made of clay (Gen 2). Both are necessary. Abraham is more God-like than Jacob; Elijah more than Elisha. The first five books (Gen-Deut) build up towards the need to choose. The other books (Josh-Kgs) show pairs of contrasting choices: Joshua/Judges; Samuel/Saul; David/Solomon; prophets/kings; Hezekiah/Manasseh; Josiah/other kings.

Keywords

Genesis-Kingshistory of interpretationfour-source theoryform criticismDeuteronomic historynarrativeheart as interpretive keyprophetsElijah-Elisha
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Companion to the Bible and Literature , pp. 26 - 47
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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References

Further Reading

Finkelberg, Margalit and Stroumsa, Guy G., Homer, the Bible and Beyond: Literary and Religious Canons in the Ancient World (Leiden, 2003).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldhill, Simon, The Invention of Prose (Oxford, 2002).Google Scholar
Grabbe, Lester, ed., Did Moses Speak Attic? Jewish Historiography and Scripture in the Hellenistic Period (Sheffield, 2001).Google Scholar

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