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6 - Genesis and Its Ancient Literary Analogues

from Part II - Social World of Genesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2022

By
Alice Mandell
Edited by
Bill T. Arnold
Bill T. Arnold
Affiliation:
Asbury Theological Seminary, Kentucky
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Summary

The book of Genesis stands apart from the rest of the Hebrew Bible in the diverse genres and topics that it covers, from creation accounts to shorter etiologies (e.g., the advent of clothing [Gen 3:7, 21], animal husbandry, agriculture, arts and crafts [Gen 4], dietary laws [Gen 9:3–4], the diversification of language [Gen 11:1–9]), and the early histories of specific linguistic and cultural groups descended from Noah’s three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japhet. Genesis 12–50, which focuses on Shem’s descendants, introduces key figures referred to here as the ancestors: Abraham/Sarah, Isaac/Rebecca, Jacob (renamed Israel)/Leah and Rachel (his two principal wives), and the twelve fathers of the tribes of Israel, Jacob’s male offspring.

Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Companion to Genesis , pp. 121 - 147
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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References

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Chavalas, Mark W. “The Comparative Use of Ancient Near Eastern Texts in the Study of the Hebrew Bible.” Religion Compass 5.5 (2011): 150–65.Google Scholar
Chen, Y. S. “The Flood Motif as a Stylistic and Temporal Device in Sumerian Literary Traditions.” JANER 12.2 (2012): 158–89.Google Scholar
Finkelstein, Israel and Mazar, Amihai. The Quest for the Historical Israel: Debating Archaeology and the History of Early Israel. Edited by Schmidt, Brian B.. Atlanta: SBL, 2007.Google Scholar
Fleming, Daniel E. “Genesis in History and Tradition: The Syrian Background of Israel’s Ancestors, Reprise.” Pages 193–232 in The Future of Biblical Archaeology: Reassessing Methodologies and Assumptions. Edited by Hoffmeier, James K. and Millard, Alan. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2004.Google Scholar
Hallo, William W. “Biblical History in Its Near Eastern Setting: The Contextual Approach.” Pages 1–26 in Scripture in Context: Essays on the Comparative Method. Edited by Evans, Carl D., Hallo, William W., and White, John B.. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 1980.Google Scholar
Hendel, Ronald S. Remembering Abraham: Culture, Memory, and History in the Hebrew Bible. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.Google Scholar
Hess, Richard S. “The Genealogies of Genesis 1–11 and Comparative Literature.” Pages 65–71 in I Studied Inscriptions from Before the Flood. Edited by Hess, R. S. and Tsumura, D. T.. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1994.Google Scholar
Lambert, Wilfried G. “Mesopotamian Creation Stories.” Pages 15–59 in Imagining Creation. Edited by Geller, Markham J. and Schipper, Mineke. Leiden: Brill, 2008.Google Scholar
Levy, Thomas E. “The New Pragmatism: Integrating Anthropological, Digital, and Historical Biblical Archaeologies.” Pages 3–44 in Historical Biblical Archaeology and the Future: The New Pragmatism. Edited by Levy, Thomas E.. London: Equinox, 2010.Google Scholar
Sasson, Jack M. “Mari and the Holy Grail.” Pages 186–98 in Orientalism, Assyriology, and the Bible. Edited by Holloway, Steven W.. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix, 2007.Google Scholar
Steinberg, Naomi A. “The Genealogical Framework of the Family Stories in Genesis.” Semeia 46 (1989): 41–50.Google Scholar
Thompson, Thomas L. The Historicity of the Patriarchal Narratives: The Quest for Historical Abraham. Berlin: de Gruyter, 1974.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tsumura, David T. “Genesis and Ancient Near Eastern Stories of Creation and Flood: An Introduction.” Pages 27–57 in I Studied Inscriptions From Before the Flood: Ancient Near Eastern, Literary, and Linguistic Approaches to Genesis 1–11. Edited by Hess, Richard S. and Tsumura, David T.. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1994.Google Scholar
Van Seters, John. Abraham in History and Tradition. New Haven, CT: Yale, 1975.Google Scholar
Chavalas, Mark W. “The Comparative Use of Ancient Near Eastern Texts in the Study of the Hebrew Bible.” Religion Compass 5.5 (2011): 150–65.Google Scholar
Chen, Y. S. “The Flood Motif as a Stylistic and Temporal Device in Sumerian Literary Traditions.” JANER 12.2 (2012): 158–89.Google Scholar
Finkelstein, Israel and Mazar, Amihai. The Quest for the Historical Israel: Debating Archaeology and the History of Early Israel. Edited by Schmidt, Brian B.. Atlanta: SBL, 2007.Google Scholar
Fleming, Daniel E. “Genesis in History and Tradition: The Syrian Background of Israel’s Ancestors, Reprise.” Pages 193–232 in The Future of Biblical Archaeology: Reassessing Methodologies and Assumptions. Edited by Hoffmeier, James K. and Millard, Alan. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2004.Google Scholar
Hallo, William W. “Biblical History in Its Near Eastern Setting: The Contextual Approach.” Pages 1–26 in Scripture in Context: Essays on the Comparative Method. Edited by Evans, Carl D., Hallo, William W., and White, John B.. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 1980.Google Scholar
Hendel, Ronald S. Remembering Abraham: Culture, Memory, and History in the Hebrew Bible. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.Google Scholar
Hess, Richard S. “The Genealogies of Genesis 1–11 and Comparative Literature.” Pages 65–71 in I Studied Inscriptions from Before the Flood. Edited by Hess, R. S. and Tsumura, D. T.. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1994.Google Scholar
Lambert, Wilfried G. “Mesopotamian Creation Stories.” Pages 15–59 in Imagining Creation. Edited by Geller, Markham J. and Schipper, Mineke. Leiden: Brill, 2008.Google Scholar
Levy, Thomas E. “The New Pragmatism: Integrating Anthropological, Digital, and Historical Biblical Archaeologies.” Pages 3–44 in Historical Biblical Archaeology and the Future: The New Pragmatism. Edited by Levy, Thomas E.. London: Equinox, 2010.Google Scholar
Sasson, Jack M. “Mari and the Holy Grail.” Pages 186–98 in Orientalism, Assyriology, and the Bible. Edited by Holloway, Steven W.. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix, 2007.Google Scholar
Steinberg, Naomi A. “The Genealogical Framework of the Family Stories in Genesis.” Semeia 46 (1989): 41–50.Google Scholar
Thompson, Thomas L. The Historicity of the Patriarchal Narratives: The Quest for Historical Abraham. Berlin: de Gruyter, 1974.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tsumura, David T. “Genesis and Ancient Near Eastern Stories of Creation and Flood: An Introduction.” Pages 27–57 in I Studied Inscriptions From Before the Flood: Ancient Near Eastern, Literary, and Linguistic Approaches to Genesis 1–11. Edited by Hess, Richard S. and Tsumura, David T.. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1994.Google Scholar
Van Seters, John. Abraham in History and Tradition. New Haven, CT: Yale, 1975.Google Scholar
Chavalas, Mark W. “The Comparative Use of Ancient Near Eastern Texts in the Study of the Hebrew Bible.” Religion Compass 5.5 (2011): 150–65.Google Scholar
Chen, Y. S. “The Flood Motif as a Stylistic and Temporal Device in Sumerian Literary Traditions.” JANER 12.2 (2012): 158–89.Google Scholar
Finkelstein, Israel and Mazar, Amihai. The Quest for the Historical Israel: Debating Archaeology and the History of Early Israel. Edited by Schmidt, Brian B.. Atlanta: SBL, 2007.Google Scholar
Fleming, Daniel E. “Genesis in History and Tradition: The Syrian Background of Israel’s Ancestors, Reprise.” Pages 193–232 in The Future of Biblical Archaeology: Reassessing Methodologies and Assumptions. Edited by Hoffmeier, James K. and Millard, Alan. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2004.Google Scholar
Hallo, William W. “Biblical History in Its Near Eastern Setting: The Contextual Approach.” Pages 1–26 in Scripture in Context: Essays on the Comparative Method. Edited by Evans, Carl D., Hallo, William W., and White, John B.. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 1980.Google Scholar
Hendel, Ronald S. Remembering Abraham: Culture, Memory, and History in the Hebrew Bible. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.Google Scholar
Hess, Richard S. “The Genealogies of Genesis 1–11 and Comparative Literature.” Pages 65–71 in I Studied Inscriptions from Before the Flood. Edited by Hess, R. S. and Tsumura, D. T.. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1994.Google Scholar
Lambert, Wilfried G. “Mesopotamian Creation Stories.” Pages 15–59 in Imagining Creation. Edited by Geller, Markham J. and Schipper, Mineke. Leiden: Brill, 2008.Google Scholar
Levy, Thomas E. “The New Pragmatism: Integrating Anthropological, Digital, and Historical Biblical Archaeologies.” Pages 3–44 in Historical Biblical Archaeology and the Future: The New Pragmatism. Edited by Levy, Thomas E.. London: Equinox, 2010.Google Scholar
Sasson, Jack M. “Mari and the Holy Grail.” Pages 186–98 in Orientalism, Assyriology, and the Bible. Edited by Holloway, Steven W.. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix, 2007.Google Scholar
Steinberg, Naomi A. “The Genealogical Framework of the Family Stories in Genesis.” Semeia 46 (1989): 41–50.Google Scholar
Thompson, Thomas L. The Historicity of the Patriarchal Narratives: The Quest for Historical Abraham. Berlin: de Gruyter, 1974.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tsumura, David T. “Genesis and Ancient Near Eastern Stories of Creation and Flood: An Introduction.” Pages 27–57 in I Studied Inscriptions From Before the Flood: Ancient Near Eastern, Literary, and Linguistic Approaches to Genesis 1–11. Edited by Hess, Richard S. and Tsumura, David T.. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1994.Google Scholar
Van Seters, John. Abraham in History and Tradition. New Haven, CT: Yale, 1975.Google Scholar

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