Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

b-hebrew - Re: Genesis 2:4

b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "George Athas" <gathas AT mail.usyd.edu.au>
  • To: "Biblical Hebrew" <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Genesis 2:4
  • Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1999 14:10:38 +1100



> > Lee R.Martin Wrote
> > I disagree, however, with your statement that Gen. 2:4 could come before
> Gen.
> > 1:1. This is where Gunkel erred. The Hebrew word "toledoth" does not
> mean
> > "origin," it means "progeny." Gen 1 tells of the creation of "heaven and
> > earth," then Gen 2 tells of the progeny of heaven and earth. Please see
> > Brevard Childs for an excellent theological explanation of the two
> accounts.
> > I have recently written a paper on the topic that will be published in the
> > spring in a Festschrift.
> > Lee R. Martin

Noel O'Riordan wrote:

> Frank Moore Cross also argues that 2:4 is in its correct position, and is
> used by P as a superscription to the paradise narrative. (F.M.Cross
> Canaanite Myth and Hebrew epic. p302)
>

With the above posts, and another by Peter Kirk, I realise my post gave the
impression
that the beginning of Genesis was just a random compilation of various source
material.
That's not the impression I was trying to give. Of course Gen 2 should come
after Gen 1
because of the thematic developments in each. What I originally intended to
highlight was
that Gen 1 and Gen 2 were different accounts of creation and probably weren't
even
associated together originally. Rather, it was by the deliberate choice of a
scribe that
Gen 1 and Gen 2 were brought together. So, it was only by a compiler's design
that Gen 1
preceded Gen 2, not because both chapters were written by the same original
author.

Best regards,
George Athas
Dept of Semitic Studies,
University of Sydney
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tel Dan Inscription Website
http://members.xoom.com/gathas/teldan.htm
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
< gathas@ mail.usyd.edu.au >




  • Genesis 2:4, Lee R. Martin, 11/30/1999
    • <Possible follow-up(s)>
    • Re: Genesis 2:4, Noel O'Riordan, 11/30/1999
    • Re: Genesis 2:4, George Athas, 11/30/1999

Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page