Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Jonathan D. Safren" <yonsaf AT beitberl.beitberl.ac.il>]

"Lee R. Martin" wrote:

> Dear Ken,
>
> You are correct.  I would describe Gen. 1:1-3 as follows:
>
> Verse 1 functions as a heading and sets the scene: The creative acts of God.
> Verse 2 describes the state of the earth when it is first created.
>                    1- it is an uninhabited wilderness
>                          (this is the meaning of the hendiadys: ToHu VaVoHu)
>                     2- darkness was covering the deep
>                     3- the Spirit of Yahweh is hovering over the waters
> (participle)
>                   There is no indication how long this state continued.
> Verse 3 begins the narrative of  subsequent creative actions that culminates
> in the making of humanity in the image of God.
>
> Yes,  ToHu can mean chaos or vanity, but it basically connotes emptiness,
> thus uninhabitedness.
>
> It seems to me that Gen. 1 presents God's creative work in steps or stages,
> a progression that reaches a climax.  This climax tells the reader that
> humanity was created with significance, not by accident or chance.
>

Dear Lee,
Considering that God's first actions, after "turning on the light", are to 
separate
day from night, water from land, upper waters from lower waters, I would opt 
for
"chaos" as the meaning of "tohu wavohu"; i.e., everything was chaotic and 
confused,
and God put "alles in Ordnung".
Yours,
Jonathan D. Safren
Dept. of Biblical Studies
Beit Berl College
44905 Beit Berl Post Office
Israel