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  • From: "Jonathan D. Safren" <yonsaf AT beitberl.beitberl.ac.il>
  • To: "Lee R. Martin" <lmartin AT vol.com>
  • Cc: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Gen 1:1-2
  • Date: Mon, 04 Jan 1999 16:21:53 +0200


"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





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