Biblical Hebrew Forum

[dwashbur AT nyx.net]

On 15 May 2009 at 6:40, Yitzhak Sapir wrote:

> On Fri, May 15, 2009 at 1:07 AM,  Dave Washburn wrote:
>
> > The approach deals with much more than just title and author.  To get the 
> > full idea one
> > needs to check out P. J. Wiseman, "New Discoveries in Babylonia About 
> > Genesis" (London:
> > Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1946) where the idea was first presented in a 
> > more or less full
> > form.  There's a summary of the whole approach at
> >
> > http://www.biblemysteries.com/library/genesis.htm
> >
> > The lectures Karl remembers were probably based on Wiseman's work.  I 
> > read the book in
> > the early 80's and it made a lot of sense.  Your reduction of it to 
> > nothing more than a
> > colophon of title and author doesn't do it any kind of justice.
>
> Thank you, Dave!  This reference to Wiseman is very helpful indeed.
> It does seem
> to me to be a source (if not the source) for Karl's theory.
>
> My guess is that the book you read may have actually been "Ancient records 
> and
> the structure of Genesis : a case for literary unity," which was
> edited by Donald J
> Wiseman, and published 1985.

That actually does sound like the title of the book I read way back when.  I 
was working in a
Christian bookstore at the time and saw it on the shelf, and since I was 
allowed to borrow
any books I wanted from the store I was able to read it, but at the time with 
two small
children I couldn't afford to buy it, and hence trying to find the title 
again was harder than
pulling teeth ever thought of being.  Thanks for the update!

> As you said, you're "not the one arguing this."  So I hope Karl will
> tell us if this is
> indeed a book where we can find more about this theory.  (It does seem
> so to me).
> Until then, I will limit my further responses to this thread.

I find Wiseman's approach feasible, but won't go to the wall for it.  That's 
why I'm not
arguing it; however, I am glad I was able to help the discussion a little by 
tracking down the
writer's name.

> An extended discussion of all this author's theory is at:
> http://books.google.com/books?id=0FCG2YTWFtcC&pg=PA5 (p. 5)
>
> The discussion seems to span p. 2 - 10, and I was able to access all these 
> pages
> with google books.  However, p. 5 is where he starts to discuss the
> possibility that
> the toledoth is a colophon.

Something to check out.  Thanks again!

Dave Washburn

Ibuprofen, Hebuprofen, Shebuprofen, Theybuprofen, wouldn't you like to be a 
profen too?