[OT] The story of Abraham

The story of Abraham is interesting.  If you've read through it, you may have noticed some of the stories repeat themselves.  For example, there are two incidents where a king want's Sarah to be his wive, so Abraham tells the king Sarah is his sister. (Gen 12:10-20; Gen 20:1-18)

These parallel stories are arranged in a chiastic format -- essentially like an elaborate sandwich with bread, mayo, mustard, lettus, cheeze and meat; followed by the same ingredients in reverse order.  The meat lies at the center of the inverted parallel structure.

Understanding this can bring a seemingly random collection of stories to life.  Comparing and contrasting the parallels often lead to further insight.

At the center of the Abraham chiasmus is the focal point -- Abraham's covenant with God.  Below is the chiastic structure of Abraham.  Note that C' and D' seem to be out of order. 


Gen 11:21-22:19

A Display of faith: Abram leaves his homeland; the first promise 11:31–12:3
   B Abram sojourns in Canaan 12:4-9
       C The stay in Egypt; Abram passes Sarai off as his sister 12:10-20
           D The separation of Abram, who has the promise, from Lot, who does not have the promise 13:1-18
               E The rescue of Lot 14:1-24
                   F Abram's fears of infertility are allayed by the promise of a son; God makes a covenant 15:1-21
                       G Sarai's attempt to get a son: Ishmael 16:1-16
                           X THE COVENANT; Abram's new name, etc. 17:1-10
                       G´ Circumcision; the rejection of Ishmael and the promise of a son through Sarah 17:9-27
                   F´ Sarah is told of the promise of a son, despite her fears of infertility 18:1-15
               E´ The rescue of Lot 18:16–19:38
       C´ The stay in Gerar; Abraham passes Sarah off as his sister 20:1-18
           D´ The birth of Isaac; the separation of Isaac, the child of the promise, from Ishmael, the child outside the promise 21:1-21
   B´ Abraham sojourns among the Philistines 21:22-34
A´ Display of faith: Abraham is willing to sacrifice Isaac; the final promise 22:1-19

[OT] Egyptian Cosmogonies

Egyptian cosmogonies are similar to those in the Middle East, but are dominated by the Sun and the Nile.  Kings and some other noblemen could be gods, and regular people immortal.  The Egyptian universe also emerged from primeval waters, with space hollowed out by Nun.  The female Nut acted like the firmament holding back the waters (sometimes a cow or shell).  The Sun (Ra) enters her mouth, passing through her star speckled body and emerging from her birth canal nine months later, from the spring equinox to the winter solstice (note Christian dating of the birth of Christ is based on conception on the spring equinox and birth at the winter solstice). Thus, Ra becomes a self-creating god, i.e. the Universe is self-creating and eternal. [http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~js/ast123/lectures/lec01.html]

The Egyptians realized the sun was the source of the day, who pushed back the darkness of the abyss.  Major cities had their own unique theologies, often placing themselves at the focal point of creation.

Hermopolis (meaning "eight-town", after the Ogdoad)

Nu and Naunet are the primal waters with other god pairs (Ogdoad - Eight original gods) representing the never ending size of the waters, the darkness (Kuk and Kauket), & the mystery of the waters.  The female gods are snakes, who merge with the male frogs causing  a great upheaval and the pyramid mounds rises & the sun God rises from the pyramids to light the world.

Heliopolis

Atum, the sun god came from the waters of Nun through an act of will, creating everything else. Atum appeared on the mound and sneezed out the air gods Shu and Tefnutave., whose existence represented the emergence of an empty space amid the waters.  Shu and Tefnut coupled to produce the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut, who defined the limits of the world. Geb and Nut in turn gave rise to four children, who represented the forces of life: Osiris (fertility and regeneration); Isis (motherhood); Se (male sexuality); and Nephthys (female complement of Set). They are part of the Ennead, the nine original gods (apparently a variation of the Ogdoad in Hermopolis).  The city Heliopolis was built to rise out of the waters.   Mankind is formed from the tears of Atum after he weeps for joy on finding his lost children in the abyss.

Memphsis

Similar to Helopolis, but included Ptah, the patron of craftsmen.  Atum was given form when he named him. By speaking their names, Ptah produced the gods and all other things (Compare "And God said, let there be ... and there was ...").

Thebes

Amon was the chief god, associated with the sun as Amon-Ra, who was self-created, and then created all else.  He sailed through the sky in his boat each day.  Amon was not merely a member of the Ogdoad (gods of the primordian waters), but the hidden force behind all things, existing separately from the created world as the first creator.  One Theban myth likened Amon's act of creation to the call of a goose, which broke the stillness of the primeval waters and caused the Ogdoad and Ennead to form.  Amon eventually became the supreme god of the Egyptian pantheon.

Greece had two traditions, one based on  scientific observation and the other on myth.  The mythical tradition begins with chaos.  Gaia (mother earth) arose from chaos giving birth to Uraunus (the sky) who holds back the chaos.  As in the middle east, a revolt among the gods leaves Zeus as the chief god.

[OT] Hamblin on Genesis 1:1-2

Here are some useful videos by Dr. William J. Hamblin of Brigham Young University, combing through the Hebrew (and other) of the first two verses of Genesis [pointed out by the Mar 2010 FAIR newsletter]. 

  Genesis 1:1a, "create"
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lRGDeLlhho
  Genisis 1:1b, "God/Gods"
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c66tWR9rZxU
  Genesis 1:1c, "heavens"
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ds0vFMVrSo
  Genesis 1:2a, "chaotic wasteland"
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v85N1jJzl8U
  Genesis 1:2b, "the deep"
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjzMeuM85LM
  Genesis 1:2b(2), "the abyss"
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duZQ-b7eLYY
  Genesis 1:2c, "the Spirit"
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRh5zfB60hU

[OT] Welcome

Thanks to those of you who just signed up for the Old-Testament group!

This list is an open forum for any sort of discussion regarding items related to the Old Testament (except proselyting or bashing).

Please feel free to post, ask questions, state your opinion, introduce topics, etc...   Everyone is welcome!

Personally, I've been interested in understanding the early chapters of Genesis and the context of that book.  I'm cleaning up some old notes and posting them.  They're based on a nice commentary by Umberto Cassuto's on the early chapters of Genesis up through the flood, plus some other stuff I've run across on the Internet.

I'm fascinated with how the early Middle Eastern religions viewed the universe, and how it was created.  Genesis seems to hint at, and challenge the conceptions of it's neighbors.  There are both similarities and stark contrasts -- between the Hebrews and the Canaanites/ Babylonians/ Akkadians/ Sumerians/ Egyptians.  I've been trying to understand each of their views of how the Universe was created (cosomgenies) and compare them.

Here is what has been posted recently (oldest at the bottom).

	Canaan Cosmogony
	Babylonian Cosmogony
	Sumerian Cosmogony
	Early Middle Eastern Chronology
	Days of Creation
	Rahab & Pre-biblical poetic epics
	Firmament
	References to Mesopotamian gods in Genesis 1:2
	Extra-Genesis biblical creation references
	Monotheism in the middle east

Thanks again for joining!

[OT] Canaan Cosmogony

Canaan, about 1450-1200 BCE [Primary source is the Baal cycle.  A full account is missing due to incomplete and damaged text.  Later details of their cosmogony have Greek influences]

• Gods such as chaos, ether, air, wind and desire were produced from the egg Mot. The egg was populated with creatures who remained motionless until opened.

• The sky and heavenly bodies were formed. Later the waters were separated from the sky, and the gods were formed.

• There were twin mountains, Targhizizi and Tharumagi, which held the firmament above the earth-circling ocean, bounding the earth.

• Baal Hadad (sky and storm god, associated with the west wind) and Yam (god of the chaotic sea, also called "Judge Nahar {River}" the same as, or in league with Lotan / Leviathan, a Dragon / Serpent) live with the Canaanite high god El on mount Lel, the source of the rivers and two oceans, as well as where those waters meet those of the firmament. 

• El holds a council of the gods ("Elohim";  note "El" is usually a generic description for "god" in the Old Testament, and "Elohim" {words ending with "im" are plural in Hebrew} is the most common designation for "God" in the Old Testament ).

• After a dispute between El and Baal, Yam is made king of the gods, becoming the "darling of El."

• Yam must drive Baal from his throne, but Baal triumphs, killing Yam.

• Baal is rewarded with a palace and feast to which Mot (god of death, drought & sterility -- seemingly different than the egg Mot) is invited.

• Mot is insulted with an offering of bread and wine when he prefers flesh and blood, and suggests eating Baal.  Later he kills Baal.

• Anat, Baal's sister and lover, kills Mot and Baal is resurrected.  Seven years later, Mot also resurrects, but El has pronounced Baal his favorite, and Mot recognizes Baal as king.

• The victory of Anat was perpetuated year after year in ritual celebration.  Canaanites reenacted their struggle against sterility to ensure the creativity and fertility of the world, celebrating the death of a god, the quest of the goddess, and his the triumphant return to the divine sphere.

• Baal is often depicted as Yahweh's antagonist in the Old Testament. However, like Baal, Yahweh  is depicted as a god of the storm, who's voice is as thunder and sends lightning (Ps.18:10–16).  Both are the "rider of the clouds" (Isa.19:1; Ps. 68:5), dominating the sea (ym) and vanquishing the primordial dragon (Ps. 74:13–14; Isa. 27:1; 51:9–10; Job 26:12–13). They are both also responsible for human and natural fertility.

• more info here here here and here.  Photo: Ba'al with raised arm.

[OT] Babylonian Cosmogony

Babylonian Cosmogony.  A Semitic group (Amorites)  conquered Sumer about 2300 BCE, centered in Akkad (language Akkadian also called Assyro-Babylonian).  During Hammurabi's reign (1790s-50s BCE), the capital moved to Babylon.  They borrowed heavily from their Sumerian predecessors. The first 5 tablets of the creation/flood epic were likely written in the 1st Babylonian dynasty (1830-1531 BCE), the last two during the 2nd (Kassite) dynasty.

• The fresh water god is the male Apsu (Ab=water, zu=far) and the salt water god, the female Tiamat (may be related to Aakadian tâmtu "sea" or Sumerian ti=life, and ama=mother, may have originally been a Nammu cult.  Signifies chaos.  May be related to "Tehom" in Gen 1:2, rendered "Deep").
  
• Their mating produced the gods.  '"When above" the heavens did not yet exist nor the earth below, Apsu the freshwater ocean was there, "the first, the begetter", and Tiamat, the saltwater sea, "she who bore them all"; they were "mixing their waters."'
  
• These gods were noisy and Apsu could not rest by day or night (the sun, moon nor earth has not yet been created, yet day and night exist.  The Babylonians apparently had not yet conceived that the sun caused the day, but only marked the day).
• Apsu suggests killing of their offspring gods, but they kill Apsu.
• Marduk (counterpart to the Sumerian Enlil, god of light, called Merodach in the Bible, Asshur in Assyria), the chief of the offspring gods kills Tiamat, splits her body in half "like an oyster" and the two halves become the firmament (sky/heaven) and the earth.  Her spittle provide rain and clouds, and her head becomes the mountains.  From her eyes flow the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
  
• Marduk was credited for bringing order from chaos, and good from evil.
• Marduk slew Qingu while battling Tiamat, and mixed the blood of Qingu with clay to make Man, to work for the gods.
  
• Man's  sins invite chaos, and elaborate rituals were needed to rectify their sins, providing a ritual rebirth of the world, free from sins of the past.
• See  Brent Meeker, Cosmology and Cosmogony of Ancient Civilizations;  Wikipedia Mesopotamian Mythology.

[OT] Sumerian Cosmogony

Sumer - People from N.E. began settling Mesopotamia (meaning between rivers - the Tigris and Euphrates; swamp land at the head of the Persian gulf where Eden is thought to exist) about 5000 BC.  They later invented the wheel & writing.  Each city was ruled by a goddess or god with an elaborate priesthood with high priests ("En") discerning the god's will from a ziggurat, a temple shrine atop stairs with a purification pond in front (early ziggurats were elevated {one step}, later developing into stairs).

Sumerian pantheon was called Anunnaki (Anu = Heaven, Na = And, Ki = Earth)

The cosmology dates from approximately 3100 BCE

• The primordial sea (abyss) is called Nammu (the mother of all)
• The mother goddess Nammu (or Ninhursag "exalted lady" or Nintu, "the lady who gave birth," later Tiamat) creates "An" or Akkadian "Anu" (heaven) and "Ki" (earth). (Compare Gen 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.")  An is a hard metalic shell lying on Ki.
• The union of Ki and An produced Enlil god of air, wind and storm (En=Lord or high priest, Lil = Air/wind.  Yahweh has also been depicted as a storm god at times. Compare "a mighty wind [ruah] swept over the waters." [Gen 1:2, NAB])  He is usually portrayed in human form but also appears as a snake to the humans eyes. 
  
• Enlil lifted An away from Ki providing a space for humans to live, and filled with it with Lil.
  
• The bright aspects of Lil form the sun, moon and stars
• Enlil creates living things in the Lil.
• Enki is the son of Enlil and god of the freshwater sea beneath the earth ("the abyss," later called "apsu"), source of the Tigris and Euphrates (presumed by the Sumerians to come from underground).  Sometimes he is considered the god of the fertile earth.
  
• Enki (later Akkadian Ea) creates man from clay in the image of the gods (compare to Adam) to relieve the lesser gods (igigi) of their labor.
  
• A related myth has Enlil and other powerful gods enslaving the lesser gods to work for them.  They rebel while Enlil sleeps and when he awakes they negotiate a solution.  Male-female pairs from clay mingled with the blood of Geshtu-e (or Kingu), "a god who had intelligence", who was sacrificed for this reason.  Mankind then become slaves instead of the lesser gods (note that Sumerians used slaves to support their hierarchical priestly structure).
• More info at Cosmology and Cosmogony of Ancient Civilizations; Wikipedia, Sumerian Religion; Wikipedia Mesopotamian Mythology