Rethinking the Place and Purpose of Genesis 13
From reading the writings on Genesis 13 it is clear that, for many, the text has two main foci: (1) the separation of Abraham and Lot, the meaning of which has been variously interpreted by commentators, and/or (2) the promise of descendants. The promise of land, in contrast, is viewed, at best, as...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage
2011
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| In: |
Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Year: 2011, Volume: 36, Issue: 1, Pages: 31-53 |
| Further subjects: | B
Abraham
B Plumbline B Abraham narrative B separation of Abraham and Lot B Promised Land B Land |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Electronic
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| Summary: | From reading the writings on Genesis 13 it is clear that, for many, the text has two main foci: (1) the separation of Abraham and Lot, the meaning of which has been variously interpreted by commentators, and/or (2) the promise of descendants. The promise of land, in contrast, is viewed, at best, as a secondary purpose within the narrative. Further, the character of Lot is seen solely in terms of his relationship to the blessing or his potential to be Abraham’s heir. However, these readings fail to see the separation of Abraham and Lot in light of the entirety of ch. 13 and the literary and theological connections between Genesis 13 and the command of Gen. 12.1 and the promise of 12.7. These connections point to two altogether different foci for ch. 13: (1) Abraham’s settlement in the land and (2) Abraham finally coming to the place of alignment with God’s command to separate himself fully from his father’s household. These foci lead to a new understanding of both Genesis 13 in general and the separation of Abraham and Lot in particular. |
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| ISSN: | 1476-6728 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/0309089211419774 |