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Names of Groups -- OT Semites -- Abraham

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Judah
Abraham

“Abraham”
Louis S. Glanzman
20th Century
About 4,000 years
ago
2,000 BCE

Pyramid of Kheops- 2560 BCE Epic

of
Gilgamesh
2700 BCE
 The Call of Abram
Genesis 12-50 Genesis 1-11 Prehistory
Beginnings of Hebrew People Fate of Created World
Genesis 12:1-3
12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram,
"Go from your country and your

blessin
kindred and your father's house to the
land that I will show you. 2 I will make

g
of you a great nation, and I will bless
Curse Curse
you, and make your name great, so that
you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless
those who bless you, and the one who
curses you I will curse; and in you all
the families of the earth shall be
blessed." Curse Curse
Sheol: Rest in Peace
1. Male Offspring
What does Abram
2. Family Farm Leave behind?
Genesis 12:1-3
12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram,
"Go from your country and 1. your
country
kindred and your father's house to the
2. kindred
land that I will show you. 2 I will make
3. father’s
of you a great nation, and I will bless
house
you, and make your name great, so that
you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless
those who bless you, and the one who

Ur
curses you I will curse; and in you all
the families of the earth shall be
blessed."
Mesopotamia
 Advanced
Civilization

Zigguret-- Ur
Chariots of Ur 2600 BCE
 Genesis 12:1-3
What is
12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram, Abram
"Go from your country and your
promised?
kindred and your father's house to the
land that I will show you. 2 I will make
of you a great nation, and I will bless
you, and make your name great, so that
1. Land
you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless
those who bless you, and the 2.oneGreat
who nation
curses you I will curse; and in3.you
Great
all name
the families of the earth shall be
blessed."

Divine promise of land and posterity echoes throughout

Genesis (13.15-17; 15.5,7,18-21; 17.2-8; 22.17-18;24.60; 26.2-4;
28.3-4,13-15).
 Fertile Crescent

Meaning of Names
Three Characteristics
Jordan: Descending
1. small
Chinnereth: Harp-shaped
2. infertile
Galilee: Circle
3. landbridge

Elevations
Mount Hermon- + 9,232 ft
Sea of Galilee - 696 ft
Dead Sea - 1,296 ft
 Joszef Molnar
1850, Budapest
 Abram the Sojourner
Physical Journey: From Ur to Haran to Shechem
Spiritual Journey: From doubt to faith

Haran

Shechem
Ur
The Abraham Cycle (Genesis 11-25)-- symmetry
A Genealogical Framework (ch 11)
B Migration from Haran (ch 12)
C Building altars; land promised (ch 12) Faith
D “Wife-sister” episode (ch 12) famine Doubt
E Border agreement with Lot (ch 13) best land Faith
F Sodom Episode & rescue of Lot (ch 14)Eliezer-heirDoubt
G Covenant of sacrifice (ch 15) vs 6-Abram believed Faith
X Expulsion & Rescue of Hagar (ch. 16)
G1 Covenant of circumcision (ch 17)
F1 Sodom Episode & rescue of Lot (ch 18-19)
E1 Border agreement with Abimelech (ch 21)
D1 “Wife-Sister” episode (ch 20) famine
C1 Building an altar; land secured (ch 22-23)
B1 Migration to Haran (ch 24)
A1 Genealogical Framework (ch 25)
God shows Abraham the Stars
Julius Schnorr
The Abraham Cycle (Genesis 11-25)-- symmetry
A Genealogical Framework (ch 11)
B Migration from Haran (ch 12)
C Building altars; land promised (ch 12) Faith
D “Wife-sister” episode (ch 12) famine Doubt
E Border agreement with Lot (ch 13) best land Faith
F Sodom Episode & rescue of Lot (ch 14)Eliezer-heirDoubt
G Covenant of sacrifice (ch 15) vs 6-Abram believed Faith
X Hagar & birth of Ishmael (ch. 16)
G1 Covenant of circumcision (ch 17)
F1 Sodom Episode & rescue of Lot (ch 18-19)
E1 Border agreement with Abimelech (ch 21)
D1 “Wife-Sister” episode (ch 20) famine
C1 Building an altar; land secured (ch 22-23)
B1 Migration to Haran (ch 24)
A1 Genealogical Framework (ch 15)
Gen 15
5 He brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven J Covenant
and count the stars, if you are able to count them."
Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
6 And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned
it to him as righteousness. 7 Then he said to him,
Hittite Treaty Formula
1. Preamble:
"I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans,
“I am the Lord”
to give you this land to possess." 8 But he said, "O Lord GOD,
2. Historical Prologue
how am I to know that I shall possess it?" 9 He said to him,
"Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three“who brought you
from
years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young Ur. . . .”
pigeon."
3. Obligations for King
10 He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying
each half over against the other; but he did not cut the Gift
birds of
in land
two.
11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, & descendants
Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was going down, 4. Obligations for Vassal
a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifyingnothing
darkness descended upon him. . . .17 When the sun had gone
5. Sealing action:
down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch
passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made
“cutting animals”
a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants
I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river,
the river Euphrates.” To cut a covena
 5 He brought him outside and said, Gen 15

"Look toward heaven and count the stars, J Covenant

if you are able to count them."
Then he said to him, Covenant
"So shall your descendants be." =
6 And he believed the LORD; A solemn
and the LORD reckoned it to him Oath or
as righteousness. Agreement

Latin:
18 On that day the LORD made Testamentum
a covenant with Abram, saying,
"To your descendants I give this land,
Faith comes
from the river of Egypt to the great river, first !
Euphrates.”
 Chapter 15"I am the LORD
who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans,
J Covenant
to give you this land to possess."
8 But he said, "O Lord GOD, Jerusalem 10th
how am I to know that I shall possess it?" Century
9 He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three Temple built new
years old, a female goat three years old,
a ram three years old, a turtledove,
and a young pigeon."
10He brought him all these and cut them
in two, laying each half over against the
other; but he did not cut the birds in two.
17 When the sun had gone
down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot
and a flaming torch To cut a covenan
passed between these pieces.
The Abraham Cycle (Genesis 11-25)-- symmetry
A Genealogical Framework (ch 11)
B Migration from Haran (ch 12)
C Building altars; land promised (ch 12) Faith
D “Wife-sister” episode (ch 12) famine Doubt
E Border agreement with Lot (ch 13) best land Faith
F Sodom Episode & rescue of Lot (ch 14)Eliezer-heirDoubt
G Covenant of sacrifice (ch 15) vs 6-Abram believed Faith
X Hagar & birth of Ishmael (ch. 16)
G1 Covenant of circumcision (ch 17)
F1 Sodom Episode & rescue of Lot (ch 18-19)
E1 Border agreement with Abimelech (ch 21)
D1 “Wife-Sister” episode (ch 20) famine
C1 Building an altar; land secured (ch 22-23)
B1 Migration to Haran (ch 24)
A1 Genealogical Framework (ch 15)
Genesis 16 – Abraham sleeps with
Hagar: Birth of Ishmael
Gen 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD
appeared to Abram, and said to him, "I am God Almighty;
walk before me, and be blameless. 2 And I will make my P Covenant
covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly
numerous." 3 Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to
him, 4 "As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be God Almighty
the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your
name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have
El Shaddai
made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make
you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and
kings shall come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant
Context:
between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout Exile in Babylon
their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to
you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you,
and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an Loss of land
alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will
be their God." 9 God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall Kingship
keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout
their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall
Temple
keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every
male among you shall be circumcised. 15 God said to
Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her
Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.”
 P Covenant
Gen 17:1
When Abram was ninety-nine God Almighty
years old, the LORD appeared El Shaddai
to Abram, and said to him,
Hittite Treaty Formula
"I am God Almighty; 1. Preamble:
walk before me, “I am God Almighty”
2. Historical Prologue
and be blameless. 3. Stipulations of King
2 And I will make my covenant Gift of land
& descendants
between me and you, & kings from you
and will make you 4. Stipulations for Vassal
walk before me
exceedingly numerous." 5. Sealing action:
“circumcision”
4 "As for me, this is my covenant
P Covenant
with you: You shall be the ancestor
of a multitude of nations. God Almighty
5 No longer shall your name be Abram,
but your name shall be Abraham;
El Shaddai
for I have made you the ancestor of a Hittite Treaty Formula
multitude of nations. 1. Preamble:
“I am God Almighty”
6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; 2. Historical Prologue
and I will make nations of you, 3. Stipulations of King
& kings shall come from you. Gift of land
& descendants
7 I will establish my covenant & kings from you
between me and you, and your 4. Stipulations for Vassal
walk before me
offspring after you throughout 5. Sealing action:
their generations,. “circumcision”
8 And I will give to you, P Covenant
and to your offspring after you,
the land where you are now an alien, God Almighty
all the land of Canaan, for a El Shaddai
perpetual holding;
and I will be their God."
9 God said to Abraham, "As for you,
you shall keep my covenant. . .
10 This is my covenant, which you Circumcision
Shall keep, between me and you All males
and your offspring after you: 8th day
Every male among you shall be
circumcised.
Tomb of Ankh-Mahor Circumcision in other
6th Dynasty – Egypt cultures
2300 BCE Coming of Age
 Maasai

When a boy is initiated/

Circumcised,
His friends gather wearing
Charcoal-darkened cloth.
Judaism
8 days old

Marc Chagall
1931
 Genesis 15 Genesis 17
Name of LORD God Almighty
God Yahweh El Shaddai
Source J—10th C. P—6th C.
Jerusalem Babylon
Blessings Land Land
Descendants Descendants
Kings
Sealing Sacrifice animals Circumcision
action
Role of Not mentioned Sarah included
women
 Abram Abraham
“Father is exalted” Name “Father of a Multitu

Change
Sarai Sarah
“she struggles” “Princess”
 Response of Laughter
17:17 Then Abraham fell on his
face and laughed, and said to
himself, "Can a child be born
to a man who is a hundred
years old? Can Sarah, who is
ninety years old, bear a child?"

Abraham
Next Story
Abraham &
Sarah entertain
3 visitors:
“You will have a
child!”

Gerard Horenbout
1510
 Response
of Laughter

Sarah

Julius Schnoor
Gen 18:12 So Sarah laughed to herself,
saying, "After I have grown old, and my
husband is old, shall I have pleasure?"
Rembrandt
Sarah’s child:
Yitzhak
Isaac

Laughter

“Sarah Laughs”
Safad Bible
The Abraham Cycle (Genesis 11-25)-- symmetry
A Genealogical Framework (ch 11)
B Migration from Haran (ch 12)
C Building altars; land promised (ch 12) Faith
D “Wife-sister” episode (ch 12) famine Doubt
E Border agreement with Lot (ch 13) best land Faith
F Sodom Episode & rescue of Lot (ch 14) Eliezer-heir Doubt
G Covenant of sacrifice (ch 15) vs 6-Abram believed Faith
X Expulsion & Rescue of Hagar (ch. 16)-Ishmael Doubt
G1 Covenant of circumcision (ch 17)--laugh Faith
F1 Sodom Episode & rescue of Lot (ch 18-19)-hospitality Doubt
E1 Border agreement with Abimelech (ch 21) intercede Faith
D1 “Wife-Sister” episode (ch 20) famine Doubt
intercede Faith
C1 Building an altar; land secured (ch 22-23) Isaac Faith
Burial place for Sarah Faith
B1 Migration to Haran (ch 24)
A1 Genealogical Framework (ch 25)
 Abraham pleads for
Sodom

Faith:
Care
for
the
other
Abraham
expels
Hagar &
Ishmael
The “Sacrifice” of Isaac
Gen 22:1 After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, Sacrifice
"Abraham!" 2. . . "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love,
of Isaac
and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on
one of the mountains that I shall show you." 3 So Abraham rose early in
the morning,. . . 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place
far away. . . 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on
Test
his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. . . 7 Isaac said
to his father Abraham, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the
Moriah =
lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God himself will provide God will
the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." . . . 9 When they came to the place
that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood
provide
in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the
wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill NT
his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and Parallels
said, "Abraham, Abraham. . .12 Do not lay your hand on the boy or do only son,
anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not whom you love
withheld your son, your only son, from me." 13 And Abraham looked up
and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. . .14 So Abraham called
that place "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the
mount of the LORD it shall be provided." 15 The angel of the LORD
Blessing:
called to Abraham. . .17 I will indeed bless you, and I will make your descendants
offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on
the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies.” land/ gate
The Abraham Cycle (Genesis 11-25)-- symmetry
A Genealogical Framework (ch 11)
B Migration from Haran (ch 12)
C Building altars; land promised (ch 12) Faith
D “Wife-sister” episode (ch 12) famine Doubt
E Border agreement with Lot (ch 13) best land Faith
F Sodom Episode & rescue of Lot (ch 14) Eliezer-heir Doubt
G Covenant of sacrifice (ch 15) vs 6-Abram believed Faith
X Expulsion & Rescue of Hagar (ch. 16)-Ishmael Doubt
G1 Covenant of circumcision (ch 17)--laugh Faith
F1 Sodom Episode & rescue of Lot (ch 18-19)-hospitality Doubt
E1 Border agreement with Abimelech (ch 21) intercede Faith
D1 “Wife-Sister” episode (ch 20) famine Doubt
intercede Faith
C1 Building an altar; land secured (ch 22-23) Isaac Faith
Burial place for Sarah Faith
B1 Migration to Haran (ch 24)
A1 Genealogical Framework (ch 25)
 Abraham

Next class:
Ishmael & Isaac

Gen 15, 17, 25

“Abraham”
Louis S. Glanzman
20th Century
6th century
Ravenna