The Primeval NarrativesThe Primeval Narratives

Origin StoriesOrigin Stories

Before the history of the Before the history of the HebrewsHebrews

CyclesCycles

What happens repeatedly in almost What happens repeatedly in almost each of the 4 primeval narratives?each of the 4 primeval narratives?

Adam & Eve in the GardenAdam & Eve in the Garden Cain & AbelCain & Abel People in Noah’s dayPeople in Noah’s day BabelBabel

CyclesCycles

Things are goodThings are good People do evilPeople do evil God punishesGod punishes People remember God and change, People remember God and change,

making things good again.making things good again.

What are we to know about What are we to know about God?God?

What does God (what do the writers What does God (what do the writers want us to think that God) dislikes?want us to think that God) dislikes?

How does God punish?How does God punish? What are the effects of God’s What are the effects of God’s

punishment?punishment? Look for other parallels between the Look for other parallels between the

stories.stories.

The Fall: The Fall: beginning of death & beginning of death & mortalitymortality

Talking animals (staple of global folklore)Talking animals (staple of global folklore) Serpent not called evil, but “subtle” and Serpent not called evil, but “subtle” and

“crafty.”“crafty.” Questions the way God runs things.Questions the way God runs things. It knows what God knows.It knows what God knows. Effects of human disobedience are immediate Effects of human disobedience are immediate

and deeply painful.and deeply painful. Sexual knowledge is realized as part of sin.Sexual knowledge is realized as part of sin. Line is drawn between the immortal and mortal.Line is drawn between the immortal and mortal. God is still compassionate: makes clothes (first God is still compassionate: makes clothes (first

sacrifice. First shedding of blood)sacrifice. First shedding of blood)

Hugo van der GoesHugo van der Goes The Fall of Man The Fall of Man

1470’s1470’s Iris symbolizes Iris symbolizes

puritypurity Serpent is female Serpent is female

temptresstemptress

Titian Adam & Titian Adam & Eve: 1550Eve: 1550 Serpent is childSerpent is child Fox symbolizes Fox symbolizes

evil, cunning, evil, cunning, sensualitysensuality

Is Adam lusting or Is Adam lusting or trying to stop Evetrying to stop Eve

Adam is on the Adam is on the right, is he in the right, is he in the right?right?

Jan Brueghel the Elder with Peter Paul Rubens, Jan Brueghel the Elder with Peter Paul Rubens, The Garden The Garden of Eden with the Fall of Man, of Eden with the Fall of Man, c. 1615c. 1615 Notice grapes above Adam & monkey behind himNotice grapes above Adam & monkey behind him

Cain & Abel: the first Cain & Abel: the first murdermurder

Cain is produced with the help of Cain is produced with the help of Yahweh.Yahweh.

Sibling rivalry theme resurfaces later.Sibling rivalry theme resurfaces later. Does God prefers the younger child?Does God prefers the younger child? Cain: “an offering of the fruit of the Cain: “an offering of the fruit of the

ground” (Gen 4:3)ground” (Gen 4:3) Abel: “the firstlings of his flock, the fat Abel: “the firstlings of his flock, the fat

portions” (Gen 4:4)portions” (Gen 4:4) How does God treat Cain?How does God treat Cain?

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Noah: A new startNoah: A new start

Composed of J & P sources interwovenComposed of J & P sources interwoven God expresses profound sorrow (6:5-6)God expresses profound sorrow (6:5-6) Earth returns to a pre-creation state when Earth returns to a pre-creation state when

“darkness covered the face of the deep” “darkness covered the face of the deep” (1:2)(7:11)(1:2)(7:11)

Full of ironies. Full of terror, annihilation, Full of ironies. Full of terror, annihilation, compassion, hope. compassion, hope.

Noachan covenant. Rainbow is a symbol. Noachan covenant. Rainbow is a symbol. (9: 8-17)(9: 8-17)

The Sons of The Sons of Noah disperse Noah disperse

and fill the and fill the land.land.

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Babel: the last strawBabel: the last straw

An An etiologyetiology (story explaining how (story explaining how something originated)something originated)

Themes of human ambition and Themes of human ambition and divine retributiondivine retribution

Furthers man’s isolation from the Furthers man’s isolation from the divinedivine

Reading for next weekReading for next week

Genesis 12-22: Origins of the Genesis 12-22: Origins of the HebrewsHebrews Where did they come from?Where did they come from? Why did God call Abraham?Why did God call Abraham? What did God promise Abraham?What did God promise Abraham? What kind of person is Abraham?What kind of person is Abraham?