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The Primeval Narratives

Delve into the primeval narratives of the Hebrews, where themes of creation, good and evil, and God's relationship with humanity unfold. Discover the cyclical nature of these stories, including the Fall of Adam and Eve, Cain's murder of Abel, and the consequences of humanity's actions as seen through the lens of Noah and the Tower of Babel. Explore the characteristics of God, divine punishment, and the yearning for redemption. These tales spotlight humanity's repeated struggles with disobedience, ambition, and the longing for divine connection.

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The Primeval Narratives

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Presentation Transcript

  1. The Primeval Narratives Origin Stories Before the history of the Hebrews

  2. Cycles • What happens repeatedly in almost each of the 4 primeval narratives? • Adam & Eve in the Garden • Cain & Abel • People in Noah’s day • Babel

  3. Cycles • Things are good • People do evil • God punishes • People remember God and change, making things good again.

  4. What are we to know about God? • What does God (what do the writers want us to think that God) dislikes? • How does God punish? • What are the effects of God’s punishment? • Look for other parallels between the stories.

  5. The Fall: beginning of death & mortality • Talking animals (staple of global folklore) • Serpent not called evil, but “subtle” and “crafty.” • Questions the way God runs things. • It knows what God knows. • Effects of human disobedience are immediate and deeply painful. • Sexual knowledge is realized as part of sin. • Line is drawn between the immortal and mortal. • God is still compassionate: makes clothes (first sacrifice. First shedding of blood)

  6. Hugo van der Goes • The Fall of Man 1470’s • Iris symbolizes purity • Serpent is female temptress

  7. Titian Adam & Eve: 1550 • Serpent is child • Fox symbolizes evil, cunning, sensuality • Is Adam lusting or trying to stop Eve • Adam is on the right, is he in the right?

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

  9. Cain & Abel: the first murder • Cain is produced with the help of Yahweh. • Sibling rivalry theme resurfaces later. • Does God prefers the younger child? • Cain: “an offering of the fruit of the ground” (Gen 4:3) • Abel: “the firstlings of his flock, the fat portions” (Gen 4:4) • How does God treat Cain?

  10. Noah: A new start • Composed of J & P sources interwoven • God expresses profound sorrow (6:5-6) • Earth returns to a pre-creation state when “darkness covered the face of the deep” (1:2)(7:11) • Full of ironies. Full of terror, annihilation, compassion, hope. • Noachan covenant. Rainbow is a symbol. (9: 8-17)

  11. The Sons of Noah disperse and fill the land.

  12. H:\Bible images\Flood\20_colette_isabella_les_animaux_entrent_dans.jpg

  13. Babel: the last straw • An etiology (story explaining how something originated) • Themes of human ambition and divine retribution • Furthers man’s isolation from the divine

  14. Reading for next week • Genesis 12-22: Origins of the Hebrews • Where did they come from? • Why did God call Abraham? • What did God promise Abraham? • What kind of person is Abraham?

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