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| Author: Gabriel |
Anyway if we follow the advice there'll still be some black spots. For example, the mess with God's name or often seen doublets. Just remember revealing to Abraham and naming himself as Yahweh (Gen.13:4) and the same story with Moses in Exodus; or repeating entering the arc by Noah. There are a lot of such doublets in Old Testament particularly in first five books. And probably the thesis that Pentateuch is not Moses' work but the collection of four-author's one has the right to exist. Among Redactor, Priestly source, Elohist author and Jehwist author (J-author), the last one is the most human, creative one. And whether you've read the Bible from the beginning till the end or not, you surely know the most first stories of OT, where the significant part is created by J-author.
The fact that the first five books are not written by one person, as we were taught, is shocking, isn't it? And how will you react if you'll know that there exists the theory about J-author as a woman? Anyway, let's look through the stories in a new manner. Some of them we know since childhood, some of them we'll read for the first time. Seriously, it'll be funny.
The first story, written by J-author is the story of creation of Adam and Eve, the second story of creation. We are already able to see J-author's style of writing and the actual themes of writing. First, she likes playing with wordsGod made a man (Hebrew - adam) from the dust of the ground (adamah) (Gen2:7). Second, J-author's prerogative is to write about men and women. Woman - that's the one who'll be direct or indirect hero of the J-stories. Just check this outthe woman decides to eat from the tree and the man, who is with her, eats it too (Gen.3:6). And what about his silly excuse she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it (Gen3:12)? We see a man as a human-being willing to eat not to think. He is a fool or he is a hungry fool. By the way, there's confusion in the J-'creation story'. The woman replies to the serpent that God forbad eating only from the one tree. (Gen.3:3) And further, God asks the man whether he ate from tree he forbad. And so, I can assume that people could eat from the tree of life and only the tree of the knowledge was forbidden (both trees were in the middle of Eden). My thought may be as the leading-out from the story or the mistaken fantasy. Another surprising thing is Gen.3:22 where the real motivation of banishing of the man stated. I was taught that the man was expelled just because he disobeyed God's command and ate the forbidden fruit. But after rereading, another thought comes to my mind. In order to protect the tree of life (or protect his own ego) God expels people. It is very confusing and shocking for me. I thought that I must pay for my evil actions no matter what. I thought that every evil must be punished and eradicated. And as the example, there was the story about The Fall of Man. Another motivation of Falling brings new faith. Faith in ego of God, his human features and possibility of existing of evil. I was taught that God is Absolute of only right, only light and we need to tend to this absolute. Now there's comes the thought that Absolute embraces the harmonious existing of right and wrong, good and bad, light and dark. Remember that harmonious combination of the colors (with black one) gives us white color. Everything exists. Everything must exist. Just in measure. I was mistaken, was I?
We tried to be serious; now let's just keep following the J-author. In the flood story Noah (favorable man in God's eyesGen.6:8) and every living creature (Gen.7:1-3) enters the ark two times which is weird doublet. After the all raining when Noah stepped back on solid ground, he makes the sacrifice and we meet 'human' God being impressed of the pleasing aroma of sacrifice promises not to destroy the creatures he's done because of man (Gen.8:20-22). God (Jehowah or Yahweh in J-stories) reminds us Esau; who, being famished, gives his birthright to his brother only for the meal (Gen. 25:29-34). We often recall showing of delicacy among men in J-stories. Even, right after the flood, there'll be immoral situation with Noah when he got drunk and lays uncovered (Gen.9:20-23). J-stories can be read with irony and humor, when men, husbands of women, the first ones, are described in unattractive silly situations. Probably, possibly, J-author is a woman'
After some time we meet Abram (later, Abraham), whom the Promised Land, blessing, seed is promised. In addition, Abram has a very beautiful wife, Sarai (later, Sarah). Being so close to the wealth of the world, he tries to stay alive all the possible ways. Abraham knows that Sarah's beauty can be dangerous for himhe can be killed by other men. So, going to Egypt Abraham tells his wife to name herself as Abraham's sister. And you know what; Abraham is not only in safety, he's treated excellently (Gen. 12:10-16). They say that it is not possible to sit on two chairs at the momentthere's nothing impossible for Abraham.
J-stories are ordinary stories of people's lives, where people, being wrong, are showed with humor, God is walking on the Earth, God makes covenant with man (Gen. 15:13-21), can be invited for the dinner to the man (Gen18). And don't forget that having female solidarity much attention is brought to women by J-author. In the story when God promises a son to 100- year old Abraham and 90- year old Sarah, it's not Abraham who laughs (Gen17:17P-author), hearing such news but Sarah (Gen. 18:12). Moreover, being afraid of God she tells lies, saying that she did not laugh (Gen.18:13-15). Just imaginea woman lies to God. Some time later, when Abraham's and Sarah's son Isaac is born and becomes grown-up, he marries beautiful superwoman Rebekah (Gen. 24:16-22), the one from Abraham own clan (Gen. 24:38). Rebekah gave birth to Esau and Jacob. And here we have the real evil smash hit. We don't really like the stories about antiheroes but about the heroes. And the heroic nature was put in mindless (but) masculine Esau. That's the real life. And that's why J-stories can't get boring. Jacob, favorite son of Rebekah (Gen. 25:28), mommy's boy, is seen as sneaky person. First, he gets his brother's birthright just for stew (Gen. 25:29-34). Then, with Rebekah's help he gets Jacob's blessing instead of Esau and leaves his own father and brother duped (Gen. 27). Jacob runs away from the angry brother to Rebekah's hometown where he finds a wife' Even two wives. Jacob marries Leah (unloved) and Rachel (29:14-29). Women are seen as the builders of the families and no matter what happensthey don't love their husband, they detest other wives of the husband, they lay with relatives of the husband, if they are widows. No matter what feelings they have, having a husband forget them all and bear children. You're lucky if you're cuteyou'll have a long-liver handsome husband. Remember Sarah or Rebekah. And if you're not the one whom God gave beautyLeahbear children to please a husband and if you are not still in his favoryou find your consolation in you children. Not optimistic life for those-days women. It's good that there existed only one role for women. That's all the thoughts women havehow to get a baby if you're childless (giving servants to husbands (Gen.16:1,2;30:4), lying with close relativesfather (Lot's daughtersGen.19:30-38), father-in-law, husband's brother (Judah, Onan and Tamar38:1-30) if you're a widow. And women are very smart in finding the way-outs.
The more I read Genesis the more I come to the point that people had sex)women got pregnant, men simply so' And men' Oh. I like it, really. Schechemites did think about future sex with beautiful Jewish women and let themselves got circumcised. Just imaginethe man's population of the Shechem stands in a row waiting for the operation and thinking about future, full of sex with beautiful strangers. By the way, I'd like to see the women of Shechem' Dead Schechemites. Strange brothers of Dinah. Actually I wonder about her future life. If there exists a custom that in order to get married a woman must be a virgin, then Dinah's only way of being married by lawmarriage with Scechem. So, Dinah lived the old maiden life or became a prostitute (Gen34).
Among all the men I like him the mostbecome grown-up he leaves his childish naivety with himself and his cloak - beside Potiphar's wife (Gen39:6-18). Remember Joseph, his telling the dream to brothers who understood them ambiguously and inadequately (Gen.37).
J-author shaped the view of Western world about the 'human'. And she keeps me in shapesmiling makes me vital. Shake her hand, kiss her cheek. |
Author Bio:
Gabriel Rise is an expert writer at Essay writing service and a writing couselling department expert at dissertation writing service. The assistance of their writers is an invaluable input in your future professional growth.EssayCapital.com is dedicated to providing a custom essay writing service that is both top-quality and affordable. |
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