The Meaning of Genesis
Genesis is an aetiological story: its purpose is to explain the pre world through its beginnings. Unlike creation stories from most other cultures, the author (or authors) of Genesis is almost completely unconcerned with any other aspect of creation besides human beings. The first stories of the book, then, have as their central goal explaining the nature of human beings and their relationship to the creating god, Yahweh.
The Assignment
In two or three paragraphs describe the nature of human beings and their relationship to Yahweh. Begin with a thesis, and support the thesis with main points. Develop the main points with specific examples from Genesis. If you are having difficulty developing a thesis, one or more of the following questions may help you:
1. What is the difference between the way Yahweh creates humanity and the way Yahweh creates the rest of creation? What do you make of that difference?
2. What does it mean that Yahweh creates humanity "in his own image"?
3. What is the literal meaning of Knowledge of Good and Evil?
4. What does it mean for Adam and Eve to disobey Yahweh? Does the rest of creation disobey Yahweh when he gives commands? What does that tell you about the unique nature of humanity?
5. Yahweh bestows separate punishments on Adam, Eve, and the serpent for their part in the disobedience. But the expulsion from the Garden is not one of those punishments. What reason does Yahweh give for expelling Adam and Eve from the garden? What does that tell you about the nature and potential of human beings? What is the relationship between Yahweh and humanity?
6. One of Adam's sons creates civilization, that is, it is one of Adam's sons who first builds a city and invents urbanization. Who creates civilization in the text? Who creates the arts of civilization, such as metallurgy and music? What do you make of the fact that it is the one son and his descendants that invent civilization? What does that tell you about the Hebrew view of civilization?
7. Why do people settle down in Babel and build a city? (They give two reasons.) How would you interpret building a city in the light of your answer to question six?
8. Why does Yahweh disperse the people of Babel? What reason does he give? How do you interpret this reason in the light of your answer to question five? What is Yahweh's view of human potential?
9. The story of the Fall is the story of a disobeyed command. The story of Abraham and Isaac plays out the same drama: Abraham is given a command, only this time it's obeyed. Look at the text carefully: does the author tell you why Abraham obeyed? Can you find a reason? If you can't find on in the text of the story, what do you make of the fact that it has been left out? Why does the author not give a reason?
10. Now that you've answered some of these questions, what is the ideal relationship between humanity and Yahweh? How does that relationship go wrong?
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