Old Testament; J-author of Pentateuch
Thursday, January 31st, 2008By Gabriel Rise 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-authors 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 youve 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, isnt it? And how will you react if youll know that there exists the theory about J-author as a woman? Anyway, lets look through the stories in a new manner. Some of them we know since childhood, some of them well read for the first time. Seriously, itll 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-authors style of writing and the actual themes of writing. First, she likes playing with words God made a man (Hebrew - adam) from the dust of the ground (adamah) (Gen2:7). Second, J-authors prerogative is to write about men and women. Woman - thats the one wholl be direct or indirect hero of the J-stories. Just check this out the 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, theres 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 Gods 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 theres 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 lets just keep following the J-author. In the flood story Noah (favorable man in Gods eyes Gen.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 hes 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, therell 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 womanAfter 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 Sarahs beauty can be dangerous for him he can be killed by other men. So, going to Egypt Abraham tells his wife to name herself as Abrahams sister. And you know what; Abraham is not only in safety, hes treated excellently (Gen. 12:10-16). They say that it is not possible to sit on two chairs at the moment theres nothing impossible for Abraham. J-stories are ordinary stories of peoples 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 dont 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, its not Abraham who laughs (Gen17:17 P-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 imagine a woman lies to God. Some time later, when Abrahams and Sarahs 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 dont really like the stories about antiheroes but about the heroes. And the heroic nature was put in mindless (but) masculine Esau. Thats the real life. And thats why J-stories cant get boring. Jacob, favorite son of Rebekah (Gen. 25:28), mommys boy, is seen as sneaky person. First, he gets his brothers birthright just for stew (Gen. 25:29-34). Then, with Rebekahs help he gets Jacobs blessing instead of Esau and leaves his own father and brother duped (Gen. 27). Jacob runs away from the angry brother to Rebekahs 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 happens they dont 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. Youre lucky if youre cute youll have a long-liver handsome husband. Remember Sarah or Rebekah. And if youre not the one whom God gave beauty Leah bear children to please a husband and if you are not still in his favor you find your consolation in you children. Not optimistic life for those-days women. Its good that there existed only one role for women. Thats all the thoughts women have how to get a baby if youre childless (giving servants to husbands (Gen.16:1,2;30:4), lying with close relatives father (Lots daughters Gen.19:30-38), father-in-law, husbands brother (Judah, Onan and Tamar 38:1-30) if youre 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 imagine the mans 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, Id 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 Dinahs only way of being married by law marriage with Scechem. So, Dinah lived the old maiden life or became a prostitute (Gen34). Among all the men I like him the most become grown-up he leaves his childish naivety with himself and his cloak - beside Potiphars 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 shape smiling makes me vital. Shake her hand, kiss her cheek. Gabriel Rise has been working at Essaycapital.com for several years.You can ask her about customer service concerning the assignment or dissertation that you have. 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