Learning the POETICS of the TextSkills to read Ancient Hebrew

LiteratureVanderEnde

2014 Johnson University – HIST 5033

Literary Reading Basics

Presentation 3 – Three Terms

Overview: POETICS involves

Working in UNITS of Scripture Basic shape of a UNIT Ways to READ UNITS of Scripture Value and Necessity reading UNITS

Literary Analysis of the CONTENT of the unit Understanding the GENRE of the unit (Grammatical and Lexical Studies) Discovering the FORM (structure) of the Unit Discovering the MOVEMENT or Drama of the text (narrativity)

Applying LITERARY features of the text The impact of CONCRETENESS The dynamics of AMBIGUITY The implications of ANALOGY The emotion of FIGURES OF SPEECH

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Literary Principles - Content

CONCRETENESS

AMBIGUITY

ANALOGY

Figures of speech (symbolism)

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CONCRETENESS =

CORE HUMAN Experiences– Archetypes - not trivialities

SITUATIONAL- real life–Dynamic - not static

ECONOMY of WORDS

Concreteness

Who are the characters?– Who are the main characters? – Who is the hero – villain?

Protagonist? Antagonist

What are they doing?– Concrete verbs / verbal phrases

Go up / down – eat – fight – love – hate etc

How are they described?– Concrete nouns– Concrete adjectives and adverbs

Give a “value” as to their portrayal by N

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20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. 21 Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, "If all is well, why am I like this?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said to her:"Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger." 24 So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau's heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

Biblical Text is CONCRETEGenesis 25:20-26

Took Rebekka as wife - she is barren Isaac Pleaded with the Lord about 19

years Pregnancy - Expectation of twins Birth and Differences in two boys

– Red Esau– Heel grabbing Jacob

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AMBIGUITY

GAPS - Compactness of the text Anticipates further information Leaves us to struggle with the text May Lead to various interpretations

– What is difficult to explain (interpret)– What surprises you in the text

Essentials Steps – Ambiguity

What are the key interpretive questions?– Always ask: Why does the N inform me about

this or that?

What is unexpected?– What ‘shocks’ me? Surprises me?– Why is something left out (gaps)

Do not force an interpretation!

Do not ask impossible questions from the text !!!

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Exercise - Ambiguity Gen. 25What is ambiguous in this story and why?

(20) And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. (21) And Isaac prayed to Jehovah for his wife, because she was barren. And Jehovah heard him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. (22) And the sons struggled together within her. And she said, If it is so, why am I this way? And she went to inquire of Jehovah. (23) And Jehovah said to her, Two nations are in your womb, and two kinds of people shall be separated from your bowels. And the one people shall be stronger than the other people, the older shall serve the younger. (24) And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, twins were in her womb!(25) And the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment. And they called his name Esau. (26) And after that his brother came out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel. And his name was called Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

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Analogy / Repetition Two or more Elements (events)

– Which are SIMILAR– Which also are DISSIMILAR as Opposites

Repetition of Words - phrases– Key words– Emphasis

Velcro - Effect - Tapestry of Themes Most pervasive literary characteristic

Essential Steps – Notice Internal AnalogyWhat is repeated (similar) in this text?– Key words

Nouns (like ‘morning and evening’ in Genesis 1)Verbs (like ‘to serve’ in Jacob cycle)

– Key sentencesLike “And God said” or “And God called” in Genesis 1

– Key moodsLike ‘anger and violence’ in Genesis 4-6

– Key valuesLike “deceit” in the Jacob cycle

– Key conceptsLike “little, small” in 1 Kings 17

– Key theological ideasLike “darkness and light” in 1 Samuel 3

The Oracle - Inter Textual Theological Themes

A "Two nations are in your womb, B Two peoples separated from your body;

C One people shall be stronger than the other,

D And the older shall serve the younger."

Theme of STRUGGLE between Brothers / Nations

The FIRST shall be LAST theme

The Theme of “SERVING” in the rest of the cycle

The Birthright Story: Gen. 25:29-34GNB pg. 21

29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright as of this day.“ 32 And Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Gen. 25:29-34: The inclusio

29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary.

30 And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright as of this day.“ 32 And Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils;

then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Gen. 25:29-34: The Structure29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright as of this day.“ 32 And Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils;

then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

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UNIT – Gen. 25:29-34 - Analogy

and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary.

then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way.

29 Now Jacob cooked a stew;

Thus Esau despised his birthright.

30 And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright as of this day.“ 32 And Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day.“So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils;