Hebrew narrative Narratives are stories historical events providing meaning to present Holy Spirit delivered; therefore God s story!

Transcription

1 Narrative Most common type of Literature in the Bible 40 % of OT (Genesis; Joshua; Judges; Ruth; 1 & 2 Sam; 1 & 2 Kgs; 1 & 2 Chron; Ezra; Neh.; Dan.; Jonah; Haggai--+ parts; NT- Gospels; Acts)

2 Hebrew narrative Reason& Character of Hebrew narrative read OT poorly; problems Spiritual History Promises Israel our historical promises and calling!! Invariably read into rather than out of text

3 Hebrew narrative Narratives are stories historical events providing meaning to present Holy Spirit delivered; therefore God s story! Ours because God has given it to us

4 Hebrew narrative 3 parts characters (protagonist/ antagonist) ; plot; resolution Bible-God is the protagonist/ Satan antagonist Bible-Plot God created people in his image Bible-Resolution is redemption plan

5 Hebrew narrative 3 levels of narratives 3 rd Cosmic battle (story of redemption) 2 nd - God redeeming people for his name- 1 st covenant 1 st - 100s of stories (narratives) make up the Hebrew Narrative (2 nd / 3 rd )

6 Hebrew narrative Hierarchy of narrative Jesus (Jn 5:39); atonement, etc.

7 Hebrew narrative Narratives are not---- OT not allegorical Not intended to teach moral lessons!!!! Implicit teaching (2 Sam 11); Ex 20:14 explicit

8 Hebrew narrative Distinctive features- Joseph Gn (minus 38; genealogy 46:8-27; 49:1-28) Longest single-focused narrative in the Bible (Waltke s commentary)

9 Hebrew narrative Narrator s role chooses what to say omniscient w/o sharing everything; expects reader to be involved point of view Lord was with Joseph (Gn 39: 2,3,21, etc.); or 50:20

10 Hebrew narrative-character Scene-Hebrew narrative is scenic not character oriented; series of scenes (37) Characters central characterization minimally physical; but Judg 3:15 (Ehud s left-handed); Why!!! Status, relationships more crucial Characters contrast or parallel Joseph/brothers 37 leads 42-45; Parallel 2 nd level Jn Bapt reenactment w/ Elijah (Lk 1 &2) Characterization predominate w/ words/actions

11 Hebrew narrative-character Joseph character develops from negative to positive w/o narration!(39, Potiphar s wife); brothers firm/ love (42-45) Judah- argues for selling (37); moral life questioned (38) assume 1 st born rts (49) Kg will come from his line; motif of younger (38) Narrator interest in moral change 42-45

12 Hebrew narrative-dialogue Crucial feature, method of characterization 1 st point of dialogue clue-gen37:5-11 arrogance & rule us Gn 50:18! Father kept to himself reader do likewise (37:11)!!!! Contrast dialogue defines characterization Joseph s long answer vs Potiphar s wife (39:8-9; 7)

13 Hebrew narrative-dialogue Contrast issues speeches Judah/Joseph 44:18-34 & 45:4-13 Plot resolution Narrator emphasizes crucial parts by repeating or summarizing thru character(s)- speeches w/brothers (42:30-34) Judah (44: 18-34) Repetitions important a point is being made

14 Hebrew narrative-plot Narrative plot & plot resolution complex Joseph or simple Tamar (Gn 38) Hebrew plots move more quickly; if paced slowed, reason point of view Structure- features designed for hearers ; not readers

15 Hebrew narrative-structure Repetition-key words ( brother - chpt 37 15x s); hated (37:4,5,8); cycles of Judges-stereotyped patterns or intro s of kgs; form of resumption Inclusion- form of repetition- repetition begins and end similarly, bothers bowing 37:6-8/ 50:18 Chiasm-ABCBA pattern; Bk of Deut. written in this pattern Foreshadowing- briefly noted births of Perez & Zerah 38:27-30 & genealogy 46:12

16 Hebrew narrative God is the ultimate character- Lord w/ Joseph (39:2); interpretations belong to God (40:8); God sent me to deliver (45:7); God intended good (50:20); God will come for your aid (50:24, repeat of 25); foreshadows Ex 13:19/ Joshua 24:32 God s presence- Joseph 37; timing of Joseph, brothers, and Midianites 37:25-28

17 Hebrew narrative- Ruth Ruth implicit; excellent text/ narrative; brief/ self contained Not love story!!!!!!!!! Story of God s kindness 1 st pt. of dialogue 1:8; 2:20; 3:10 Plot- 3 People; subplots-foreigner royal lineage of David Implicit teaching clearly there; not stated not hidden but implicit Read out; not into text

18 Hebrew narrative-ruth Ruth converted to faith in God of Israel (1:16) 1 st point of Dialogue not explicit 1:17! Original listeners understood without question Boaz righteous when other were not 2:3-13, 22; 3:10-12; 4:9-10 using dialogue! Kept law despite those around him; law of gleaning Lev 19:9-10; Ruth both poor/ foreigner + widower; law of redemption Lev 25:23-24; Crucially implicit- not all Israelites were dedicated to righteousness- 2:22; lots of info implicit not explicit!!!!!

19 Hebrew narrative-ruth Implicit: Foreign woman belongs to the ancestry of Kg David; extension Jesus (4:17-21) Genealogy begins / end with David v17/ v David focus other Biblical refer s lists David Kg; NT genealogies Jesus descendent of David, David s great-grma; Key to entire narrative all implicit!!! Not the explicit love story of Ruth/ Boaz but implicit plan of God

20 Hebrew narrative-ruth Implicit- Bethlehem exceptional during Judge period WHY???

21 Hebrew narrative-ruth Judges BC Idolatry, immorality, etc, etc., Except 2:22; everything else is as God would desire; people expect laws to be followed in Bethlehem Naomi- bitter times( 1:8, 9, 13, 20-21) or happiness (1:6, 2:19-20) events follows God Bethlehemite! All Bethlehemites except Ruth/ Orpah; Boaz- (2:11-12; 3:10, 13) Greet each other 2:4; Elders marriage recognition 4:11-12; women Naomi 4:14

22 Hebrew narrative-ruth Narrative carefully read w/ Judges Bethlehem exceptional But no where does the narrative say Bethlehem was a town remarkable for it s piety in those days. But that what the narrative tells implicitly! Implicitly does not mean secret

23 Hebrew narrative-ruth Implicit is understandable find the meaning; not hidden; not mystical; not superior knowledge Not a new story-- 2 nd Pet 2:3!!!

24 Hebrew narratives Thoughts errors of Interpretations Allegorizing don t reflect text, looking for meaning in it not out of it Decontextualizing-ignoring historical/ literary contexts; short readings ; take it out of context, then scripture can say whatever!!!!!!! Selectivity-picking / choosing w/o listening the whole

25 Hebrew narratives Thoughts more errors of Interpretations Moralizing- principles for living derived from all scripture-what moral from story. Examplehandling adversity from slavery in Egypt wrong? Yes, why?

26 Hebrew narratives Thoughts errors of Interpretations Fallacy written as progress of God s history of redemption, not to illustrate principles; historical narratives, not illustrative narratives!!!!!!!!!!!

27 Hebrew narratives Thoughts more errors of Interpretations Personalizing- individualizing: reading as if all scripture written to me rather than for me! Balaam (Num 22) talk too much, true but not from this narrative; temple, build a new building, maybe but not from 2 Kgs 8 Misappropriation appropriate text foreign to the biblical narrative; Judges 6:36-40 fleecing God for info!!!real Point despite Gideon s doubt/ distrust God s word; God accomplished task

28 Hebrew narratives Thoughts more errors of Interpretations False Appropriation form of decontextualizing; implementing contemporary issues into scripture David / Jonathan homosexuality 1 Sam 20:17, 41; actual love is covenantal likened to God s love 20:14, 42 False combination-here/ there from a passage making point out of combination not in text example David capturing Jerusalem 2 Sam 5:6-7; recapturing city since Judges 1:8, Joshua thru 2 Kgs Israelites had already captured. Narrator/ audience knew 2 Jerusalems!!!!! Greater Jerusalem; David- Zion Jerusalem Gen 15:18-21

29 Hebrew narratives Caution No Bible narrative was written about us; Joseph was for Joseph how God was working thru him; Ruth glorifies God s protection for Ruth and Bethlehemites not us!! What God commands Christians do! Narratives portrays God s involvement in the world; illustrate his principles but not necessarily systematic personal ethics

30 Hebrew narratives: Principles for Interpreting OT narratives normally does not directly teach doctrine OT narrative illustrates doctrine taught elsewhere Narratives record what occurred not should have, what ought to happen I every case not necessarily moral application Characters do not necessarily desirable, definitely not always a good example for us Characters far from perfect, nor are their actions always good

31 Hebrew narratives: Principles for Interpreting Endings not complete not always informed as to good or bad; judgment must based on God s teaching elsewhere categorically clearer Narratives selective/incomplete- Jn 21:25; told what Holy Spirit wanted-don t add Narratives not written to satisfy/ answer our theological questions Narratives may teach either explicitly or implicitly Finally God hero of all biblical narratives