A Brief History of Israel Session 1 Abram to Joseph

Brueggemann, Walter. Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, Opening Prayer “For how you hope” by Walter Brueggemann

Introduction  This class is for you if… You are intimidated by the Old Testament You are intimidated by the Old Testament You have forgotten the Bible stories you heard in Sunday School You have forgotten the Bible stories you heard in Sunday School You remember the stories, but don’t know if Daniel came before Dan You remember the stories, but don’t know if Daniel came before Dan Or think Dan is just Daniel’s nicknameOr think Dan is just Daniel’s nickname You think the “old, angry god” of the Old Testament doesn’t have anything to do with your Christian faith You think the “old, angry god” of the Old Testament doesn’t have anything to do with your Christian faith

Introduction  This class is not designed… To do historical critical analysis To do historical critical analysis But if you want to know about the documentary hypothesis…But if you want to know about the documentary hypothesis… Read Who Wrote the Bible? By Richard Elliott Friedman, Harper Collins.Read Who Wrote the Bible? By Richard Elliott Friedman, Harper Collins. To do interpretation…with some caveats To do interpretation…with some caveats Choice and order of stories is an interpretive moveChoice and order of stories is an interpretive move Abbreviated version of story will necessarily involve some interpretationAbbreviated version of story will necessarily involve some interpretation To survey the entire Hebrew Bible; will be omitting To survey the entire Hebrew Bible; will be omitting PsalmsPsalms ProverbsProverbs Most of what the prophets had to sayMost of what the prophets had to say

Introduction  The Text is always better than the class Find a Bible that works for you! Find a Bible that works for you! 2 translations most widely used 2 translations most widely used NIV (TNIV)NIV (TNIV) RSV (NRSV)RSV (NRSV) Other translations exist Other translations exist Get a translation, not a paraphraseGet a translation, not a paraphrase  If you want to better understand biblical culture, archaeology & current scholarship Subscribe to BAR (Biblical Archaeology Review) Subscribe to BAR (Biblical Archaeology Review)

Let’s Begin  Old Testament, or Hebrew Bible, or Tanak Torah Torah Means instructionMeans instruction ContainsContains Hagadah - story Hagadah - story Halakah – walk (“law”) Halakah – walk (“law”) Nevi’im Nevi’im ProphetsProphets Kethuvim Kethuvim WritingsWritings

God makes a covenant with Abraham  Abram / Abraham Genesis 11:31 – 25:11 Genesis 11:31 – 25:11  Sarai / Sarah Genesis 12:10-20 Genesis 12:10-20 Genesis 18:1-15 Genesis 18:1-15  Lot Genesis 13:5-13 Genesis 13:5-13 Genesis 19:1-22 Genesis 19:1-22  Hagar Genesis 16 Genesis 16 Genesis 21:1-21 Genesis 21:1-21

Abraham has sons  Ishmael Genesis 21:1-21 Genesis 21:1-21  Isaac Genesis 22:1-19 Genesis 22:1-19 Genesis 25:19-28:9 Genesis 25:19-28:9 Genesis 35:27-28 Genesis 35:27-28  Rebekah Genesis 24 Genesis 24 Genesis 27:1-40 Genesis 27:1-40  Esau Genesis 25:27-34 Genesis 25:27-34 Genesis 27:1-40 Genesis 27:1-40  Jacob / Israel Genesis 27:1- Genesis 27:1-

Origins of the 12 tribes  Rachel Genesis 29:1-30:24 Genesis 29:1-30:24 Joseph Joseph Benjamin Benjamin Bilhah – Rachel’s maid Bilhah – Rachel’s maid DanDan NaphtaliNaphtali  Leah Genesis 29:21-30:24 Genesis 29:21-30:24 Reuben Reuben Simeon Simeon Levi Levi Judah Judah Issachar Issachar Zebulun Zebulun Dinah Dinah Zilpah – Leah’s maid Zilpah – Leah’s maid GadGad AsherAsher

Jacob and his sons go to Egypt  Joseph Genesis 37:1-36 Genesis 37:1-36 Genesis Genesis

Bibliography  Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures. New York: The Jewish Publication Society,  The HarperCollins Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version. New York: HarperCollins, Publishers, Inc.,  The Holy Bible: Today’s New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007.