1. HUM 2051: Civilization I Fall 2009 Dr. Perdigao August 21, 2009
Falling, Rising
HUM 2051: Civilization I
Fall 2009
Dr. Perdigao
August 21, 2009

2. Recycling Dates
Hebrews—Mesopotamia: Canaan (: Egypt); idea of messianic age (peace, social justice) (Perry 46)
BC/BCE Age of Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Joseph
BCE Hebrews prosper in Egypt under Hyksos
BCE Hebrews suffer oppression in Egypt after expulsion of Hyksos
BCE Exodus: Moses (c. 1292), conquest of Palestine
BCE Saul, David, Solomon, kingdom of Israel
722 BCE Kingdom of Israel falls to Assyrians ( BCE)
586 BCE Kingdom of Judah falls to Chaldeans, leads to Babylonian Captivity; release in 539 BCE by Cyrus when Persians conquer Babylon (Perry 36)
BCE Bible assembled
538 BCE Song of Solomon

3. Legacies Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 17-19) Lot, Lot’s wife:
“Don’t look behind you and don’t stop anywhere on the plain. Flee to the high country lest you be wiped out.” (50)
Pillar of salt
Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed
Abraham tested with sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22)
Ram
Isaac and Rebekah—Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25, 27)
“Two nations—in your womb, / two peoples from your loins shall issue. / People after people shall prevail, / the elder, the younger’s slave.” (51)
Jacob asks for birthright; Rebekah disguises Jacob for blessing
Jacob’s son Joseph as favored son, marked with tunic (Genesis 37, 39-46)

4. For Joseph Reuben refuses to take his life Judah offers to sell him
Sold to Potiphar, courtier of Pharaoh, in Egypt
Cupbearer and baker of King of Egypt
Cupbearer—vine, three tendrils, grapes, in palm=3 days, restored place
Baker—baskets, birds eating=impale on pole, birds eat flesh
Two years, Pharaoh’s dream—Nile, seven cows, first fair and full, then meager, then seven ears, fat and goodly, then meager.
Cupbearer reminded of Joseph, deciphers dream: seven years feast, seven years famine, collect in plenty
Joseph’s two sons—Manasseh (released from debt); Ephraim (fruitful in land of affliction)

5. Conclusions
Jacob sends sons from Canaan to Egypt because of famine in Canaan
Benjamin remains behind
Interpretation issues—from Babel—Joseph understands, Reuben blames brothers
Simeon remains; others return with Benjamin, favored youngest son
Reveals covenant (63)
Survival of family because of servitude, betrayal

6. Cycles
New covenant (35)—first with Noah never to destroy earth again, this time blessing to people of Israel, “great nation” as destiny
Complications overcome to fulfill covenant—barren Sarah, sacrifice of Isaac, trick of Esau, betrayal of Joseph
Fratricide, betrayal, like in Cain and Abel
Land left to attain settled home, evaded
Finally leads to giving of law to Moses