Genesis

I'am hearing Genesis (NRSV) for the second time around. It is evident that Genesis is a compilation of myths and legends (stories). When the story gets to Abraham, they become more stories of legendary ancestors/patriarchs of the people hearing the story.

As I hear the stories, it is obvious that these were meant to teach people in the tribe/community about who they were, where they came from, how they were related to the other people around them. In other words, the stories provide a cultural framework. Assembled in Genesis, as a group or collection, the stories provide a theological framework developing the concept of God through time and in narrative form.

I have this hypothesis that the trek of Abraham and his parents from Ur to Harran and later, Abraham's down to Palestine, may have been due to the 300 year drought that started around 2200-2100 BC and enveloped all of the Levant including Egypt. With the course of rivers (Euphrates and Tigris) drying up, the thing to do may have been to move North closer to the mountains (Harran) so that any trickle of water from snow caps would be accessible. Palestine has spring water in some areas so that may have been its attraction i.e. independence from rain. Right now, my hypothesis is that Abraham was on the move probably around 1800 BC.

Hearing Genesis, also makes it obvious that the concept of God in Genesis is very primitive, undeveloped. In the Abraham stories, it boils down mainly to circumcision as a sign of covenant with God who is not even known as YHWH.