Abraham, Blessing and the Nations: A Philological and Exegetical Study of Genesis 12:3 in its Narrative Context

308 Pages·2003·8.807 MB·English

by  Keith N. Grüneberg

Keith Ν. Grüneberg
Abraham, Blessing and the Nations
Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die
alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
Herausgegeben von
Otto Kaiser
Band 332
W
DE
G
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
2003
Keith Ν. Grüneberg
Abraham, Blessing and the Nations
A Philological and Exegetical Study of
Genesis 12:3 in its Narrative Context
w
DE
G
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
2003
© Printed on acid-free paper which falls within
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Acknowledgments
This book would not have been possible without the assistance of various
people and bodies:
What follows is in large part my doctoral thesis submitted to the University
of Durham. I am very grateful to my supervisor, Revd Dr Walter Moberly,
for his help both during my doctoral study and subsequently: he has managed
to be full of wise advice and at the same time to avoid forcing his own
opinions onto me. I have also benefited from the interest taken in me and my
work by other staff and students of the Department of Theology in Durham,
especially Dr C. T. R. Hayward and Prof J. D. G. Dunn. Funding for the
research was provided by the Ministry Division of the Church of England,
the Diocese of Oxford, and the Arts and Humanities Research Board. The
Parish of Pangboume with Tidmarsh and Sulham has allowed me the time to
turn the thesis into a book - and the Series Editor of BZAW, Prof Dr Otto
Kaiser and Dr Albrecht Döhnert of Walter de Gruyter have allowed me to
turn my dream into reality.
'BibleWorks' software has proved an invaluable tool and has made many
tasks far simpler. (Most of the figures for word usage etc. in what follows
are derived from it: I have not checked these elsewhere where absolute preci-
sion was unimportant.)
Thank you too to all those who have supported and sustained me personally.
In particular I cannot imagine what the last few years would have been like
without Liane's love constantly enriching my existence, and her continual en-
couragement helping me with my doctoral work and its revision, as with so
much else in life.
The Old Testament claims that the fear of Yhwh is the beginning of wisdom
and knowledge (Ps 111:10; Prov 1:7; 9:10). If what follows evidences or ad-
vances knowledge or wisdom, it is only fitting to acknowledge the God who
is at its source and who has upheld me in its pursuit.

Contents
Acknowledgments V
Contents VII
Abbreviations Χ
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Rationale for this study 1
1.2 Method 3
2 Parallels to Genesis 12:3a 13
2.1 Introduction 13
2.2 Genesis 27:29b 13
2.2.1 The context 13
2.2.2 The blessing 17
2.2.3 Conclusion 21
2.3 Numbers 24:9b 22
2.3.1 Narrative context 22
2.3.2 The oracles 28
2.3.3 Numbers 24:9 30
2.3.4 Conclusion 33
3 The niphal in Hebrew 34
3.1 Introduction 34
3.2 The niphal as a "middle" stem 46
3.3 Passive niphals 56
3.4 Reflexive niphals 62
3.5 Conclusion 65
4 Parallels to Gen 12:3b with the niphal 67
4.1 Introduction 67
4.2 Genesis 18:18 67
4.2.1 The context 68
4.2.2 The promises 72
VIII Contents
4.2.3 Conclusion 80
4.3 Genesis 28:14 81
4.3.1 The narrative and the promises 81
4.3.2 Conclusion 88
5 Blessing 90
5.1 Introduction 90
5.2 Etymology and diachronic study 92
5.3 Cursing 95
5.4 The content of blessing given to a human 99
5.5 God's blessing 103
5.6 Humans blessing humans: especially V"p3 piel 104
5.7 Greeting, thanking, congratulating 108
5.8 The word "jna, especially as applied to humans 110
5.9 The word "HtfK 114
5.10 Humans blessing God 115
5.11 Thepual 117
5.12 The word ΓΟΊ3 117
5.13 Conclusion 121
6 Genesis 12:3 123
6.1 Genesis 1-11 123
6.1.1 Introduction 123
6.1.2 Is there a "primeval history"? 123
6.1.3 Themes in Genesis 1-11 128
6.1.3.1 Creation 128
6.1.3.2 Sin 129
6.1.3.3 "Punishment" 132
6.1.3.4 Grace 133
6.1.4 12:1-3 in context 136
6.2 The syntax of Genesis 12:1-3 142
6.3 Genesis 12:3 in its context 152
6.3.1 Introduction 152
6.3.2 The context of the promises 155
6.3.3 The promises 161
6.3.4 "I shall make you a great nation" (v2a) 162
6.3.5 "I shall bless you" (v2b) 165
6.3.6 "I shall make your name great" (v2c) 166
6.3.7 "You shall be a blessing" (v2d) 170
Contents IX
6.3.8 "I will bless those who bless you, while the one who
abuses you I will curse" (v3a) 171
6.3.9 "All the families of the earth shall be blessed
through you" (v3b) 176
7 The hithpael of V"p3 191
7.1 The hithpael in Hebrew 191
7.1.1 Introduction 191
7.1.2 The hithpael as a middle form 194
7.1.3 Passive hithpaels 200
7.1.4 Reciprocal hithpaels 204
7.1.5 Hithpaels denoting presenting oneself in a certain way 205
7.1.6 Reflexive hithpaels 206
7.1.7 Conclusion 209
7.2 The hithpael of V~p3 outside Genesis 210
7.2.1 Introduction 210
7.2.2 Isaiah 65:16 211
7.2.3 Psalm 72:17 213
7.2.4 Jeremiah 4:2 217
7.2.5 Deuteronomy 29:18[19] 219
7.2.6 Conclusion 220
8 Parallels to Genesis 12:3b with the hithpael 222
8.1 Introduction 222
8.2 Genesis 22:18 222
8.2.1 Narrative context 222
8.2.2 "Because you have done this" 225
8.2.3 The promises 228
8.2.4 Genesis 22:18 230
8.2.5 Conclusion 235
8.3 Genesis 26:4 235
8.3.1 The promises 235
8.3.2 Verse 4b 239
8.3.3 Conclusion 241
9 Conclusion 242
Bibliography 247
Index of scripture references 281
Abbreviations
Biblical Books
i) Old Testament
Gen Genesis Eccl Ecclesiastes
Ex Exodus Song Song of Solomon
Lev Leviticus Isa Isaiah
Num Numbers Jer Jeremiah
Deut Deuteronomy Lam Lamentations
Josh Joshua Ezek Ezekiel
Judg Judges Dan Daniel
ISam 1 Samuel Hos Hosea
2Sam 2 Samuel Mie Micah
IKi 1 Kings Nah Nahum
2Ki 2 Kings Hab Habakkuk
IChr 1 Chronicles Zeph Zephaniah
2Chr 2 Chronicles Hag Haggai
Neh Nehemiah Zech Zechariah
Ps Psalms Mai Malachi
Prov Proverbs
ii) New Testament
Matt Matthew
Rom Romans
Gal Galatians
2Thess 2 Thessalonians
iii) Apocrypha
Sir Sirach