Ron Hendel notes, “The exodus from Egypt is a focal point of ancient Israelite religion. Virtually every kind of religious literature in the Hebrew Bible—prose narrative, liturgical poetry, didactic prose, and prophecy—celebrates the exodus as a foundational event. Israelite ritual, law, and ethics are often grounded in the precedent and memory of the Exodus. …Continue reading “Theology of Exodus in Kings: Solomon’s Pharaonic Shadow”
Category Archives: Intertextuality
Father, Mother, Sons, and Strife: Reading Stories Intertextually
A few posts ago, I talked about how intertextuality—the practice of lining up two or more texts that are close enough to compare in order to emphasize differences or help aid in interpretation—can help us better understand the Bible. Both of these posts used Genesis 19 to show how this text can help us betterContinue reading “Father, Mother, Sons, and Strife: Reading Stories Intertextually”
Dismembering the Body, Disbanding the People: Judges 1
Every other Fall at Florida College, I get the chance to teach a one-credit hour class covering Judges and Ruth. It’s a blast. It’s usually populated with Juniors and Seniors, most of whom I’ve had for other (sometimes numerous other) courses, so I know most of them and they know me. Because it’s a one-hourContinue reading “Dismembering the Body, Disbanding the People: Judges 1”
Snakes and Sorcery: Joseph’s Cup and Character (Gen 44)
Snakes are frequently tied to knowledge, rebirth, sex, and magic in the ancient world. Asclepius—who was either the son of Apollo or a sort of adopted son—was raised by Chiron, but he gained true knowledge after rescuing some snakes who then cleaned out his ears, which gave him special knowledge of healing. His symbol wasContinue reading “Snakes and Sorcery: Joseph’s Cup and Character (Gen 44)”
Ruth the Moabitess: Proto-Racism, Literary Criticism, and Ruth 3
Antiquity was super racist. Well, that’s not quitetrue. To use the term that Benjamin H. Isaac uses in The Invention of Racism in Classical Antiquity (2004), antiquity was super “proto-racist.” Peoples in antiquity always had very strong perception of what other peoples were like. Isaac illustrates this through the Roman views of others: the EasternContinue reading “Ruth the Moabitess: Proto-Racism, Literary Criticism, and Ruth 3”
Intertextuality, Literary Criticism, and Genesis 19: Part 2
Genesis 19 is one of the most famous episodes (involving minor characters!) in the Old Testament for numerous reasons. Well, the first half of the text is. The second half of the text tends to get skipped over in most children’s bible class curricula! We talked last time about the first half of Genesis 19,Continue reading “Intertextuality, Literary Criticism, and Genesis 19: Part 2”
Intertextuality, Literary Criticism, and Genesis 19: Part 1
Genesis 19 in one of the most famous episodes (involving minor characters!) in the Old Testament for numerous reasons. In this chapter, we are told that two travelers come to a city: they arrive at evening among strangers, they plan to sleep in the city square but Lot begs that they stay with him andContinue reading “Intertextuality, Literary Criticism, and Genesis 19: Part 1”
Midrashic Reading and the Temptation of Christ in Luke (Angels, Wings, Stones, and Bones)
Bottacelli’s Temptation of Christ One of the most famous stories in the Gospels is Satan’s testing of Christ in the wilderness: Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from his baptism at the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness for forty days, tempted all the while by the devil. He ateContinue reading “Midrashic Reading and the Temptation of Christ in Luke (Angels, Wings, Stones, and Bones)”
Midrashic Reading and the Temptation of Christ in Luke (Power and Authority)
One of the most famous stories in the Gospels is Satan’s testing of Christ in the wilderness (Luke 4.1–13). Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from his baptism at the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness for forty days, tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, soContinue reading “Midrashic Reading and the Temptation of Christ in Luke (Power and Authority)”
Midrashic Reading and the Temptation of Christ in Luke
Ilya Repin “Follow Me!” One of the most famous stories in the Gospels is Satan’s testing of Christ in the wilderness (Luke 4.1–13). Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from his baptism at the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness for forty days, tempted by the devil. He ate nothingContinue reading “Midrashic Reading and the Temptation of Christ in Luke”
Ben Neviim 