Genesis in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE 3. Structure
III. The Structure of the Individual Pericopes.
In this division of the article, there is always to be found
(under 1) a consideration of the unity of the Biblical text
and (under 2) the rejection of the customary division into
different sources.
The conviction of the unity of the text of Genesis and of
the impossibility of dividing it according to different
sources is strongly confirmed and strengthened by the
examination of the different pericopes. Here, too, we find
the division on the basis of the typical numbers 4,7,10,12.
It is true that in certain cases we should be able to divide
in a different way; but at times the intention of the author
to divide according to these numbers practically compels
acceptance on our part, so that it would be almost
impossible to ignore this matter without detriment,
especially since we were compelled to accept the same fact
in connection with the articles EXODUS (II); LEVITICUS (II,
2); DAY OF ATONEMENT (I, 2, 1), and aIso EZEKIEL (I, 2, 2).
But more important than these numbers, concerning the
importance or unimportance of which there could possibly be
some controversy, are the fundamental religious and ethical
ideas which run through and control the larger pericopes of
the [toledhoth] of Terah, Isaac and Jacob in such a way that
it is impossible to regard this as merely the work of a
redactor, and we are compelled to consider the book as the
product of a single writer.
1. The Structure of the Prooemium (Genesis 1 through 2:3):
The structure of the proemium (Gen 1:1 through 2:3) is
generally ascribed to P. Following the introduction (Gen
1:1,2; creation of chaos), we have the creation of the seven
days with the Sabbath as a conclusion. The first and the
second three days correspond to each other (1st day, the
light; 4th day, the lights; 2nd day, the air and water by
the separation of the waters above and the waters below; 5th
day, the animals of the air and of the water; 3rd day, the
dry land and the vegetation; 6th day, the land animals and
man; compare also in this connection that there are two
works on each day). We find Exodus also divided according to
the number seven (see EXODUS, II, 1; compare also Ex 24:18b
through 31:18; see EXODUS, II, 2, 5, where we have also the
sevenfold reference to the Sabbath idea in Ex, and that,
too, repeatedly at the close of different sections, just as
we find this here in Genesis); and in Lev compare chapters
23; 25; 27; see LEVITICUS, II, 2, 2; the VIII, IX, and
appendix; and in Gen 4:17 ff J; 5:1-24 P; 6:9 through 9:29;
36:1 through 37 I (see under 2, 1,2,3,1)...
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