Genesis
In the Beginning
Published on 10. October 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-0-8146-8250-0 (ISBN)
Description
With the publication of Genesis: In the Beginning, one of today's most highly regarded Catholic Scripture scholars turns her attention to one of the most important, fascinating, and challenging books of the Bible. In this important new commentary, Bergant explores the biblical text but also points out some of the social biases of the original community, an awareness which is crucial for an adequate understanding of the text. She offers a wealth of insights into how the contemporary reader can best understand the biblical message.
Reviews / Votes
In many programs of Bible study for adults, the tendency to want to reduce the biblical text to a simple and familiar message looms large. In her book Genesis: In The Beginning, Dianne Bergant does what she does so well: she keeps before the reader the many and varied elements that must be employed when approaching the Bible for understanding. Although not intended as a book for adult Bible study, the point is made that if one wishes to advance beyond a simple reading, the serious learner must come to realize the text cannot be separated from the world that produced it. The reader must take into account how that 'world behind the text' and the 'world of the text' provide the necessary context for being able to discover meaning in this living word of God that has relevance for us today.Barbara Shanahan, Director of the Catholic Biblical School, Buffalo, New York At last, a Genesis commentary written by a woman! Dianne Bergant fills in gaps in Genesis interpretation by attending to the many women in this biblical book. She also draws from her work as a theologian of creation to highlight the integrity of all life in the divinely created cosmos. Her writing is beautiful and clear, and she uses scholarship without drowning us in it. Genesis: In the Beginning will be terrific for use in classrooms, study groups, and by any serious readers of Genesis. Bergant's book is a cause for celebration.
Kathleen M. O'Connor, William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament, Emerita, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia Combining as it does current scholarly insights with theological sensitivity and pastoral wisdom, Genesis: In the Beginning is a commentary that all serious readers of the book of Genesis will want to have on their shelves.
Amanda W. Benckhuysen, Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Collegeville, MN
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
349 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8146-8250-0 (9780814682500)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Dianne Bergant, CSA, is the Carroll Stuhlmueller, CP, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Old Testament Studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She is a past president of the Catholic Biblical Association. Her many books include the Preaching the New Lectionary series, Scripture: History and Interpretation, the two New Collegeville Bible Commentary volumes on Psalms, and the two-volume Israel's Story, all from Liturgical Press.
Content
Contents
Introduction xi
Literary Structure and Genre(s) xii
Aesthetics of the Text xiv
Authorship xv
Sources, Date, and Place of Composition xvi
Social Setting xviii
Theological Perspectives xix
Contemporary Reading xxi
Part 1: "In the Beginning" (Gen 1:1-11:26) 1
Chapter 1: "And God Saw That It Was Good" (Gen 1:1-3:24) 3
A Cosmology (Gen 1:1-2:4a) 3
The Garden (Gen 2:4b-25) 8
The Sin (Gen 3:1-24) 13
Contemporary Reading: Banished from the Garden 18
Chapter 2: "Sin Is a Demon Lurking at the Door" (Gen 4:1-6:4) 19
The Sons of Eve (Gen 4:1-16) 20
Generation after Generation (Gen 4:17-26) 22
From Creation to the Flood (Gen 5:1-32) 24
Sin Abounds (Gen 6:1-4) 25
Contemporary Reading: Invisibility and Blame 27
Chapter 3: "How Great Was Their Wickedness" (Gen 6:5-9:29) 29
Warning of a Flood (Gen 6:5-8) 29
Building the Ark (Gen 6:9-7:5) 30
The Flood (Gen 7:6-8:22) 33
Covenant with Nature (Gen 9:1-29) 33
Contemporary Reading: A New Creation? 36
Chapter 4: "These Are the Descendants" (Gen 10:1-11:26) 39
The Table of Nations (Gen 10:1-32) 39
The Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9) 40
Genealogy from the Flood to the Ancestors (Gen 11:10-26) 44
Contemporary Reading: One Voice 44
Part 2: "I Will Make of You a Great Nation" (Gen 11:27-50:26) 45
Abraham and Sarah (Gen 11:27-25:18) 47
Chapter 5: "Go from Your Country" (Gen 11:27-14:24) 49
Origins in Haran (Gen 11:27-32) 49
Migration from Haran (Gen 12:1-20) 50
Travels through Canaan (13:1-14:24) 53
Contemporary Reading: Limitations of the Household 57
Chapter 6: "This Is My Covenant with You" (Gen 15:1-17:27) 59
Cutting a Covenant (Gen 15:1-21) 59
The Son of Hagar (Gen 16:1-15) 62
Sign of the Covenant (Gen 17:1-27) 66
Contemporary Reading: The Weak Are Strong 70
Chapter 7: "By the Terebinth of Mamre" (Gen 18:1-20:18) 71
The Promise of a Child (Gen 18:1-16) 71
The Fate of the Cities (Gen 18:17-19:38) 74
The Promise Preserved (Gen 20:1-18) 79
Contemporary Reading: Women at Risk 82
Chapter 8: "YHWH Took Note of Sarah" (Gen 21:1-23:20) 83
Sarah's Child (Gen 21:1-34) 83
A Test of Trust (Gen 22:1-24) 87
Sarah's Death and the Purchase of Land (Gen 23:1-20) 91
Contemporary Reading: Hardship Overcome 93
Chapter 9: "The Woman Whom the Lord Has Decided Upon" (Gen 24:1-25:18) 95
The Choice of Rebekah (Gen 24:1-66) 95
The End of an Era (Gen 25:1-18) 100
Contemporary Reading: The Importance of a Woman 102
Isaac and Rebekah: Jacob, Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah (Gen 25:19-36:43) 103
Chapter 10: "Rebekah Became Pregnant" (Gen 25:19-27:46) 105
The Children in Her Womb Struggled (Gen 25:19-34) 105
A Trip to Gerar (Gen 26:1-35) 108
A Resourceful Mother (Gen 27:1-46) 111
Contemporary Reading: Protector of the Promise 115
Chapter 11: "The Daughters of Laban" (Gen 28:1-30:24) 117
Wives for Jacob and Esau (Gen 28:1-9) 117
The Dream at Bethel (Gen 28:10-22) 118
Arrival at Haran (Gen 29:1-14a) 120
The Struggle between Rachel and Leah (Gen 29:14b-30) 121
The Children of Wives and Maidservants (Gen 29:31-30:24) 124
Contemporary Reading: Is Biology Destiny? 126
Chapter 12: "Let Us Make a Covenant" (Gen 30:25-32:2) 129
Laban Is Tricked (Gen 30:25-43) 129
The Tricksters Escape (Gen 31:1-24) 130
The Covenant at Mizpah (Gen 31:25-32:2) 132
Contemporary Reading: Family Wisdom 136
Chapter 13: "You Have Contended with [the] Divine" (Gen 32:3-33:20) 137
Appeasement (Gen 32:3-22) 137
Wrestling during the Night (Gen 32:23-33) 139
Reconciliation (Gen 33:1-20) 140
Contemporary Reading: The Women and Children Are Safe 142
Chapter 14: "An Outrage in Israel" (Gen 34:1-36:43) 145
A Sister Is Violated (Gen 34:1-12) 145
Dinah's Honor Avenged (Gen 34:13-31) 147
Return to Bethel (Gen 35:1-15) 149
Wives and Concubines (Gen 35:16-29) 150
The Edomites (Gen 36:1-43) 152
Contemporary Reading: Honor and Shame 153
Joseph (Gen 37:1-50:26) 155
Chapter 15: "Family History" (Gen 37:1-38:30) 157
The Dreamer (Gen 37:1-11) 157
Human Trafficking (Gen 37:12-36) 158
A Widow in Her Father's House (Gen 38:1-11) 160
On the Road to Timnah (Gen 38:12-30) 161
Contemporary Reading: Human Exploitation 163
Chapter 16: "This Is Its Interpretation" (Gen 39:1-41:57) 165
In the House of Potiphar (Gen 39:1-20) 165
The Interpreter of Dreams (Gen 39:21-40:23) 167
Pharaoh's Dream (Gen 41:1-32) 170
Second in the Land (Gen 41:33-57) 171
Contemporary Reading: God Lifts Up 174
Chapter 17: "God Sent Me Here ahead of You" (Gen 42:1-45:28) 175
The Trip to Egypt (Gen 42:1-24) 175
Return to Canaan (Gen 42:25-38) 177
A Second Trip to Egypt (Gen 43:1-34) 178
The Test (Gen 44:1-34) 180
The Truth Is Revealed (Gen 45:1-28) 182
Contemporary Reading: Suspicion 184
Chapter 18: "They Came into Egypt" (Gen 46:1-47:27) 185
The Family in Egypt (Gen 46:1-47:12) 185
Egypt's Agrarian Policy (Gen 47:13-27) 188
Contemporary Reading: Management or Exploitation? 190
Chapter 19: "I Am about to Be Gathered to My People" (Gen 47:28-50:26) 191
Adoption and Blessing (Gen 47:28-48:22) 191
Last Testament (Gen 49:1-28) 193
Death and Burial (Gen 49:29-50:26) 196
Contemporary Reading: Left Out 198
Works Consulted 201
Subject Index 211
Introduction xi
Literary Structure and Genre(s) xii
Aesthetics of the Text xiv
Authorship xv
Sources, Date, and Place of Composition xvi
Social Setting xviii
Theological Perspectives xix
Contemporary Reading xxi
Part 1: "In the Beginning" (Gen 1:1-11:26) 1
Chapter 1: "And God Saw That It Was Good" (Gen 1:1-3:24) 3
A Cosmology (Gen 1:1-2:4a) 3
The Garden (Gen 2:4b-25) 8
The Sin (Gen 3:1-24) 13
Contemporary Reading: Banished from the Garden 18
Chapter 2: "Sin Is a Demon Lurking at the Door" (Gen 4:1-6:4) 19
The Sons of Eve (Gen 4:1-16) 20
Generation after Generation (Gen 4:17-26) 22
From Creation to the Flood (Gen 5:1-32) 24
Sin Abounds (Gen 6:1-4) 25
Contemporary Reading: Invisibility and Blame 27
Chapter 3: "How Great Was Their Wickedness" (Gen 6:5-9:29) 29
Warning of a Flood (Gen 6:5-8) 29
Building the Ark (Gen 6:9-7:5) 30
The Flood (Gen 7:6-8:22) 33
Covenant with Nature (Gen 9:1-29) 33
Contemporary Reading: A New Creation? 36
Chapter 4: "These Are the Descendants" (Gen 10:1-11:26) 39
The Table of Nations (Gen 10:1-32) 39
The Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9) 40
Genealogy from the Flood to the Ancestors (Gen 11:10-26) 44
Contemporary Reading: One Voice 44
Part 2: "I Will Make of You a Great Nation" (Gen 11:27-50:26) 45
Abraham and Sarah (Gen 11:27-25:18) 47
Chapter 5: "Go from Your Country" (Gen 11:27-14:24) 49
Origins in Haran (Gen 11:27-32) 49
Migration from Haran (Gen 12:1-20) 50
Travels through Canaan (13:1-14:24) 53
Contemporary Reading: Limitations of the Household 57
Chapter 6: "This Is My Covenant with You" (Gen 15:1-17:27) 59
Cutting a Covenant (Gen 15:1-21) 59
The Son of Hagar (Gen 16:1-15) 62
Sign of the Covenant (Gen 17:1-27) 66
Contemporary Reading: The Weak Are Strong 70
Chapter 7: "By the Terebinth of Mamre" (Gen 18:1-20:18) 71
The Promise of a Child (Gen 18:1-16) 71
The Fate of the Cities (Gen 18:17-19:38) 74
The Promise Preserved (Gen 20:1-18) 79
Contemporary Reading: Women at Risk 82
Chapter 8: "YHWH Took Note of Sarah" (Gen 21:1-23:20) 83
Sarah's Child (Gen 21:1-34) 83
A Test of Trust (Gen 22:1-24) 87
Sarah's Death and the Purchase of Land (Gen 23:1-20) 91
Contemporary Reading: Hardship Overcome 93
Chapter 9: "The Woman Whom the Lord Has Decided Upon" (Gen 24:1-25:18) 95
The Choice of Rebekah (Gen 24:1-66) 95
The End of an Era (Gen 25:1-18) 100
Contemporary Reading: The Importance of a Woman 102
Isaac and Rebekah: Jacob, Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah (Gen 25:19-36:43) 103
Chapter 10: "Rebekah Became Pregnant" (Gen 25:19-27:46) 105
The Children in Her Womb Struggled (Gen 25:19-34) 105
A Trip to Gerar (Gen 26:1-35) 108
A Resourceful Mother (Gen 27:1-46) 111
Contemporary Reading: Protector of the Promise 115
Chapter 11: "The Daughters of Laban" (Gen 28:1-30:24) 117
Wives for Jacob and Esau (Gen 28:1-9) 117
The Dream at Bethel (Gen 28:10-22) 118
Arrival at Haran (Gen 29:1-14a) 120
The Struggle between Rachel and Leah (Gen 29:14b-30) 121
The Children of Wives and Maidservants (Gen 29:31-30:24) 124
Contemporary Reading: Is Biology Destiny? 126
Chapter 12: "Let Us Make a Covenant" (Gen 30:25-32:2) 129
Laban Is Tricked (Gen 30:25-43) 129
The Tricksters Escape (Gen 31:1-24) 130
The Covenant at Mizpah (Gen 31:25-32:2) 132
Contemporary Reading: Family Wisdom 136
Chapter 13: "You Have Contended with [the] Divine" (Gen 32:3-33:20) 137
Appeasement (Gen 32:3-22) 137
Wrestling during the Night (Gen 32:23-33) 139
Reconciliation (Gen 33:1-20) 140
Contemporary Reading: The Women and Children Are Safe 142
Chapter 14: "An Outrage in Israel" (Gen 34:1-36:43) 145
A Sister Is Violated (Gen 34:1-12) 145
Dinah's Honor Avenged (Gen 34:13-31) 147
Return to Bethel (Gen 35:1-15) 149
Wives and Concubines (Gen 35:16-29) 150
The Edomites (Gen 36:1-43) 152
Contemporary Reading: Honor and Shame 153
Joseph (Gen 37:1-50:26) 155
Chapter 15: "Family History" (Gen 37:1-38:30) 157
The Dreamer (Gen 37:1-11) 157
Human Trafficking (Gen 37:12-36) 158
A Widow in Her Father's House (Gen 38:1-11) 160
On the Road to Timnah (Gen 38:12-30) 161
Contemporary Reading: Human Exploitation 163
Chapter 16: "This Is Its Interpretation" (Gen 39:1-41:57) 165
In the House of Potiphar (Gen 39:1-20) 165
The Interpreter of Dreams (Gen 39:21-40:23) 167
Pharaoh's Dream (Gen 41:1-32) 170
Second in the Land (Gen 41:33-57) 171
Contemporary Reading: God Lifts Up 174
Chapter 17: "God Sent Me Here ahead of You" (Gen 42:1-45:28) 175
The Trip to Egypt (Gen 42:1-24) 175
Return to Canaan (Gen 42:25-38) 177
A Second Trip to Egypt (Gen 43:1-34) 178
The Test (Gen 44:1-34) 180
The Truth Is Revealed (Gen 45:1-28) 182
Contemporary Reading: Suspicion 184
Chapter 18: "They Came into Egypt" (Gen 46:1-47:27) 185
The Family in Egypt (Gen 46:1-47:12) 185
Egypt's Agrarian Policy (Gen 47:13-27) 188
Contemporary Reading: Management or Exploitation? 190
Chapter 19: "I Am about to Be Gathered to My People" (Gen 47:28-50:26) 191
Adoption and Blessing (Gen 47:28-48:22) 191
Last Testament (Gen 49:1-28) 193
Death and Burial (Gen 49:29-50:26) 196
Contemporary Reading: Left Out 198
Works Consulted 201
Subject Index 211