2b - origin stories

Question 1

introducing the pentatuch: what is it?

Answer 1

the first 5 books of the bible

Question 2

introducing the pentatuch: who is it?

Answer 2

multiple authors and editors (oral and written materials)

Question 3

introducing the pentatuch: when was it written?

Answer 3

final edition in post exillic period

Question 4

introducing the pentatuch: where was it written?

Answer 4

israel + babylon + post exilic israel

Question 5

introducing the pentatuch: why was it written?

Answer 5

restore the exiles’ sense of nationhood & how to worship god back in israel

Question 6

overview of the pentateuch: gen 1-11

Answer 6

primeval history

Question 7

overview of the pentateuch: gen 12-50

Answer 7

first families narrative

Question 8

overview of the pentateuch: exod 1-18

Answer 8

story of liberation

Question 9

overview of the pentateuch: exod 19-40

Answer 9

revelation at sinai

Question 10

overview of the pentateuch: numbers

Answer 10

sojourn in the wilderness

Question 11

overview of the pentateuch: Deuteronomy

Answer 11

farewell address of moses

Question 12

when god created the earth, what happened on each day?

Answer 12

1. separates light from darkness
2. separates sky and earth
3. separates dry land from sea
4. creates lights to govern day, night, and seasons
5. creates sea creatures and birds
6. creates land animals and humans
7. rest

Question 13

what are curses?

Answer 13

curses are a result of the “fall” and not something to be strived for

Question 14

what is similar between the two creation accounts?

Answer 14

• humans are god’s creations
• they too are a creature and part of the created order
• earth is also god’s beloved creation
• humans are it’s caretakers

Question 15

what happened in gen 4?

Answer 15

the story of cain and abel

Question 16

describe the story of cain and abel

Answer 16

-community is shattered through envy and enmity
-the bond between brothers in broken but also between the land and cain
-this is the result of exile and isolation
-lamech only increases this distance through multiple killings
-adam and eve have a new son seth through which israel the nation will be born

Question 17

describe the theme of the exile in genesis

Answer 17

-expelled from garden
-cain banished
-noah is a remnant
-tower of babel is destroyed

Question 18

what does ha-adam mean?

Answer 18

“the human” or “the man”

Question 19

what is the divine image?

Answer 19

refers to the biblical context that humans are created IN THE IMAGE OF GOD

Question 20

what is the book of genesis about?

Answer 20

-first book in the bible
-beginning of the world
-humanity
-god’s relationship with his creation
-entrance of sin
-establishment of gods covenant

Question 21

what is the tower of babel?

Answer 21

a biblical narrative that explains the origin of different languages and the scattering of humanity across the earth.