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Genesis – Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

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Genesis – Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty A PATRISTIC COMMENTARY The Book of GENESIS FR. TADROS Y. MALATY 2004 Initial edition Translated by: DR. GEORGE BOTROS English text revised by ROSETTE R. TOMA 3 4 The Word of God is the food that the Holy Spirit grants to the Church of Christ, so that she may live perpetually renovated in her spiritual youth, without undergoing the incapacities of old age, or perishability. In the past few years, my good Lord allowed me to study the word of God; in the same way the Fathers of the early Church experienced it, as spirit and life. I began to write some of the meditations and interpretations practiced by those Fathers, in the hope that we, also, may live through the spirit and belief of the early Church; enjoying the Holy Spirit through the word of God, alive and active in us, until it elevates us to our heavenly Groom “the divine Word,” who will come on the clouds, to bestow on us His glories, and bring us into the bosom of His Father, to abide with Him eternally in His heavens. However, in my interpretation, if I did not commit to the sequence of the books as they come in the Holy Bible; it is just because I did not intend to author a comprehensive series of interpretations, but I aspired to enter, with every soul, into the secret place of the Word, and to enjoy Him as the eternal Groom, who fills the heart, the mind and all the inner depths. Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty 5 AN INTRODUCTORY STUDY: INTRODUCTION TO THE PENTATEUCH OR THE FIRST FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES 1 1- Unity of the five books. 2- The prophet Moses and the five books. 3- Contents of the five books. 1 Due of its pure academic nature, some readers may consider this chapter hard to comprehend. I would rather advise them to skip it, if they so prefer. 6 1 UNITY OF THE FIVE BOOKS NOMENCLATURES In the Greek language, the first five books of the Old Testament are called “The Pentateuch” “ pe νtat M,oς,” meaning: “the five books,” a name used in Christianity since early times. Certain scholars tried to bind the first four books together in one unit, under the name of “ The Tetrateuch ;” considering the book of ‘ Deuteronomy ’ a sort of introduction to the history of Israel, from its initial entry into the promised land, ‘The Book of Joshua;’ While certain others tried to add the ‘Book of Joshua’ to the first five books to form a six-books unit they called “ The Hexateuch .” Sometimes, others tried to bind the first eight books in a unit they called “ The Octateuch ,” to include the historic period up to the beginning of the era of kings. But, among scholars, the original traditional thought of binding the first five books as a historical basis on which God’s people were established still prevails. The Jews also recognized this unity; In Hebrew, the Scripture, is divided into three units according to its authors: (1) The Law, or “The Torah”: includes the five books of Moses. (2) The prophets ‘Nebiim’: divided into ‘Former Prophets’ and ‘Latter Prophets.’ The first division includes Joshua, the Judges, Samuel and Kings; while the second division includes Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve ‘Minor prophets.’ (3) The “Kethubbim,” divided in its turn into three divisions: The Poetic books : Psalms, Proverbs, and Job. “Megilloth” books : Songs of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther. Non-Prophetic Historical books : Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles. Thus, the five books of Moses appear as one unit called “The Law,” even though they carried several other names mentioned in the two Testaments, some of which are: * The Torah or the Law (Joshua 1:7; Matthew 5:17; 12:5). * The Book of the Law (Joshua 1:8; Galatians 3:10). * The book of the Law of Moses (Joshua 8:31). * The book of the Law of God (Joshua 24:26). * The book of Moses (2 Chronicles 25:4; Mark 12:26). * The Law of the Lord (2 Chronicles 31:3; Luke 2:23). * The Law of Moses (1 Kings 2:3; Ezra 7:6; Luke 2:22). 7 A HISTORICAL UNITY These books represent a well correlated historical unity; that begins by the creation of the world for the sake of man; then the creation of man himself. When man fell, God planned for his salvation, electing for him the Early Fathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In Egypt, started the first seed for the people that God set, to fulfill, through it, salvation for the whole humanity. Then, Moses was chosen as the first leader for this people. He delivered the people from the bondage of Pharaoh. Through him, they received the Covenant on Mount Sinai. Finally, he stopped them on the eastern shore of the Jordan river to hand them over to a new leader - Joshua; as though, through the Law, he is handing us over to ‘Jesus’ the leader of life, and the endower of inheritance. Thus, these books represent a complete and prime segment in the life of humanity, concerning its relationship with God; and an important role lived by man, in which he feels God’s protection and the plan for his salvation. It is worthy to note, that in these books, history and faith intermingle. There is no separation between historical events and the doctrine of faith. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HISTORY AND FAITH IN JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY In all the ancient nations, history has been tied to religion. Religion played a capital role in all aspects of their daily, familial, and economic life, and, in their political activities. In spite of the fact that history is influenced by doctrine, it is not representing a part of it. As for the Jews, there is no separation between history and faith; Not only history is influenced by their doctrine, but, it represents an integral part of it. In other words, the theological point of view on history and the theological point of view of doctrine are linked together. The history of this people represents an integral part of the word of God, and an exceeding divine plan for the salvation of the whole humanity. History began with the creation of man, as he appears as God’s ambassador on earth, having power and authority over everything, on and beneath earth, in the depths of the seas, in air, and even in space. He has no master, but he is the master of all creations on earth. History disclosed God’s choice of the Patriarch (Fathers): Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In each action and each work that occurred at their time, God revealed Himself to us. And in our Christian concept, their life carries numerous symbols for the coming of the Lord Christ, as a Redeemer and Savior. As Christians, we do not see, in this part of history, a past that vanished, but, rather a divine preparation for the plan of our salvation, and innumerable symbols of God’s work for us, up to this very day. This is not history in its general scientific concept, but it is a history that tells us the secret of our relationship with God, it explains his mysteries and teaches us His heavenly wisdom toward us. It is an actual history carrying the power of life through our encounter with Christ our Lord, Whom this very same history revealed, and prepared for His coming. 8 THE SECRET OF UNITY BETWEEN THESE FIVE BOOKS R. De Vaux 1 believes in four golden threads binding together these five books in an integral unity. These threads are: the Divine Promise , the Divine Election , the Divine Covenants , and the Divine Law. 1- The Divine Promise: The main theme of these books is the confirmation of God’s Promise to man; that was especially demonstrated with Abraham, who became a father of all believers. In him we see the concrete divine promise for the salvation of Adam and his children, renewed along the successive generations. Indeed, to start, the nation of Israel did not have a civilized culture if compared to the surrounding nations, like the Egyptians and the Babylonians. But, they obtained the divine promise, through their nomad patriarch fathers; and through this Promise , the nation of the Israeli people was established. 2- The Divine Election: the divine promise was clear in the election. Adam did not earn to be the master of the whole universe. Likewise, the patriarch fathers did not earn to be selected as men of God, neither did the people of Israel earn to be chosen as holy nation. But this election was because of God’s exceeding love, and of His wisdom (Deuteronomy 7:8). Therefore, these choices are attributed to God without partiality or favoritism on the expense of the holy life. 3- The Covenants: Covenants were of great importance in eastern societies. As examples, the covenant between Abraham and Abimelech (Gen. 21:23), between Jacob and his father-in-law (Gen. 31: 44); and that, between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 23: 28). In the first five books, God’s appreciation for man is demonstrated; exalting his value, and entering with him into a covenant, leading to successive ones. He made one with Adam, indirectly proclaimed, in Paradise, Adam was expected to realize God’s love for him and return love for love. But he disobeyed Him and so spoiling the image of the covenant. For this, God renewed His covenant with ‘Noah,’ after renovating the earth through the water of “Baptism,” and He set its sign in nature, a rainbow in the clouds (Gen.
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