Endings in Short Biblical Narratives

University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations Spring 2010 Endings in Short Biblical Narratives Susan B. Zeelander University of Pennsylvania, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Comparative Methodologies and Theories Commons, Jewish Studies Commons, Near Eastern Languages and Societies Commons, and the Other Rhetoric and Composition Commons Recommended Citation Zeelander, Susan B., "Endings in Short Biblical Narratives" (2010). Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations. 169. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/169 This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/169 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Endings in Short Biblical Narratives Abstract Abstract ENDINGS IN SHORT BIBLICAL NARRATIVES Susan Zeelander Professor Jeffrey H. Tigay There has been much study of the narrative aspects of the Bible in recent years, but the ends of biblical narratives—how the ends contribute to closure for their stories, whether there are closural conventions that biblical writers regularly used, in what ways the ending strategies affect the whole narrative—have not been studied. Knowledge of closural conventions can address these questions and even whether biblical writers used them intuitively or intentionally. This dissertation is the first thorough study of the ends of biblical narratives; its prime data are the relatively short narratives in Genesis 1-35 and 38. The first step in the study is ot determine what constitutes the end of a biblical narrative. I use a system within narratology based on paradigms developed by Emma Kafalenos that identifies the end as the resolution of the key destabilizing action or perception; that together with additional information that the writer adds forms an “end-section.” I use literary methods, a close reading of the text and awareness of the Bible’s textual and compositional history and the interconnectedness of its literary art and themes, to identify the closural devices within end-sections. This dissertation shows that all the Genesis narratives, irrespective of their documentary source, use one or more structural, thematic, and linguistic closural devices. Some of the devices can be found in non- biblical genres, some are significant only in Genesis. They include rituals, etiologies, frames and summaries, as well as specific motifs, language, and epetitionsr that mark the changes in their stories; they use entertainment, flattery, logic, education and didacticism. I suggest that there are aspects of our minds, culture, philosophies, and experience in life that draw the writer and the reader most often to closure, although some of the narratives leave important questions unresolved. I investigate possible reasons why this may be so. I conclude that the short narratives in Genesis are filled with closural conventions that mark the ends of their stories and help indicate that they are complete and over, even when a reader would like the story to continue. Future research can apply this methodology and the results to larger units within the Bible and to extant narratives in the ancient Near East. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations First Advisor Jeffrey H. Tigay Second Advisor David M. Stern Third Advisor Dan Ben-Amos Keywords Bible, Genesis, closure, narratology, linguistic characteristics, etiology, ritual Subject Categories Biblical Studies | Comparative Methodologies and Theories | Jewish Studies | Near Eastern Languages and Societies | Other Rhetoric and Composition This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/169 ENDINGS IN SHORT BIBLICAL NARRATIVES Susan B. Zeelander A DISSERTATION in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2010 ______________ Professor Jeffrey H. Tigay, Supervisor of Dissertation _______________ Professor David M. Stern, Graduate Group Chairperson COPYRIGHT Susan B. Zeelander 2010 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS With gratitude that I have been able to complete this dissertation and mark a beautiful journey in my life, I would like to mention my appreciation of the many people who have influenced and supported me over the years. My parents, Jean E. and Elliott Haness, z”l, gave me their love and instilled confidence in me; they transmitted the love of text and learning that my grandparents Henry and Sheindel Elbaum, z”l, carried with them to this country. Years later I can see these and other wonderful qualities in my children and grandchildren, Maureen and Jeff, Zach and Josh; Lisa and Elliot, Zoe and Jacob; Julie and Erik Lederman, Bella and Oliver. I am proud of each of them and learn from them all from the biggest to the littlest. My own education for this endeavor has been a journey that started when I learned the aleph bet from Bill Dodies. At Gratz College I had the good fortune to learn from Abraham Marthan, Nahum Waldman, z”l, and from two wonderful visiting scholars, Baruch Schwartz of Hebrew University, at that time a very young academic who introduced me to rigorous academic thinking in the field of Bible, and Tikva Frymer-Kensky, z”l, who introduced me to the connections between the Bible and the ancient Near East. A group of fellow students there, Nili Fox, who went on to Penn and is now at HUC, Michaela Mersak, Simone Horowitz, Estee Heim-Fisher and Gloria Schwartz, z”l, became friends, each in her own way committed to love of learning. At Penn I was able to study with Barry Eichler, now at Yeshiva University and with Edward Breuer, with visiting professors Gary Rendsburg and Adele iii Berlin, and briefly with Moshe Greenberg, and Judah Goldin, z”l, among others. Each shared his knowledge and opened new worlds to me. My student colleagues and friends, Andrea Weiss, Susan Marx, Shawn Zelig Aster, Shalom Holtz, Yehudah Kraut, Nili Fox, Stephen Kim, among others, were intelligent and generous with each other. The topic of my dissertation was first suggested to me by Andrea, and she has been a guide through these dissertation years; Susan suggested approaches to dealing with the ritual aspect of my dissertation; Shawn offered many suggestions along the way. The most wonderful influence for me at Penn has been that of Jeff Tigay. I studied Bible with him for many years and he is my advisor for this dissertation. His support and wisdom, his integrity as a person and a scholar and his confidence in me have been a big part of my life. On my dissertation committee, in addition to Jeff, have been David M. Stern and Dan Ben-Amos. David has been a knowledgeable guide and caring teacher throughout this process; he gave this topic his early blessing and introduced me to approaches to narratology. Dan helped clarify methodological issues at the beginning of this process. Other scholars have been generous in their contributions to this project. Gerald J. Prince at Penn suggested that I look at the work of Emma Kafalenos within narratology; I went to him often to clarify literary points. Deborah H. Roberts of Haverford College was an early supporter, and introduced me to her work and that of others who have looked at endings and ritual in classical Latin and Greek literature. Bernard Levinson of the University of Minnesota introduced me to the works of Frank Kermode and Barbara Herrnstein Smith, two iv foundational works in this field. Gary A. Rendsburg of Rutgers University suggested specific authors who had discerned some ending patterns in the Bible. Chaim Horowitz suggested readings in contextual psychology that related to ritual. My department at Penn, Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, is upbeat and professional, a reflection of the abilities of Peggy Guinan, the administrator, and Diane Moderski and Linda Greene. My thanks to them and also to Chrissy Walsh, of the Jewish Studies Program. Jay C. Treat, IT director in the School of Arts and Sciences, has guided me through the intricacies of formatting this dissertation for the university. And to Norbert, my friend and love for over 50 years, we’re blessed. v ABSTRACT ENDINGS IN SHORT BIBLICAL NARRATIVES Susan Zeelander Professor Jeffrey H. Tigay There has been much study of the narrative aspects of the Bible in recent years, but the ends of biblical narratives—how the ends contribute to closure for their stories, whether there are closural conventions that biblical writers regularly used, in what ways the ending strategies affect the whole narrative—have not been studied. Knowledge of closural conventions can address these questions and even whether biblical writers used them intuitively or intentionally. This dissertation is the first thorough study of the ends of biblical narratives; its prime data are the relatively short narratives in Genesis 1-35 and 38. The first step in the study is to determine what constitutes the end of a biblical narrative. I use a system within narratology based on paradigms developed by Emma Kafalenos that identifies the end as the resolution of the key destabilizing action or perception; that together with additional information that the writer adds forms an “end- section.” I use literary methods, a close reading of the text and awareness of the Bible’s textual and compositional history and the interconnectedness of its

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