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Election, Brotherhood and Inheritance: a Canonical Reading of the Esau and Edom Traditions

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Durham E-Theses Election, Brotherhood and Inheritance: A Canonical Reading of the Esau and Edom Traditions ANDERSON, BRADFORD,ASHWORTH How to cite: ANDERSON, BRADFORD,ASHWORTH (2010) Election, Brotherhood and Inheritance: A Canonical Reading of the Esau and Edom Traditions, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/315/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 Election, Brotherhood and Inheritance: A Canonical Reading of the Esau and Edom Traditions Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Theology and Religion Durham University 2010 Bradford A. Anderson Election, Brotherhood and Inheritance: A Canonical Reading of the Esau and Edom Traditions Bradford A. Anderson Abstract What is the reader of the Bible to make of Esau, Jacob’s brother? Why is Israel’s neighbor Edom treated so harshly in the prophetic literature? And how might one understand the relationship of these traditions? This study engages these questions by offering a canonical reading of the Esau and Edom traditions of the Hebrew Bible in light of the theological issue of election, looking specifically at the portrayal of Esau and Edom in Genesis, Deuteronomy, and the prophetic material. First, it is argued that the depiction of Esau in Genesis is, on the whole, positive. Though the unchosen son, Esau is blessed and responds well to the challenges life presents him with. Thus, the unchosen brother is by no means cursed or excluded from the divine economy. These motifs find resonance in Deuteronomy, which in particular construes the issue of land possession in explicitly theological language, while reinforcing the kinship motif. Second, it is put forward that Edom is portrayed negatively by the prophets for violating a relationship of brotherhood, and for disrespecting the divine apportioning of the lands. It is this twofold rejection of their brother Israel as well as YHWH who has appointed the lands that helps account for the harsh message of the prophets. And third, it is suggested that these two traditions have resonance with one another based on their overarching theological concerns, heuristically labeled brotherhood and inheritance. Returning to the issue of election, it is proposed that these themes may helpfully be understood within the theological categories of divine initiative and human response, as the response of those involved is taken up in YHWH’s own responsiveness, whether in blessing or judgment. Declaration I declare that this thesis embodies the results of my own work, that it has been composed by me and that it does not include work that has been presented for a degree in this or any other university. All quotations and the work and opinions of others have been acknowledged in the main text or footnotes. Bradford A. Anderson “The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without the prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged.” Contents CONTENTS I ACKNOWLEDGMENTS V ABBREVIATIONS VI 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. ESAU AND EDOM IN THE HISTORY OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION 7 2.1 INTERPRETATION OF ESAU IN GENESIS 7 2.2 DEPICTION OF EDOM IN THE PROPHETS 10 2.3 ESAU AND EDOM: THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE TWO TRADITIONS 13 3. BEGINNINGS: ORACLE, BIRTH AND BIRTHRIGHT (GENESIS 25:19-34) 21 3.1 ESAU IN GENESIS: PRELIMINARY ISSUES 21 3.2 INTRODUCTION TO GEN. 25:19-34 21 3.3 PRE-BIRTH EVENTS (GENESIS 25:19-23) 23 3.3.1 Conception (vv. 19-21) 23 3.3.2 Rebekah’s word from YHWH (vv. 22-23) 24 3.3.2.1 The struggle 25 3.3.2.2 The oracle from YHWH 26 3.3.2.2.1 Grammatical ambiguities in 25:23 26 3.3.2.2.2 Individual or national concerns? 30 3.3.2.2.3 Election and pre-determinism 34 3.3.3 Pre-birth events: preliminary conclusions 35 3.4 THE BIRTH (GENESIS 25:24-26) 36 3.4.1 Esau 37 3.4.2 Jacob 40 3.4.3 Purpose of the birth narrative 41 3.5 THE BIRTHRIGHT (GENESIS 25:27-34) 41 3.5.1 The lads’ development (vv. 27-28) 41 3.5.2 The bartering of the birthright (vv. 29-34) 45 3.5.2.1 The depiction of Esau 46 3.5.2.1.1 Esau as negative 46 3.5.2.1.2 Esau as misinterpreted 50 3.5.2.2 The depiction of Jacob 55 3.5.3 Reading strategies for the birthright narrative 56 3.5.4 The birthright scene: summary 59 3.6 BEGINNINGS: PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS 59 4. GENESIS 27: THE BLESSING OF JACOB AND ESAU 62 4.1 INTRODUCTION 62 4.2 HISTORY OF INTERPRETATION 63 4.2.1 Early translations and interpretations 64 4.2.1.1 Translations 64 4.2.1.2 Interpretations 65 4.2.2 Contemporary interpretations 68 4.2.2.1 Esau’s anti-blessing/curse 68 4.2.2.2 Undecided regarding the pronouncement to Esau 70 i 4.2.2.3 Esau as blessed 71 4.2.3 Review: Esau’s “blessing” in the history of interpretation 72 4.3 GRAMMATICAL AND SYNTACTICAL ISSUES 73 4.3.1 The preposition Nm 73 4.3.1.1 Genesis 40:13 and 40:19 74 4.3.2 Word order 75 4.3.3 Review: literary and syntactical Issues 76 4.4 CONTEXTUAL ISSUES 76 4.4.1 Instigation 76 4.4.2 Pronouncement 77 4.4.3 Reactions to the pronouncements 80 4.4.4 Review: contextual issues 80 4.5 SIBLING BLESSINGS IN THE PATRIARCHAL NARRATIVES 81 4.5.1 Ishmael 82 4.5.2 Joseph and his sons 84 4.6 THE NATURE AND SOURCE OF THE BLESSINGS 86 4.6.1 Blessing: magic words and speech act theory 86 4.6.2 Whose blessing does Isaac give? 87 4.7 GENESIS 27: PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS 90 4.8 EXCURSUS: BIRTHRIGHT AND BLESSING 91 4.8.1 Variant traditions 91 4.8.2 Character-based interpretations 92 4.8.3 Differentiating between birthright and blessing 94 4.8.4 Birthright and blessing: preliminary conclusions 95 5. GENESIS 32-33: THE REUNION OF JACOB AND ESAU 98 5.1 INTRODUCTION 98 5.2 THE PREPARATION (GENESIS 32) 99 5.2.1 Mahanaim (32:1-3) 99 5.2.2 Initial preparations (32:4-22) 101 5.2.2.1 Esau, Seir, Edom (32:4) 101 5.2.2.2 Messengers and message (32:4-6) 103 5.2.2.3 Esau’s response and Jacob’s division of the camp (32:7-9) 106 5.2.2.4 Jacob’s prayer (32:10-13) 108 5.2.2.5 Sending of gifts (32:14-22) 108 5.2.3 The struggle at Peniel (32:23-33) 112 5.2.3.1 The identity of Jacob’s opponent 113 5.2.3.2 Changed name; changed man? 117 5.3 THE REUNION (GENESIS 33:1-11) 118 5.3.1 Jacob’s approach (33:1-3) 119 5.3.2 The meeting (33:4) 121 5.3.3 The interaction of Jacob and Esau (33:5-11) 126 5.3.3.1 Favor and gift 129 5.3.3.2 The “face” motif 130 5.3.3.3 Gift and blessing 131 5.3.4 Summary of Gen 33:1-11 and the reunion 133 5.4 THE SEPARATION (GENESIS 33:12-20) 133 5.4.1 Ambiguity in 33:12-17 134 5.4.2 Jacob returns to Canaan (33:18-20) 135 5.4.3 Explanations for the separation of the brothers 136 5.5 GENESIS 32-33: PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS 138 6. GENESIS 36: THE GENEALOGY OF ESAU 142 6.1 INTRODUCTION 142 ii 6.2 THE STRUCTURE AND UNITY OF GENESIS 36 143 6.2.1 The nature of genealogies 143 6.2.2 Gen 36: structure and unity 144 6.3 KEY ELEMENTS IN GENESIS 36 147 6.3.1 Esau and Edom 147 6.3.1.1 “Esau is Edom” 147 6.3.1.2 Esau moves to Seir 149 6.3.1.3 hzx) – property, possession, inheritance? 151 6.3.2 The Edomite king list 154 6.3.3 What about Amalek? 156 6.3.4 Literary elements: preliminary conclusions 157 6.4 PURPOSE OF GENESIS 36 157 6.5 GENESIS 36: PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS 161 6.6 EXCURSUS: ESAU’S WIVES 162 6.6.1 The names of Esau’s wives 162 6.6.2 How are Esau’s marriages to be understood? 164 7. ESAU IN GENESIS: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 168 8. DEUTERONOMY’S PORTRAYAL OF THE SONS OF ESAU AND THE EDOMITES 171 8.1 INTRODUCTION 171 8.2 DEUTERONOMY 2: BROTHERHOOD AND POSSESSION OF THE LAND 172 8.2.1 Brother Esau 173 8.2.2 Why the gracious treatment of the sons of Esau? 175 8.2.2.1 The possession of Seir 177 8.2.3 Deuteronomy 2: summary 181 8.3 DEUTERONOMY 23:8-9: EDOM AND THE ASSEMBLY OF YHWH 182 8.3.1 Inclusion and exclusion in 23:2-9 182 8.3.1.1 What is the lhq? 182 8.3.1.2 The list of 23:2-9 183 8.3.1.3 Reasons for inclusion and exclusion 185 8.4 THE SONS OF ESAU AND EDOM IN DEUTERONOMY: PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS 188 9.
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