ABERRANT RELATIONSHIPS IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS: THE POLLUTION OF THE “ONE FLESH” RELATIONSHIP AS FOUND IN GENESIS 2:24 ______________________________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary Lynchburg, Virginia ____________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________ by Robert B. Evans III March 2017 Copyright © by Robert Baker Evans III All Rights Reserved ii APPROVAL SHEET ABERRANT RELATIONSHIPS IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS: THE POLLUTION OF THE “ONE FLESH” RELATIONSHIP AS FOUND IN GENESIS 2:24 Robert Baker Evans III Read and approved by: Chairperson: CHET RODEN_______________________ Dr. Chet Roden Reader: GARY YATES_______________________ Dr. Gary Yates Reader: Leo Percer___________________________ Dr. Leo Percer Date:_____________5/15/2017____________ iii To my wife, Linda You are the faithful companion! You have been a clear example of being my “helper.” I love and thank you! I dedicate this manuscript to you. iv CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………………………………vi ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………………..vii INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………..…………….1 CHAPTER ONE The Basis of the Union Between Man and the Woman…………………………………….....4 CHAPTER TWO Unions Displaying Polygamy……………………………………………………………..…31 CHAPTER THREE Unions Dictated by Lust…...………………………………………………………………...91 CHAPTER FOUR Unions that Display Sexual Aberrance……………………………………………….….....141 CHAPTER FIVE Ideal Union……..…………………………………………………………………………...153 CONCLUSION An Analysis of the Union Between the Man and the Woman……………………………...168 BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………………………....182 v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are many people that I want to personally thank for their support. Dr. Gary Galeotti was the chairperson of my thesis. He encouraged me to persevere. His help allowed me to discover theology. Dr. Chet Roden was a blessing beyond measure. As chairperson, he continuously challenged, and supported me; without his assistance, this project would not have been completed. Dr. Yates was a blessing and aid, and this manuscript would not have been of any value without him. Drs. Kevin King and Leo Percer both provided encouragement and insight at crucial times during the writing of this paper. Lee Webb was a great companion and friend who lent his time. Peggy Stegall, Pat Rivers, Lynne Scharf, Jessica Divine, Dr. Caryl Burns, and Dr. Phyllis Blair were various readers that painstakingly worked through my writings. Macon Baptist Church allowed me to pursue this project while I was their pastor – thank you. Marcia and Bob Evans, my parents, prayed for me, and taught me to have a great love for the Lord. I am truly blessed by the Lord to have parents that lived Gen 2:24. vi ABSTRACT Genesis is a book of beginnings. Furthermore, Genesis describes the beginning of the relationship between man and woman. That relationship, as found in Gen 2:24, becomes the standard ideal for the one-flesh union set forth by God. Sadly, Genesis 3 tells of the beginning of sin, and how sin damaged the ideal union. And, although sin has persisted and flourished, the standard of Gen 2:24 never changed, nor was it replaced. Thus, the following dissertation seeks to locate, examine, and discuss the various one- flesh, man-woman relationships in Genesis. The first chapter of this research examines the one- flesh relationship found in Gen 2:24. Then the primary focus looks upon the various passages that expose aberrant or polluted unions between men and women as they refused to follow the ideal paradigm. This study first looks at polygamous unions – Gen 4:19–24; 16:1–16; 26:34–35; 28:6–9; 29:15–30; 29:31–30:24; 34:1–31; 35:22, and 38:2. Then it examines relationships built upon lust and the personal gain that can be obtained from lust – Gen 6:1–3; 9:18–25; 12:10–20; 19:1–11; 20:1–18; 26:6–11; 38:11–30; and 39:7–20. Additionally, another section studies unions characterized by depraved sexual aberrance – 19:30–38 and 38:6–10. Lastly, there are two passages found in Genesis, chapter 24 and Gen 41:45, that appear to uphold the ideal standard set forth in Gen 2:24. Those two passages are covered in the last chapter of this paper. The last part of this paper summarizes that not only does Gen 2:24 remain the standard for the union between man and woman in Genesis, it became the regulatory idea behind passages in the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and the New Testament that address godly relationships. vii Introduction Gen 2:24 is God’s ideal paradigm for the union between man and woman. It is explained as a one-flesh relationship between the man and the woman. But, this narrative defining the union between man and woman, is only a portion of what is revealed in the book of Genesis concerning the man/woman relationship. The aim of this paper is to do an exegetical examination of select passages from Genesis so as to understand the ideal union found in Gen 2:24, and also, categorize and discuss the various deviations from that ideal. Guide for Dissertation A key component of this study is to find the meaning of Gen 2:24 and the one flesh union. To do this, key words are scrutinized at both the sentence level and word level to compare and contrast the ideal union, as found in Gen 2:24, with other unions found in Genesis. In particular, the author of this research explores the aberrant unions described in Genesis and demonstrates the various ways mankind deviated or polluted God’s design laid out in Gen 2:24. The first chapter will be used to present Gen 2:24 as the ideal union, between man and woman. The study of this verse examines the key words: “leave,” “cleave,” “one,” and “flesh.” Then a survey of the key phrase “one flesh” is reviewed, along with any textual turning points. This is followed by a summary of the findings concerning Gen 2:24 and the ideal union. The second chapter presents Gen 4:19–24; Gen 29:15–30; and Gen 26:34 –35 as unions displaying polygamy. The key words in this section are: “love,” “bitterness;” key phrases that are examined are “and took for Lamech two wives,” “give me,” “caused her to go to him,” “what have you done to me?,” “bitterness of spirit.” As with chapter 1, the concluding section of this part of the chapter examines these passages in light of research. This chapter, also, offers Gen 1 2 16:1–16 as a case of polygamy that took place due to barrenness. The key words studied are: “maid,” “embrace,” and “violence.” The key phrase investigated is: “I shall be built up.” This section concludes with a discussion of research concerning Gen 16:1–16. Chapter two continues the topic of polygamy by considering unions that urge family positioning: Gen 28:6–9; Gen 29:13–30:24; Gen 34:1–31; Gen 35:22; and Gen 38:2. The key words that are examined in this section are: “bless,” “hate,” “to have intercourse,” “to hire,” “bride price,” “folly,” and “concubine.” The key phrase surveyed is “Israel heard it.” In addition, this section provides an analysis of the research within each of the key passages. At the end of this section, a summary is presented of one’s discoveries in light of Gen 2:24. The third chapter presents Gen 6:1–3; Gen 9:18–25; Gen 19:1–11; Gen 38:11–30; and Gen 39:7–20 as unions dictated by lust. The key words for this chapter are “multiply,” “curse,” “know,” “widow,” “be a harlot,” “temple prostitute,” and “enter.” The key phrases that are examined are “sons of God,” “Ham saw the nakedness of his father,” “that we may know them,” “what will you give me,” and “lie with me.” Further, this research examines the textual turning points for Gen 9:18–25. Last, this section explores the research for each of these passages. Moreover, this chapter has a section that analyzes unions that used the lust of sex because of fear: Gen 12:10–20; Gen 20:1–18; and Gen 26:6–11. The key words are “wife,” “approach,” “touch,” and “guilt.” The key phrases examined are “the woman was taken,” “to preserve from our father’s seed,” “caused me to wander,” “covering of eyes,” and “showing endearment.” The study, also, reflects the textual turning points for Gen 26:6–11. This too is followed by a section on the research that has been done with these passages. 3 The fourth chapter presents Gen 19:30–38 and Gen 38:6–10 as unions that display sexual aberrance. The key words for this chapter are “know” and “lie with,” and “obligation.” The key phrase surveyed is “he spilled the semen on the ground.” Next, this chapter considers the research completed for these passages. The fifth chapter presents Gen 41:45 and Genesis 24 as examples of the ideal unions. The key words for this chapter are “Zaphenath-paneah,” “oath” and “take an oath.” The key phrases studied are “Pharaoh gave Asenath in marriage,” and “you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Caaanites.” This is followed by a section on the research that has been done for Gen 41:45 and the key verses of Genesis 24. The conclusion of this paper will be used as a proposal calling for a re-evaluation of how Genesis portrays its understanding of the union between the man and woman. By outlining the ideal one-flesh union in Gen 2:24, and providing numerous aberrant examples, followed by the models from the ideal unions in Gen 41:45 and Genesis 24, the author of Genesis seems to be subtly demonstrating the weakness and inherent problems with deviant one-flesh relationships all the while leading the reader toward stronger one flesh union described in Gen 2:24.