Contents

Acknowledgments

List of Tables

List of Abbreviations

Chapter 1 Introduction: The Story of Plot and the Book of Genesis

The Story of Plot

The Moral of the Story of Plot

Two Criteria for Assessing Plot-structure

Do All the Narrative Episodes Contribute to the Plot-structure?

Does the Proposed Plot-structure Work Together with Recognized Features of Genesis?

The Plot of Genesis

What is Righteousness?

Chapter 2 A Muthos-logical Reading Strategy for Genesis

The Tôlĕdôt Headings and the Plot-structure of Genesis

Thomas’ Ready-made Solution? The Influence of Genealogy on the Macrostructure of the Text

Steinberg, Tengström, and Koch and the Genealogico-narrative Arrangement of Genesis

A Suggested Macrostructure for the Book of Genesis

A Summary of the Approach

Chapter 3 In the Beginning: The Return to God’s Creation-sanctuary

Genesis 1: The Sanctuary as the Controlling Metaphor for Creation

Literary Shaping in Genesis 1

Sanctuary Symbolism in Genesis 1

Genesis 2–3: Can Humanity Return to God’s Creation-sanctuary?

Genesis 2: Focusing in on Humanity in YHWH God’s Creation-sanctuary

Genesis 2:5–17: The Creation of Man Narrative

Genesis 2:18–25: The Creation of Woman Narrative

Genesis 3: Expulsion from the Creation-sanctuary and the Plot of Scripture

Genesis 4: The Matrix of Plot for the Book of Genesis

Comparing and Contrasting Genesis 3–4: Delineating Two Lines of Seed

The Complication of Genesis: Will the Righteous Seed Survive?

Genesis 4 as Matrix of Motifs

Summary: The Complication that Drives the Narrative

Chapter 4 The Noah Plexus: The Undoing of the Undoing of Creation

The Structure of the Narrative

The Creation Allusions in the Flood Narrative

Parallels in ANE Literature

A Thinking Together of the Flood Narrative

The Shem, Ham and Japheth Tôlĕdôt

The Noah Plexus Summary

Chapter 5 The Terah Plexus: Testing the Righteousness of Abraham

The Structure of the Narrative

Enigmatic Features of the Terah Tôlĕdôt Strand

Abraham as the Promised, Righteous Seed

Who is the Heir? The High Point of Confusion is the Turning Point of the Narrative

Abraham’s Lack of Righteousness Threatens the Survival of the Seed

The First Wife-sister Story: Abraham’s Lack of Righteousness

The Abraham and Lot Stories: The Importance of the Righteousness of the Seed

Confluence of the Righteousness and Seed Motifs and the Climax of the Plot

The Second Wife-sister Story: The Righteousness of the Seed and the Nations

The Akedah: The Ultimate Threat to the Seed

The Terah Plexus Summary

Chapter 6 The Isaac Plexus: Whatever Happened to the Righteousness of the Seed?

The Structure of the Narrative

The Development of the Plot of the Isaac Tôlĕdôt

The Beginning of the Plot: The Older Will Serve the Younger

Like Father, Like Son

YHWH’s Covenant Confirmation to Isaac

Isaac’s Wife-sister Story

The Well Narratives

Jacob Steals the Blessing of Isaac

Jacob at Bethel

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel: The Beginning of the Betrothal Type-scene

Rachel and Leah Struggle for Sons

Jacob Struggles for Blessing

Jacob Escapes Haran: The End of the Betrothal Type-scene

Jacob Struggles with God

Jacob and Esau

Jacob and the Nations

The Anticlimax of the Jacob Narrative

The Isaac Plexus Summary

Chapter 7 The Jacob Plexus and Dénouement: God Will Ensure the Righteousness and Survival of the Seed

The Structure of the Narrative

Identifying the Plot of the Narrative: Cain and Abel Redivivus

Genesis 37: The Beginning of the End

Genesis 38: The Nadir of Genesis, Reprise

The Final Test of Righteousness

The Dénouement: The Righteousness and Survival of the Seed

Chapter 8 Conclusion: Plot-structure in Genesis and Beyond

The Paradigm Shift of Muthos-logical Reading

Evaluating the Plot-structure with Two Control Questions

Do All the Narrative Episodes Contribute to the Plot-structure?

Does the Proposed Plot-structure Work Together with Recognized Features of Genesis?

The Implications of Plot-structure in Genesis and Beyond

Bibliography

Index of Ancient Texts

Index of Authors