Abraham in the Book of __Jubilees__: The Rewriting of Genesis 11:26-25:10 in the Book of __Jubilees__ 11:14-23:8

In Abraham in the Book of Jubilees, Jacques van Ruiten offers a systematic analysis of one of the most important and extensive Second Temple Jewish treatments of the figure of Abraham (Jub. 11:14-23:8). Given the importance of representations and reinterpretations of Abraham within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, a careful analysis of this early source is an important contribution to research both on the evolving images of biblical patriarchs and on the history of biblical interpretation.There are many references to Jubilees in articles and books on images of Abraham. They are chosen for exegetical motifs, with little attention for its own literary and narrative dynamics, or for the specific writing and reading practices that it embodies and attests. Van Ruiten's careful analysis thus provides important context and corrective. Contents 8 Preface 12 Introduction 14 Chapter One The Early Abram (Gen 11:26–12:3; Jub. 11:14–12:31) 32 1. Introduction 32 2. The Rewriting of Genesis 11:26–12:3 in Jubilees 11:14–12:31 32 2.1. An Overall Comparison between Genesis 11:26–12:3 and Jubilees 11:14–12:31 32 2.2. The Genealogical Framework 33 2.3. Abram’s Birth (Gen 11:26–27b and Jub. 11:14–15) 36 2.4. From Abram’s Birth until His Marriage (Jub. 11:16–12:8) 38 2.5. From Abram’s Marriage until the Arrival in Haran (Gen 11:27c–31; Jub. 12:9–15) 45 2.6. Events Surrounding Abram’s Prayer (Jub. 12:16–27) 53 2.7. Transitional Passage: Abram Informs Terah about His Departure (Jub. 12:28–31) 67 2.8. Melting and Integrating Different Traditions 68 Chapter Two Abram’s Travels (Gen 12:4–14:24; Jub. 13) 78 1. Introduction 78 2. Abram’s Departure from Haran up until His Separation from Lot: An Analysis of the Rewriting of Genesis 12:4–13:4 and Jubilees 13:1–16 80 2.1. From Haran to Shechem (Gen 12:4–7 and Jub. 13:1–4) 81 2.2. From Shechem to Bethel (Gen 12:8 and Jub. 13:5–9) 84 2.3. Abram and Sarai’s Stay in Egypt (Gen 12:9–13:4 and Jub. 13:10–16) 86 3. The Separation of Abram and Lot (Gen 13:5–18 and Jub. 13:17–21) 93 4. The War of the Kings (Gen 14 and Jub. 13:22–29) 97 4.1. An Overall Comparison of Genesis 14 and Jubilees 13:22–29 97 4.2. A Synoptic Overview of Genesis 14 and Jubilees 13:22–29 99 5. Genesis 12:9–14:24 in the Genesis Apocryphon 106 5.1. Introduction 106 5.2. A Synoptic Overview of Genesis and the Genesis Apocryphon 108 5.3. Abram and Sarai’s Stay in Egypt according to the Genesis Apocryphon (1QapGen 19:8–21:4) 122 5.4. The Separation of Abram and Lot according to the Genesis Apocryphon (1QapGen 21:5–22) 125 5.5. The War of the Kings according to the Genesis Apocryphon (1QapGen 21:23–22:26) 126 6. Some Concluding Remarks 129 Chapter Three Land and Covenant (Gen 15–16; Jub. 14) 132 1. Introduction 132 2. Demarcation and Structure of Jubilees 14 132 3. An Overall Comparison between Genesis 15:1–16:16 and Jubilees 14:1–24 134 4. An Analysis of the Rewriting of Genesis 15:1–16:16 in Jubilees 14:1–21 135 4.1. The First Dialogue (Gen 15:1–6; Jub. 14:1–6) 135 4.2. The Second Dialogue (Gen 15:7–21; Jub. 14:7–20) 138 4.3. Hagar and Ishmael (Gen 16; Jub. 14:21–24) 143 5. Concluding Remarks 148 Chapter Four Abraham, Israel and the Nations (Gen 17; Jub. 15) 150 1. An Overall Comparison between Genesis 17 and Jubilees 15 150 2. An Analysis of the Rewriting of Genesis 17 in Jubilees 15 150 2.1. The Introduction to the Renewing of the Covenant (Jub. 15:1–2) 150 2.2. The Appearance of God and the Execution of the Commandment (Genesis 17; Jub. 15:3–24) 154 2.3. Halakic Addition regarding Circumcision (Jub. 15:25–34) 164 2.4. Jubilees 15:25–34 a Later Addition? 178 3. Conclusion 179 Chapter Five Events Surrounding Isaac’s Birth (Gen 18:1–21:21; Jub. 16:1–17:14) 182 1. Introduction 182 2. Events Preceding Isaac’s Birth (Jub. 16:1–9) 183 2.1. A Comparison of Genesis 18:1–15 and Jubilees 16:1–4 184 2.2. A Comparison of Genesis 18:16–19:38 and Jubilees 16:5–9 189 3. Isaac’s Birth (Jub. 16:10–31) 198 3.1. Abraham’s Journey from Haran to Beersheba (Gen 20:1; Jub. 16:10–11) 198 3.2. Isaac’s Birth (Gen 21:1–7; Jub. 16:12–14) 199 3.3. Flashback to the Angel’s Visit ( Jub. 16:15–19) 202 3.4. Festival of Tabernacles ( Jub. 16:20–31) 204 4. Isaac’s Weaning and the Expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael (Gen 21:8–21; Jub. 17:1–14) 208 4.1. An Overall Comparison of Genesis 21:8–21 and Jubilees 17:1–14 208 4.2. An Analysis of the Rewriting of Genesis 21:8–21 in Jubilees 17:1–14 212 5. Conclusion 219 Chapter Six Isaac’s Binding (Gen 22:1–19; Jub. 17:15–18:19) 222 1. An Overall Comparison between Genesis 22:1–19 and Jubilees 17:15–18:19 222 2. An Analysis of the Rewriting of Genesis 22:1–19 in Jubilees 17:15–18:19 222 2.1. The Introduction to Isaac’s Binding (Jub. 17:15–18) 222 2.2. The Story of the Binding (Gen 22:1–19; Jub. 18:1–17) 228 2.3. The Halakic Addition 235 Chapter Seven Events After Sarah’s Death until Abraham’s Blessing for Jacob (Gen 22:20–25:4; 25:21–28; Jub. 19) 240 1. Introduction 240 2. Death and Burial of Sarah (Genesis 23:1–20 and Jub. 19:1–9) 243 3. The Report of the Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah (Gen 25:20 and Jub. 19:10; cf. Gen 22:20–24; 24:1–67) 247 4. The Report of the Marriage of Abraham and Keturah and the Birth of Their Children (Gen 25:1–4 and Jub. 19:11–12) 250 5. The Report of the Birth of Jacob and Esau (Gen 25:21–27 and Jub. 19:13–14) 252 6. Abraham’s Blessing for Jacob (Gen 25:28 and Jub. 19:15–31) 257 7. Conclusions 263 Chapter Eight Abraham’s Testament to All His Children and Grandchildren (Jub. 20:1–13) 266 1. Introduction: Three Interrelated Farewell Speeches (Jub. 20:1–23:8) 266 2. The Structure of Jubilees 20:1–13 268 3. Jubilees 20:1–13 and the Book of Genesis 273 3.1. The Rewriting of Genesis 25:5–6 in Jubilees 20:11–13 273 3.2. Genesis 18:18–19 and Jubilees 20:2–10 275 3.3. The Love of One’s Neighbour in Relation to War (Jub. 20:2c–e) 276 3.4. Jubilees 20:4a 282 3.5. Prohibition against Intermarriage (Jub. 20:4bc) 284 4. Conclusions 286 Chapter Nine Abraham’s Testament for Isaac (Jub. 21:1–26) 288 1. The Structure of the Passage 288 2. The Biblical Background of Abraham’s Testament to Isaac 292 2.1. The Introduction (Jub. 21:1–4) 292 2.2. The Cultic Regulations 295 2.3. The Offering (Jub. 21:7–11) 297 2.4. The Wood for the Offerings (Jub. 21:12–15) 301 2.5. The Ablutions (Jub. 21:16–17a) 302 2.6. The Eating of the Blood (Jub. 21:6, 17b–20) 303 Chapter Ten Abraham’s Last Day (Gen 25:7–10; Jub. 22:1–23:8) 308 1. Introduction 308 2. The Demarcation of Jubilees 22:1–23:8 308 3. The Structure of Jubilees 22:1–23:8 311 4. An Analysis of the Rewriting of Genesis 25:7–10 and Jubilees 22:1–23:8 312 4.1. The Celebration of the Festival of Weeks (Jub. 22:1–9) 312 4.2. Abraham’s Testimony for Jacob (Jub. 22:10–24) 317 4.3. Abraham’s Death and Funeral (Jub. 22:25–23:8) 331 5. Conclusions 341 Conclusions 344 Bibliography 358 Index of Ancient Sources 372