Abraham Meets Death: Narrative Humor in the Testament of Abraham (JSP Supplements)

This book examines the narratives of the two Greek recensions of the Testament of Abraham. The genre, characterization, and plot of each recension are discussed and then compared. Ludlow illustrates that Recension A used comedy and humour to give a sophisticated treatment of death, the figure death, and judgment and mercy. Through a careful comparison of narrative elements and vocabulary correspondences between the manuscripts of each recension, he discusses a possible transmission model for the recensions, concluding that Recension A, written in comic form, preceded Recension B. Recension B then excised most of these comic elements. Examining the narratives of the two Greek recensions of the Testament of Abraham, this text discusses and compares the genre, characterization, and plot of each recension. Ludlow illustrates that Recension A used comedy and humour to give a sophisticated treatment of death, the figure death, and judgment and mercy. Through a careful comparison of narrative elements and vocabulary correspondences between the manuscripts of each recension, he discusses a possible transmission model for the recensions, concluding that Recension A, written in comic form, preceded Recension B. Recension B then excised most of these comic elements Does the Testament of Abraham Belong to a Genre? Humor in the Testament of Abraham; Characterization of Abraham; Characterization of Michael; Death in the Testament of Abraham; The Plot of the Testament of Abraham; Comparison of the Greek Manuscripts; Conclusion. Appendices: The 54 Narrative Units of the Testament of Abraham; Citations of the Three Manuscript Families