The Hebrew Myths: The Book of Genesis

R(JIlEKI' GRA I'ES AN I) RAI'I IAEI. 1',1'1'/11 I khn.;\\ J\hlh s

The Bon\.. nf Gcnc .. in);" I...Ju'" \ 1.1rri;l~e\ J.lcuh ,It Bel he! J.l,'ub \ ,\ I:J rri;II" '

Go,/d,'H ( PHS) :Uld Tit!' GJ"rt"i: 1/ )'11/$ ( 1,. cdn.,ICJ55) I/r/Jrt'II' " rIllS IlWll' onl~ .1 mndcM cr ill(":l! imp.lct, no[\\ ith .. 1.lndinl.{ ,\11 initial tll1rr ~ of promu! Ion .. ,1 11.1 reI iell~ . 11 h.lIon ullmlll'lIl Ik,tll1 ) ' I\ pi(';lll), the ill111le(li,l\e orig-il1' nf !!(hn'II' 11)"1//$ re,itle in IIHII.:h Ic!>~ e",!tnl runn'rm of il~ t II I I au!llOr~. In 1955, G r,1I e' puhh,he.1 I he hi g- hl) \UI·I,·,Sul IIII' (,'rul' 1I )'lltS, Ilhieh, d e .. "itc Ihe C',I\ ;].. of ih d,I~~ici, t rCllell('h, "lid In ClIIl'lderahll' number" ('arning Ihe lin;lnci.lll) h3rdIHl'''ed Gr,lIe, !>Onle IllU l: h ll C~'(lcd income. !luilllilll.( 1111 the 11I.ltho!(]",Iphil' lIIl,t hod, perfn:tet! in t hc II rit inl' of 111t' J"1s111' GIl/Mus, ., /11' (.'/"(1'1, " ),II1S tuuml J hugd ) Tl',ldablc formula (..:r;lfl et! ill \url b~ (inlle!>\ llcl UICll ~euct,l ry, K J rl .. n I",,, ..,,, A,,,.(]r.,,., J ,,,,,,t,,,, (e ... ,,~II), I'J~(" .1:; 1

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3\.111 ,appru,lell 10 C'l'~c"i, h.l,n\ (Ill Ihe prcmi'>C th.ll. in I he Im~l. rl' all'diItillt!, tti\PClh:Hillll~ had c'\pcndl'd milch illldl1.'cttlal Cl1l'rlt~ di,pu1inlt' the

11\\ l1I::r,hip Jml illll'Tpr(,I:1I jun uf illll('rilc(1 rcliginus icon .. (If pu:wgrJph, lCOll" in II hich illlllOrtant rcligioll\ narr,ui, c" allllilucirinc, h,ll\ hcen l~lrl'­ full~ rccun1cd for plI\'l'ril ~ .. rhe Illl-or~ (It iconulrop~ !>tlltltC\" I hal II hen :1 Ilel\ orthUllo,~ U\crlhnll\~ an "Iller 0l1e, ' Ihe icon, arc nul tlef,lee,' or :li!crcd, hUI mc .. d~ iUlc rp!'c!":ll in a 'emc hu~ l ilc I', Ihe urigin:\l cuh' .~ T he uppMl\lnil~ then c:>.i,ll> for the modern cornmcntatur In TI'\C,,",C ,hi, procc T hnll:i3n uealillll ""r~ ,llId 'Cl.llIel. Sh,llllll,ll.e:l lillie hl"l~ of Ihe re;11 '1IIr~ Ililh pil'lure~, hl'j~ ilmllll' \lilh 'Elc',' \l'\\1.11 d,lI1ec lIith the '"nh \\ IIld (I\hieh

11 \I~, L... "'"mll, I ~~ ()"~'WJ ~I II,~I,. 011 Ir "N"I"~"'" "ruf', " "hl/w'lu /J". I'~",,,,,J ,IN,/ tI,~ I ;'011/, I ~'ICd l) l"om:c,lll'd h~ ,Ill' .llIll IIll" of \Uh'CIIU I:IH p.llrl.lrchal rdl!o(lnll' ,lIId 1'011111':;11 hl'ltJq . (jr,IIl',\, cunfidcnn: in h,IIIII11111{ Jud ~c()- Chri'liJn 111.111' 1'1.11, in Ih" II d\ "\'I11I11I'd , unle "ItJIII, treml hi.) ,I,ll cntumus "orl. on JI·"II~. III the ellur..c III II hid. he h.ld 1\lIlml "ulle unc\pcctcd 'UPP'lri ("r h., ':Iull mg .11l>()n\, in the fUTm of a houll'nlHll'1I II"" Trmplr (I'N7) h~ ,.II"lm!(11I,hed )cIII,h h"hlrian ,mil :mlhrupulu!(i'l n,um:d Kaph,lI:1 1',11,11 II ' I hJH' ju,t huu}Cht a rell1;1rl,lhl~ deJf :Uld ,ell,.lIlc ;ami urlgln,11 bUill II{III ,111.1 f l'lI/plt In RaphJel 1',11,11: 0\' 1II111fllled )o... hua I'odw, h" IUII!(,I.lIld1l1g IlwlIII ,Ind cIIIl.lhlH'Jlllr un Ili r \!I ~{/'i'll" (:OJp,·1 RI'$I/jrrd . ·11 .... Ii ..,. S .lI1d I .Iwee Ililh ,l ln1lTUpulou, Thip :Iml U'CJIIIl' .lIuhmpl)lugil"';ll w nico.:t urc. \" l'l'C;,II1) in the an.llogic, 1',11 ,11 dr,'\\ IKII\('o.:ll ling,lup pr,leli!:c, in ,lIll'iellt br,lcI ,!Ild lI'l' c(n'un.ui(m nte .. of

\lri(,111 trib.11 ling"' (in I:KI, the \\\:;11..0.:'1. ka~1 re~(',m:hcd (ulllp'Ull'nl III' Ihe hool..) The eunll'rtccnee uf \',II~i', ;de~\ II II h Ih(J~c beint-: del d U)ll'd h~ {,I',II e .. III l'un m:ct iOIl II il h hi, ch:lnging ill h'l'p rel;1tilllI of ) e,u .. CI l'Jlll1all~ IIrcI\ (il',lle, illw J cllrre~pOII(l enn.. lhe Cllillelli of Ilhich i, l~Hcfll lh rt:L'Ordellml'.It,II\ bl l' lIIerlllllr of IIrt hOl.lm, Jml.li,rn, In 1~H 7. he left lor the LnilClI ~I.rll", !I.',rching lir,1 al IJro]l~ic College in I'hil,lddphia ,md Ihl.'l1 ,11 Ih,,' Ill-r/l 1I1,!iwIC III J\l'\\ Yor!... .\ nun vI profuund hUI illio,~ner~'ie kJrning, 1',llal 1\ ,I!> nnllethdc,~ ,I ~eriou .. ,\Il(1 pf()fi.' ,~uJl),11 lInll!(-mK' h~ 1 Itl' IlfII'" (ir,II\" hn',lmc ,le"lu,liIlICll 'Iilh him, "1011 I') hI.' rccogniwll "eflf'>' \nll'rK,1 lor hi .. 'l imul,lIing I\urk m rdigi"n ,uul euhll r.11 anlhrupul(,f(') ,lll lhnl]lI,logil'.ll ,ltld l" t,lhll\hillg ,I I,idc re]lIlI,'li ~Jtl tiJl' thc :Ipplit:atinll l,I ":):"rie' III ,uuh .. i~ .. ueh:\\ I..imhip, genller .H1d rilll:11 In prohlclll ~ 11\ Ilihl'":,II .. llIlli,,',, II "Cl'lII .. de,u' lh,H, illlli;111~ ,II k 'I"I, il IIl1' Ihe,c ,Ire" .. "I' 1',II,li\ l'\llCf' Ih,ll ,lIIrJl'It:ll Gr;lle~ , ])e'pilc hi .. rn,lIl~ GII,llier di,mi'",ll, Iff ,hl' 'lqIl ICI .. rn "lm,rilhtI'C,lrlI ,ll~ld c mi t: ~JPlnilJll tl1llan!.. hi~ Ihl.'~,..ic" (iralc, dtl'll uhl 111(1' '.lli,Lteliun from the .t]lprm,ll uf ,I \1...11 re'pn'le,,1,111..1 highl~

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Edilori.. l l nl rodUl.:lion II 1I,lli fic{1 'llCd,lti,t, karll('d ill lilt: I'll'Il~l le .111(1 Ic mller reflect;,c of a !-tl'IlUltlC ,lml \(: l'Ol\;n){ mcclmg ofmimk elen ,Hthc man~ ,cn ..;I;ll' junclurc, \lhlTl' Pal"i found hllllwit \111;\1>11' II! Clldur'l' ( ;nll(:.. ';, more (l1l1l ,lmli~h PWIX)\itioll', \\ he ll 1'1/1' \ II~(/rl'll" GlISf'" U(s/orrd rn:c;n'd d i',lp]l'IJint ll1j: crt lil"ll JI Il'lllion. Ill.lrgin,lli,('d h~ IlW,1 ,If Illl' 'Ileciali.. t j l!ul'l\;jl ~ :111\1 I.J rg'd~ ift llorcd h ) Ihl' :o.t h, ~)t.. uf l] i\i l1il ~ am I rdi~do u ~ 'lUd;c,. it \1 ,1\ CiralC~\ dccpe ni n g ,I pprn.:ial iun of l',ll.li\ (not utlcritiC:II) ,upport, ,11Id Ihl' .. ~mp,lIhc li c llirediun uf 1l1'. rc:.carelll". Ih,lt prc'l.'ned ,111~ion or pcr!>Ullalmu\cl>, a n:~lult'ni,­ ,Ihll' 111.1l"0.: in the ~(llI lh l'ullurc Oflhc 11)60~ ,llId , abolc :111 , an .I".flli ... hinl! 1,IIl' hlo"nm;n~ uflm (' POCIT) . \1el l·rthclc~,. 1'.\I,li qll;dd~ rccu~niwd thaI Illudl of the h.l,il: gmumh\Ur],. uf' he pml'u'>Cll projcr.:t Ilouid be hi ... ,md [hi ...1\\ ,In:nc, .. j ... dul} rdlcclcl i in Ihl, 0\ ('1";111 ~,~ Ie Jnd ~l rUcltLrc 01 I'(/lfrll' 1/ )'111, BCI\I CCn 1961) ,!lId (1)64, (jr'l\c~ \loul\1 man) ,inll', C(] lICIICC' or C\pl.lIl,nion ,lilt! ;I r ~\lnl\'nt, C,ITr) rOf\I:lr\llhc lir:ll~i;ln 1ll~lho~raphic cnt!\';IIUur ;Hld dcklld, III Ihc 1)IIlcnli,ll1~ inhospil;iblc ~Cll iug of :IIICiCIII Jell i,h hc1il'f and ~.)Ucll, Ihc (Clllr;Ll h~polh('~cs (ir!>! II(h.lncc(11U Til,' II IlIIf (;o,!dOJ. In ,c,lrdll11l' out the \kl.lll or ,hc cullalxlT ll ~l'c .. ted, I hc 1:11111 linc.. 111 Ih("ir COni r,l'lI11g I inl, of I he Hool of Genc ... i.. II erl' .. omet ime, glJring ,Ill.! p,lInlllJ!! One Tl';hnn rOT Ihi~ lic, in thc ~i miIJrit, c' 1",'[llccn Ihe 1110 \I nllT', \lnneee";lril~ (Ii~gujl>ed, IlCrh,lp', h~ I hl'lr 'lIpcrliei;111~ n,1\1 r,"ling ")li,11 an(1 ]lrofc,~ion:ll haclgm urHI .. , I 1 i~ [('mill inl' hI I hinl of 11)'1"1." ~ e b,~ie l'umhin.llIOn or Ihc cool ,ICltlernil', pain'!.llin g l~ imrmT'>(,(1 in 1('\11> ,11Id ~eho1.lr,h i p, anlllhc ,inltlcmill(kd, Impul,jl e ;lrti~1 ClllIlllll([l'tI III • he irn,l~in,1I ill' eOher('IKe or hi, I i~iun .mll unpertmhetl b~ UI':I.:O"11 ,nall~ IIIl'un I eniem tlclaih 411' t~\Ct and hi,tur~. ,\ eerlain 1}C\1.1I1 1i(;, l'len p.llrOIl1'1n)t, Ilaluur in l'al,li' .. nthenli,e ,IHcelion.lle and re'pec tful nll'nU>lr n'mturec" Ihi, pcrceplion, .llmo'l .... if Ihe [c!lured ;U:;lIlcmic \1 ,'hnl r(,lro'pcctilc1~ til di .. I:lIlce hi1l1~clt tWill 111l' l' r itieall~ 'lI"jJITI l'\I\'''C'' 01 h ... IIler-c\uhl'T.IlI11iICr.IT~ cnlll';lgue. 11 Thi ~ jud gc me nt leruh III mcr'Hnpht~, hOllcH'r, the n,IIUTl' uf Ih(' uler,lll\J.Irlller.. hip and Ihc ~mu l\d .. IHI II hieh it II'" cnndueh;d, I.ilc 'f hI' (;f,'do ,t/J,dH, Ilrh,.rll' 1'J'dlJ i, t:'\C nli;llI~ ,I huge 1\lwl of l>tur~h:: lIitl g perh,llh bt:l', IU~C bI'lh or i l ~ ,Iu[ h,}r, Ilerc, ,11 roOl, 'Ion Idter.,. Thruul'hou[ hi, euluurful ("':.IT('CT, 1'.I\;\i 11"".1 delole(1 readcr,hip rur hi.. eollcclinl' ;l1H1 ('oll,lIin)!: (Of )e\\"h fi,ll.. 1,11UIUliull hi ,I prnhlcrn or Im/.zlt: II ithnUlllllC,IH'"11l1' Ihe ullIlnlllnl' a!>, umpllun .. un IIhieh Ilw \\holc ,11'PTn,ldl mi ~hl he rl"11II1' The mure ur Ie!>" h::IPJl~ eul1.lhor,lIiul\ "f tIll" \II(, IHIler, m,11 Il\\knl h,lle heen ;1 Hurl. III Ihl'lr .. h,lrl"d \C Il'C 1l'l1lnllliil!'lnl l ~, Ihc nll' ~I\ Ill!, tlLlI Ihe 1.11111 o f ,Ul lhmpo1c'l'il,11 l'llIerpr;,..: un II hl t:h Ihl'~ h,ld 1I,ln1\~I~ l'mll.lrh'd hdo llf:ell \(1,1 l'fa I.f I' r,lllli 1I,Inat il":" IInder Ihn';I! CI I'll ,1\ Ihn .. I.lrtcd tl) IIrite IIII'("\hcr, \I"l' ilill ~ ;1\ an ,Ig: rel'll ~c1 ofpr inl·ipl(·, till' 11K m (' t hlllllll l)),t~ of " dm'lI' 1/ 1'1111 prm ell m,lr"elll) Ie,.. !>tr,lil:"htti.rll ,ml t h;1I\ I he d il i,ion "I' 1,lholir. JIll' 11IIrmhictillll IlIlhe hoo" l'OIldmk, b~ dl"l:ribin~ it :1" 'a ..:ump,lIIilln IlIlume II) (;fl'..i' I/)'Ih~ (l;«He,); Ih IlUlen,l1 lX'ing " I miI.ITI~ orl:",lIIi/ctI' (p_ 1'/) fll!' (:,,'1'1' 11 )"1/1( 1I111l:h lir,lIe, h,.d IhlJrnll g: hl ~ fl'\IwII tor ih wllJml, II){,(), l'dilion \\J", hnllClcr, ,111 c\dusilch li r,IH'.. i,l1I lIIull' r 1.11.1111.(, nlll 1J1I1~ in ih org,l1li',ltioll hilt ,I I,,, in i" ,t~ k' ,(1111 IlIct hod, II h ieh JI( '1.11111""'\ h~ ih all thur!> per~II I1 ,I I 1t~ ,md hi, lifdung pue lie cn'dn, The IIII rotlllllil ,n 10 I Jt/"'nihnn\ SH"'), 1'/7.1 l~ II,,· ""~,,\.d .. den' un" th" h(l(,l\ pIJe,' 11\ l ~ ,"j)",11"I Ihlnl;,,~ "J' """1.-1,, ,>,., 1I\"'1f 11'''h. ' 11,,· tor." Zunc'. I~~ \m \o,ln, H 'h' 11_)1 It "J, ."'!,lift",II" 1.(1,,1' II",,,,,,, I h.· I,.h \ 1",C(t:. ;tnlithctirOiI to Ihe Ir;l(liliull ~ 411' 1II ~ lh JIIlI tHILt.llc. Til, (.'",'1' 11i'IIIs found .1 1.Irge Mid enthu'I,I~li( rC;Idc r"lup hl'(,llI'l' il r('lold ,lIlli reintcrpreted 'til l'll" r\"{:lI gni' ,lbl ~ a l).Irlof.I lern 1l1lIhulogi(.llleg.19. fhlm!II' 11 )'11151\,1, ...·uncertll· . .1 lIi t h Ihc mlldl mun' linn,wll in g ;1"ignl11cIII of persu;l{linl' il!> r...·;l der~ In rccla,~if} I he IllluL of ('l·l\l;,i, (I) ;\ Idl{)ll~ unLulIiliar l·all·i'or~ uf IIndcr"I:U1din)t \1 ith r;lfllilicl11age nf ,criptllTc, The dililtc hCllleen Ihl'ir Icmper;mlCllt, i.. Jlulllithoul fou nd,lIion ill the documcnt.lr~ rcconl l'al.li pn.' ","'nh, but il i.. nOI :lhl,I ~~ l"I!>~ 10 rcLIh: il to IIdm'II' 1/)'111.1 a.. ,I /illi!>hell pftJlluc.:I, e'cepl h) Ihc 'ped,1I pk:Hling: hinted;1I abole: Ih,1l till' more 'pecuLni,c p;lrl~ of I he hotl!.. ,Ire c\JllIpll"l uf I' ,11,li re]a,ing hi, n,ll il e ~eh(ll.l\' l ~ ,elr di,ciplinc ,md indul):ing hi, eCtxll lric friend', nigh I, uIIJnc~ . \\ ilhin the hou!.. ihdf, Iht' Cfcation 'tur~ reprciJII} .I'\l'~~ed ill rel"ti'lll I•• th61' cUllel .rll.ltlCe II it h Ihe prcdl'tel'llIiIl1'l111lIerprct.I' iUll r,llher tlull I heir li~cll 'I)!;;' or aUI henticil ~. ' rill' 1,;I'IlIIl1Cnl,lric~ then )!Il ,Ill III C\;llllilll' Ihe 1I,lrr,l1ill" Iluh .1 l'uIIlclllr"tctl .lItl' ntUJI\ 10 their ntllic ;l1Itl rilll,11 .tlllI,ion~, Iheir fl·pre,ent.ll illn 01 dl.m)!in)! Il.Il1ern~ of reli):il)u~ hdiel anti their re):illll.11 p.,r.llleb. Fur till' rC;llkr. Ihi, re .. u1t, in .1 hi)!hl~ I:ntllilll"ing .1Il.! \Iimubting ,dll'llIl' III .lr!,l"ll111ent, en,lhllll!,l" Ili,k j~lIl):in!,. ullit)lIl!,l" .\l1.\1~ ... ~ of the IIll'.lIlin)! .Iml fUllel;oll of impol'Llill tliblici l eh.lr,'et\'I" ;md CIl'IlI'> allli IllII'OT1tn)! into I heir lllterprelal inn del11cTlI\ "I cllmp,lr,l\il c 111~ Ih"gl':lph} .lIltl cuhcmeri'lic 'll1.hropulo)!~ (the theor~ th.11 l11)th, h.IIl' their urigin~ ill Ir:llliliulI,tI .1l'l·"UIlI\ 01 re.11 I,;ICII") l1ul'ln;tll~ ah ..c1l1 frum Biblic:ll lIllH: nn1.lIll:l''', Tlltl\ '\o.lh" pllrtr;l ~l'd .1'.1 d.I\\;1: '\1.'.11' Ea\lan culture hl'TIl. ~t.lnlhn g '''lIll'llhcre he'lleell.j blher !,utl aml.j lul1'mit: .lnCC~lOr, re\cllin)! Ill' 1'1.·I IJlIc trUlll II.Huml di ~.l\llr ,Illd 1.1~ing Ihe fnlllltl.l1illll for their inn,l\e under,t.uldin g III' lI11'ir pl.ll:e in Ihe mehi1l)! pUI of n.l1inn~ , 'I 'he I:II1IOU', if Plilltill ~ . !.Ik of '\o,lh'" (Irlln~ennl':';\ l' rn i.'>l'(1 .1' .1 ebs!>ic ~'Orl of lili.11 (.I'lr,l1ion. Iht: (ll'l1e'I' 'e,' ,et:n ;1' .1 hU11l.11li,.llion of \1c~IIPOt.111li'lIl .111(1 \q:'l"lIl 1lI~lht!lo)!il.ll I'ret:lIl',or, h.hl ;1) and IllCohen' ntl ~ re edllt:d ;1\ .j ,h.lI11e 1I.ITr.llile 111 unkr 'to ju,tir~ I kbrCII el1,I.11 elllellt of ( :.In,I,lnill' ''· (I', 122) .. t'he ,IIITlt.·, '1~'lJc i 'ltetl II ilh the figure !If \hr,lh.lI1l . II hidl \.l~e up .llmn,1 .1 hundred ]l,I)!l'\ \If 11"/>1"!I'J IJ,l\;'\P,l" LlU!I!II:OJ .h!"')J :l.iil; In ll [["Ill' I' .I,) 10 ;1U!P!',lJd 'i:l!Jp ~ 1I1) !jUlh':'l '1');11'1 1"

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J;leoh\ triumpllJ l ('lIIr~ 11110 LmJJI1 .lller l\fl"lhll~ Ililh .1 (11 .11 , ' 11u.: I1mlr.I,IHe ,1:l1ell1el1 l Ih.11 1{:llhd \\,1, .llr.llll "f hemIC 1ll,lrrll'lI III I.'JU hml, .11 an alldl.:ll llllJll le Illr Ihl' tIl IIh' ,I ru~~Ic : Ihe r i l,Llr~ li,r ,I hl·.l lItlllll IWI1I.11\ BUlmnrc Ih,1I\ 11\1: Ime fir J IllHrlJl II, IIl1,Hl m ,l ~ h ,11 e hel'" :11 "!.ILe, If ILu: hl'l ".11111, fu r till' R,ll'he! Irihe~ Ih,1I IIUl' In he. Ihl'n I Ill' fi):11I Ill'IIIC\'n till' Illm~ " .1 m ~ lhllJl ' Iru):),(ll'lur 'lIp"l'In,ll~ mer Inh.IIII'rrlwnc, (pp, Zlt\ 'i), \\ 1\1lc Ihe d()C U1lll'1II,1I'~ reeonl nl (ir.ll l" ,md t',II •• i\ lIIII ••llIIr.llion Iiouill nOI UhH1J.lld ~ ,u pport ii' dewriplinn a'.1 ·'Inl),(),(k'. the lIlIllpromi,c .mll III IIrhrtll' \/ )'/hs ,Hill P,u,li'~ Till' ,,,.,,,..11' (,'"ddl'll.;11 ir"wrn, 1l1.lh''i nil rdc rt'llt;C to (jral(~". \ mUdlllHlrl' ,',XPlIl,ll .uHhrnpulu!'i\, Ih,111 [ira\\:, l:uuld l'\\:r he. 1',11.1; proH'd in hi, l'UlIICl'WH"

I.lll'1" hUlll CllU,lll ~ rC\i"I :lt11 If> anut her i mlmrt :lIl1 {\lIllcn .. iun of (lr,l\ c" \ Ihou):h 1, Ilhich Illl',IIUk'p" in ,mil QUlllf IIrh,..". ,1/ ),lli5-1he Ih cll r~ urthe

prlllll !l\l' nLllri.lrl·h~ . 1'"lai'" uhjcclI\ c in nil' lJ ..h,tII, (;flrldrs5 i .. nnl W drknd thl' hi ~ lIlriGII priurit~ uf the (i rc~l 1\ \OIhcr, 110r hI cc1chr,l1l' an 1rl1.It-:I I1l'd !l:~ mlCral;c tunp;,I, hUI 10 l'\,uninc I he phlee tlf thc femin ine prin llpk in thl' ~pcda l Jell h.h ,lllprchcn .. i"lI uf the IIi, inc, II I the b~t :lluly~ i " .Iml 1m ,Ill hi, In eun,i!> tl;ncie~. Patai ,t,md, filnh a" .1 di~illt\' rc'tclI (:111([ ill 'lillie n"pl'ch eonl(' ntmn,llI ~ J elli~h) ub~l'nl: r of II1\' (i()dcll"~ ,Hili he r pl.lI.:e ill the hi,tol'~ uf reli ){iolh, 11I1ile lirale, r\'tnain, iiJI"l'\'cr he r 1111,11 en IIlIt I ul.lr~ . Suh'equl'tlt ~d\Ul;lr~ h ip h." repm.lehed .lIId rc\l :mlcd [hI: [hill~in!( III IHuh men III l·lju.11 1ll(',.,ure lin Ihi, Ic\;t1iuu, :tnd prllbknl;ltic lopic, JU'1 ,I' till" .lIIt hrup'Jlo)tical nll·thod, of I Ii'hrfrr> \, 1" '15 \I('re, on ii' fir~1 public:1 lion, ,IhoUI to he O\er l a ~ c lI h~ :1 t"l'\nIUliun in 'ltel:l! a nthmpolo~~. ,0 the t he"I"l'ic.11'tml1ll ~ in t he bou~ Ilcre to Ill' pO\lcrful1~ ,u rp:I,...cd b~ tlll'riloe I,t /cm im't theulo g~ in Ihe II)iO, . 1I0110Ilil1)o(:1Tl illiti.11 .lIId IU lle hur,1 IIf l:Ilt hu,i,l,m for mUlher godde,)e, :111(1 tn.ltriarl"i1:l1 su l itl.lrit~, fl:mi ni"'l Ihe.,l 'lg~ ,lIlll ,nipl lire ,lull II.') turnnl mudl dll~cr c\.lmin.lli,m uf I Ill" Il ihhl".11 rcw l'd , fuctt,ing on :lrehacolog-iGII di ... colcrll:s m.Hle in thl' IW\o .. •Ihoul ti)::url'~ ,uelt .b the A,herdh, \\hom Gr;l\e., :\11\1 P:uai h.ld IHllh , ut')("sted mij{lu be :1 m('mor} ofa once important l'OflSorl uflhl: ~ ~ ~ god \ ,I hll e h. 1.un di ~ l'laeed b~ Ihl: po,t- E\ilie reform' (pp. 21N 19). The prCli~e Il.Il ure "f ,hher,lh rem.l im hi g hl~ prohlem.11 ie ,Ind Ihe ,dll)1a r~ hip 'lIf'rulltlding her 1,ld ~ Wn~I.'I1'"~. hUI her \ i,i hi lil~ has \(WII n cIH1,idet" .I hh in Ihe 11c{.';IIIe~ ,il1cl." lI(huu' "" 'Ills. reinfurc ing Ihe l iell Ih31 thc 1111 Ihlllo):: k~11 rl:m.lin~ nf lh e ancient Ilchrel" !)i ng henealh Ihe P.llim l" l·" of the Ilibl il'al lnl retain 11I)1~ I :llenl and ,umet irne'l'l> Ilere 100 t'Jl>i1~ releg:uClI 10 lw.lrth :md home, I(,H;lIg null.' },:IXb J~ patron" of Ili,,].,111 ,md k;uninl( Thi~ dU:lli"m , far from illlt'lI,if)lIlg IIlth Ihe ri~e (If mnnnthei .. m, 11,1' dlallcll j!:ed h) the ,criplllr:11 11":01"1\") ofJull:ll'l1I, Ilhich cmhr:leed a d;lergl' nll~ q::llit;lri.11l licII uf h Ul11;\l1 I1:IIUl"e in IIh ich lIonwn 111.'1"1.' , fur the tir .. l lime. nut Tl'ganlcd .... inhcn·ntl) infcrinr. '~ Fr)ml'r- h.cl"'I..)'" licII Iceh 11101'1.' tUllanl~ 1'.11.li\ !llI llool.. than (lr:II(" \ . bill t he poinl ofn:all111port:ll1cc is 111.11 ill tht'ir ~ometillle ... .11\1.,\.11"] ctllnhlllalioll uf !.lien" .lI1d prcuccUp:U;orh P.lta; .lIld Gr:IH'" Mlceccl]ed ;n eonlnbullll ~ I" :I ddJ)cd deh.lle ill rdigi!)II' ,lullie .. fIll' \\hieh IhC) h,lll' rt:ce;ll·tllillll' inlhl' lIa) uf reco!\,nililili . Pcrh.lll'< ~HlI1el hing fit Ihc ,ICJllell1ic uhlll iun into II hich Ilrhrol' 11.1'1/" ",,"Id ,inl II." .l11 l icip.lled 111 [he inili.11 rel;clI,. \ 1Ic11 ort;hC,lr:ltcd ("";l1l1l'algll "f mlenil'''', let:lurc .. ,11111 prl'" rdc .. ~e~ ill ItrilJl1l alld the Lnitetl St.lll" ~ecun:d I hI' h"ol. .1 den'lll leI d I)f jl,ufll.Il l ~1 ie .llld ,IGldemic inlcrl:" ,lI1d led tu a I llct h l) '~1 of rCl iclI' ;n nc\\\p.lper~ .11111 juurnals. I'll.li'~ IIlCllll,i .. illcl udl" :I I~picall~ ddcl\,ile ~cll-c t ;llil ,Inti "'1' \/ )"IJ/J ,HId ill lU1I1PI IIIIg: ;1 hihlilll'l',l ph ~ (If Ihc :lIIthrnpnlogic;l 1 :\11(1 'h en lug i c~11 \\lll'l., Ih,lt in!luenee(1 it. I lc,Il'ned llluch frum C\ll'll\ilC COIl\l'r~'lIiun\ UII 'hc IIK,llImp: of m~' h II ith Jim Cunro ~, J ,lllll'" \ I,u: \ 1ill.ln, 1\1 ieh,ll'l S~ 1l1mllll'

XX\ III

I':di tol'ial 11llrodlli.:tion

R()ha'~, \ I.uina \\',!fllcr, Julielt(' \\uud, Thuma, ()I\CII Cbncy, Nl lsI luiger 1 \: ler~en, Gi lbeT1 !lloIrkus, D,lIid Clrr, Ian !lII; Phcnon, l\ \idmcl Peter" Jne Dunne. Gerr~ Can'uth('r, and m~ ... uf,;Cl""flll Ph D ,wdellt, K,lrrn ,\II;G,nucl , \\hen Ihe Introdu(!;oll Ila' \Iell undenl:I~, I helped organi,c ,mtl p:aTlicip,HC ill a EIScinJllII1C conference Ull E~hlC"Jlion Jnd 1\ 1 ~lh al ,he Unilcr"il~ uf Edinbllq:h in Ihe ,ummn of200~ , t\b~orbinK di"cll ,,~ iom then' Ililh Hubat Segel I e\en IlhlTC Ill' lli',lgrced - intluenced m~ pl'rcq)(iun ~)f 1',1I,li ami hi ~ ,ullhropologic'll "dHllar~hip, Olher p:micip,1II1' ;1I Ihe wnf('rellf,;e, inclulling \ 11l:haci Bell, Hichanl I larrics, ,\!eggie Ilik) :mtl John \ lilb:aJll , hdlll'li dJrif~ m~ appr:li~11 of Ihe ElIlCli ~ h preOCf,;Up:II ;011 \\ i,h m~ Ih, r:li ~ ln lC 'I ill more qUe,tLolI" ill III) mind and fll('l ing prolongrd cm:lil COlllrh:HiOlI", 1\ 1 ~ illtcriur di:llo)l:uc h:1\ been ~u~ l :lincd Ihmughml1 h) Ihe patience :lIlti ,tlppor, of 1lI~ II ill- t\ nil ,lIld our lhildrclI, Nothing II ,)u ld he adlicI cd \litholLl tlWllI, .\ I ~ 11l0~1 p,ltil' nl allli Tl" llfJll'ii\c in lcrioclIIO .. \ throughout the prq).lr.uinll of Ihi, lohmlc hone tX:CII 1ll~ frielld~ Joe FOllc~, of (jI,I,gO\I ( ~ I l'llonian l..ini\er~i ' )' Jrld Fr Hohcrt Pulluck, 01', ,\ Ili"l' eOlln"dlnr ami discriminating guide 10 ,hc high" ;llIlll(l\\, ufthc nnthwpologica l tcmperamcnt, Rllhcrt Pol1ncl ll.lS accompnllinlmr thwug huuI thi~ l:I!>l , 1 thef{'fore lk'di l'~ te the nlitmi,, 1 Ilnrk ufthl' \OIU1l1l', in gral iIlIlk, 10 him ,

!tohert t\ , I);L I is Unilcr~il~ nf(;I:I~go\\'

Fl'hru,u') lOOS

Hebrew Myths The Book of Genesis

INTRODUCTION Myth~ arc dramatic ~toric~ that form a tk'lcrcd charter either authori:ing the contmu:mce of ancient institution.'), cll.'>tom~. rues and bc1icf~ III rhe area where they are current. or appro\'m~ alterations. The word 'myth' is Grl'Ck, mythology 1.'> a Grr.=ck concept. anJ the ~tudy of mythol~Jy i.'> ba:.ed on Greek examplc~. litcrali~b who Jeny that the Bible contams any mytru at all arC', in a I>Cnl>C. Jlbtified. Most other myths deal With gods and goJdc;;s('~ who Hike ~idc~ in human affal"', cach fa\'ourmg rI\'al he-roe;;; wherea:. the Bihle ackn()wledgc~ only a ~mglc lInl\'cNil God. All pre-Biblical ~acrcJ document:. in Hehrew have been either \0.')[ or rU'lX~ly surrrc:.:.cJ. Th:y mcluded The Book of Ute \VaTS of Yahu:eh and the Book of Yashar, epic accaunts of the J:,rachtcs' desert w::mJcrmgs and thclf !Il\'asian of Canaan. That the,-e boob were wrinen In the early poetiC Hebrew style. can be