"YHWH Standing Before Abraham": Gen 18:22 and Its Theological Force

From the perspective of Heilsgeschichte, Gerhard von Rad saw clearly that Genesis 22 deals with the possible annihilation of the covenant promise. A fresh approach to Genesis corroborates this view and demonstrates that innerbiblical exegesis has shaped the message of Genesis 22. m erhard von Rad wrote many books and articles in his academic life and he Ä ^y commented on nearly every biblical book. What is especially noteworthy about ^^ii * his interpretation of Gen 22, the story commonly known as "The Sacrifice of Isaac" or "The Binding of Isaac"? Although many of von Rad's literary and historical judgments about this text are obsolete today, his careful reading of Gen 22 offers indispensable clues to an accurate understanding ofthat story, clues that are not always provided with the same quality and substance by the many articles and books on Gen 22 that have appeared since von Rad's death in 1971. The following observations and interpretations rely especially on von Rad's treatment of Gen 22 in his commentary on Genesis and in his litde booklet Das Opfer des Abraham, which was published in the year of his death, 1971. 1 The following considerations will be developed in three steps: 1) The long shadow of Hermann Gunkel's interpretation of Gen 22; 2) von Rad's main observations on Gen 2; and 3) recent corroborations of von Rad's interpretive approach to Gen 22.

The Catholic Biblical quarterly, 2004

2023

This exegetical study delves into Genesis 18:16-33, a pivotal passage depicting the dialogue between Abraham and the Divine Visitors. The narrative unfolds with a divine disclosure of the impending judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah, prompting Abraham's courageous intercession on behalf of the cities. Employing a multidimensional approach, this analysis explores the text's historical, cultural, linguistic, and literary facets. The intricate negotiation between Abraham and the Divine is a focal point of the interpretive journey, showcasing the patriarch's bold plea for mercy and justice. The analysis underscores the theological significance of Abraham's role as an intercessor, exploring the tension between divine foreknowledge and the responsiveness to human supplication. In conclusion, this exegetical analysis serves as a comprehensive exploration of Genesis 18:16-33, unveiling layers of meaning within the text and providing a scholarly contribution to the broader discourse on biblical studies. The study invites readers to engage with the profound theological implications of the passage and reflects on the enduring significance of the narrative in the context of divine-human relationships.

In this essay, I hope to offer a fresh interpretation of a text that all too often grows stale.

The reception history of the theophany in Genesis 18 records a transition from the christological interpretation of the passage, widespread in earlier centuries, to a Trinitarian reading, dominant after the fifth century. This exegetical shift occurred first in doctrinal and exegetical writings, and only significantly later in hymnography and iconography. The current scholarly concepts fail to distinguish properly between the various types of exegesis involved in each of these cases, and obscure the importance of the earliest and most enduring Christian exegesis of Old Testament theophanies.

Universalism and Particularism at Sodom and Gomorrah, 2012

National University of Singapore, 2004

This dissertation examines the Divine Command Theory (DCT) and its application to the biblical story of Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22. The author argues that the DCT, which posits that morality is grounded in God's commands, is problematic because it can lead to violence and ambiguity in moral reasoning. He then critiques various philosophical attempts to reconcile the DCT with ethical considerations, including those by Kant, Kierkegaard, Quinn and Adams. Through the lens of Emmanuel Levinas's moral philosophy, the author proposes an alternative interpretation of Genesis 22. Levinas emphasizes our ethical responsibility to others, arguing that the divine command is not a command to kill but a call to be responsible for the other's well-being. The dissertation thus provides a nuanced critique of the DCT and offers a new framework for interpreting religious texts through an ethical lens, one that emphasizes the radical responsibility we have to others, regardless of divine commands.

Bridge, Edward J., ‘An Audacious Request: Abraham’s Dialogue with God in Genesis 18’, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 40 (2016) 281-296.

Genesis 18.17-33, Abraham’s dialogue with Yhwh over the number of righteous people in Sodom, is a difficulty in exegesis and interpretation. What the passage means has long been debated. At a literary level, there has also been no agreement on the nature of Abraham’s language. It is common to interpret Abraham as bargaining with God in similar fashion to haggling over the price of goods in a bazaar; but proposals have been made that Abraham uses legal-like language, ‘socratic dialogue’ and midrash. There is also no agreement on the purpose of Abraham’s dialogue. An analysis of Gen 18.17-33 using politeness theory proposes that Abraham, as portrayed in the narrative, wants to reduce the number of people as the basis for God’s forgiveness of Sodom and Gomorrah. This is an audacious request and so considerable forms of polite language are used to assist the request. However, this request is not Abraham’s real intention. His intention is to have Lot spared from Yhwh’s destruction of the cities. This request is ‘off-record’; that is, the politest strategy that could be used.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Glasgow, 1993.