From Creation to Babel: Studies in Genesis 1-11

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The stories of Genesis 1-11 constitute one of the better known parts of the Old Testament, but their precise meaning and background still provide many debated questions for the modern interpreter. In this stimulating, learned and readable collection of essays, which paves the way for his forthcoming ICC commentary on these chapters, John Day attempts to provide definitive solutions to some ofthese questions. Amongst the topics included are the background and interpretation of the seven-day Priestly Creation narrative, problems in the interpretation of the Garden of Eden story, the relation of Cain and the Kenites, the strange stories of the sons of God and daughters of men and of Noah's drunkenness and the curse of Canaan, the precise ancient Near Eastern background of the Flood story and the preceding genealogies, and the meaning and background of the story of the tower and city of Babel. Throughout this volume John Day constantly seeks to determine the original meaning of these stories in the light of their ancient Near Eastern background, and to determine how far this original meaning has been obscured by later interpretations.

Reviews

The strength of the books lies ... namely in those parts that help to illuminate the difficulties of the Hebrew text using comparative Semitic philology. This minute attention to detail is more than useful. -- Anselm C. Hagedorn, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin * Journal of Theological Studies *
The essays painstakingly work through detailed arguments on each of the issues covered and lead generally to careful and balanced conclusions ...These are very readable and informative essays which whet the appetite for the forthcoming commentary. * Modern Believing *

Author Bio

John Day is Professor of Old Testament Studies at the University of Oxford, and Fellow & Tutor of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. He has written or edited numerous books and articles, and in 2014 is President of the Society for Old Testament Study.