1. Discuss the importance of narrative. Narrative is important. First, orality in ancient times (written and oral) was also very important. Genesis 40 has the expression "lifting up the head" three times, and this shows an example of the Hebrew memory technique. Jonah 1 has one Hebrew verb 4 times (the English translation is to hurl, cast, or throw), and this was not even a major verb. These type of special cases make a story or passage easier to remember. Second, genre is geared toward internalization. Narrative is an example of this because stories are easy to hear and usually easy to remember. Proverbs are short, pithy sayings which were designed for easy memorization. Psalms, with their rhyme, verse, and musical aspect, run through a person’s head and makes them easy to remember. These memory aids were important because the written word was rare in those days, plus it was good just to have God’s Word internal. Third, narrative is a good tool for teaching. Children are easily taught through stories and even biographies.

2. Discuss the key features of biblical narrative. Poetry is verse in language where line length matters. It has imagery and word pictures. In narrative, line length does not matter. The key features of biblical narrative are: (1) plot and scene (the plot is the structure of the story), (2) point of view (narrative comes from a narrator with a point of view. In narrative, the narrator is heard along with the characters. If one were to red-letter the Book of Genesis whenever someone else is talking, there would still be a lot of black lettering to signify the narrator (Moses). In drama, the narrator and the characters are separate), (3) characterization (learning the character, quality, attributes, and tendancies of an individual within the story. Sometimes, characters are one-dimensional, but sometimes they are three-dimensional and very well developed), (4) narrative modes ((a) direct mode of narration is one voice only, presenting things in a factual manner, (b) dramatic narration is more than one voice with people speaking long speeches with the idea that the hearer is to learn something, (c) descriptive where parenthetical remarks by the narrator fill in missing information, and (d) commentary where the author’s voice is subjective (making a moral judgment call where he or she calls something good or bad under divine inspiration (in the Bible))).

3. Discuss some hints for interpreting narrative. Some hints for interpreting narrative are: (1) narrative often involves indirect communication, (2) no such thing as objectivity (biblical authors have their own way of presenting things, too), and (3) orality was the main means of communications (stories were meant to be heard).

4. Discuss the approach for doing a case study on Genesis 13:8. In the case study of Genesis 13:8, Abraham did not want trouble with Lot’s people. In interpreting narrative, some questions can be asked. First, concerning the geographical background, where is Abram? They were a little east of Bethel, along the Way of the Patriarchs. Second, what does "left" and "right" mean in the verse? Left was north, and right was south. This would have meant that both Abraham and Lot would have remained on the Way of the Patriarchs, and this is what Abraham wanted. But Lot looked to the east. Third, what is the significance of the reference in verse 10? Lot compared the east to Egypt with its Nile River, where everything was lush, fertile, and productive. Fourth, what were the boundaries of Canaan? Sodom and Gomorrah were either just inside Canaan or outside altogether. Lot was ignoring God’s teachings. In terms of manners and customs, negotiation was an old custom. Abraham had the upper hand, and the custom was that the elder would give the younger first choice but the younger would refuse. Lot did not refuse having first choice. Second, land was very important to the Israelites, and God blessed Abraham abundantly after this exchange with Lot. In terms of a literary/narrative analysis, one should note the balance of verse 12 and the narrative mode of verse 13 ("wicked sinners exceedingly" – emphasis designed to show the extent of their wickedness. This is also commentary). Lot was ruled by greed and probably by the thought that he could handle the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah. By Chapter 14, he is inside the gate.

5. Name some related books. Some books are: (1) He Gave Us Stories, by Richard Pratt (good book but out of print), (2) Narrative Art in the Bible (good for serious genre study), and (3) The Art of Biblical Narrative, by Robert Alter.

6. State the case study for Lesson 15. For Lesson 15, look at Jacob and Esau in Genesis 32. Where is Jacob coming from? What is his goal, and what is his prayer? What is the literary device, emphasis or book ending?

				Tom of Bethany

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Lesson 15. Biblical Narrative (Part II)

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