The Book of Genesis in Late Antiquity Encounters Between Jewish and Christian Exegesis

includes index and biblioraphy

Introduction i Previous Approaches to Jewish-Christian Relations in Late Antiquity 2 The Bibhcal Text and Exegetical Encounters 11 Rabbinic Literature and Approach 15 Christian Literature and Approach 21 The Process of Encounter 26 Methodology: The Development and Transmission of Each Exegetical Tradition 30 Overview of this Volume 38 1. In Paradise: Adam from Creation to Resurrection 39 Rabbinic Traditions 39 The Creation of Adam: The Hours of Man in Paradise 40 The Transgression of Adam and Eve: The Serpent as an Intermediary 47 The Burial of Adam: The Temple Mount and the Cave of Machpelah 50 The Resurrection of Adam 54 Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained: The Christian Tradition 59 One (Last) Day in Paradise 59 The Devil and the Serpent, or, the Loss of Paradise 68 Where does Adam lay? Or, the Promise of Return 71 Resurrection from Dust, or. Paradise Regained 79 The Exegetical Encounter 84 2. Cain and Abel 99 Rabbinic Traditions 99 Cain was the Son of Sammael or the Devil 100 Cain and Abel`s Twin Sisters 104 Cain killed Abel over a Woman 108 Abel was killed by a Stone 112 Lamech killed Cain 113 The Christian Tradition 116 The Birth of Cain and Abel 119 The Death of Abel 121 The Death of Cain 128 The Exegetical Encounter 132 3. The Flood Story 147 Rabbinic Traditions 147 The Descendants of Seth and Cain 148 Repentance and the Ark 152 Mocking of Noah and the Building of the Ark 156 Noah and Chastity 160 The Christian Tradition 165 The Descendants of Seth and Cain 166 Repentance and the Ark 175 Mocking of Noah 180 Noah and Chastity 181 The Exegetical Encounter 185 4. Abraham and Melchizedek 199 Rabbinic Traditions 199 Melchizedek identified with Shem 200 Priesthood of Abraham 205 Melchizedek and Jerusalem 209 Bread and Wine Symbolism 211 Melchizedek and Circumcision 213 The Christian Tradition 215 Melchizedek identified with Shem 215 Priesthood of Abraham vs Priesthood of Melchizedek 220 Melchizedek and Jerusalem 221 Bread and Wine Symbolism 225 Melchizedek and Circumcision 226 The Exegetical Encounter 228 5. Hagar and Ishmael 239 Rabbinic Traditions 239 Hagar: A Gift from Pharaoh 240 Ishmael the Plunderer 243 Apocalyptic Ishmaelites 246 Ishmael the Rejected 249 Idolatry 251 Bloodshed and Animosity towards Isaac 253 Firstborn Rights and Inheritance 255 Abraham`s Lack of Generosity 256 The Christian Tradition 259 Hagar: A Gift from Pharaoh 264 Ishmael`s Animosity 266 Hagar`s Expulsion 271 Ishmael and the Apocalyptic Understanding of the Muslim Arabs 272 The Exegetical Encounter 277 6. Jacob`s Ladder 289 Rabbinic Traditions 289 The Foundation Stone and the Temple Built, Destroyed and Rebuilt 291 The Stone(s) as Nation Israel—Election and Fulfilment of the Promise 295 The Messiah as Jacob`s Stone or Cornerstone 298 The Anointed Stone 300 The Christian Tradition 301 The Angels on the Ladder and their Symbolism 305 The Christological Interpretation of Jacob`s Vision 307 The Anointing of the Stone 310 The Exegetical Encounter 314 7. Joseph and Potiphar 323 Rabbinic Traditions 323 The Beauty of Joseph 325 Potiphar and Joseph 329 Potiphar, Potiphera and Asenath 332 The Christian Tradition 336 The Beauty of Joseph 338 Joseph and Potiphar`s Wife 340 Potiphar: A Eunuch? 345 Potiphar: Joseph`s Father-in-Law? 350 The Exegetical Encounter 351 8. The Blessing on Judah 361 Rabbinic Traditions 361 Judah is Praised (Genesis 49:8) 362 Praise for Judah`s Actions 362 Praise for Judah`s Victories 365 The Lion of Judah (Genesis 49:9) 367 The Messiah and the Nations (Genesis 49:10) 372 The Sceptre and Messiah 372 Shiloh and Messiah 376 Subjection of the Nations 379 The Donkey and the Vine (Genesis 49:u) 381 Garments washed in Wine