Abraham's StoriesAbraham's Stories

Genesis 18-19, 22:1-19Genesis 18-19, 22:1-19

AbrahamAbraham• The first The first patriarchpatriarch of the Isrealites / Isreal / of the Isrealites / Isreal /

the Hebrew / Jewish peoplethe Hebrew / Jewish people

• Born Born AbramAbram and renamed and renamed AbrahamAbraham by Go by God to mean "a father of many nations" (Ge 1d to mean "a father of many nations" (Ge 17:5), blessed by God to have descendants lik7:5), blessed by God to have descendants like "the stars of the heaven" and "the sane "the stars of the heaven" and "the sand" "upon the sea shore" (Ge 22:17)d" "upon the sea shore" (Ge 22:17)

Abram Leaving HomelandAbram Leaving Homeland• A descendant of A descendant of NoahNoah

• Together with his father, his wife Together with his father, his wife SaraiSarai, and , and his nephew his nephew LotLot, , AbramAbram moved out of moved out of UrUr （吾珥）（吾珥） of the Chaldeans to go into the lanof the Chaldeans to go into the land of d of CanaanCanaan （迦南）（迦南） ..

• They settled at They settled at HaranHaran （哈兰）（哈兰） ..

The Call of AbramThe Call of Abram 神呼召亚伯兰神呼召亚伯兰• At At HaranHaran（哈兰）（哈兰） , God appeared and asked Abra, God appeared and asked Abra

m to leave his country, his father's house to the land m to leave his country, his father's house to the land God promised him and his descendants.God promised him and his descendants.

• Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot and all his Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot and all his possessions to depart out of Haran and go into the lanpossessions to depart out of Haran and go into the land of d of CanaanCanaan..

• The places Abram passed or stayed at were: The places Abram passed or stayed at were: Sichem /Sichem /shechemshechem（示剑）（示剑） , Bethel, Egypt, , Bethel, Egypt, HebronHebron（希伯（希伯仑）仑） , Beersheba, Beersheba（别是巴（别是巴 //贝尔谢巴）贝尔谢巴）

Birth of IshmaelBirth of Ishmael （以实玛利）（以实玛利）and Isaacand Isaac （以撒）（以撒）

• HagarHagar （夏甲）（夏甲） : the slave girl was given by : the slave girl was given by Sarai to Abram as a wife and bore Sarai to Abram as a wife and bore IshmaelIshmael. .

• SarahSarah （撒拉）（撒拉） (Sarai): Abram's wife was bl(Sarai): Abram's wife was blessed by God to give birth to essed by God to give birth to IsaacIsaac at an advan at an advanced age.ced age.

God's Covenant with AbramGod's Covenant with Abram• God chose Abram for his belief in God - doing God chose Abram for his belief in God - doing

justice (Ge15:6, 18:19)justice (Ge15:6, 18:19)• God God promisedpromised to give Abram offsprings and to give Abram offsprings and

make his make his descendantsdescendants numerous (Ge12:1-3, 1 numerous (Ge12:1-3, 13:16,15:1-5, 3:16,15:1-5, 17:1-717:1-7, 22:17)., 22:17).

• God God promisedpromised to give the land of to give the land of CanaanCanaan to to Abram and his descendants (Ge13:15, 13:17, 1Abram and his descendants (Ge13:15, 13:17, 15:7, 15:13-20, 17:8).5:7, 15:13-20, 17:8).

• circumcisioncircumcision（割礼）（割礼） - sign of covenant (Ge - sign of covenant (Ge 17:9-14)17:9-14)

Sodom and GomorrahSodom and Gomorrah• Cities of great Cities of great sinsin (Ge18:20) (Ge18:20)• Abraham's plea for Sodom (Ge18:22-33)Abraham's plea for Sodom (Ge18:22-33)• What did the men of Sodom ask Lot to do? (Ge19:5)What did the men of Sodom ask Lot to do? (Ge19:5)• Destroyed Destroyed byby “ “burning sulphur … burning sulphur … from the Lord" (Gfrom the Lord" (G

e19:24-25)e19:24-25)• Now used as metaphors for any place notorious for Now used as metaphors for any place notorious for vivi

ce and corruptionce and corruption• What became of Lot's wife? (Ge19:26)What became of Lot's wife? (Ge19:26)

- a pillar of salt- a pillar of salt

Lot Lot 罗得罗得• a righteous man, ancestor of Jesus Christ

• escaped the destruction of Sodom

Lot and His Daughters• What did Lot offer to the raiders outside hi

s house to appease them? (Ge19:8)

• What did Lot's two daughters do to their father in the cave? (Ge19:30-35)

• What was the consequence of their deeds?

- Moab: 摩押（ Moab ）人的祖先 - Benammi: 亚扪（ Ammon ）人的祖先

思考一• 《圣经》中女性的地位和命运《圣经》中女性的地位和命运• 男人的附属品和财产• 处女的尴尬身份（ virginity ）• 生育能力（ fertility vs. sterility ）

思考二• 乱伦问题（乱伦问题（ incestincest））• 故事本身的意义• 许多民族创世神话乱伦因素的类同• 西方绘画• 《圣经》儿童不宜？

Isaac to Be Offered as a SacrificeIsaac to Be Offered as a Sacrifice

Ge22:1-19Ge22:1-19

Review Questions (1)Review Questions (1)• What did God ask Abraham to do?

• When did Abraham set off?

• What people and things did he take with him?

• When did they arrive at the designated place?

• What did Isaac ask on their way to the mountain?

• How did Abraham reply?

Review Questions (2)Review Questions (2)• Who stopped Abraham from killing his son?

• What did Abraham burn as an offering to God instead of his son?

• How did God reward Abraham for his faith and obedience to God?

思考• 该故事要传达的主题（ theme ）• 选民主题（ the theme of the elect)

• 简约、含蓄的叙事手法

AssignmentsAssignments• Read:

• 1) The Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah (Ge 24); 2) Jacob Marries Laban's Daughters (Ge 29:1-30); 3) Judah and Tamar (Ge 38); 4) Joseph and Potiphar's Wife (Ge 39)

• Think:

两个婚嫁故事的场景描写是如何成功塑造两个求婚者不同人物形象的。