Reading the Akedah narrative (Genesis 22:1-19) in the context of modern hermeneutics
(This thesis is an attempt to apply literary criticism, specifically a narratological approach, to the reading of the biblical text.) There is an incongruity in the story of Isaac's (near) sacrifice by Abraham insofar as it is too economical with language in what is otherwise a complex set of important issues about obedience and sacrifice. Interpreters throughout the centuries have tried to resolve the textual difficulties created by the incongruity. Yet the variety of their conclusions are evidence of the impossibility of overcoming the ambiguities of the story. But these ambiguities are scarcely given any thorough investigation by the interpreters, whose assumed duties are commonly to clarify the story either for the sake of religious or moral obligation or, in the pursuit of intellectual satisfaction, as is apparent in many historical readings of the text. A closer look at the story reveals that there are many ambiguities that can be grasped from many angles. By using the focalization theory of narratology one can illuminate differing points of view involved in the process of narration. The narrator's voice should not be regarded as the only representation of the events as there are also the characters'
Setio, Robert
PN Literature (General) ; BS The Bible
Reading the Akedah narrative (Genesis 22:1-19) in the context of modern hermeneutics. (This thesis is an attempt to apply literary criticism, specifically a narratological approach, to the reading of the biblical text.) There is an incongruity in the story of Isaac's (near) sacrifice by Abraham insofar as it is too economical with language in what is otherwise a complex set of important issues about obedience and sacrifice. Interpreters throughout the centuries have tried to resolve the textual difficulties created by the incongruity. Yet the variety of their conclusions are evidence of the impossibility of overcoming the ambiguities of the story. But these ambiguities are scarcely given any thorough investigation by the interpreters, whose assumed duties are commonly to clarify the story either for the sake of religious or moral obligation or, in the pursuit of intellectual satisfaction, as is apparent in many historical readings of the text. A closer look at the story reveals that there are many ambiguities that can be grasped from many angles. By using the focalization theory of narratology one can illuminate differing points of view involved in the process of narration. The narrator's voice should not be regarded as the only representation of the events as there are also the characters'
reading narrative genesis context modern hermeneutics attempt_apply literary_criticism specifically narratological read biblical_text story isaac near sacrifice abraham insofar economical language otherwise complex set important_issue obedience sacrifice throughout_century try resolve textual difficulty create yet variety conclusion evidence impossibility overcome ambiguity story ambiguity scarcely give thorough investigation interpreter whose assumed duty commonly clarify story either sake religious moral_obligation pursuit intellectual satisfaction apparent many historical reading_text closer look story reveals many ambiguity grasp many angle use theory illuminate differ point_view involved process narration narrator voice regard representation event also character