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HEBREW WORD STUDIES FROM GENESIS 1:1,2 Beginning (reshit) Created (bara) Heavens and earth (hashamayim weet haaretz) Earth (aretz) Was (hayeta) Tohu wabohu

Bereshit bara elohim et hashamayim weet haaretz wehaaretz hayeta tohu wabohu wehosek al-pene tehom weruach elohim merachepet al-pene hammayim In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. As for the earth, it was destroyed and desolate (tohu wabohu), with dar ness on the face of the dee!, b"t the #!irit of God stirring over the face of the waters. (Genesis $%$, &' original translation fro( the Hebrew). In beginning a st"dy of the first two verses of Genesis, )we ("st hear *Genesis $+ as the beginning of a sy(!hony whose inter!retative and ill"(inative !ower transcends all c"lt"ral diversity. ,hese !ages co(e to "s as the o!ening !ages of the Bible, and the Bible has de(onstrated s"fficiently that it is not -"st any ancient boo .. (Blocher $/01%$2) ,he first two verses of the Bible literally say, )In beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was *tohu wabohu+ and dar ness was over the s"rface of the dee!, and the #!irit of God was *doing so(ething+ over the waters.. ,he inter!retive translation !resented earlier in this !a!er for verses $34 reads% )In one of God5s new beginnings He re3fashioned everything in nat"re as we now it beca"se the land had been destroyed *by an asteroidal collision6+ and left desolate after God5s -"dg(ent on conditions contrary to His will. B"t God had not given "! on the land and its !eo!le. ,he #!irit of God was stirring over the dee! chaos that was blan eted by dar ness. (#"ddenly) God said, )7et there be light,. and there it was8 God saw that the light was good and He se!arated the light fro( the dar ness. He called the light )day. and the dar ness )night.. #o after evening, there was (orning, one day.. 9y original e:egetical translation of Genesis $%$,& fro( the Hebrew reads% In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. As for the earth, it was destroyed and desolate (tohu wabohu),

2 with dar ness on the face of the dee!, b"t the #!irit of God stirring over the face of the waters. ,o e:!lain the choices (ade in these translations and to show why non3literal translations li e these are necessary for "nderstanding the (issiological !"r!oses of God in history, this !a!er e:a(ines each of the ey words in detail. Reshit (Beginning' #trong5s ;<&&4) ,he first word of the Bible, bereshit, i((ediately !l"nges "s into the iss"e of inter!retation. ,he fact that, in all the tho"sands of years since this word was chosen by the biblical a"thor, there has not been co(!lete agree(ent on how to inter!ret it is an indication that we cannot e:!ect to neatly classify and f"lly co(!rehend God5s dealings with h"(an ind. As =a"l said in writing to the Corinthians, )now we see thro"gh a glass dar ly. ($ Corinthians $>%$&). What is the significance of this being the first word of the Bible6 In o"r e:egetical ass"(!tions we are !ost"lating that every word of Genesis cha!ter $ was chosen with care and for a !"r!ose. 7eon ?ass as s regarding the Bible5s first creation story, )Why this ind of beginning6. (&@@>%&2) Blocher5s state(ent that )the first verse of Genesis brea s with all the (ythologies of the ancient East,. ($/01%2&) is not A"ite strong eno"gh. In fact, it is the first word of Genesis that throws o"t a challenge to the worldviews of the ancient Bear East. ,he Bible begins with the word )beginning. which was a foreign conce!t to the cyclic worldviews of all !eo!les of the world at that ti(e. History had a beginning% that was new news8 And if so(ething has a beginning, it will have an ending. ,hat was not in the worldview of the ancient !eo!les. Cac Dinegan states that the big change with Israelite doctrine )was the revelation that ti(e r"ns on fro( its beginning into a f"t"re that is always new and different. ,i(e (oves toward so(e c"l(ination, the "lti(ate intent of which cannot be o"tside the !"r!ose of God.. ($/2&%$2) In his boo , Science and Creation: From Eternal Cycles to an scillatin! "ni#erse, #tanley Ca i shows that this conce!t of !"r!osef"l history, traced to the very first word of Genesis, was the origin of the cos(ology that event"ally (ade it !ossible for science to arise in C"deo3Christian western c"lt"re. By contrast, there has been a stillbirth of science in all c"lt"res thro"gho"t history that have had a cos(ology that reflects a view of nat"re ca"ght in an eternal cyclic tread(ill. ($/<1%>42) Enly a belief in a beginning originating fro( a rational, orderly Creator co"ld give !eo!le the confidence to e:!eri(ent and syste(atically investigate the orderly laws by which the world o!erates. ,here is no !arallel to this o!ening word or sentence in 9eso!ota(ian literat"re. (Walt e $/<4%&&1) ,he e!ics of the Ancient Bear East traditionally o!ened with the eA"ivalent of the Hebrew word, )beyom,. (eaning )on the day that,. or )when.. (Heidel $/4$%/4) Dor instance, the Babylonian Creation E!ic, the Enuma Elish, begins, )When on high F.. )Ence "!on a ti(e. (ight be an eA"ivalent conte(!orary !hrase. B"t the a"thor of Genesis brea s fro( that tradition and "ses the word )bereshit. (literally )in beginning.) as an adverb )standing (a-estically alone. (Ca i $//0%&) and witho"t literary !arallel at the beginning of the ins!ired Word of God. While W. D. Albright tried to show early in the twentieth cent"ry that Genesis de!ended heavily on

3 the 9eso!ota(ian creation acco"nts, act"ally !ointing to the word bereshit as evidence for this de!endency, Ale:ander Heidel contradicted hi( by saying, )in fact, it !oints in the o!!osite direction.. ($/4$%/2) It had to !oint in the o!!osite direction. 9eso!ota(ian c"lt"re had no conce!t of a beginning and ending to the world as they new it. In addition to conveying a sense of direction and !"r!ose to history, the biblical conte:t of the o!ening word of Genesis ca"ses it to convey so(ething else. #o(ething e:isted before the beginning. Drancis #chaeffer says, in his boo , $enesis in Space and Time, )altho"gh Genesis begins, Gin the beginning,5 that does not (ean that there was not anything before that.. ($/<&%$2) In Cohn $<%&1, Ces"s !rays F )Ho" loved (e before the creation of the world.. E!hesians $%1% )*God+ chose "s in hi( before the creation of the world.. God5s !"r!oses for Ces"s in redee(ing the world were established )before the creation of the world.. ($ =eter $%&@) )#o(ething e:isted before creation and that so(ething was !ersonal and not static' the Dather loved the #on' there was a !lan, there was co(("nication' and !ro(ises were (ade !rior to the creation of the heavens and the earth.. (#chaeffer $/<&%$0) In i(itation of the first words of Genesis, the Gos!el of Cohn says, )In the beginning already was the Word and the Word already was with God and the Word already was God. ,hro"gh hi( all things were (ade.. (#chaeffer !ro!oses that Cohn $%$3> sho"ld be translated with the Gree i(!erfect tense for )was.. *$/<&%&&+) ,he writer of Hebrews affir(s% )In the beginning, E 7ord, yo" laid the fo"ndations of the earth, and the heavens are the wor of yo"r hands. ,hey will !erish, b"t yo" re(ain' they will all wear o"t li e a gar(ent F. ($%$@, $$). ,his verse brings o"t an i(!ortant i(!lication of the word )beginning.Ithere will be an ending. Wisdo( also e:isted before the beginning as seen in =roverbs 0%&>ff% )I *wisdo(+ was a!!ointed fro( eternity, fro( the beginning * mereshit+, before the world began. When there were no oceans, I was given birthF when he (ar ed o"t the fo"ndations of the earth, then I was the crafts(an at his side.. In addition to )wisdo(. and the relationshi! between the Dather and the #on that e:isted before the beginning, EJe iel &0 shows a fallen cher"b5s e:istence before the beginning (!res"(ed by (any co((entators, incl"ding 9errill Knger, to be #atan *$/0$%4+). )Ho" were the (odel of !erfection, f"ll of wisdo( and !erfect in bea"ty. F Ho" were bla(eless in yo"r ways fro( the day yo" were created "ntil wic edness was fo"nd in yo". #o I drove yo" in disgrace fro( the (o"nt of God and I e:!elled yo", E g"ardian cher"b F Ho"r heart beca(e !ro"d F and yo" corr"!ted yo"r wisdo(. (EJe iel &0%$&, $43$<). Dor the wider !"r!oses of this !a!er it is i(!ortant to note that -"st as )wisdo(. assisted in creation fro( before the world began, it is legiti(ate to hy!othesiJe that #atan in his !re3fallen angelic state assisted in creation. It is also i(!ortant to note the role of this created being in o!!osing God5s creative order after his fall. ,his o!!osition to God5s good intentions for creation, tohu, and the res"lts of the o!!osition, tohu wabohu, will be e:!lained in detail later in this !a!er. Genesis cha!ter $ o!ens the biblical record by showing God5s intention to relentlessly o!!ose this o!!osition to his !"r!oses by starting over as often as necessary. Lal!h Winter sees Genesis $%$ as one of a n"(ber of new beginnings in the Bible (&@@4a%1/). Each of these co(es after a crisis that co"ld be described as tohu% the

4 o!!osite of God5s intentions. A list of new beginnings in the Bible incl"des% M Boah5s fa(ily resc"ed in the Ar , following the destr"ctive Dlood M ,he calling of Abraha(, following the conf"sion of lang"ages M ,he E:od"s, following the )nothingness. and des!air of slavery in Egy!t M ,he restoration of the Cewish !eo!le to their land after de!ortation to Babylon M ,he co(ing of Ces"s, following cent"ries of a!ostasy by Israel and the 1@@ years of an absence of hearing fro( God. Ces"s5 co(ing was acco(!anied by the chaos of Herod5s sla"ghter of the boy babies and Ces"s5 de(onstration of fighting bac against tohu by casting o"t (any de(ons M =entecost, following Ces"s5 death, res"rrection and ascension and the res"lting conf"sion in the (inds of the disci!les M Dollowers of Ces"s beco(ing new creations in Christ (& Corinthians 4%$<), renewed after living lives of slavery to the god of this age M ,he new heaven and new earth, finally ending the groanings of creation and tho"sands of years of tro"bled history on this !lanet )Beginning. is a ey word for the biblical story and very a!!ro!riate as the first word of that story. ,his o!ening word of the Bible leaves roo( for the eternal e:istence of God !rior to any earthly beginning. ,he a"thor of Genesis does not follow the e:a(!le of the other creation stories of the Ancient Bear East that e:!lain the origins of the gods. God always e:isted fro( before the beginning and does not need to be e:!lained. )Before anything began to be, God was.. (Lenc ens $/21%0&) B"t sho"ld the o!ening word, bereshit, that incl"des the !refi: )beth. (and does not incl"de the definite article, )the.), be translated )in the beginning. or )in a beginning.6 #ho"ld we ta e the first verse as an inde!endent cla"se or as s"bordinate to the second or third verse6 Here is where technical details of the conte:t get co(!licated, with no consens"s. ,he two first verses of the Bible are so fa(iliar that we rarely give the( the attention they deserve. When we do begin to thin abo"t what they (ean, we find that they are f"ll of diffic"lties. We will have to s!end a long ti(e on the( if we wish to do -"stice to their (essage for their own age and restate it a"thentically for o"r own. Beca"se of so(e "n"s"al feat"res in the Hebrew, they are diffic"lt even to translate. (Gibson%$/0$ Naily #t"dy Bible #eries% Genesis, Ool. $, West(inster, Cohn ?no: =ress' accessed thro"gh 7ogos Bible #oftware, !age "n nown) Gordon Wenha( !rovides the (ost co(!lete list of the !ossibilities for the cla"se str"ct"re of Genesis $%$3> ($/0<%$$) so his categories will be "sed as the basis for a chart co(!aring the views and rationale for those views of several (a-or co((entators.

E!tions for Inter!reting the Cla"ses of Genesis $%$3> and Oiews of Co((entators on Each E!tion Gordon Wenhams Ca e!or"es #1$%&: 11' $. Oerse $ is a te(!oral cla"se s"bordinate to the (ain cla"se in verse &% )In the beginning when God created F the earth was witho"t for(.F. Commen a ors O("n"ons

$. Wenha(% this first view was !ro!osed by Ibn EJra b"t has little s"!!ort. It !res"!!oses the e:istence of chaotic !re3 e:istent (atter before the wor of creation began.

&. Oerse $ is a te(!oral cla"se s"bordinate to the (ain cla"se in verse > (verse & is a !arenthetic co((ent)% )In the beginning when God created (now the earth was for(less) God said F.

&. Wenha(% does not favor this view that was first !ro!osed by Lashi. Lecent defenders% Ba"er, Bayer, Herr(ann, H"(bert, # inner, #!eiser' L#O, BEB, BAB, ,EO. ,his inter!retation observes that berehsit does not have the definite article )the.. It !res"!!oses the e:istence of chaotic !re3 e:istent (atter before the wor of creation began. W.D. Albright !ointed o"t the )when F then. translation for Gen $%$3> as a borrowing of the Babylonian style fro( the En"(a Elish. ),his !ro!osal can be -"stified by the gra((ar and can be ill"strated elsewhere in the Hebrew scri!t"res, b"t does not (eet all the de(ands of the te:t as E. C. Ho"ng has !ointed o"t.. (?aiser $/<@% 40 ) ?idner% Gra((atically Genesis $%$ co"ld be translated as introd"cing a cla"se co(!leted in verse > after a !arenthetical verse &% )When God began to create F (the earth was witho"t for( F), God said, 7et there be light..($/2<% 1>) B"t ?idner favors the fo"rth, traditional inter!retation, which he considers to be eA"ally valid. Lobert Alter% Dollowing the so"rce criticis(

6 school of tho"ght, Alter assigns Genesis $ to the !riestly )=. a"thor and ass"(es that he begins his acco"nt, according to the general convention of o!ening for("las for ancient Bear Eastern creation e!ics, with an introd"ctory adverbial cla"se, )When God began to create heaven and earth F. (Alter $/0$% $1&) ,errence Drethei( A"otes, with a!!roval, ,he Bew Cewish Oersion% )When God began to create the heaven and the earthIthe earth being "nfor(ed and void, with the dar ness over the s"rface of the dee! and a wind fro( God swee!ing over the waterIGod said, 7et there be light.. >. Oerse $ is a (ain cla"se, s"((ariJing all the events described in the cha!ter. It is a title to the cha!ter as a whole. Wenha(% ,his view !res"!!oses the e:istence of chaotic !re3e:istent (atter before the wor of creation began. Blocher% !oints o"t that te(!oral !hrases reg"larly occ"r witho"t the article. ($/01% 2&) All the ancient versions, the 7PP, O"lgate, and (ost (odern translations inter!ret verse $, )In the beginning God created.. ,he a!ostle Cohn confir(s this choice when he echoes the !rolog"e of Genesis in Cohn $%$. Blocher states that he agrees with Ho"ng, Wester(ann, Walt e, Cass"to, Bea"cha(!, and von Lad% )in retaining the reading of the ancient versions. It avoids ascribing a diffic"lt constr"ction to the te:t and is (ore s"itable for the first verse of the Bible, the o!ening of a (a-estic !assage. GIn the beginning God created5 acts as a title, as Bea"cha(! and others have seen.. Bote% Blocher does not disting"ish between those who see Genesis $%$ as a title that !res"!!oses a creation before Genesis $%$ and those who see this verse in the (ore traditional view as the title for the descri!tion of the first act of creation. Both

7 of these views agree that the verse is an inde!endent sentence. Walt e e:a(ines le:ical and gra((atical arg"(ents in great detail. He as s, )Is bereshit in the constr"ct or absol"te state6 If it is constr"ct *s"ch as, )at the beginning,. or )fro( the beginning.+, then verse $ is a de!endent cla"se. If it is in the absol"te state the traditional rendering will stand.. ($/<4% &&&) Altho"gh Walt e ac nowledges that bereshit is nearly always "sed in the constr"ct state, he feels the one e:ce!tion in Isaiah 12%$@ ()I (a e nown the end fro( the beginning.) shows that the word can legiti(ately be considered to be in the absol"te state in Genesis $%$, with a te(!oral (eaning. He f"rther arg"es that if 9oses had wanted to be "na(big"o"s he co"ld have "sed the )infinite constr"ct. as in Genesis &%1% )When they were created *behibara+.. A!!arently Walt e thin s the a"thor co"ld have chosen to o(it the word reshit and start the first verse as he ended the !assage if his clear intention had been to begin the !assage as other ancient literat"re often began. Bote% It wo"ld see( very sensible to "se an a(big"o"s gra((atical constr"ction at the beginning of a section of #cri!t"re that God new wo"ld be "nderstood in (any different ways down thro"gh history. Walt e sees no !roble( with the absence of the definite article. He refers to Ale:ander Heidel who states that ter(s li e reshith (beginning), rosh, (beginning), &edem (olden ti(es) and olam, (eternity), )when "sed in adverbial e:!ressions, occ"r al(ost invariably witho"t the article, and that in the absol"te state.. ($/4$% /&) Walt e considers even (ore convincing that the word sho"ld be "nderstood as an absol"te is the fact that )all ancient versions (7PP, O"lgate, AA"ila, ,arg"( En elos) constr"ed the for( as absol"te and verse $ as an inde!endent cla"se.. ($/<4% &&>) Walt e concl"des that the chaotic state described in verse & e:isted before the

8 creation s!o en of in the Bible, and he "nderstands verse $ as an inde!endent cla"se and verse & as a circ"(stantial cla"se connected with verse >. )According to this view, verse $ is a s"((ary state(ent, or for(al introd"ction, which is e!e:egeted in the rest of the narrative. It a!!ears to this a"thor that this is the only view!oint that co(!letely satisfies the de(ands of Hebrew gra((ar.. ($/<4% &&4, &&2) Bet Bible% ,he editors agree with Walt e that the word translated )beginning. is in the absol"te state rather than the constr"ct (which wo"ld be translated, )when God created.). )In other words, the cla"se in v. $ is a (ain cla"se, v. & has three cla"ses that are descri!tive and s"!!ly bac gro"nd infor(ation, and v. > begins the narrative seA"ence !ro!er. ,he referent of the word QbeginningQ *of what6+ has to be defined fro( the conte:t since there is no beginning or ending with God.. ,he Bet Bible5s editors see the verse as a s"((ary state(ent of the rest of the cha!ter% abo"t God5s creating the world )as we now it.. Bote% It is interesting to see that the editors did not say, )as they new it. which co"ld only have been the case, since the ancient Hebrews had no conce!t of the world as we now now it. ,he editors concl"de that Genesis itself does not acco"nt for the original creation of (atter b"t this does not deny that the Bible teaches that God created everything o"t of nothingIit si(!ly says that Genesis is not where that is ta"ght. ,his view !res"!!oses (atter that e:isted before the Genesis $ creation acco"nt.

1. Oerse $ is a (ain cla"se describing the first act of creation. Oerses & and > describe 1. Wenha(% ,his is the traditional view the s"bseA"ent !hases in God5s creative ado!ted in o"r translation. activity. Bote% Wenha( bases his choice on the !res"!!osition that Gen. $ has to e:!lain the

9 original creation of everything o"t of nothing. He re-ects the first three o!tions beca"se they )!res"!!ose the e:istence of chaotic !re3e:istent (atter before the wor of creation began.. ($/0<% $$) #ailha(er follows this view when he states that in the )beginning. God created the "niverse' no ti(e li(itations are !laced on that !eriod. ($//2%&/) ?aiser analyJes verse $ as an inde!endent cla"se (for reasons (entioned below), b"t he does not (a e clear whether he believes the sentence is f"nctioning as a title or as the first act of creation since he is (ainly interested in clarifying the literary style of the cha!ter (history, (yth, etc.). #ince ?aiser tends to (a e conservative choices, I have !"t his co((ents "nder the fo"rth view. ?aiser sees Genesis $%$ as an inde!endent sentence for these reasons% a. the 9assoretes "sed the sy(bol that rese(bles o"r )%. showing the end of a sentence, indicating their early "nderstanding of the verse as an inde!endent cla"se b. the ancient versions treat the verse as an inde!endent cla"se c. the !osition of the s"b-ect !rior to the verb (rather than the "s"al !osition of following the verb) in verse & indicates that the second verse contains s"bordinate cla"ses to verse > (?aiser $/<@% 40 ) ?idner% He considers the fa(iliar translation, )In the beginning God F. to be -"st as valid gra((atically as beginning with )When God F. He favors this fo"rth view beca"se it affir(s )"neA"ivocally the tr"th laid down elsewhere (Heb. $$%>) that "ntil God s!o e, nothing e:isted.. ($/2<% 1>) Bote% A n"(ber of co((entators base their "lti(ate choice on the gra((ar that (ost easily s"!!orts creation o"t of nothing rather than i(!lying so(ething e:isting before the beginning.

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Summary and e#aluation% With the traditional inter!retation either a ga! ("st be ac nowledged between verses $ and & or it has to be said that God originally created the earth to be tohu wabohuIdestroyed, desolate and inhos!itable for life. #ince the other !lanets in o"r solar syste( co"ld be described as inhos!itable for life, this (ay not be as diffic"lt to acce!t as so(e have tho"ght, who base their views on Isaiah 14%$0% )He who created the heavens, F who fashioned and (ade the earth, F he did not create it to be e(!ty *tohu+, b"t for(ed it to be inhabited.. It wo"ld be hard to arg"e with Br"ce Walt e5s caref"lly arg"ed !osition, seeing Genesis $%$ as an inde!endent s"((ary state(ent for the cha!ter, as he is considered to be the to! Evangelical Hebrew and Eld ,esta(ent scholar. In the end, with any of the inter!retations, we can ac nowledge that God is the "lti(ate Creator of everything, so(e of that creation has been inhos!itable for life either before or after Genesis $%$, so God fashioned or re3fashioned the earth to be a !lace where life co"ld e:ist. ,his (ay have ha!!ened re!eatedly in !re3history, as indicated by the chart in Lal!h Winter5s writings showing (a-or asteroidal collisions on the earth over (illions of years. (Winter &@@4a%1/) Genesis $, in Winter5s view, re!resents a local refashioning of the land following a (a-or disaster, getting it ready for h"(ans in God5s i(age to (a e a new beginning in the battle against the adversary. An e:egetical word st"dy of the Hebrew word reshit, translated )beginning. in Genesis $%$, shows that Winter5s inter!retation of Genesis $%$, in which he sees the )beginning. as one a(ong (any new beginnings, is co(!atible with the (eaning of the word. Reshit often refers to an indefinite !eriod of ti(e at the beginning of a seA"ence of events rather than to a s!ecific starting !oint (for which another Hebrew word e:ists). #ailha(er bases his inter!retation on this (eaning when he says abo"t the first verse (referring to the original creation of the "niverse), )no ti(e li(itations are !laced on that !eriod.. ($//2%&/) E:a(!les of the "se of the word, reshit, incl"de% Genesis $@%$@ the beginning of his ingdo( Genesis 1/%> the beginning of (y strength (BIO% When Cacob blessed his sons he said to Le"ben, yo" are (y firstborn, (y (ight, the first sign of (y strength F) E:od"s &>%$/% the first of the firstfr"its of the land *BIO% Bring the best of the firstfr"its+ Ne"terono(y $$%$&% fro( the beginning of the year to its end *an indefinite !eriod of ti(e, not an instant+ $ #a("el &%&/% the chiefest of all the offerings BE,E% Dirstfr"its see(s to be the (ost co((on "se of the ter( reshit =roverbs 1%<% wisdo( is the !rinci!al thing

11 =roverbs 0%&&% I was a!!ointed fro( eternity, fro( the beginning, before the world began. =roverbs $<%$1% the beginning of strife (BIO% #tarting a A"arrel is li e F) Isaiah 12%$@% declaring the end fro( the beginning Cerere(iah &2%$% in the beginning of the reign of (BIO% Early in the reign of Cehoa i() Cerere(iah 1/%>1% early in the reign of of Rede iah F 9icah $%$>% yo" who live in 7achish, F yo" were the beginning of sin to the Na"ghter of Rion *gives a sense of origins+ ,he root word for reshit is rosh (#trong5s ; <&$0). Losh is translated head, chief, on to! of, ca!tain, !rinci!al, forefront. Eccl. >%$$% they cannot fatho( what God has done fro( beginning *rosh+ to end Is. 1@%&$% told yo" fro( the beginning *rosh+ Is. 1$%&2% who told of this fro( the beginning *rosh+, so we co"ld now% fro( the start, the so"rce. Another word for )beginning. is the word for a definite starting !oint% t!hillah (#trong5s ; 012&) Gen. $>%>% where his tent had been at the beginning Gen. 1$%&$% still ill favo"red, as at the beginning Gen 1>%$0% in o"r sac s at the first ti(e C"d. &@%$0% which of "s shall go "! first L"th $%&&% in the beginning of barley harvest =rov. /%$@% the fear of the 7ord is the beginning of wisdo( Harris, Archer, and Walt e, in the Theolo!ical 'ordbook o( the ld Testament e:!lain that reshit (ay refer to the initiation of a series of historical events (Gen $@%$@, Cer 2%$)' it (ay indicate a fo"ndational or necessary condition s"ch as the fear of God (=s $$$%$@' =rov $%<)' the initiation of a life (Cob 0%<)' the best of a gro"! or class of things to be set aside for God ()first fr"its. *7ev. &%$&+). Considering the evidence for the "se of reshit and the other words available to the a"thor if he had wanted to convey a definite starting !oint, it wo"ld see( to be reasonable to !ost"late that )in the beginning. refers to an indefinite !eriod of ti(e which co"ld have stretched both bac wards, before creation, and forwards into the early events of creation. #ince reshit does not refer to a definite starting !oint, the translation, )in one of God5s new beginnings. wo"ld see( to be a valid inter!retation. If the definite article had been "sed this translation wo"ld have been !roble(atic, b"t since the article is not "sed, it wo"ld see( !er(issible to s"ggest that the te:t (ay be intentionally a(big"o"s. A n"(ber of res!ected scholars agree that Genesis $%$ does not refer to the beginning of )everything. b"t to so(ething (ore recent. ,he following s"((ary s"!!orts Winter5s inter!retation of this verse and cha!ter, A"oting or !ara!hrasing several co((entators who consider Genesis $%$ to be a )relative beginning. or a )new beginning. as Winter !refers to call it. )"e*s o+ Commen a ors

12 A =LE3GEBE#I# $%$ CLEA,IEB ABN A BEW BEGIBBIBG Merr",, F- Un!er )It is (ore li ely that verse $ *of Genesis $+ refers to a relative beginning rather than the absol"te beginning. ,he cha!ter wo"ld then be acco"nting for the Creation of the "niverse as (an nows it, not the beginning of everything, and verses $3& wo"ld !rovide the introd"ction to it. ,he fall of #atan and entrance of sin into God5s original Creation wo"ld !recede this.. ($/0$%4) .,,en Ross )GIn the beginning5 is a relative beginning in which the cos(os was resha!ed for the lateco(erI(an. Bro"ght into e:istence before sin entered the "niverse (EJe iel &0, Isa. $1), the original earth was designed to be the habitation of God5s first sinless angelic creat"res (Cob >0' Isa. 14). ,his sinless earth was evidently the !lace where sin began in God5s hitherto sinless "niverse in connection with the revolt of #atan.. ($//2%<$/) )In the first !art of Genesis $%&, there is F an o(ino"s, "nco(fortable tone. ,he cla"ses describe not the res"lts of divine creation b"t a chaos at the earliest stage of this world. It is not the !"r!ose of Genesis to tell the reader how the chaos ca(e abo"t. F ,he e:!ositor ("st draw so(e concl"sions fro( other !assages with si(ilar descri!tions. If one can !osit that the fall of #atan (EJe &0) bro"ght abo"t the chaos in God5s original creation, then Genesis $ describes a re3creation, or God5s first act of rede(!tion, salvaging his world and creating all things new.. ($//2%$@<) )In view of the synta: of the first three verses and the (eanings of all the words chosen, the view of Gerhard von Lad see(s to carry the (ost e:egetical s"!!ort. ,hat is, verse $ is the s"((ary state(ent of the contents of cha!ter $. Oerse & !rovides circ"(stantial cla"ses that describe the state of the earth when God s!o eIit was waste and void, envelo!ed in dar ness, covered with the dee!, b"t the #!irit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. ,he first day of creation wo"ld act"ally begin with verse >, altho"gh verse & !rovides the circ"(stances. ,he cha!ter records the bringing of creation as we now it o"t of chaos. Dor the initial creation, or original creation, one has to loo elsewhere in the Bible. ,his view F recogniJes that )beginnings. with God are not necessarily absol"te beginnings.. ($//2%<&>) Br/0e 1- Wa, 2e )GBeginning5 refers to the entire created event, the si: days of creation, not so(ething before the si: days. F ,his is a relative beginning. As verse & see(s to indicate, there is a !re3Genesis ti(e and s!ace.. (&@@$%40) Walt e agrees with the view )that F sees the chaotic state described in verse & as e:isting before the creation s!o en of in the Bible. *It+ "nderstands verse $ as an inde!endent cla"se and verse & as a circ"(stantial cla"se connected with vs. >. ($/<4%&&4) Terren0e E- Fre he"m )When God began to create the heaven and the earthIthe earth being "nfor(ed and void, with the dar ness over the s"rface of the dee! and a wind fro( God swee!ing over the waterIGod said, 7et there be light.. (,he Bew Cewish Oersion) Drethei( !refers this translation and says this (eans the ti(e involved wo"ld be

13 relative, so(eti(e in the !ast, b"t not the absol"te beginning of ti(e. ),his wo"ld a!!ear to be the (eaning of the word Gbeginning5 in Isa. 12%$@ * reshit+ ' 1@%&$ *rosh+' 1$%1 *rosh+.. ($/2/%41) 3ohn H- Sa",hamer ),wo distinct ti(e !eriods are (entioned in Gen $% $. ,he Gbeginning5 when God created the "niverse' no ti(e li(itations are !laced on that !eriod. &. Genesis $%&3&%1a%God !re!ared the Garden of Eden for (an5s dwelling' that activity occ"rred in one wee .. ($//2%&/) ),he Hebrew word reshit has a very s!ecific sense in #cri!t"re. It always refers to an e:tended yet indeter(inate d"ration of ti(eInot a s!ecific (o(ent. It refers to a d"ration of ti(e which falls before a series of events.. ($//2%>0) )God created the "niverse d"ring an indeter(inate !eriod of ti(e before the act"al rec oning of a seA"ence of ti(e began. Ether Hebrew words were available to the a"thor to convey the te(!oral conce!t of a Gbeginning.5 He co"ld have "sed a Hebrew word si(ilar to the English word Gstart5 or Ginitial !oint.5. ($//2%1@, 1$) #ailha(er is close to Lal!h Winter5s o!inion, b"t he considers Genesis $%$ to be the descri!tion of the original, "niversal creation, in s"((ary for(. #o he sees a ga! before the local re3creation starts in verse > rather than a creation before Genesis $%$, which is Winter5s and Knger5s !reference. Winter sees Genesis $%$ as a local new beginning in the 9iddle East after a (a-or disaster had wi!ed o"t life in that !art of a !re3Genesis $%$ creation. ,his disaster (ay have been the res"lt of -"dg(ent, as is the case !rior to other biblical new beginnings. ,he origin and Dall of #atan and the e:istence of the vicio"s life for(s seen in the fossil record all belong to this !re3Genesis $%$ creation, in Winter5s view. Genesis $ shows God !re!aring a land for a new h"(anity, (ade in His i(age for the !"r!ose of wor ing with Hi( to bring order o"t of chaos and to defeat the intentions of the adversary. Bara Elohim (God Created' bara% #trong5s ; $&41)% It is not necessary to infer a creation o"t of nothing (e) nihilo) fro( the Hebrew, bara. E:a(!les fro( a concordance search of the word bara show that often the word is in the conte:t of re3creating so(ething% =s 4$%$@% Create in (e a clean heart, E God Isa 1%&34% In that day F the 7ord Fwill cleanse the bloodstains fro( Cer"sale( by a s!irit of -"dg(ent and a s!irit of fire. ,hen the 7ord will create over all of 9o"nt Rion and over those who asse(ble there a clo"d of s(o e by day and a glow of fla(ing fire by night' over all the glory will be a cano!y. Isa 4<%$0, $/% I have seen his ways, b"t I will heal hi(' I will g"ide hi( and restore co(fort to hi(, creating !raise on the li!s of the (o"rners in Israel. Isa 24%$<% I create new heavens and a new earth' =s $@1%>@% when yo" send yo"r #!irit, they are created, and yo" renew the face of the earth ,hese e:a(!les lend s"!!ort to the legiti(acy of the inter!retation of Genesis $ as a refashioning of a !revio"sly -"dged and destroyed earth. Bara does not have to refer

14 to an original creation o"t of nothing. A concordance st"dy of the word bara shows that in the al and ni!hal for(s it is always God who creates, b"t in the !iel (added intensity) !eo!le are the s"b-ect of bara, being told to bara (c"t down) a forest of trees in Cosh $<%$4, $0 (or )(a e. a !lace for the(selves.) ,he reference in the !iel for( is to the o!eration of bringing into order waste forest land, or t"rning chaos, the tohu wabohu of desolate and "ninhabitable land, into a well3arranged, c"ltivated, and life3s"!!orting territory. #o this rare "se of the word bara is also i(!ortant as another i(!lication of the disorder !receding the creation events that co"ld have been "nderstood by the original a"dience of Genesis $%$, &. It also hints at the the(e of evening followed by (orning re!eated thro"gho"t Genesis $% that h"(ans can i(itate God in the creative !rocess by (a ing "ninhabitable areas beco(e inhabitable, (eta!horically ca"sing evening to beco(e (orning. In this sense, Cosh"a $<%$4 co"ld be seen as a literal (eta!hor that ill"strates what it (eans for God to have re3(ade the land in Genesis $%$, & that was in an "ninhabitable state. Ether shades of (eaning for bara co(e fro( closely associated Hebrew words% barach (bless, (entioned by Wenha( $/0<%$1) and barar (cleanse, (entioned by ,. 7ewis $044%1/). Creation as blessing and creation as cleansing are hel!f"l additional associations that wo"ld have !ossibly been ca"ght by the original listening a"dience thro"gh the si(ilar so"nds of the Hebrew words. ,he sense of cleansing and !"rifying co(bined with the sense of c"tting away or slashing what is "nhel!f"l for life (co(!are Hebrews 1%$&%the Word of God is F shar!er than any two3edged sword) is seen in the "se of bara in =sal( 4$%$% )Create in (e a clean heart, E God, and renew a right s!irit within (e.. #o creation is a clearing "!, a cleansing, a !"rifying, a bringing into order (o"t of tohu wabohu). Cohn #ailha(er, who advocates seeing Genesis $ as a local creation of the 7and of Israel, !oints o"t that bara is often synony(o"s with another Hebrew word, asah, ()(a e.I it is "sed synony(o"sly with bara in Genesis &%1) which can be "sed to (ean to wash one5s feet or tri( one5s beard (notice the associations again with c"tting and cleaning that are associated with the !iel for( of bara)% & #a(. $/%&4% wash (asah% doS ta e care ofS dressS !re!are) one5s feet & #a( $/%&4% tri( (asah% do) one5s beard #ailha(er concl"des that when Genesis &%1 says God )(ade. (asah) the earth and heavens (that he had baraScreated), it (eans the sa(e as the English e:!ression Qto (a eQ a bed. When the land was covered with water it was not inhabitable. God slashed a se!aration between the waters and co((anded the waters below to recede fro( the land to )(a e. a !lace fit for h"(an habitation. ,he word bara, s"!!le(ented with the (eanings of its !iel for( and its synony(, asah, (eans to !"t so(ething in good order, to (a e it right. *ashamayim weet haaretz (Heavens and earth) Heavens% #trong5s ; 0@21' Earth% #trong5s ; <<2) )Heavens and earth. is a literary ter( that (eans (ore than the s"( of its !arts. Gen $%$% In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth Gen &%$% the heavens and the earth were finished Gen &%1% God (ade the earth and the heavens E: >$%$<% the 7ord (ade heaven and earth & ?ings $/%$4% yo" have (ade heaven and earth

15 =s $$4%$4% 9ay yo" be blessed by the 7ord, the 9a er of heaven and earth. =s $&1%0% E"r hel! is in the na(e of the 7ord, who (ade heaven and earth Isa ><%$2% HeJe iah5s !rayer% E 7ord Al(ighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cher"bi(, yo" alone are God over all the ingdo(s of the earth. Ho" have (ade heaven and earth. Isa 22%&&% As the new heavens and the new earth that I (a e will end"re before (e, declares the 7ord, so will yo"r na(e and descendants end"re. Cer >&%$<% Ah #overeign 7ord, yo" have (ade the heavens and the earth by yo"r great !ower and o"tstretched ar(. Bothing is too hard for yo". Hag &%2, &$% ,his is what the 7ord Al(ighty says% In a little while I will once (ore sha e the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will sha e all nations, and the desired of all nations will co(e, and I will fill this ho"se with glory, F In the (a-ority of "ses of this ter(, the conte:t is of God being the Creator or 9a er of heaven and earth, of everything that is nown. His being the Creator of heaven and earth is an indication of his !ower and a"thority, incl"ding over other nations, and his glory and honor, incl"ding recognition fro( leaders of other nations that the God of Israel is "niA"e as Creator of heaven and earth. His !ower to hel! is tied to this !hrase. His blessing is s!ecial beca"se of His being so high above all others that he co"ld create everything. Beca"se God is (a er of heaven and earth, )nothing is too hard. for Hi(. Gordon Wenha( !oints o"t that this ty!e of literary ter( )is characteristic of (any lang"ages to describe the totality of so(ething in ter(s of its e:tre(es. e.g., Ggood and bad, Gbig and little,5 etc.. ($/0<%$4) #ailha(er describes this fig"re of s!eech as a )(eris(. that co(bines two words that ta e on a distinct (eaning of their own to e:!ress a single idea. )A (eris( e:!resses Gtotality5 by co(bining two contrasts or e:tre(es.. ($//2%44) He gives an e:a(!le of a (eris( in =s. $>/%&% )yo" now (y sitting down and (y rising "!.. ,he fig"re of s!eech (eans the 7ord nows everything abo"t Navid. )By lin ing F Gheavens and earth5 the Hebrew lang"age e:!resses the totality of all that e:ists. ,he e:!ression stands for the Gentirety of the "niverse.5 It incl"des not only the two e:tre(es b"t also all that they contain.. ($//2%42) Based on this "nderstanding, Gen. $%$ co"ld therefore be translated GIn the beginning God created everything.5 ,his raises the tho"ght that God ins!ired the a"thor to "se !hrases that can e:!and in (eaning thro"gho"t ti(e. What the ancient Hebrews tho"ght )heaven and earth. (eant is not the sa(e as what we now today, b"t both are tr"e. Co((entators often insist that the !hrase )heaven and earth. denotes the "niverse as we now it today, b"t this is an anachronistic reading of the ancient te:t. =hysicist and Catholic theologian #tanley Ca i be(oans that while A"g"stine realiJed that the e:!ression )heaven and earth. was )Gcaref"lly chosen by a s!irit"al (an in a (anner that is acco((odated to "nlearned readers or hearers5. A"g"stine did not go f"rther and set forth )what G"nlearned (en5 "nderstood on hearing Genesis $ recited to the(. ,o this (ost i(!ortant tas , in which lay the gen"ine cl"e to Genesis $, A"g"stine failed to address hi(self.. (Ca i $//&b%02) In other words, the original a"dience hearing Genesis $ for the first ti(e wo"ld not have been thin ing in ter(s of a scientific descri!tion of how the "niverse and !lanet earth ca(e into e:istence. Lather they wo"ld have ta en the ter( as an idio( for the totality of the visible world, as they new it, that had its origin with God. ,he Bet Bible ill"strates this co((on (ista e a(ong co((entators when the editors e:!lain that the first verse of the Bible refers to the beginning of the world as

16 )we. now it, rather than (ore sensibly stating that )heaven and earth. refers to the totality of the world as )they. new it. +retz hayeta (Earth wasShad beco(e) EarthSaretz% #trong5s ; <<2' wasShayeta% #trong5s ; $/2$. In these word st"dies I incl"de e:egetical -"stification for the conce!t of a local creation. K(berto Cass"to translates waaretz hayeta% )as for the earth, it was F. and calls attention to the "n"s"al word order. Bor(ally in Hebrew the verb !recedes the s"b-ect, b"t )whenever the s"b-ect co(es before the !redicate, as here, the intention of the Bible is to give e(!hasis to the s"b-ect and tell "s so(ething new abo"t it.. ($/11%,he #tory of the Dirst Nay) E:a(!les of the s"b-ect !receding the verb% Genesis >%$% weha!hahsh hayeta ahroom mekohl (Bow the ser!ent was (ore crafty) Conah >%>% we,iyne#eh hayeta ur !edolah (Bow Bineveh was a great city) Rechariah >%>% wa-ehoshua hayeta lah#ash (Bow Cosh"a was clothed *with filthy gar(ents+) Genesis $%&% wehaaretz hayeta tohu wabohu (Bow the earth was tohu wabohu) ,his sentence constr"ction foc"ses the reader5s (or listener5s) attention on the s"b-ect of the sentence. )As for the earth all"ded to in the first verse, I ("st tell yo" that at the beginning of its creation, it was witho"t for( or life, etc.. (Cass"to $/11% ,he #tory of the Dirst Nay) A concordance st"dy of the word )earth. reveals that aretz can be translated to refer to the whole nown earth or to a local area, de!ending on how the translator thin s it sho"ld be inter!reted. After the Dlood, the ter( see(s to be "sed (ore often to refer to a localiJed or s!ecialiJed land% Gen $$%&0% in the land of his nativity Gen $$%>$% to go into the land of Canaan Gen $&%$% Get thee o"t of thy co"ntry' "nto a land that I will shew thee Gen $>%/% is not the whole land before thee6 (cal haaretz' referring to Abra(5s invitation to 7ot to choose the !art of the land he wanted to live in, obvio"sly not referring to the whole !lanet or even the nown earth at that ti(e) $4%$0% "nto thy seed have I given this land (a local area described in detail by its bo"ndaries) land of Canaan land of Egy!t land of =hilistines, etc. Cob $@%&$, &&% land of dar ness With these "ses of the word aretz in (ind, it beco(es necessary to a!!ly the e:egetical !rinci!le of considering what the original a"dience wo"ld have "nderstood by the ter( in order to inter!ret the "se of this word in Genesis $%&. What was 9oses5 !"r!ose in telling the !eo!le abo"t the aretz and the need to refashion the negative state of )the earth. or )land. (aretz) and what wo"ld the !eo!le have tho"ght he was referring to6 Within the her(ene"tical s!iral, in which we ee! ret"rning to so(e of the sa(e words and !hrases, after having gathered insights while e:!loring other as!ects of

17 Genesis $%$, &, the answers to these A"estions will ass"(e the word aretz to refer to the local land. #o in order to e:!lore the !"r!oses for which 9oses described the aretz in Genesis $%&, we will first need to loo at the evidence showing it was li ely that the local land was what the original a"dience wo"ld have "nderstood 9oses to be referring to. ,he Drench co((entator Lashi, writing d"ring the 9iddle Ages, gives "s Labbi Isaac5s social e:!lanation *for creation+. It is in order that He (ight give the( the heritage of the nations. Dor sho"ld the !eo!les of the world say to Israel, GHo" are robbers, beca"se yo" too by force the lands of the seven nations of Canaan,5 Israel (ay re!ly to the( GAll the earth belongs to the Holy Ene, blessed be He' He created it and gave it to who( He !leased.5 (Losenba"( $/12%&) Here Lashi is A"oting fro( Cere(iah &<%4, an "nderstanding of the earth that Cohn #ailha(er feels it wo"ld be nat"ral for the !eo!le of Israel to have held fro( their beginning as a nation ($//2%&$2)% ),his is what the 7ord Al(ighty, the God of Israel, says% G,ell this to yo"r (asters% With (y great !ower and o"t3stretched ar( I (ade the earth and its !eo!le and the ani(als that are on it, and I give it to anyone I !lease.5. (Cere(iah &<%1, 4) #ailha(er, the (ost o"ts!o en conte(!orary !ro!onent of the local earth theory (see End Bote $) ca"tions in his boo , $enesis "nbound, that )today the word Gearth5 too easily calls "! i(ages of the whole !lanet on which we live.. ($//2%40) ,he (odern view of the "niverse sho"ld not be allowed to control o"r "nderstanding of what the a"thor of Genesis wo"ld have (eant by )earth.. Ene of #ailha(er5s so"rces, Cohn =ye #(ith, stated, )a (ost i(!ortant inA"iry is the (eaning of the word which we render earth.. ($041%&1/) He goes on to !oint o"t that the ancient Hebrews co"ld not have had any conce!tion of the !lanet as we now it ()the s!heroidal fig"re of the earth.), so we ("st base o"r "nderstanding of the )earth. )in confor(ity with the ideas of the !eo!le who "sed it. F DreA"ently it stands for the land of =alestine, and indeed for any co"ntry or district that is (entioned or referred to. #o(eti(es * aretz+ denotes a (ere !lot of gro"nd' and so(eti(es the soil, clay, and sand, or any earthy (atter.. ($041%&4@) 9ost co((entators, witho"t any e:!lanation, si(!ly ass"(e that the (odern conce!tion of the !lanet is what is (eant by aretz in Genesis $%&. B"t several have so(e tho"ghtf"l co((ents that can be ta en in s"!!ort of the local earth theory if the e:egetical !rinci!le is a!!lied to their thin ing, that the (eaning of the words to the original a"dience is what it still (eans today. Dor instance, the editors of the Bet Bible e:!lain aretz as )this is what we now call Gthe earth.5 =rior to this the s"bstance which beca(e the earth (Tdry land) lay dor(ant "nder the water.. B"t why wo"ld these co((entators thin of the (eaning of the )earth. in Genesis $%& in today5s ter(s6 ,he editors co"ld have better e:!lained aretz as )what ,HEH called Gthe earth.5. ,hat wo"ld have o!ened a !rofitable line of inA"iry that relatively few scholars have ta en the tro"ble to e:!lore. Gordon Wenha( A"otes a $/th cent"ry co((entator, saying, )According to #tadel(ann *a"thor of *ebrew Conception o( the 'orld, !. $&<+, Gthe ter( aretz (eans !ri(arily the entire area in which (an thin s of hi(self as living, as o!!osed to the regions of heaven or the "nderworld.5. ($/0<%$4) ,his co((entator co"ld -"st as easily have ended his sentence witho"t the final !hrase, which wo"ld have been to ad(it that

18 aretz (eans the area in which a !eo!le thin s of the(selves as living locally. Br"ce Walt e ob-ects to #ailha(er5s )novel s"ggestion. of li(iting )the earth. to a local creation, beca"se Walt e is )bo"nd. (as #ailha(er !"ts it) by his ass"(!tion that in Genesis $%$ )heaven and earth. refers to the entire cos(os. (#ailha(er hi(self ends "! being bo"nd by this sa(e ass"(!tion, as shown below, even tho"gh he wrote his boo , $enesis "nbound, to try to avoid -"st s"ch an e:egetical tra! as Walt e describes.) Walt e ob-ects to the local earth inter!retation on the basis of the literary devise of the incl"sio for(ed by $%$ and &%$. (&@@$%4/) Genesis $%$ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (BIO) Genesis &%$ ,h"s the heavens and the earth were co(!leted in all their vast array. (BIO) Walt e5s (and #ailha(er5s) ass"(!tion that $%$ refers to the cos(os (eans the sa(e ("st be tr"e in &%$, and logically, then, the narrative in between ("st also refer to what the s"((ary state(ents refer toIaccording to the(, the entire cos(os. If this line of reasoning is acce!ted, and it see(s very logical to (a e this connection, #ailha(er5s arg"(ent for a local creation has a fatal flaw. B"t on the other hand, this is an e:cellent arg"(ent in s"!!ort of Lal!h Winter5s theory in which he insists that $%$ ("st refer to the sa(e local area as the !re3creation (Genesis $%&) and creation sections (the rest of the cha!ter) refer to (&@@4a%14). Walt e5s ob-ections to a local creation disa!!ear if we ta e the original hearers5 "nderstanding of Qheavens and earthQ as being )everything they new of,. and the )earth. as the local land, !erha!s of Israel (which co"ld be seen as a (eta!hor standing for the whole earth as it began to be (ore f"lly e:!lored and nown). Catholic theologian, Henric"s Lenc ens, ca(e close to recogniJing the local nat"re of the creation story in Genesis $ when he said, )we have th"s in Genesis the story of the creation told fro( start to finish in f"nction of the act"al world as it is e(!irically observed to be. ,he creation on the one hand, and on the other the act"al world of the a"thor5s own observation, are co(!letely bo"nd "! together in his (ind.. Knfort"nately he (issed the i(!lications of his insight when he added, )And his world was the sa(e as o"r own.. ($/21%10, 1/) B"t the a"thor5s world was not the sa(e as o"r own. It was the land of Israel, not the whole globe, which was "n nown at that ti(e. Cohn #ailha(er follows Cohn 7ightfoote and Cohn =ye #(ith, and, a!!arently "nwittingly, a little3 nown wo(an na(ed Isabella N"ncan (writing d"ring Charles Narwin5s ti(e, and in res!onse to his theories *Go"ld $///+), in seeing the land of Israel as the act"al landsca!e where the creation events occ"rred, with Genesis $ and & being abo"t the sa(e thing. ,a ing the Genesis creation acco"nts as a refashioning (see disc"ssion of the word )bara.) of the land of Israel after a local disaster (eans this was an event that co"ld have been witnessed by any h"(ans (or h"(an3li e creat"res) living -"st o"tside the devastated and re3b"ilt area. #tanley Ca i e:!lains the co((on ele(ents in the En"(a elish and Genesis $ by s"ggesting that )both were for("lated within one and the sa(e landsca!e.. ($//&b%$/) Dollowing Lal!h Winter5s line of reasoning, we can f"rther s!ec"late that the sa(e asteroidal local collision and its after(ath co"ld be what was described and handed down in oral tradition as a battle between the gods in the En"(a elish, "sing (ythical and (eta!horical lang"age, and described as tohu wabohu in Genesis $%&. #tafford Wright s!ecifically confir(s this hy!othesis, as ing )#"!!ose it is tr"e that God (ade a new beginning with a (an and a wo(an with (oral and s!irit"al

19 ca!acities in the region of the K!!er E"!hrates, ro"nd abo"t 2@@@ BC. Why sho"ld not a tr"e tradition have been trans(itted of act"al events F6. ($/42%&<) #ailha(er affir(s this new beginning and says the Genesis $ and & creation versions are abo"t the sa(e events and in the sa(e setting, fro( different !ers!ectives. ($//2%4$) He feels the a"thor )e:!ected his readers to see a (eaningf"l lin between Genesis $ and &.. ($//2%/@) In s"!!ort of this clai(, he says the two acco"nts follow the !attern of other narratives in Genesis $U$$ in which the a"thor first gives a general descri!tion of an event, followed by another narrative with (ore detail abo"t the sa(e event. #ailha(er see(s to be referring to the )toledot. sections of Genesis $3$$ in which Walt e and his co3a"thor, literary e:!ert Cathy Dredric s, see, a(ong other !atterns in the str"ct"re of the toledot cycles, one they call )generaliJation and !artic"lariJation.. (&@@$%>1) ,he following s"((ary of the !attern of generaliJations and details is a res"lt of original ind"ctive research% Gen. 4%$3>&%,he general written acco"nt (toledot) of Ada(5s line, ending with Boah and his sons. ,his is followed by two detailed stories% Gen. 2%$30% ,he !roble( with the Be!hili( and evil a(ong the !eo!le in general, leading God to decide to wi!e the( fro( face of the earth (,his !assage f"nctions both as a detailed acco"nt in relation to the !receding !assage and as a general acco"nt in relation to the ne:t !assage.) Gen. 2%/U0%&&% Gives a detailed acco"nt fro( Boah5s life of how God went abo"t wi!ing the evil !eo!le o"t b"t !reserving Boah5s line Gen% /%$0, $/% In a general section, the sons of Boah are na(ed ()fro( the( ca(e the !eo!le who were scattered over the earth.) Gen. /%&@3&<% Gives the detailed story abo"t Boah and his sons when he was dr"n and the conseA"ences of c"rses and blessings. Gen. $@%$3>&% ,he toledot of #he(, Ha( and Ca!heth, Boah5s sons, ends with the general state(ent, )they s!read o"t over the earth after the flood.. Gen. $$%$3/% Gives the detailed acco"nt of how that s!reading o"t ha!!ened d"e to the -"dg(ent at the tower of Babel Gen. $$%$@3&2% ,he general toledot of #he(, is a flashbac to two years after the flood, "! to the ti(e of Abraha( Gen. $$%&<3>&% ,he toledot of ,erah, a descendant of #he(, is a detailed story of ,erah5s fa(ily and the acco"nt of how he too Abra( and 7ot to Haran. In light of this literary conte:t, it is feasible to ass"(e that within the conte:t of the other generalS!artic"lar sections of Genesis $3$$, the first two cha!ters co"ld be seen as having the following !attern of general acco"nts nested with detailed acco"nts% General% Genesis $%$, &% a general state(ent abo"t the refashioning of a locally destroyed area Netail% Genesis $%>U&%> or 1% details abo"t that re3creation event. General% the first three days of creation describe the !re!aration for the )heavens and earth. to be inhabited by living beings Netail% the second three days of creation give the acco"nt of the creation

20 of the living beings for each of the three res!ective habitats% air, water, and land. General% Genesis $%&U&%> or 1 serves at the sa(e ti(e as a general acco"nt in relation to the ne:t section Netail% Genesis cha!ter & gives details abo"t s!ecific h"(ans and the !re!aration of a s!ecific land for the( to live in. ,his nesting of general acco"nt Sdetailed acco"nt do"bling as another general acco"nt Sdetailed acco"nt, is !arallel to Genesis 2%$30, which serves both as a detailed story for the general section ending with 4%$, and in its own t"rn as a general acco"nt that is followed by the (ore detailed acco"nt fro( Boah5s life, beginning in Genesis 2%/, e:!laining how God acco(!lished what was briefly s"((ariJed earlier. ,hese e:a(!les of general state(ents or acco"nts followed by detailed acco"nts follow a !attern that was co((on a(ong the ancient Hebrews. K(berto Cass"to calls attention to this characteristic of Hebrew thin ing% )Ene sho"ld first state the general !ro!osition and then s!ecify the !artic"lars.. ($/11%$>) #tanley Ca i gives fo"r !ages of e:a(!les fro( the Eld ,esta(ent of general state(ents followed by the !artic"lars. ($//&b%&<<ff.) =.B. Harner, writing in .etus Testamentum, refers to )the Gholistic5 A"ality of Israelite thin ing, the tendency to a!!rehend a totality and integrate details into the whole.. ($/2<%>@4) Br"ce Walt e clai(s this tendency and !attern as evidence for his (and von Lad5s) !osition that the first verse of Genesis serves as a s"((ary state(ent. ,he evidence see(s convincing that verse $ sho"ld be constr"ed as a broad, general declaration of the fact that God created the cos(os and the rest of the cha!ter e:!licates that state(ent. ,his reflects nor(al #e(itic tho"ght which first states the general !ro!osition and then s!ecifies the !artic"lars. (Walt e $/<4%$>&%&&<) In s"((ary, this biblical literary !attern of generaliJation followed by !artic"lars can be seen as corroboration for considering Genesis & to be a detailed descri!tion of a (ore general acco"nt in Genesis $. Dollowing the general state(ents abo"t the creation of h"(ans, Genesis & is abo"t a s!ecific h"(an co"!le in a s!ecific location, the Garden of Eden. ,he Hebrew word aretz in Genesis $%&, that is "s"ally translated )earth. and "nderstood by (any as )the !lanet,. co"ld -"st as legiti(ately be "nderstood instead as being what is described in Genesis & (which Cohn #ailha(er goes to great lengths to show is the sa(e as the QlandQ !ro(ised to Israel *$//2%40+). In answer to Allen Loss5 A"estion, QWhy did the new nation of Israel need to have this (aterial and to have it written as it is6Q ($//2%$@&), three (ain !ossibilities will be e:!lored% $. ,he !eo!le needed to now why the land they were going to enter co"ld legiti(ately be considered theirs. &. ,he !rocess of God5s (a ing the "ninhabitable QearthQ or QlandQ into a !lace for !eo!le to live serves as (eta!hor for the creation of a society, the nation of Israel, o"t of the chaos of slavery. >. ,he !eo!le co"ld learn i(!ortant lessons abo"t God and their relationshi! to hi( fro( this creation acco"nt. 9any of these lessons will be elaborated in st"dies of other words in the first verses of Genesis. $. As 9oses was leading the !eo!le of Israel to the =ro(ised 7and, the !eo!le

21 needed to now why the land they were going to enter co"ld legiti(ately be considered theirs. #ocial historian Aaron Wildavs y, in his anthro!ological history of the beginnings of the !eo!le of Israel (The ,ursin! Father: /oses as a 0olitical 1eader) clai(s% ),he Creation is not abo"t -"st anybody. It rationaliJes one of the (ost i(!ortant clai(s 9oses (ade for this !eo!leIthe land of Israel is theirs by right beca"se the Ewner gave it to the(.. ($/01%0@) In this he echoes Lashi5s assertion, which is based on Cere(iah &<%4, A"oted earlier. ()#ho"ld the !eo!les of the world say to Israel, GHo" are robbers, beca"se yo" too by force the lands of the seven nations of Canaan,5 Israel (ay re!ly to the( GAll the earth belongs to the Holy Ene, blessed be He' He created it and gave it to who( He !leased.5. *Losenba"( $/12%&+) &. Altho"gh we have shown it is logical to consider that a local refashioning of the land was what 9oses5 original a"dience wo"ld have "nderstood hi( to be referring to, this acco"nt can also serve as (eta!hor for the creation of the local society of the !eo!le of Israel o"t of chaos (a sit"ation that (ost societies thro"gho"t history and across c"lt"res can identify with). Lobert Alter, in The +rt o( Biblical ,arrati#e, e:!lains the nat"re of biblical literat"re% )Lec"rrence, !arallels, and analogy are the hall(ar s of re!orted action in the biblical tale. ,he "se of narrative analogy, where one !art of the story !rovides a co((entary on or a foil to another sho"ld be fa(iliar fro( later literat"re *s"ch as a #ha es!earian do"ble !lot+.. ($/0$%$0@) With this in (ind, a local creation story co"ld be seen as serving as a (eta!hor or co((entary on the creation of a society. Walt e states, QA nation consists of a co((on !eo!le, nor(ally sharing a co((on land, s"b(issive to a co((on law, and led by a co((on r"ler. ,he boo of Genesis is concerned !rinci!ally in identifying both the !eo!le who s"b(it to God5s co((ands and the land that s"stains the(.Q (&@@$%14) 9oses s!o e and wrote the boo s of the =entate"ch, or ,orah, to !rovide -"st this bac gro"nd for the e(erging nation. With the recent events of the E:od"s fore(ost in their (inds, the !eo!le wo"ld have seen echoes of those events inter!reted in a broader conte:t thro"gh the i(agery of Genesis $. It hel!ed the( see the(selves as the !eo!le of God (a co((on !eo!le), abo"t to inherit a co((on land (ade for the( by God. ,he laws they were to follow were the foc"s of the ,orah for which Genesis $ serves as an introd"ction. It is clear fro( the first cha!ters of Genesis (and fro( the acco"nts of the E:od"s, and even in the first two verses of Genesis) that God intended to be their all3!owerf"l r"ler in the land they were going to inhabit. ,he i(!ortance to the !eo!le of the ancient Bear East of the origin and organiJation of a society sharing a co((on land is hard for (odern !eo!le to realiJe. ,oday we are as ing A"estions abo"t the !hysical world and so(e loo for answers to s"ch A"estions in Genesis $. B"t )to the ancients, h"(an society organiJed in a !artic"lar !lace was *what was i(!ortant+,. and this was reflected in their creation stories. )In the A adian e!ic En"(a elish F the e:altation of 9ard" a(ong the gods is !arallel to the organiJation of Babylonian society. ,he Bible too contains si(ilar cos(ogonies by which a society is established in a !artic"lar !lace.. (Clifford $/04%4@/, 4$@) ,he story of the for(ation of the !eo!le of Israel into a nation begins with e(!hasis on the negative, chaotic conditions "nder which they were living in slavery in Egy!t, -"st as Genesis $%& begins with e(!hasis on the negative, chaotic condition of the land before God started (a ing it inhabitable. In (a ing a !eo!le for hi(self, )God

22 reacts to =haraoh5s anti3creational designs by "nleashing forces of nat"re to !"nish and destroy. ,he (oral chaos of h"(an enslave(ent is co"ntered by the nat"ral chaos of Nivine retrib"tion.. (Bernard Ech $//4%0) ,his is the eA"ivalent of tohu wabohu, as the earth is called in Genesis $%&. ,he i(!lications of this !arallel will be e:!lored in detail in the word st"dy of this ter(. God overco(es the tohu wabohu of the !eo!le of Israel when they cross thro"gh the Led #ea. Acco"nts of the esca!e of the !eo!le of Israel fro( Egy!t as they confront and overco(e the challenge of crossing the #ea are often described in ter(s that echo the(es fro( the Genesis Creation acco"nt. =sal( <<%$4, $2, $/% )With yo"r (ighty ar( yo" redee(ed yo"r !eo!le, the descendants of Cacob and Cose!h. ,he waters (mayim) saw yo", E God, F and writhed' the very de!ths (tehom) were conv"lsed. F Ho"r !ath led thro"gh the sea, yo"r way thro"gh the (ighty waters.. E:od"s $4%$@ adds another the(e fro( Genesis $%&% )Ho" blew with yo"r wind (ruach).. E:od"s $1%&$, &&%,he waters were divided and the Israelites went thro"gh the sea on dry (yabbahshah) gro"nd ,he Hebrew word for )dry,. "sed re!eatedly in the E:od"s acco"nts, is the sa(e word "sed in Genesis $ when God se!arates the inhos!itable waters and ca"ses dry land to a!!ear. ,his word (#trong5s n"(ber >@@1) is relatively rare and is "sed (ainly in the conte:t of the E:od"s, crossing the Cordan and Creation. As 9oses originally s!o e the word, yabbahshah, to his a"dience in Genesis $%/, it is li ely that the !eo!le wo"ld have identified at an e(otional level with the ter( for dry land, the (iracle that led to their last (in"te resc"e. ,his re(inder of their recent e:!erience with the Led #ea wo"ld have tied together in their thin ing the Creation or )(a ing. of the land with the creation or (a ing of the(selves as a !eo!le. In both cases, life was only !ossible beca"se of a (ighty act of God in !"shing bac the waters to (a e a dry, life3s"staining !lace. Conah e:!erienced a s(all3scale !ersonal version of this sa(e life3s"staining act of God. D"rther s"!!ort for the !arallels between the !hysical creation and the creation of the !eo!le of Israel is seen in Conah $%/ where he says, )I a( a Hebrew and I worshi! the 7ord, the God of heaven, who (ade the sea and the dry (land).. (7ater the fish s!its Conah o"t on the dry *land+.) Here Conah is clai(ing his heritage as a Hebrew, and the way he s"!!orts his clai( is to refer to the two (ost basic and for(ative acts of God in the origin of the Hebrew nation% the creation of )everything. (heaven, sea, and dry land), and the origin of the Hebrew !eo!le by their !assing thro"gh the sea on dry land. Conah5s s!eech shows his "nderstanding, as a Hebrew fa(iliar with the ,orah, that deliverance fro( the sea is tied to God5s creation of the nation of Israel and His creation of )everything.. In the E:od"s, Hahweh creates a way thro"gh the sea by se!arating the water fro( the land by his windSs!iritSbreath (ruach), not allowing )the dee!. (see =sal(s <<%$2' $@2%0' Isaiah 4$%$@' 2>%$>) to ee! his !eo!le fro( their land. In the Genesis creation acco"nt God5s wind (ruachSs!irit) is blowing over the water (!revio"sly called )the dee!,.) !re!aring it for the (a-or se!aration of bringing forth the )dry. (yabbahshah, Genesis $%/, $@), the sa(e word "sed for the res"lt of God5s wind in E:od"s $1%$2, &&, &/ and $4%$/. (#ide Bote% Israel5s deliverance fro( the sea, with God drying "! a !ath thro"gh the sea, foreshadows the f"lfill(ent of history when God will dry even the s(allest a(o"nts of salty tears *Levelation &$%1+, re!resentative of the tro"bles and chaos the

23 ancient Hebrews traditionally associated with the sea.) 9ove(ent fro( a state of chaos and tro"ble, incl"ding social disorganiJation, to a state of !eace in the land, is the !attern Lichard Clifford sees in the !oetic acco"nts of the E:od"s (=sal( <<%$43$/' <0%1&344 and E:od"s $4). ),o the ancients, the !ri(ary foc"s is on describing the cos(os fro( the !oint of view of what ass"(!tions are necessary if h"(an beings are to live o!ti(ally in the world.. ($/04%4$@, 4$$) >. A of descri!tion of what is necessary to live well in the world is e:actly what is fo"nd in Genesis $. Dro( the descri!tion of the "ninhabitable condition of the land in Genesis $%& and the s"bseA"ent acts of God to !re!are the land as a !lace for h"(ans to leave !eacef"lly, the !eo!le wo"ld have learned i(!ortant lessons abo"t God and their relationshi! to hi(. ,he intentional e(!hasis on the word, )land. in verse & wo"ld have foc"sed attention on the covenant that God was (a ing thro"gh 9oses with the !eo!le, of which the land was a visible re!resentation. 7i e a loving father, Gin the beginning5 God gave His children a !lace to dwell, a good land, filled with divine blessings. #o also in his covenant with Israel at #inai, God again !ro(ised to give the( a Ggood land5 where they co"ld en-oy his blessing and have fellowshi! with Hi(. ,hey had to re(ain faithf"l and obedient, however. (#ailha(er $//2%<>) ,he lesson learned by the lin between land and covenant is that obedience is necessary, otherwise -"dg(ent on the land and loss of the land will follow. ,he rest of the Eld ,esta(ent co"ld be seen as a co((entary on this relationshi! between the land and obedience to the covenant. ,o e(!hasiJe the i(!ortance of not inc"rring God5s -"dg(ent thro"gh disobedience, the tohu wabohu condition of the land !rior to the Creation events serves as advance warning. ,he a"thor of the Creation !assage certainly new how to get his readers5 and listeners5 attention. ,he e(!hatic descri!tion of the land, tohu wabohu, is lin ed to the word, aretzSland which is in an e(!hatic !osition, and this is followed by an e(!hatic for( of the verb )to beShayeta. What factors need to be considered in translating this verb and what are the i(!lications6 A word st"dy on the verb, hayeta (#trong5s ;$/2$), "sing the ,ew En!lishmans *ebrew Concordance (which ad(ittedly gives only a few "ses of the word as e:a(!les) shows that this verb (a for( of the verb )to be.) is often "sed in association with strong e(otions or significant circ"(stances that need to be !artic"larly noticed or e(!hasiJed. ,hese are the e:a(!les given for the al !reterite for( of the verb% Gen $%& and the earth was (tohu wabohu) Gen >%$ Bow the ser!ent was (ore crafty Gen 1%$1 I shall be a vagabond and f"gitive on the earth and it will be that whoever finds (e will ill (e. Gen $$%> the sli(e was to the( for (orter (the BIO says they "sed tar instead of (ortar to (a e the bric s to b"ild the tower of Babel) $>%> where his tent had been at the beginning *note% this word for beginning, t!hillah, denotes a definite starting !oint+, and where he had first *rosh+ b"ilt an altar. ,here Abra( called on the na(e of the 7ord. (#o in this case it is a strong !ositive event that hahyah is e(!hasiJing. ,his was the !lace where the 7ord told Abra( he wo"ld give the land to his offs!ring.)

24 Gen. $4%$% the word of the 7ord ca(e "nto *was to+ Abra( Gen. >$%4% the God of (y father has been with (e E:. >%$% now 9oses was tending the floc *when the angel of the 7ord a!!eared to hi( in the b"rning b"sh+ B"(. $4%1@% and be holy "nto yo"r God B"(. $4%1$% I a( the 7ord yo"r God, who bro"ght yo" o"t of Egy!t to be yo"r God. C"d. $&%&% I and (y !eo!le were at great strife $ #a(. &%$$% and the child was serving $ ?ings &@%2% and it shall be (that) whatever is !leasing in yo"r eyes they will !"t it in their hand and carry it away. Isa. $%/% We sho"ld have been as #odo( In light of s"ch significant "ses of the verb hayah, it see(s reasonable to ass"(e that a verse as i(!ortant as Genesis $%&, at the beginning of the Hebrew Bible, wo"ld also carry the connotation of having strongly e(otional, significant conte:t% )And the earth was tohu wabohu.. It calls attention to an i(!ortant state of the earth that needs to be noticed and "nderstood. ,he insight that this verb is often e(!hatic is confir(ed by the definitions given by two (a-or reference wor s% #trong5s Nictionary% definition of the root, haya% )be or beco(e, co(e to !ass (always e(!hatic)' brea , ca"se F.. Browns, Nriver and Briggs define the word% )fall o"t, co(e to !ass, beco(e, be. Oery often% co(e abo"t, co(e to !ass. (which s!ecific translation #trong5s says is always e(!hatic). A si(ilar word with the sa(e consonants b"t different vowel !oints (#trong5s ; $/2&' hayyah) (eans )r"in cala(ity,. which is a f"rther indication that to the original a"dience, hearing Genesis $%& s!o en alo"d, the so"nds of the Hebrew wo"ld have bro"ght to (ind i(ages of so(ething with a strong negative e(otional connotation (which will be f"rther e:!lored with the ter( tohu wabohu). In Genesis $%&, the verb is in the al !reterite for(. If it were in the !assive ni!hal for(, it wo"ld have been a!!ro!riate to translate it )had beco(e,. as in Ne"terono(y &<%/% )E Israel F yo" have now beco(e the !eo!le of the 7ord yo"r God.. B"t Henri Blocher warns against translating wearetz hayeta as )and the earth beca(e,. saying this )translation ta es inad(issible liberties with the Hebrew gra((ar. ,he only ad(issible translation is )and or now the earth was, by analogy with constr"ctions that are totally si(ilar in Conah >%> (now Bineveh was ) and Genesis >%$ (now the sna e was). Enly in defiance of !hilology (ay the !se"do3translation Qthe earth beca(eQ act as the basis of the *reconstr"ctionist or ga!+ theory.. ($/01%1>) Walt e, considered by so(e to be the to! conte(!orary evangelical Hebrew scholar, agrees that it is "nli ely that the s"ggestion of ga!3!ro!onent C"stance is the right inter!retation, )b"t the earth had beco(e.. He !oints to !arallel word constr"ctions (the con-"nction, waw, -oined to a no"n, rather than as "s"al to a verb, followed by the verb, hayah), in Conah >%> (now Binevah was) and Rechariah >%> (now Cosh"a was) in which the verb hayah is translated )was. rather than )had beco(e.. He concl"des, )no (odern or ancient versions "nderstand the verb *in Genesis $%&+ in the sense of Ghad beco(e.5 It wo"ld be (ost "n"s"al for an a"thor to introd"ce his story with a !l"!erfect *had beco(e+.. (Walt e $/<4%=art III%&&<) B"t in the end, whether the gra((ar is ta en as (eaning )the land was. or )the land had beco(e,. the conte:t and the inter!retation of that conte:t being develo!ed in

25 this !a!er indicate that so(ething had e:isted !rior to the conditions described in Genesis $%&. We can translate according to strict gra((ar, as Blocher and Walt e insist, b"t we will still need to inter!ret according to the (eaning of the rest of the !assage. In the disc"ssion of the ter( tohu wabohu we will see that in each of the other two occ"rrences of that ter( in #cri!t"re (or even the word tohu "sed alone), the conte:t shows that -"dg(ent has been involved in so(e way. It wo"ld therefore be reasonable to attrib"te a conte:t of -"dg(ent to Genesis $%& as well. If that is ad(itted as a valid hy!othesis, then saying that )the land was. tohu wabohu (as a res"lt of -"dg(ent) (eans the sa(e as )the land had beco(e. tohu wabohu (destroyed and desolate). In either case, it had e:!erienced a change fro( conditions hos!itable to life to "ninhabitable conditions. ,he a"thor of Genesis shows in the first cha!ter how God goes abo"t correcting these conditions that are contrary to his will. He does this by e(!hasiJing a definite !attern in the creation story that is given to enable God5s !eo!le to i(itate hi( in overco(ing evil with good. Tohu wabohu (Nestroyed and desolate' #trong5s ; 01$1 and ;1&&) ,his word st"dy was originally a lengthy !a!er in itself intended to de(onstrate that tohu re!resents o!!osition to God5s intentions and that tohu wabohu re!resents the disastro"s res"lts of God5s -"dg(ent !receding his correction of that o!!osition to His will. When the world is "!side down fro( God5s intentions (which in t"rn are "!side down fro( h"(an e:!ectations), God has to sha e so(ething to get !eo!les5 attention and rearrange things. ,his is what is (eant by the ter( tohu wabohu, which is a descri!tion of the conseA"ences of o!!osition to God, and it is the origin of a theology of disease. In the disc"ssion of the ter( tohu wabohu we will see that in every other occ"rrence of that ter( in #cri!t"re (incl"ding the word tohu when "sed alone), the conte:t shows that -"dg(ent has been involved in so(e way. It wo"ld therefore be reasonable to attrib"te a conte:t of -"dg(ent to Genesis $%& as well. ,he negative condition of the land !receding God5s creative, corrective wor is evident in Br"ce Walt e5s detailed co(!arison of Genesis $%$, & to Genesis &%13<. ($/<4%$>&%&&4 ff.) (Lecall that Cohn #ailha(er considers that )the Genesis $ and & narratives are abo"t the sa(e events and have the sa(e setting. What we see God doing in Genesis & is (erely another !ers!ective on what He does in Genesis $.. *$//2%4$+) Each of these !assages has an introd"ctory state(ent that s"((ariJes the rest of the cha!ter, followed by a circ"(stantial cla"se that (odifies the "!co(ing verse. ,his second ele(ent in each case follows the non3"s"al, e(!hatic !attern )waw V no"n V verb ( hayah). describing a negative state before creation. Dinally the introd"ction to each creation acco"nt brings in the (ain cla"se that "ses the nor(al Hebrew verbSs"b-ect !attern )waw consec"tive V !refi:ed con-"gation for( describing the creation.. (Walt e $/<4%$>&%&&4) ,he editors of the Bet Bible give a so(ewhat si(!ler s"((ary% ),his literary str"ct"re *of Genesis $%$, &+ is !aralleled in the second !ortion of the boo % Gen &%1 !rovides the title or s"((ary of what follows, &%432 "se dis-"nctive cla"se str"ct"res to give bac gro"nd infor(ation for the following narrative, and &%< begins the narrative with the vav consec"tive attached to a !refi:ed verbal for(.. ,his so"nds co(!le:, b"t is easily ill"strated with the following chart%

26

Com(ar"son o+ Genes"s 1:1, 2 *" h Genes"s 2:45& (In ill"stration of Walt e $/<4% =art III%&&4) Gen $%$, & $. Introd"ctory s"((ary state(ent In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ($%$) Bow the earth was *tohu wabohu+ ($%&) Gen &%13< ,his is the acco"nt of the heavens and the earth when they were created. (&%1) Bow no shr"b of the field was yet in the earth (&%4, 2)

&. Circ"(stantial cla"se of the !attern waw V no"n V verb (hayah)' an e(!hatic descri!tion of a negative state before creation >. 9ain cla"se of the "s"al !attern waw V verb describing the creation

,hen God said let there be light F ($%>)

,hen the 7ord God for(ed (an. (&%<)

,his !arallel constr"ction e(!hasiJes the negative condition of the earth !rior to creation. In Genesis $%$, &, this negative state is called, tohu wabohu. ,his !hrase is at the heart of the disc"ssion abo"t the !"r!oses of God in history, as indicated in the Bible, and the (issiological i(!lications for bringing order o"t of chaos wherever cross3c"lt"ral wor ers go as re!resentatives of the ingdo( of God. God5s way of dealing with the !hysical condition of the earth described in Genesis $%& gives direction to His followers for dealing with the roots of h"(an !roble(s at !ersonal, co(("nity, and cross3c"lt"ral levels. ,he fig"re of s!eech in the Hebrew, tohu wabohu, startles the listener or reader with its rhy(ing A"ality and calls attention to the fact that so(ething s"r!rising and significant is being said, so(ething "ne:!ected that will throw the reader and listener off balance. It is a thesis of this !a!er that this rhy(ing !air of words are a ey to "nderstanding the !"r!ose of the Genesis $ creation story, the dra(a of #cri!t"re, the !"r!ose of all of history, and it re!resents the origin of a theology of disease. Tohu wabohu% M describes a -"dged and destroyed state of the earth

27 M i(!lies the e:istence of evil and the need to correct and overco(e that evil M !oints to root of h"(an !roble(s and the reason for the creation of h"(ans (and the !re!aration of a land for the()% to -oin God in His wor of overco(ing evil with good. M serves as the beginning of the fra(ewor for all of #cri!t"re, showing that God5s !"r!ose in history is to reverse -"dg(ent and "sher in the eternal #abbath rest that is the goal of Creation. ,he last cha!ter in the Bible, Levelation &&, !rovides the other end of the biblical fra(ewor (an )incl"sio,. as literary3(inded biblical scholars call it), showing that all of history, the story of h"(ans wor ing with God, has reached its goal% )Bo longer will there be any c"rse F ,here will be no (ore night F God will give the( light. And they will reign for ever and ever.. (Levelation &&%>, 4) M introd"ces the need for a theology of evil, defined as o!!osition to God5s will, which incl"des disease. Where did disease co(e fro(6 How can it be eli(inated6 What does God e:!ect His !eo!le to do abo"t it (and abo"t other h"(an !roble(s that are contrary to His will for the earth)6 Tohu wabohu is a co(!o"nd ter( that occ"rs only two other ti(es in the Eld ,esta(ent (Isaiah >1%$$ and Cere(iah 1%&>). ,he word tohu alone occ"rs another $< ti(es, b"t it ("st be e!t in (ind that the co(!o"nd ter(, as a fig"re of s!eech, will (ean so(ething (ore than the s"( of its co(!onent !arts. ,o arrive at a satisfactory (eaning for this rare ter( the following !rocess will be followed% $. A review of relevant literary considerations &. An e:a(ination of the conte:t of the !assages in which tohu or tohu wabohu is "sed >. A s"((ary chart of the word associations fo"nd with these ter(s 1. A review of a n"(ber of (a-or co((entators5 o!inions 4. A rationale for the (ost hel!f"l translation 2. A disc"ssion of the a!!lication of the conce!t at vario"s levels. 6" erar7 Cons"dera "ons A review of relevant literary considerations for this !hrase involves noticing the i(!ortance of the so"nds of words in Hebrew, the significance of the "se of fig"res of s!eech and rhy(e, and the role of !arallelis( in Hebrew writings for deter(ining the (eanings of obsc"re ter(s. ,he original a"dience ("st have heard Genesis $ s!o en alo"d as !art of the oral literat"re of ancient Israel. Everett Do:, a s!ecialist in Bear Eastern and C"daic #t"dies, !oints o"t that the )Hebrew Bible originated largely as a s!o en literat"re *and+ ("st be translated with caref"l attention to rhyth( and so"nd.. ($/0>%i:) 9oses5 listeners, who had recently esca!ed fro( the chaos of slavery and non3entity in Egy!t and had e:!erienced deliverance fro( the destr"ctive waters of the Led #ea, wo"ld have been ca"ght "! in the i(agery evo ed by the words and so"nds of Genesis $%$, &. ,heir own recent e:!erience wo"ld have ca"sed the( to resonate with the word !lay and (eaning of the rhy(ing tohu wabohu and the assonance of r"achS (erache!et (the consonant and vowel so"nds in merachepet ()stirring.) echo the so"nd of ruach ()s!irit.). (?sel(an%$/<0%$21). ,he -":ta!osition of these two sets of word !lays ("st have been a reass"ring so"nd to the !eo!le of God as 9oses began to e:!lain to the( how their God had !re!ared a !lace for the( to live by bringing order and goodness o"t of a land that was tohu wabohuIdestroyed and desolate, t"rned "!side down (that5s li e "s8 they wo"ld have recogniJed)Iand that He had never left that land (or the !eo!le) witho"t

28 the !resence of His ruach merachepet (s!irit stirring). Word !lays and the assonance of deliberate re!eated so"nds wo"ld have ca"ght the attention of the original a"dience, alerting the( to notice that so(ething o"t of the ordinary was being said. =erha!s the rhy(e gave a !layf"l, as well as (e(orable, twist to the de!iction of anti3creational chaos. Cob see(s to do so(ething si(ilar in his descri!tion of the feared sea (onster, 7eviathan, in Cob 1$%4% )Can yo" !"ll in the leviathan with a fishhoo 6 F Can yo" (a e a !et of hi(6. =erha!s by the very so"nd of the words he was ins!ired to choose, tohu wabohu, 9oses was reass"ring the !eo!le that God has chaos "nder control and that even conditions contrary to God5s will can be t"rned to His good !"r!oses. Closely related to the so"nds of the words is the "se of fig"res of s!eech, which can incl"de deliberate !lays on the so"nds of words, as with tohu wabohu. In the 7ogos 7ibroni: version of )Dig"res of #!eech Ksed in the Bible% E:!lained and Ill"strated,. it is !ointed o"t that fig"res of s!eech s"ch as rhy(ing words or )!arono(asia. (to be e:!lained shortly) draw the attention of the readerSlistener to an i(!ortant state(ent which (ight not otherwise have been adeA"ately noticed. ,he "se of this fig"re of s!eech is never to be disregarded. In other words, when we see a rhy(ing fig"re of s!eech s"ch as tohu wabohu we need to as , )what is going on here that is "n"s"al6. 9ichael Dishbane also refers to the )!arono(asia. as a se(antic device% )C"stification for the "tiliJation of !"ns and all"sions in e:egesis lies in the ac nowledged inde!endent and efficacio"s !ower of words. ,hey are !regnant with (eaning.. ($/<$%$2$) We can e:a(ine the (eaning of tohu wabohu fro( the !ers!ective of two fig"res of s!eech% hendiadys (which incl"des the co(!o"nd nat"re of the ter() and !arono(asia (which incl"des the rhy(ing A"ality of the ter( and the !ossibility that it is intended to be a !"n). Each of these will shed light on the inter!retation of the ter( tohu wabohu once the (eanings of the se!arate words are investigated. > Webster5s Nictionary defines )hendiadys. as )GEne by two5% the e:!ression of an idea by two no"ns connected by Gand,5 instead of by a no"n and an ad-ective.. ,he E:ford English Nictionary gives this definition% )a fig"re of s!eech in which a single co(!le: idea is e:!ressed by two words connected by a con-"nction.. We need to "nderstand so(ething abo"t the word tohu, and if !ossible abo"t the word bohu (which is never "sed as a se!arate word), before we can now what the a"thor had in (ind in -oining these words together, altho"gh we can be s"re that the co(!o"nd !hrase will (ean (ore than the -"st the s"( of its !arts. Walt e gives these e:a(!les of hendiadys% )dribs and drabs, s!ic and s!an, he( and haw,. and says the hendiadys, tohu wabohu, signifies )"tter chaos.. )It was "ninhabitable and "ninhabited, G"nfor(ed and "nfilled.5. ($//$%1) As a side note, according to Walt e5s ill"strations of hendiadys, it co"ld be considered a !ossibility that one word of the !air of words co"ld have been invented to (a e a !layf"l and (e(orable so"nd with the other. We will loo into this !ossibility after a disc"ssion of the significance of the rhy(ing A"ality of tohu wabohu. ,he rhy(ing A"ality of this ter( is an as!ect of the fig"re of s!eech nown as !arono(asia% )a word !lay, es!ecially a !"n, to call by a different na(e.. (Webster5s Nictionary) 9ichael Dishbane ($/<$%$2$) (entions this fig"re of s!eech in relation to tohu wabohu. ,he )(ord En!lish 2ictionary !oints o"t that !arono(asia co(es fro( the Gree words (eaning )after na(ing.. =arono(asia (eans )to alter slightly in na(ing' a !laying on words that so"nd ali e' a word3!lay' a !"n.. ,he entry gives an

29 e:a(!le of a boo title fro( $000 that is )cleverly !arono(astical.% )A C"rsory History of #wearing.. ,he whi(sical and rhy(ing A"ality of a !arono(asia is so(ething to ee! in (ind in deter(ining the (eaning of tohu wabohu. ,he rhy(ing A"ality of the ter( tohu wabohu co(es fro( a slight alteration of the so"nd of the first word (changing the )t. to )b.), co(bined with the Hebrew con-"nction )wa. (and). 7ater we will loo at evidence that the word bohu (ay have been invented for the !"r!ose of rhy(ing with tohu by altering a si(ilar3so"nding Hebrew word with a co(!atible (eaning. Before loo ing into that !ossibility, we need to loo at the val"e of rhy(e for ill"(inating the (eaning of the biblical te:t. In a !assage related to Genesis $%&, Isaiah 14%$0, the "se of rhy(e calls attention to so(ething significant the a"thor wants the reader to notice, and !erha!s beca"se of its close relationshi! to Genesis $%&, the rhy(e (ay be indirectly giving "s another e:a(!le of the (eaning of the f"ll !hrase, tohu wabohu. In the Hebrew it can be seen that Isaiah 14%$0 is a !oe( that rhy(es and has the sa(e n"(ber of syllables, so(ething that is not necessary or "s"al in Hebrew !oetry% 1o tohu beraa 1asebet yesara He did not create it to be *tohu+ B"t for(ed it to be inhabited #ince (ost Hebrew !oetry does not rhy(e, the fact that this is the second occ"rrence of rhy(e in association with the word tohu indicates so(ething significant is being said that needs e:tra tho"ght. Co"ld it be that Isaiah introd"ced this word !lay beca"se he had the rhy(ing so"nd of tohu wabohu in (ind when he chose to "se the word tohu in this conte:t6 In that case then, we wo"ld have a fo"rth (i(!lied) conte:t for the ter( tohu wabohu. ,his !layf"l rhy(e in Isaiah 14%$0 shows that God wants to t"rn the original conditions "!side down that can be described by the rhy(ing words tohu wabohu. He wants to reverse the -"dged state of the land (described earlier in the cha!ter), to (a e it inhabited and life3giving. ,he conte:t shows that Cyr"s, as God5s servant, is going to reb"ild what God had allowed to be destroyed. ,his sa(e !assage gives an e:cellent e:a(!le of !arallelis(, a co((on literary device in Hebrew !oetry. In deter(ining the (eaning of each of the words se!arately as well as the ter(, tohu wabohu, as a whole, the "se of !arallelis( is a ey e:egetical tool. An e:a(!le of the "sef"lness of this tool is fo"nd in deter(ining the (eaning of tohu in Isaiah 14%$0. ,he fo"r lines in !arallel str"ct"re are related to each other in this way% (A) He who fashioned and (ade the earth (A5) He fo"nded it (B) He did not create it to be *tohu+ (B5) B"t for(ed it to be inhabited. In lines (B) and (B5), which are obvio"sly intended to be synony(o"s, )not F tohu. is !aired with )inhabited,. giving "s a cl"e to the (eaning of tohu% e(!ty or "ninhabited or !erha!s !"r!oselessS(eaningless. ,he Word Associations chart in the A!!endi: was constr"cted "sing si(ilar logic, also ta ing into consideration word associations in the i((ediate and broad conte:t of the cha!ters in which the word tohu a!!ears. ,his e:a(!le fro( Isaiah 14%$0 shows how !arallelis( and conte:t can hel!

30 deter(ine the (eaning of tohu wabohu in Genesis $%&% As for the earth, (A) it was tohu wabohu (B) with dar ness on the face of (the) dee! (C) b"t the #!irit of God stirring over the face of the waters. With these three lines, the A"estion ("st be addressed, is !arallelis( involved here, and if so, which lines are !arallel to each other, and in what relationshi!6 ,he re!etition of the !hrase, )on the face of. see(s to indicate that it wo"ld be a!!ro!riate to consider these lines as a for( of !arallelis(, ty!ical in Hebrew !oetry. (?sel(an $/<0%2/) ,his s"!!osition is f"rther s"!!orted by the fact that the last word of both lines (B) and (C) is abo"t water (the dee!Stehom and waterSmayim). We need to now which ty!e of !arallelis( is intended here% synony(o"s, synthetic, or antithetic6 It wo"ld be !ractically blas!he(o"s to consider synony(o"s !arallelis( in lines (B) and (C), in which case )dar ness. wo"ld be eA"ated with )#!irit of God.. #ynthetic !arallelis( see(s ina!!ro!riate as well% the conce!t of the #!irit of God does not add to o"r "nderstanding of what it (eans for dar ness to be on the face of the dee!. ,he third o!tion, antithetical !arallelis(, fits the conte:t very well. ,he #!irit of God is the antithesis of dar ness. God has not left his land or his !eo!le totally witho"t His !resence, even in the (idst of dar ness. It co"ld also be arg"ed that lines (A) and (B) stand in synthetic relationshi! to each other, with )dar ness. and )dee!. serving as an elaboration of the (eaning and connotations of tohu wabohu. Nar ness is a co((on biblical sy(bol of evil and it is the first thing God corrects in Genesis $ as he sets abo"t overco(ing evil with good. Both the words )dar nessShosek. and )dee!Stehom. wo"ld no do"bt have sent shivers of re(e(bered horror down the s!ines of 9oses5 listeners. ,hey had -"st esca!ed fro( slavery (societal tohu wabohu) in the land of Egy!t where the !lag"e of dar ness had hel!ed change =haraoh5s (ind abo"t letting the( go, associated with the last !lag"e of the illing of the first3born sons d"ring the night in all the Egy!tian ho"seholds. 9oses5 a"dience had -"st esca!ed fro( the )dee!s. of the feared sea by the ruach of God (E:od"s $4%$@, another all"sion fro( Genesis $%&) se!arating the water and (a ing a dry !ath, followed by the drowning of their ene(ies. ,here is no do"bt b"t that the i(agery con-"red "! by the lang"age in the !arallelis( of Genesis $%& wo"ld have (eant to 9oses5 a"dience that the land )at the beginning,. before God started (a ing it livable, was an o(ino"s, hostile !lace. In ta ing )dar ness on the face of the dee!. as an elaboration of the (eaning of tohu wabohu, as well as the antithesis of the s!irit of God (oving on the face of the waters, line (B) serves do"ble d"ty in f"nctioning with each of the other two lines in different ty!es of !arallelis(. ,hese vario"s literary devises "sed in the Hebrew lang"age are hel!f"l for co(ing to a better "nderstanding of the ter( tohu wabohu. A!!lying what has been learned abo"t the ancient Hebrew interest in assonance, !arono(asia, and !arallelis(, to the word bohu, which occ"rs only three ti(es in the Eld ,esta(ent and always co(bined with tohu, will hel! "s event"ally arrive at a "sef"l inter!retation for the co(bined ter(. ,he ancient Hebrews5 delight in so"nd3ali e words will be a factor in deter(ining the origin and (eaning of the single word bohu. Ety(ological st"dies will also be hel!f"l, !atterned after Eld ,esta(ent and ancient lang"ages scholar Navid ,s"("ra5s e:a(!le. Dollowing an ety(ological st"dy of the (eaning of bohu, we will

31 e:a(ine the conte:t of each occ"rrence of tohu and tohu wabohu in detail. Word associations will be noted that will f"rther ill"(ine the (eaning and significance of the co(!o"nd ter(. E 7mo,o!7 o+ Bohu8 Navid ,s"("ra goes into great detail to e:a(ine !ossible cognates for bohu (and se!arately for tohu) in closely related lang"ages of the ancient Bear East. Arabic% bahiya )to be e(!ty. (,he Brown, Nriver and Briggs5 *ebrew-En!lish 1e)icon s"ggests this ety(ology.) ),his Arabic ter( is "sed to describe the e(!ty or vacant state of a tent or ho"se that contains nothing or little f"rnit"re or goods. ,h"s it has basically a concrete (eaning rather than an abstract (eaning s"ch as Gnothingness5 or Ge(!tiness.5. (&@@4%$>) A adian% W. D. Albright s"ggests the A adian ter( bubutu, )E(!tiness, h"nger,. as a !ossible cognate of the Hebrew bohu. B"t ,s"("ra lists several reasons why this is not a valid s"ggestion, (ainly based on an error by Albright in attrib"ting the definition of )e(!tiness, h"nger. to the A adian ter(, which has other (eanings according to ling"istic so"rces. ($//1%>$>) ,s"("ra is of the o!inion that )(any of the errors (ade in inter!reting the biblical te:t we are dealing with *Genesis $%&+ ste( fro( fa"lty ety(ology.. (&@@4%1) =hoenician% ,s"("ra finds no evidence that the Hebrew ter( had any connection with the =hoenician divine na(e Baav, the goddess of )night,. )e:ce!t for their !ossible co((on derivation fro( the root, bhw.. ($//1%>$1) ,s"("ra concl"des, )In the light of the above disc"ssion, Hebrew bohu, tho"gh still lac ing definite ety(ology, see(s to be a #e(itic ter( based on the root bhw and !ossibly a cognate of Arabic bahiya Gto be e(!ty.5. ($//1%>$4) ,his s"ggested ety(ology agrees with conte:t"al st"dies in which associations of e(!tiness and dar ness (night) are seen re!eatedly in connection with tohu and tohu wabohu. B"t I wo"ld li e to !ro!ose a f"rther, original ety(ological st"dy. A Hebrew word closely related to bohu, hah#al (#trong5s ; $0/$), has an abstract (eaning associated with the inter!retation of )e(!tiness,. na(ely, )vain. or )worthless. things (e(!ty of (eaning). Considering the Hebrews5 delight in word associations of si(ilar (eaning and si(ilar so"nds leads (e to !ro!ose the theory that bohu is a word invented by the a"thor of Genesis $%& (the ter( later being co!ied by Isaiah and Cere(iah in anti3 creational conte:ts) to rhy(e with tohu and carry the (eaning of )e(!tiness. in both the abstract and concrete senses, and conveying a state of being )(i:ed "!. or )"!side down.. ,he line of reasoning begins with Cere(iah 0%$2, $/, a !assage that see(s relevant beca"se of the !resence of several words or the(es often associated with tohu wabohu% sha ing or tre(bling, disaster as a res"lt of -"dg(ent, worthless idols, vain things. (#ee the Word Associations chart in the A!!endi:. ,his reasoning ass"(es the contin"ity of the Hebrew lang"age fro( the ti(e Genesis was written "ntil the rest of the Eld ,esta(ent was written.) Cere(iah 0%$2, $/% )F at the neighing of their stallions the whole land tre(bles *sha es+. ,hey have co(e to devo"r the land and everything in it. Why have they !rovo ed (e to anger with their i(ages, with their worthless foreign idols6. *with their vanities T beheh#el, $0/&, which has the root of #trong5s ;$0/$ (entioned above+

32 ,he !hrase )with their vanities,. behe#el, with the !refi: for the !re!osition, )withSbe,. so"nds very ("ch li e the vowel so"nds of wabohu with the consonants in -"(bled order, ee!ing in (ind that in Hebrew the )v. and the )b. so"nd are so(ewhat interchangeable. As was !revio"sly (entioned, !arono(asia (eans )to alter slightly in na(ing,. so it wo"ld see( to be a valid e:ercise to follow ,s"("ra5s e:a(!les in which he s!ec"lates on how one word can grad"ally evolve into other for(s (&@@4%$2, $<, 1&314). ,he word bohu co"ld have been invented and co(bined with tohu thro"gh the following (ental ste!s, based on si(ilar so"nds and si(ilar (eanings of the words involved. #tarting with beheh#el (vanities, things e(!ty of !"r!ose), the following stages co"ld have ta en !lace% $. #witch the )v. and the initial )h. of )hehvel. T be5vehhel &. Change the )v. so"nd to the closely related )b. T be5behhel >. Change )withSbe. to )andSwa. T wa5behhel 1. Nro! the )l. so"nd T wa5behhe 4. Change the vowels to ca"se the newly coined ter( to rhy(e with tohu T wabohu Another e:a(!le, following ,s"("ra5s a!!roach, with fewer ste!s and (ore obvio"s connections, co(es fro( & ?ings $<%$4% )they went after vain things and beca(e vain (wahebalu). (#trong5s ; $0/$.) In this case the second occ"rrence of the word already has the con-"nction, )wawSwa,. and in this gra((atical for( of the word the )v. so"nd is already )b,. so only three stages wo"ld be needed for it to evolve into )wabohu.% $. Nro! the syllable, )he. T wabal" &. E:change the )l. so"nd for the dro!!ed )h. T wabah" >. 9a e the (inor correction in the vowel so"nd to ca"se the newly coined ter( to rhy(e with tohu T wabohu ,hese s"ggestions are in ee!ing with the fig"re of s!eech nown as !arono(asia, (entioned by 9ichael Dishbane in relation to tohu wabohu. ($/<$%$2$) (The )(ord En!lish 2ictionary defines !arono(asia as, )to alter slightly in na(ing' a !laying on words that so"nd ali e' a word3!lay' a !"n..) If this !ro!osal is acce!ted, the (i:ed3"! origin of the !hrase already hints at the (eaning of the ter( tohu wabohu% co(("nicating by its so"nd a (i:ed "!, disordered state of being. ,he original word that was )(i:ed "!. in creating the new ter( is (ore li ely to have been the one "sed in & ?ings $<%$4. In this !assage the !eo!le fell "nder -"dg(ent for going after the vain or worthless thingShahah#al (idols) (#trong5s ; $0/$) and they the(selves beca(e vain, worthlessSwahebalu (#trong5s ; $0/$). If we consider the !hrase tohu wabohu (a variation of tohu wehabalu) to be a !"n, we co"ld s!ec"late that for(er inhabitants of the earth or land (!rior to Genesis $%$, &' cf. EJe iel &0%$43$<) had si(ilarly followed vain things and the(selves beca(e worthless (wehabalu). (As a side note, co(!are this to 9atthew 4%$>% )Ho" are the salt of the earth. B"t if the salt loses its saltiness, F it is no longer good for anything *it is worthless+, e:ce!t to be thrown o"t and tra(!led "nder by (en..) Nescribing the condition of the earth with the (oc ing rhy(e, tohu wabohu, wo"ld have co(("nicated to 9oses5 listeners that so(ething had gone wrong, was o"t of order, contrary to God5s intentions, before He began setting things bac in order thro"gh Creation. If Wester(ann (,s"("ra $//1%>$4) and Alter (&@@1%$<) are right, that bohu is a (ade3"! word, and if others are right that it (eans )vain. or )e(!ty,. then hah#al (#trong5s ; $0/$) co"ld well be the word it was based on. ),he second word of the !air

33 *tohu wabohu+ loo s li e a nonce ter( coined to rhy(e with the first and to reinforce it. (Alter &@@1%$<) And if bohu is a (ade3"! word that wo"ld e:!lain why it does not occ"r by itself anywhere in #cri!t"re. E9am"na "on o+ he 0on e9 In the conte:t of a local creation, the descri!tion of the land as a howling, trac less waste and )vain. (both co((on associations for )tohu. and )bohu. as we will see in this section) can be seen as a descri!tion of what the !ro!hets describe and !redict for the nations that God has -"dged or will -"dge. Genesis $%& is obvio"sly a -"dged state of the land. It is definitely not -"st ne"tral (aterial waiting !assively to be acted "!on as so(e co((entators, s"ch as ,s"("ra, clai(. ,he conte:t for each occ"rrence of tohu and tohu wabohu will be e:a(ined for f"rther insights into the (eaning and significance of this ter(. Dollowing an ind"ctive analysis of each !assage, and a listing of the !assages according to the "sage of the tohu, a Word Associations chart, fo"nd in the A!!endi:, will s"((ariJe the (ost i(!ortant findings. ,he word tohu occ"rs in the following !assages. ,hose in which it occ"rs as !art of the ter(, tohu wabohu, are indicated with an asteris % Gen $%& W Ne"t >&%$@ $ #a( $&%&$ (&:) Cob 2%$0 Cob $&%&1 Cob &&2%< =s $@<%1@ Isa &1%$@ Isa &/%&$ Isa >1%$$W Isa 1@%$< Isa 1@%&> Isa 1$%&/ Isa 14%$0, $/ Isa 14%$/ Isa 1/%1 Isa 4/%1 Cer 1%&> W ,he following categories of infor(ation are given for each !assage% $. ,he !ri(ary (eaning of tohu (or tohu wabohu) &. Any !arallel ter(s (indicated by the geo(etric sign% SS ) >. Broader conte:t of the verse (in (ost cases, the rest of the cha!ter in which it occ"rs) 1. 9otifs or word associations within that broad conte:t 4. #"((ary of the o!!osition to God5s intentions 2. How God corrected this o!!osition and de(onstrated His will Ne"t >&%$$% tohu

34 $. barren and howling waste &. SS to desert land >. Broader conte:t% God5s care with the (eta!hor of an eagle stirring "! its nest' a!!roval that foreign gods are not in the !ict"re 1. 9otifs% desertS howling wasteS barren careSshieldSeagle stirring its nest no foreign gods 4. E!!osite of God5s will% God3forsa en (e(!ty) wilderness' >&%4, 2% the !eo!le had acted corr"!tly, they were no longer his children, were war!ed, croo ed ((i:ed3"!), foolish, "nwise. 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% God fo"nd these !eo!le who acted in these non3!rod"ctive ways in a desolate !lace and called the( o"t. He beca(e a ref"ge and shield for the(. $ #a("el $&%&$% tohu occ"rs twice $. "seless idolsSvain things &. the translations for tohu are SS to each other (No not t"rn away after tohu *"seless or vain things+ which can do yo" no good, nor can they deliver, beca"se they are tohu *"seless+) >. Broader conte:t% The people were doing evil by asking for a king' th"nder and rain were sent to get their attention' God had originally (ade the !eo!le his own' serve God faithf"lly' if yo" !ersist in evil yo" will be swe!t away (with the "seless things) 1. 9otifs% "seless idols vain things idols cannot resc"e creation of a !eo!le God will not re-ect the faithf"l (eA"ivalent to righteo"s6) evil doers swe!t away 4. E!!osite of God5s will% serving vain things (that are nothing) that do not !rofitS do not deliver 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% #a("el "rges the !eo!le to as for God hi(self and to serve and fear Hi(. #a("el !ro(sises to !ray for the !eo!le and teach the( the way that is good and right. Cob 2%$0% tohu $. wastelandSnothing &. SS to distressed, disa!!ointed (not finding water), !erishing >. Broader conte:t% Cob is s!ea ing in the conte:t of ang"ish ()God5s terrors.)' he is in tor(ent fro( #atans5 evil intentions to afflict hi(. ,o desribe how his friends are treating hi(, Cob tells a story abo"t caravans that t"rn aside fro( the !ath, loo ing in vain for life3giving water. ,hey go to the wastelandSnothingStrac less area and !erish. Cob5s friends are "nde!endable li e inter(ittent strea(s which dry "!. ,he friends, li e the )nothing. strea( beds, are of )no hel!.. 1. 9otifs% wasteland

35 nothing "nde!endable as inter(ittent strea(s (floodSdro"ght) dar ened (by thawing ice) !erishS distressedS disa!!ointed 4. E!!osite of God5s will% absence of life3giving water' absence of de!endable friendshi!. 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% #ee vs. $1% a des!airing (an sho"ld have the devotion of his friends instead of the o!!osite% no hel!' nothing. ,he correction does not co(e "ntil the end of the boo when God vindicates Cob confidence in God5s faithf"lness and sets aside the !latit"des of the )friends.. Cob $&%&1% tohu $. wildernessSthro"gh a waste (trac less' witho"t a !ath) &. SS to de!rived of reason SS to gro!e in dar ness SS stagger li e dr"n ards >. Broader conte:t% 7eaders have been de!rived of reason' they wander thro"gh a trac less waste, gro!ing in dar ness. (,his so"nds li e Beb"dchadneJJar5s e:!erience.) By His wisdo( and !ower God controls the waters, leading to dro"ght or flooding' he reveals dee! things of dar ness ((a es fools o"t of co"nselors5 advice, res"lting in their e:!eriencing chaotic internal conditions) and brings dee! shadows (of death) into the light. All this is a (eta!hor to describe how God will deal with (false) advisors. ,his is also an e:a(!le of a (eta!horical a!!lication of Genesis $%&, > in which God t"rned chaos, nothingness and the )dee!. waters into so(ething life3s"staining' He !enetrated the dar ness with light. 1. 9otifs% wisdo( S !ower S control waters S dro"ght Sflooding wilderness S trac less waste dar ness ((eta!horical) dee! shadows of death ((eta!horical) insanity dar ness (literal) dr"n en staggering 4. E!!osite of God5s will% an empty, trackless mind (tohu) 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% Os. &&% God He brings dee! shadows into the light. Cob &2%<% tohu $. e(!ty !lace &. SS to )nothing. >. Broader conte:t% )Neath writhes *sha es+ and destr"ction lies "ncovered.Iisn5t that a descri!tion of tohu wabohu in Gen $%&6 (I thin death and destr"ction lying "ncovered are the )nothing. and )e(!ty s!ace. that God is covering by s!reading o"t the s ies in creation% overco(ing evil with good.) God is "ndoing destr"ction thro"gh re3creation' God5s )battle. with the dee! and the sea (onsters in this conte:t is (eta!horical of His bringing order o"t of chaos by se!arating the waters above and below and se!arating light and dar . 1. 9otifs% death

36 writhing (sha ing) destr"ction creation the(e (se!arating waters, lightSdar ) voidS nothing S e(!ty !lace (the dee!6) Nar ness A"a ing (!illars of heaven) sea (onsters illed stor( cal(ed breath (of God) 4. E!!osite of God5s will% emptiness, absence of life, death, destruction 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% God corrects this e(!tiness by filling it thro"gh the Creation !rocess' He s!reads o"t the s ies over the e(!ty s!ace. =s $@<%1@% tohu $. wander in a waste (witho"t a !ath)' void !laceStrac less waste &. SS !o"ring conte(!t on nobles (#ee Cob $&%&1 T de!rived of reason, eA"ivalent to chaos.) >. Broader conte:t% reco"nting the history of God5s !eo!le and God5s resc"e when they called to hi( o"t of dar ness and distress' God5s control of the sea' (a ing the desert fr"itf"l' God !o"rs conte(!t on leaders who o!!ressed the !eo!le and (a es the( wander in a trac less waste or desert, where there is no !ath (nothing)' the needy are hel!ed (-"stice) 1. 9otifs% wander in a waste witho"t a !ath S trac less waste void !lace cry for hel! saved fro( distress dar ness S gloo( sea wor s of the 7ord dee! (not teho() stor( cal(ed desert fr"itf"l land wic edness 4. E!!osite of God5s will% wasteland that does not s"!!ort life, o!!ression of God5s !eo!le 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% God corrects the desert with flowing s!rings (vs. >43>0). He corrects the o!!ression ca"sed by corr"!t nobles by lifting the needy o"t of affliction. Isa &1%$@% tohu $. r"ined city lies desolateSe(!ty &. SS the entrance to every ho"se is barred >. Broader conte:t% ,he 7ord5s devastation of the earth (vario"s "ngodly nations)' the earth defiled by the !eo!le so a c"rse cons"(es the earth' other analogies are given% fro( agric"lt"re' fro( floodgates of heaven and earth being sha en' earth reels li e a

37 dr"n ard' all i(!ly chaos 1. 9otifs% city of conf"sion is bro en down r"ins e(!ty lay waste devastate defiled (by the !eo!le) disobedience c"rse g"ilt desolate beaten flood sha e dr"n ard (reels) rebellion 4. E!!osite of God5s will% breaking Gods laws and covenant 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% &1%$13$2 and cha!ter &4% acclai(ing the 7ord5s (a-esty, giving glory to the Lighteo"s Ene' God5s resc"e of His !eo!le, re(oving the disgrace of his !eo!leS Isa &/%&$% tohu $. e(!ty !leas' a thing of na"ght (no acco"nt)' false testi(ony &. SSensnare the defender in co"rt >. Broader conte:t% Woe to Navid5s City. C"dg(ent and destr"ction are co(ing. ,hose who try to hide their !lans fro( the 7ord are wor ing in dar ness. God will t"rn things "!side down (vs. $2). God will hel! the h"(ble. ,he r"thless who ta e advantage of the innocent (thro"gh false testi(ony) will be c"t down and disa!!ear. 1. 9otifs great de!ths ((eta!horical) hide woe dar ness "!side down (a (eaning or i(!lication of toh" waboh"6) for(ed S (a e (!otter and clay) fertile field gloo( blind will see r"thlessS (oc ers S evil vanish S disa!!ear S c"t down g"ilty de!riving the innocent of -"stice false testi(ony S e(!ty !leas S a thing of na"ght (no acco"nt) 4. E!!osite of God5s will% e(!ty !leasSfalse testi(ony de!rive the innocent of -"stice. 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% God will -"dge the r"thless and the h"(ble will re-oice.

38 Isa >1%$$% tohu wabohu: $. (eas"ring line of chaos (tohu) and the !l"(b line of desolation (bohuS e(!tiness) &. SS nothing there to be called a ingdo( SS all her !rinces will vanish away >. Broader conte:t% C"dg(ent against the nations s!ecifically Edo(. Oerses /, $@ so"nd li e a descri!tion of the res"lts of a volcanic er"!tion. ,he o!!osite of b"ilding i(agery is "sed IEdo( will be (eas"red with a line of desolation and e(!tiness. ?ingdo(s will vanish' nobles will have nothing left to call a ingdo(. Dor(erly inhabited area will beco(e a wilderness with only wild ani(als inhabiting it. 1. 9otifs% heavens will be dissolved strea(s and land beco(e !itch *dar ' a descri!tion of the res"lts of a volcanic er"!tion+ desolate desert (howling) owl the (eas"ring line of chaos (toh") and the !l"(b line of desolation (boh") nothing there to be called a ingdo( "ninhabited (i(!lied) !rinces will vanish 4. E!!osite of God5s will% desert populated only by wild animals 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% Cha!ter >4 describes the wilderness re-oicing and blosso(ing' the b"rning sand beco(ing a !ool, and a highway for the redee(ed to wal "!on with no ferocio"s beasts to be fo"nd. Isa 1@%$<, &>% tohu $. vanityS worthless' nothing &. SSnothing, less than nothing ($<) SS brings !rinces to na"ght (&>) >. Broader conte:t% Israel thin s God has forgotten her. ,he cha!ter describes God5s co(fort for his !eo!le after they have learned their lesson fro( God5s !"nish(ent for sin. ,he desert is t"rned into a highway for God, God cares for His !eo!le as for loved ani(als. ,he i(agery of creation is "sed re!eatedly and the greatness of God in relationshi! to the nations and their r"lers is e(!hasiJed. ,hey are as nothing and worthless by co(!arison. God brings the r"lers of this world to nothing. ,hose who ho!e in the 7ord will renew their strength and soar on wings li e eagles. 1. 9otifs% desert S wilderness highway S straight !aths (o!!osite of writhing and twisting) she!herd (eas"red waters nothing S as d"st on scales or dro! in b"c et worthless idols beginning S earth fo"nded strength to weary eagles5 wings

39 4. E!!osite of God5s will% nations in a condition of nothingness and emptiness 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% 1$%$ the nations will renew their strength (no longer be as nothing) Isa 1$%&/% tohu $. vanity (li e the wind) &. SS deeds a(o"nt to nothing >. Broader conte:t% B"t God is the hel!er of Israel. He will resc"e the( fro( their ene(ies who are as nothing to God and will (a e the land watered and fr"itf"l. ,he idols are less than nothing. God wasn5t able to find a !ro!het who wasn5t false to tell these things to the !eo!le. 1. 9otifs% ends of earth fear (the 7ord) tre(ble servant (chosen by God) strengthen S hel! righteo"s rage So!!ose asha(ed S disgracedS as nothing S !erish rivers flow S s!rings S !ools of water barren S desert idols less than nothing worthless destable stirred "! one fro( the north false deeds a(o"nt to nothing i(ages are wind S vanity S conf"sion 4. E!!osite of God5s will% vanity, or empty works that amount to nothing 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% Cha!ter 1& describes the #ervant of the 7ord who de(onstrates God5s will, "nli e Israel who was intended to be the God5s servant and "nli e the sit"ation described in 1$%&0% there is no one a(ong the( to give co"nsel. Isa 11%/% tohu $. graven i(ages (or those (a ing the() are vanityS nothing &. SS worthless >. Broader conte:t% Israel is God5s chosen servant. He will !o"r His #!irit on the(, as !ict"red by watering the dry gro"nd. Idols are worthless. I(agery of creation now a!!lied to Israel, the !eo!le and their sins are forgiven. Creation i(agery of !hyscial world. Cities will be reb"ilt. 1. 9otifs% dry gro"nd S thirsty land #!irit offs!ring S descendants

40 flowing strea(s established ancient !eo!le (creation of !eo!le) tre(ble (do not) (a ers of idols are nothing worthless blind S ignorant sha(e servant Israel creation of !eo!le, Israel redee(ed inhabited creation of !hysical world described stretched o"t heavens false !ro!hets overthrow learning of wise S nonsense restore r"ins b"ild "! city dry "! the watery dee! 4. E!!osite of God5s will% !eo!le (a ing and worshi!ing idols 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% 11%&&% I have swe!t away yo"r offenses F the 7ord redee(s Cacob Isa 14%$0, $/% tohu $. created the earth not in vain (to no !"r!ose) (vs $0) &. SS inhabited (vs $0) $. he didn5t say )see (e. in vain (falsely) (vs $/) &. SS s!ea the tr"th S declare what is right (vs $/) Bote%,s"("ra5s insistence, as we will see later, on a literal desert for tohu in Isa. 14%$/ is not in har(ony with the te:t. Here tohu (in vain) (eans )falsely.' God is not giving false testi(ony (as in &/%&$). >. Broader conte:t for both verses% God did not intend for the world to be e(!ty or !"r!oseless. God creates light and dar ness, brings both !ros!erity and disaster, according to the way the !eo!le relate to God5s ways. He created the world, sets Cyr"s in !lace to carry o"t His !lans to reb"ild the City and to destroy those who (a e and worshi! idols. He intends that the earth to be inhabited and that Cacob5s descendents and all the earth sho"ld see hi(. 1. 9otifs% anointed light dar ness !ros!erity disaster creation of earth and (an ind righteo"sness S ways straight reb"ild city set e:iles free (a ers of idols disgraced S !"t to sha(e

41 not to be e(!ty inhabited not in secret not in land of dar ness descendants see (e not in vain s!ea tr"th S what is right t"rn and be saved ends of earth no other God righteo"sness strength 4. E!!osite of God5s will% empty heavens, empty or vain words 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% a. God created the heavens f"ll of heavenly bodies b. God tells the !eo!le to gather together, t"rn to hi( and be saved Isa 1/%1% tohu $. s!ent (y strength for nothing &. SS no !"r!ose S nothing >. Broader conte:t% ,he !ro!het is addressing the far away !eo!les, telling the( the 7ord has called hi(, b"t he feels li e he has labored for no !"r!ose (tohu). God tells hi( he will not only hel! Israel, b"t all other nations as well, giving the( the o!!ort"nity to be set free. 1. 9otifs% servant of the 7ord islands S distant nations S ends of the earth S Gentiles God5s )(a ing. of his servant (fro( birth) arrow S A"iver (as a tool for God to "se) strength s!ent to no !"r!ose nothing 7ord5s hand S reward restore salvation covenant desolate inheritance ca!tives (ade free dar ness not h"nger, thirst desert co(!assion g"ide s!rings of water 4. E!!osite of God5s will% God5s servant sho"ld not labor for nothing or s!end his

42 strength in vain 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% God brings Israel to hi(self and (a es the( a light to the Gentiles% gives the( a !"r!ose vs. laboring for nothing Isa 4/%1% tohu $. they tr"st in vanitySrely on e(!ty arg"(ents and s!ea lies &. SS they conceive tro"ble and give birth to evil >. Broader conte:t% In the conte:t of sin, confession and rede(!tion' sins have se!arated !eo!le fro( God' -"stice is not being done' !eo!le are relying on false testi(ony, conde(ning the innocent. In the (idst of this (eta!horical dar ness, God ste!!ed in to bring salvation and righteo"sness, in the conte:t of battle. 1. 9otifs% save S hear iniA"ities, sin se!arated -"stice integrity e(!ty arg"(ents lies tro"ble evil shed innocent blood r"in destr"ction no !eace no -"stice no righteo"sness dar ness dee! shadows intercede salvation righteo"sness as a breast!late hel(et of salvation gar(ents of vengeance wra!!ed in Jeal as in a cloa 4. E!!osite of God5s will% Absence of -"stice. =eo!le rely on e(!ty arg"(ents' they conceive tro"ble and give birth to evil. 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% vs. $2 ff% God corrects the lac of -"stice, sends -"dg(ent, then the redee(er will co(e to Rion Cer. 1%&>% tohu wabohu $. earth was r"ined, the o!!osite of creation &. SS heavens%their light was gone SS (o"ntains%A"a ing and hills swaying SS no !eo!le' SS every bird in the s y had flown away.

43 SS the fr"itf"l land was a desert' SS all its towns lay in r"ins >. Broader conte:t% Let"rn to (e Israel' God is sending an agent fro( the north to destroy the !eo!le of Israel. ,he towns will be r"ined and will beco(e desert. ,his is beca"se God5s !eo!le foolishly ref"se to now and obey Hi(. ,heir (oral val"es are co(!letely reversed. ),hey are s illed in doing evil' they now not how to do good. (v. &&). #y(bolically or literally the earth has beco(e e(!ty, sha en, r"ined (shattered) beca"se of the 7ord5s anger against evil. Creation is being "ndone in a sense. ,he earth will (o"rn and the heavens will be dar beca"se of this !"nish(ent on God5s !eo!le. 1. 9otifs% doing evil destroyer of nations lay waste the land towns r"ined witho"t inhabitant scorching wind barren heights desert -"dg(ent whirlwind clo"ds eagles cond"ct disaster destroyed fools S no "nderstanding S do not now (e evil earth for(less and e(!ty light gone (dar ness) (o"ntains A"a ing no !eo!le or birds desert (o"rn heavens grow dar towns deserted S no one lives in the( 4. E!!osite of God5s will% !eo!le being s illed at doing evil' don5t now how to do good' earth is in r"ins and e(!ty (destroyed and desolate)' light is gone, there is nothing 2. Correction and de(onstration of God5s will% God corrects this only after (any cha!ters of descri!tions of !"nish(ent. Dinally in $@%&> we read abo"t the 7ord5s indness, -"stice, righteo"sness' $1%&&% o"r ho!e is in yo"' $<%<% blessed is the (an who tr"sts in the 7ord, he will be li e a tree !lanted by water. S/mmar7 o+ erms asso0"a ed *" h tohu ,his ter( is always "sed to describe so(ething that is the o!!osite of God5s will and that condition is always corrected in the broad conte:t of the !assage. =referred translation for tohu% E(!ty, "seless, desolate, #!irit3abandoned. =referred translation for tohu wabohu% destroyed and desolate

44

=assages categoriJed by the "sage of tohu or tohu wabohu% 34 1iteral 2esert as a Spiritual /etaphor Ne"t >&%$ (desertSe(!tiness% to tell where God fo"nd the !eo!le he created )o"t of nothing.) Cob 2%$0 (wastelandSe(!tiness% to describe "nde!endable )co(forters.) Cob $&%&1 (trac less wasteSe(!tines% (eta!hor to describe how God will deal with *false+ advisors, r"lers who lose their sanity as a res"lt of -"dg(ent *so"nds li e Beb"chedJeJJar+) =s $@<%1@ (trac less wasteSe(!tiness% (eta!hor for !o"ring conte(!t and -"dg(ent on "n-"st nobles) 54 .anity6emptiness6nothin!6con(usion A. Kseless S false idols or nations that are as nothing $ #a( $&%&$ ("seless idols do yo" no good) Isa 1@%$< (nations and its r"lers are as nothing to God) Isa 1$%&/ ((olten i(ages are wind and conf"sion, "seless) Isa 11%/ graven i(ages (or those (a ing the() are vanity, nothing, worthless Isa 1/%1 I have s!ent (y strength for nothing, no !"r!ose B. L"ined and "ninhabited cityS City of conf"sion Isa. &1%$@ r"ined city lies desolate Isa. 14%$0 he did not create the earth to be r"ined or e(!ty, b"t to be inhabited C. Oain s!ea ing that is false Isa &/%&$ they ensare the defender in co"rt with e(!ty !leasSs!ea ing what is false Isa 14%$/ I did not s!ea in vain *falsely+, I s!ea the tr"th (o!!osite of tohu)' I declare what is right Isa 4/%1 they tr"st in vanitySrely on e(!ty arg"(ents and s!ea lies N. E(!ty !lace (re!resenting destroyed area) Cob &2%< (s!reads o"t s ies over the e(!ty s!ace% over death and destr"ction that lie na ed and "ncovered) 74 Tohu 'abohu: "pside down (rom $ods intended order 8The transliterated French e)pression% tohu bohu% means topsy tur#ey9 Isa >1%$$% the (eas"ring line of chaosSconf"sion (tohu) and the !l"(b line of desolation (bohu). ,he o!!osite of creation and b"ilding constr"ction are described as -"dg(ent Cer 1%&>%earth was toh" waboh" the !eo!le are s illed at doing evil' don5t now how to do good (),heir (oral val"es are co(!letely reversed. *Deinberg $/0&%4>+) towns r"ined, deserted, witho"t inhabitant ,he o!!osite of creation and b"ilding constr"ction are described as -"dg(ent ,his st"dy shows that the following the(es are associated with the ter( tohu wabohu% M the o!!osite of creation is described

45 M citiesStownsS ingdo(s are being torn down M everything is "!side down fro( God5s intended order% the land is desert3li e' no !eo!le M the tone is desolateS(o"rning ,he Word Association chart in the A!!endi: s"((ariJes the (ost co((on word associations and !ri(ary (eanings of tohu and tohu wabohu discovered in the !receding conte:t st"dies and listed here. ,hese words are always "sed in a conte:t of -"dg(ent% Nar ness #ha ing Water in negative connotations% flood or lac of it in dro"ght Creation i(agery Lef"ge, care, shield Nestr"ction Nesert, wasteland Worthless (idols, foreign gods) C"stice B"ilding, city Evil Inhabited or not Oain, nothing, no !"r!ose Ends of the earth C"dg(ent (associated with tohu in every case) Commen a ors )"e*s Before s"((ariJing the concl"sions reached thro"gh the ind"ctive st"dies of the conte:ts and word associations of tohu and tohu wabohu, we will review the o!inions of vario"s co((entators and in so(e cases critiA"e these. Br"ce ?. Walt e and Navid ,. ,s"("ra have each done e:tensive in3de!th st"dies of the ter(s, tohu and tohu wabohu, co(ing to concl"sions that I will analyJe and eval"ate in (ore detail, co(!aring the( with the concl"sions I have reached in this inde!endent st"dy. In this eval"ation of the views of other scholars, I have noticed that often a co((entator arrives at an "nhel!f"l concl"sion for one or (ore of these reasons% M ,hey don5t consider the !ossibility of Genesis $ describing the local land, so they get tri!!ed "! on verse $ as a s"((ary state(ent for the creation of the whole earth, or they are avoiding the ga! theory, etc. M ,hey have !re3deter(ined to "se tohu wabohu as an o"tline for Genesis $ M ,hey have !re3deter(ined to ta e a si(!listic a!!roach to the !arallelis( in Genesis $%& in eA"ating tohu wabohu with dar ness M ,hey have a!!arently not thoro"ghly e:a(ined all the conte:ts of tohu (-"dg(ent) and how it is "sed in each case (fig"ratively, literally, desert, vain, false, worthless, etc.) M ,hey have not e!t in (ind that the !hrase (eans (ore than the s"( of its !arts M ,hey are not consistent in a!!lying her(ene"tical !rinci!les, s"ch as conte:t Summary o( meanin!s claimed by commentators (or tohu wabohu: Lashi (abo"t $$@@)

46 translated by Labbi A. 9. #ilber(ann Tohu wabohu: Nesolate and void. ,he word tohu signifies astonish(ent and a(aJe(ent, for a !erson wo"ld have been astonished and a(aJed at its e(!tiness. Tohu is fo"nd in old Drench. Bohu, void% the word signifies e(!tiness and e(!ty s!ace. ($/>1%>) 7"ther and Calvin ($4@@s) God originally created the earth as an "nfor(ed (ass. Cohn =ye #(ith ($041) Tohu wabohu is translated )witho"t for( and void.. Writing in $041 this a"thor gives a good !hysical descri!tion of the condition of the earth that is i(!lied by Genesis $%&. He !ro!oses the !ossibility that the state of tohu wabohu was !rod"ced by a nat"ral disaster s"ch as an earthA"a e or volcanic er"!tion. He didn5t now abo"t asteroidal collisions or he wo"ld s"rely have s"ggested that as a !ossibility as well, in agree(ent with Lal!h Winter5s theory. )E:tre(e dar ness has been often nown to acco(!any s"ch !heno(ena. ,his is the "nforced (eaning of the two words rendered Gwitho"t for( and void.5 ,hose words ( tohu #abohu) are elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible "sed to describe r"ined cities, wild wastes of desert3land, and fig"ratively any thing that is e(!ty, "ns"bstantial, or "seless.. ($041%&10) ,ayler 7ewis ($044) Tohu and bohu% witho"t for( and void, referring to irreg"larity of di(ension and the deficiency of gravity, denoting not so ("ch an absol"te as relative want of weight. He bases his concl"sion on Isaiah >1%$$ which s!ea s in ter(s of (eas"re(ent with the line of conf"sion and the stones of e(!tiness (no weight to the !l"(b stone or to the stones "sed for weighing in balances). ($044%40) K(berto Cass"to ($/11) Tohu wabohu (eans )witho"t for( or life.. Cass"to hel!f"lly highlights the i(!ortance of ta ing the two words as a co(!o"nd with (ore significance than the se!arate co(!onent words of tohu% wilderness and bohu% e(!tiness. )In lang"age as in che(istry, a co(!o"nd (ay be fo"nd to !ossess A"alities absent fro( its constit"ent ele(ents. F ,he sense of the idio( can be deter(ined only fro( the conte:t, that is, fro( the contin"ation of the verse, which reads, and dar ness was "!on the face of the dee!.. ($/11%&>) In other words, Cass"to sees the conce!ts of dar ness and dee! as the e:!lanation of what is (eant by tohu wabohu. By describing tohu as wilderness, it is obvio"s that Cass"to has not e:a(ined every !assage in which the word occ"rs. #ee the s"((ary list above of the "ses of the ter(, so(e of which are definitely not tal ing abo"t wilderness. Navid ,s"("ra (a es the sa(e (ista e, as we will e:a(ine in detail shortly. 9errill D. Knger ($/40, $/0$) )God did not create the earth in the state of a chaos of wasteness, e(!tiness, and dar ness. (Cohn >0%1, <' Isa. 14%$0). It was red"ced to this condition beca"se it was the theater where sin began in God5s originally sinless "niverse in connection with the revolt of 7"cifer (#atan) and his angels (Isa. $1%$&3$1' EJe . &0%$>, $43$<' Lev. $&%1). ,he chaos was the res"lt of God5s -"dg(ent "!on the originally sinless earth..

47 ($/0$%4). Bernard La(( (A"oted by E. #a"er *$/2&%&>4+) )When God (ade the earth he (ade it li e a (arble bloc o"t of which He wo"ld bring the bea"tif"l world.. Tohu (eans lac of for(' bohu (eans lac of content. Co((ent% ,his is !"re s!ec"lation based on the a"thor5s !reconceived ideas ta en fro( 7"ther and Calvin and wanting to "se the ter( as an o"tline for the narration of the Creation events. Erich #a"er ($/2&) )In both other occ"rrences *Isaiah >1%$$ and Cere(iah 1%&>+ it (eans a destr"ction which is the res"lt of a divine -"dg(ent. F In both cases it has the !assive (eaning of being (ade desolate and e(!ty.. ($/2&%&>&) #a"er shows that the Ga! or Lestit"tion theory loo s to this inter!retation for Genesis $%&. B"t since #a"er does not want to endorse the Ga! ,heory, he concl"des, )It is s"rely (ore advisable to inter!ret the words tohu and bohu in their generaland "s"al sense of Gfor(lessness,5 Ge(!tiness5 as a si(!le descri!tion of the original for( of the earth at the beginning of creation.. ($/2&%&>1) #a"er, li e Walt e, gives a good e:!lanation of the "se of the ter( in the other two !assages, then concl"des that it (eans so(ething different in Genesis $%&, basing his decision for how to translate the ter( on !reconceived !references. Henric"s Lenc ens, #.C. ($/21) Tohu wabohu (eans )absol"tely nothing whatever. ($/21%01) E!hrai( E. #!eiser ($/21) Tohu wabohu is a hendiadys (eaning )a for(less waste. (#!eiser $/21%4) Nonald G. Barnho"se ($/24) He lists words for tohu wabohu in Genesis $%&, fro( vario"s translations% witho"t for(, void, waste, desolate, e(!ty, wrec , r"in. Barnho"se !refers the last two as an alliterative !hrase. )In Drench there is a co((on e:!ression which translates o"r idea of to!sy3t"rvy% it is toh"3boh"Ian e:!ression transliterated fro( the Hebrew of this second verse of Genesis.. ($/24%$4) ,errence E. Drethei( ($/2/) Tohu wabohu is )that in which nothing can be disting"ished or defined, with the added idea of desolateness or abandonedness (chaos). ,his is si(!ly a definition of the words Gdee!5 and Gwaters5 which also occ"r in this verse. ,his is the "nfor(ed (aterial fro( which (ost of the earth was now to be fashioned.. ($/2/%4<) Gerhard von Lad ($/<&) Tohu wabohu is seen as referring to the abyss of for(lessness that )all creation is always ready to sin into. FOerse & F s!ea s first of the for(less and the abys(al o"t of which God5s will lifted creation and above which it holds it "nceasingly. Dor the cos(os stands !er(anently in need of this s"!!orting Creator5s will.. ($/<&%4&)

48 Br"ce ?. Walt e ($/<4, $//$, &@@$) =referred translation of tohu wabohu% Dor(less and void, not the after(ath of destr"ction or -"dg(ent. ,he negative state of the earth reflects a sit"ation in which the earth is not !rod"cing life. Knfor(ed and "nfilled' the o!!osite of creation. Walt e gives an e:tre(ely detailed analysis of tohu wabohu, showing e:actly what it (eans in the other two Eld ,esta(ent !assages where the ter( is "sed, then concl"des that it (eans so(ething different in Genesis $, na(ely what he wants it to (ean% for(less and void, not the after(ath of destr"ction d"e to God5s -"dg(ent. In his Bibliothe&ue Sacre series, =art II, !. $1$, Walt e states that it is fallacio"s reasoning to thin that beca"se the -"dg(ent on the land in Cere(iah ta es the for( of dis(antling creation that therefore the !recreative state itself is the res"lt of God5s f"ry and -"dg(ent. B"t Walt e5s own reasoning is fallacio"s. He is attrib"ting a false !osition to other scholars by ass"(ing that their concl"sion (regarding the as!ect of -"dg(ent in Genesis $%&) is based on a si(!listic logic si(ilar to )if a T b, then b T a.. ,his (falsely attrib"ted) !osition can be shown as follows% If anti3creation as a for( of -"dg(ent in Cere(iah 1%&> T tohu wabohu then Tohu wabohu in Genesis $%& T anti3creation as a for( of -"dg(ent. While I agree with others that the !re3creation state of tohu wabohu was the res"lt of God5s -"dg(ent, this concl"sion is not based on the )fallacio"s. reasoning Walt e attrib"tes to those who see Genesis $%& as a -"dged state of the earth. (He fails to ta e into consideration the other occ"rrence of tohu wabohu, in Isaiah >1%$$, in which the res"lt of -"dg(ent is the dis(antling of civiliJation rather than of creation.) ,he concl"sion that tohu wabohu re!resents the disastro"s res"lt of God5s -"dg(ent is reached by si(!ly ta ing the few occ"rrences of a "niA"e ter( and noticing that each of the others are "sed in the conte:t of -"dg(ent (as are all occ"rrences of the single word, tohu). ,o disregard the (eaning discovered in those conte:ts see(s li e !oor e:egesis. Walt e see(s to decide that the only other two "ses of tohu wabohu are irrelevant for his !"r!oses beca"se he wants to "se tohu and bohu as an o"tline for the rest of the cha!ter% first the broad for( is stated (vs. for(less) then the details are filled in (vs. "nfilled). ,his desire to "se the !hrase as an o"tline brings a western, literary (indset to the te:t and i(!oses a (eaning that is not necessarily there (or not the only (eaning). It also ca"ses Walt e to be inconsistent in his e:egesis, since he recogniJes the e:istence of #atan before Creation ($/<4%$>&%$1$), yet does not want to attrib"te a (eaning to tohu wabohu that wo"ld i(!ly -"dg(ent on #atan5s activities. He concl"des that tohu wabohu )denotes a state of (aterial devoid of order, or witho"t being sha!ed or for(ed into so(ething. ($/<4%$>&%$11) and that tohu wabohu )is an antony( to the Gheavens and the earth,5 signifying so(ething "ncreated or disordered (Cer. 1%&>3&<). FChronologically, this ("st describe the state of the earth !rior to verse $, as it wo"ld be a contradiction to re!resent the creation as for(ed cos(os and the earth as "nfor(ed.. (&@@$%4/) Walt e5s inter!retation i(!lies the !re3e:istence of this "nfor(ed (atter. #ince he is an advocate of a !re3Genesis $%$ creation, he wo"ld agree that God created the "nfor(ed (atter at so(e other ti(e, !erha!s in the sa(e sense that God created the other !lanets in o"r solar syste( that co"ld be described as tohu wabohu in ,s"("ra5s inter!retation of the ter(I"ninhabitable, inhos!itable to life.

49 B"t Walt e doesn5t follow thro"gh on the logic of his own !osition. Nid God create the !re3Genesis $%$ (atter in a state of lifelessness, as with the other !lanets6 ,hat doesn5t address the iss"e of the geologic ages of the earth that clearly show that life e:isted long before h"(ans ca(e on the scene. ,hen did so(ething s"bseA"ently t"rn the earth into chaos, (eaning the absence of life3s"!!orting conditions6 Given that the earth (or land) was disordered, how did it get that way6 Nid -"dg(ent !lay so(e role in this !recreation !eriod6 It is hard to "nderstand why Walt e wo"ld bal at considering the state of the earth in Genesis $%& to be the res"lt of evil andSor -"dg(ent. He ignores the hints in every one of the other $/ occ"rrences of the word tohu in #cri!t"re (incl"ding the other two in which tohu is co(bined with bohu). He even (entions in =art $ of his Bibliothe&ue Sacre article that the basic tho"ght of the Eld ,esta(ent is that Hahweh will tri"(!h over all His ene(ies in the establish(ent of His r"le of righteo"sness. ($/<4%>2) Where did those ene(ies co(e fro(6 It wo"ld (a e sense that the first verses of the Bible wo"ld introd"ce a the(e so basic and !revalent, even if in a veiled and low3 ey way so as not to so"nd as if Hahweh were co(!eting with the gods of the other ancient Bear Eastern creation acco"nts. ,hro"gh all the biblical creation acco"nts (or all"sions to creation), in fact, it see(s not to be a big !roble( to Hahweh that #atan and chaos are at large in the world (see Cob 1@, 1$, for instance). God nows he has the adversary on a leash. (Lecall the disc"ssion of the whi(sical nat"re of tohu wabohu which hints at this as!ect of God5s "lti(ate control over evil.) In the end, Walt e5s arg"(ents are acade(ic witho"t leading to answers to the A"estions we are bringing to the te:t. As we saw in a disc"ssion of the word earthS eretz, he sorts o"t the gra((ar of the first three verses, b"t ref"ses to ac nowledge or address the inter!retive i(!lications of that gra((ar. As one e:a(!le of where his analysis falls short of a!!lication, he recogniJes, with Navid ,s"("ra, that the negative state of the earth reflects a sit"ation in which the earth is not !rod"cing life. ,his fits well with Lal!h Winter5s hy!othesis of a (eteor i(!act that wi!ed o"t life locally. It wo"ld see( that it wo"ld be easier for Walt e to acce!t that Genesis $%& refers to God5s -"dg(ent on a local area, rather than on the whole !lanet, as he ta es Genesis $ to be referring to, since the Eld ,esta(ent is f"ll of local -"dg(ents, incl"ding nat"ral disasters. ,he val"e of seeing Genesis $ as the record of a local event, ins!ired by God to be !reserved for !osterity, is that it can serve as an e:a(!le or (eta!hor for the chaos that has occ"rred re!eatedly thro"gho"t ti(e in different !arts of the earth and for the s!irit"al chaos of evil that all !eo!les of all ti(es have had to deal with. Chaos ca"sed by evil intention always l"r s in the bac gro"nd, as von Lad !oints o"t ($/<&%4&). It is the the(e of #cri!t"re that God deals creatively with the res"lts of evil. As Cose!h said to his brothers, )Ho" intended evil against (e, b"t God (eant it for good. (Genesis 4@%&@). Walt e5s inter!retation of tohu wabohu falls short of leading to these theological A"estions and iss"es. Cohn Gibson ($/0$) Tohu wabohu% chaos and conf"sion or desolation and disorder. ),he two alliterative !airs of no"ns are (y atte(!ts to catch in English the weird flavor of the Hebrew tohu wabohu.. ($/0$% accessed thro"gh 7ogos 7ibroni:, no !age n"(bers available) )It is a little disconcerting to find that if we read verse & and so(e of the

50 following verses (ore closely, they see( -"st li e the Babylonian acco"nt to be tracing the beginning of the world bac to a ind of chaos. )Noes this (ean that God created the chaos, or, worse, that is was there in the beginning, inde!endent of hi(6 ,he cha!ter does not give an "neA"ivocal answer.. In the other two !assages with the !hrase tohu wabohu, F )Bearly all of the i(ages are violent ones and (a e "s thin of the desolation of conf"sion left behind by an earthA"a e or a whirlwind or an invading ar(y rather than of (ere e(!tiness.. Gibson fails to follow thro"gh on the i(!lications of this state(ent which is right in har(ony with Lal!h Winter5s thin ing. Everett Do: ($/0>) )When the earth was wild and waste *tohu #a-#ohu+ indicating Ge(!tiness.5. (A"oted by Ar(strong, $//2%$1) Gordon Wenha( ($/0<) Tohu wabohu (eans )total chaos.. It is an e:a(!le of a )hendiadys,. (eaning literally, )Waste and void.. ),his frightening disorganiJation is the antithesis to the order that characteriJed the wor of creation when it was co(!lete.. ($/0<%$4, $2) Con 7evenson ($/00) ,his a"thor e:tends the (eaning of tohu wabohu beyond the (erely !hysical conditions of the earth to ta e it as an )affir(ation that God as the creator of the world is directed against the forces that o!!ose hi( and his acts of creationIthe forces of disorder, in-"stice, affliction, and chaos, which are, in the Israelite worldview, one.. ($/00%:i:) Navid #tacey ($//>) ),he words chaos and -"(ble translate tohu and bohu, words that a!!ear in Gen $%& with the (eaning Gwitho"t for( and void5.. ($//>%&@/) #tacey brings o"t the hel!f"l fact that the i((ediate conte:t of Isaiah >1%$$ (vs. /, $@) describes the res"lts of volcanic activity. ()Edo(5s strea(s will be t"rned into !itch, her d"st into b"rning s"lf"r' her land will beco(e blaJing !itch8 It will not be A"enched night and day' its s(o e will rise forever..) He s"ggests this co"ld also be an all"sion to the -"dg(ent on #odo( and Go(orrah. (),hen the 7ord rained down b"rning s"lf"r on #odo( and Go(orrah F and *Abraha(+ saw dense s(o e rising fro( the land, li e s(o e fro( a f"rnace. *Genesis $/%&1, &0+.) #tacey !robably bases his inter!retation of )-"(ble and chaos. for tohu wabohu on the list of "nli ely ani(als he calls attention to, so(e of which cannot even be definitely identified by scholars. (Another co((entator, Christo!her #eitJ, sees in this cha!ter, in which the ani(als5 (ates are (entioned three ti(es, an all"sion to the chaos of Boah5s flood. *$//>%&><+) Isaiah !iles "! as ("ch i(agery in cha!ter >1 as he can thin of, incl"ding the all"sion to the chaos !receding creation, to (a e his !oint that Edo( will be -"dged8 Bernhard Anderson ($//1) Anderson, writing as 7evenson was with the realities of World War II in (ind, also sees tohu wabohu as re!resentative of the chaos faced in life at (any levels. ),he Gchaos and desolation5 of Gen $%& is not -"st a state(ent abo"t !ri(eval ti(es' it is a

51 state(ent abo"t a !resent !ossibility. Co((enting on this verse, Gerhard von Lad observes that h"(an beings have always had a ha"nting awareness Gthat behind all creation lies the abyss of the for(less.5 ($enesis, !. 4$). ($//1%$$) Allen Loss ($//2) Tohu wabohu (eans a chaos of wasteness, e(!tiness, and dar ness. )Genesis gives no e:!lanation for the chaos, b"t we (ay gather fro( the words "sed and fro( !arallel !assages that is was a -"dg(ent on rebellion, that #atan was so(ehow involved, and that o!!ressive evil e:isted instead of the f"llness of life.. (Loss $//2%<4) )#o(ething is drastically wrong at the o"tset. ,he earth was Gwaste and void5 or Gfor(less and e(!ty.5. ($//2%$@4) Cohn #ailha(er ($//2) He states that the correct sense of the Hebrew !hrase is )"ninhabitable. and )wilderness.. Tohu wabohu wo"ld never have been translated )for(less and void. or )for(less and e(!ty. )were it not for the Gree notion of G!ri(eval chaos.5 ,he sense of the Hebrew !hrase s"ggests so(ething A"ite different, a sense which so(e early translators identified A"ite clearly. Early non3Gree versions s"ch as the Ara(aic ,arg"(s show no trace of the conce!ts fo"nd in the 7PP. Ene early Ara(aic ,arg"( translates tohu wabohu as Gdesolate witho"t h"(an beings or beasts and void of all c"ltivation of !lants and of trees.5. ($//2%2>) ,his early translation is si(ilar to ,s"("ra5s and Walt e5s !references. It is an inter!olation of the conditions described in Genesis &%1, 4 bac into Genesis $%&. #ailha(er concl"des that )the Hebrew e:!ression tohu wabohu refers si(!ly to a Gwilderness5 that has not yet beco(e inhabitable for h"(an beings. (Ne"t. >&%$@). ($//2%2>) Botice, however that Ne"t. >&%$@ "ses only the ter( tohu. #ailha(er has not ta en into consideration what added insights are intended to be gained fro( the rhy(ing fig"re of s!eech, tohu wabohu. He does however, have an insight into another word !lay in the original Hebrew% tohu and tob. Tohu describes the land before it was tobSgood. ($//2%2>) (Better yet, co"ld this be an elli!sis of o!!osite ter(s, co(bined to show the sol"tion to the negative condition6 Tohu wabohu beco(es tob4) Gregory Boyd ($//<) ),he earth beca(e (or had beco(e) for(less and e(!ty. ,hese are "s"ally !e-orative ter(s in #cri!t"re, denoting so(ething one wrong, laid waste or -"dged. F ,his theory !ost"lates a !reh"(anoid world of indefinite d"ration abo"t which we now nothing (ore than that it so(ehow beca(e a battlefield between good and evil and was conseA"ently (ade into a total wasteland.. ($//<%$@0) Lobert Alter (&@@1) Alter recogniJes the validity of the ancient translation of tohu wabohu in the Babylonian ,al("d by Labbi Lesh 7a ish% ),he ,orah was given to Israel Gto teach "s that the Holy Ene (ade a condition with all created things, saying to the(, )If Israel acce!ts the ,orah, yo" will contin"e to e:ist. If not, I shall ret"rn yo" to welter and waste *tohu wabohu+..5 (Babylonian ,al("d%#habbat 00A).. (&@@1%i:) ,errence E. Drethei( (&@@4)

52 ,he a"thor is concerned in this later writing that if we ad(it that God shows violence (in dealing with s"!!osed evil re!resented by toh" waboh"), that gives !eo!le the -"stification for violence toward each other. (&@@4%>@/) B"t Drethei( is not consistent. He doesn5t deny God5s "se of force in -"dg(ent in Israel5s history, so why deny it in Genesis $6 ),s"("ra shows that the !hrase tohu wabohu (for(less void) has nothing to do with Gchaos5 and si(!ly (eans Ge(!tiness5 and refers to the earth which is an e(!ty !lace, i.e., Gan "n!rod"ctive an "ninhabited !lace.5 ,his !oint of view denies that verse & de!icts evil as being a constit"tive di(ension of the created order, even in li(ited sense.. (&@@4%1>) ,his view doesn5t deal with reality. 7evenson and Anderson both had to deal with the realities of WWII and now evil is !resent in this world and ("st be acco"nted for. Drethei(5s (ore recent view leads hi( to say that since so(e disorder has !ersisted beyond Creation, then s"ch ele(ents of disorder are )good.. (&@@4%11) ,his is e:actly the ty!e of thin ing Lal!h Winter is trying to co"nteract in his call to the evangelical world to fight conditions contrary to God5s will wherever it is fo"nd, s!ecifically in the real( of disease. In his ob-ections to the )chaos a(!h. theories of the Bear Eastern religions being attrib"ted to God, Drethei( wo"ld have benefited fro( the !ers!ective #tafford Wright. Wright !ro!osed that references to (ythical battles and chaos (onsters in the ancient stories (ay be )!reserving a !ri(eval tr"th that "nderlies the biblical conce!tion of the fall of #atan and the warfare between #atan and God.. ($/42%&<) Navid ,oshio ,s"("ra ($/00, $//1, &@@4) His !referred translation of tohu wabohu% A desert3li e, "ninhabited !lace, a waste land. He also agrees with the translation, )e(!tiness,. b"t denies that this has anything to do with )chaos.. He sees the ter( in Genesis $%& as referring to the earth in a state witho"t life, "ninhabited, e(!ty. ,s"("ra, li e Walt e, goes into great detail abo"t the (eaning of tohu wabohu, in several different !"blications, and in the end does not wrestle with the core iss"e, what is the significance of the (eaning of this ter(6 How does the e:egetical !rocess bring "s closer to "nderstanding God5s ways and !"r!oses with h"(an ind6 ,s"("ra does not give any hel! in this direction. In his article, ),oh" in Isa 14%$/,. in .etus Testamentum, ,s"("ra gives an e:cellent co(!rehensive e:egetical st"dy of tohu, b"t he doesn5t address the A"estion, in that or in any of his other writings, whether tohu wabohu ta en as a fig"re of s!eech (eans so(ething different than each of the words se!arately. ,s"("ra5s a!!roach to discovering the (eaning of the ter( tohu wabohu in Genesis $%& is thro"gh a detailed se(antic investigation thro"gh literary analysis (conte:t, e:a(ination of the ter(s in other !assages, !arallelis(s, fig"res of s!eech) and ety(ology% Kgaritic, A adian, and Arabic roots. His e:egetical a!!roach !rovided several e:a(!les of a!!roaches I have followed in (y original research on the (eaning of tohu wabohu. ,s"("ra5s e:tensive "se of !arallelis( to arrive at !ossible (eanings for dis!"ted ter(s was a very hel!f"l e:a(!le. His ety(ological s!ec"lations led (e to do (y own s!ec"lations on a !ossible Hebrew cognate for bohu, disc"ssed earlier. His listing of categories for the (eaning of the ter( tohu as it is "sed in each conte:t, and his own detailed analysis of each !assage, led (e to do (y own ind"ctive st"dies, charting the res"lts and reaching concl"sions inde!endently of other co((entators.

53 An original insight was reached by ,s"("ra thro"gh his ind"ctive st"dy. ,he fact that tohu wabohu is related in so(e way to hosekSdar ness (or )no light.) is seen in !arallel str"ct"res in both Genesis $%& and Cere(iah 1%&>. ,s"("ra says this had never been noticed by co((entators before. )In this case, the ter( tohu corres!onding directly to hosek Gdar ness5 !robably (eans Gdesolation.5. ($//1%>&@) A diagra( is !rovided here to (a e it easier to follow ,s"("ra5s line of reasoning, as well as to ill"strate its co(!le:ity. In the following e:a(!les, A and B are closely related, as are P and H. (,s"("ra wrote an article in .etus Testamentum s!ecifically to -"stify the "se of this APHB !attern. *$/00b%&>13&>2+) Genesis $%&% (A) Bow the earth (P) was for(less and e(!ty (tohu wabohu), (H) dar ness was over the s"rface (B) of the dee!. Cere(iah 1%&>% (A) I loo ed at the earth (P) and it was for(less and e(!ty (tohu wabohu) (B5) and at the heavens, (H) and their light was gone. ,s"("ra doesn5t say anything abo"t the fact that in Genesis $%& the co(!arison is between the earth and the )dee!,. while in Cere(iah 1%&> the co(!arison is between the earth and the )heavens.. B"t in both cases, it is tr"e that dar ness acco(!anies the condition of tohu wabohu. ,his association of ideas that ,s"("ra calls attention to led (e to e:!lore a n"(ber of other word associations with tohu and with tohu wabohu. ,he Word Associations chart in the A!!endi: s"((ariJes the res"lts of that research and contrib"tes to a f"ller "nderstanding of the significance of the ter(. A (ore straightforward e:a(!le of the "se of !arallelis( to discover connotations and "ses of the word toh" was seen earlier in this !a!er in Isaiah 14%$0, an e:a(!le ,s"("ra leans heavily "!on for his own concl"sions. Isaiah 14%$0 (#) Dor this is what the 7ord says33 (A) he who created the heavens, he is God' (A) he who fashioned and (ade the earth, he fo"nded it' (B) he did not create it to be (tohu) (B5) b"t for(ed it to be inhabited (#) he says%F Hebrew !arallelis( is often synony(o"s, as it is in this verse. #ince the gra((atical str"ct"re indicates that the two !hrases labeled )B. each e:!ress the sa(e tho"ght, one in negative and the other in !ositive ter(s, this leads to a (eaning of )"ninhabited. (,s"("ra5s !reference) or )e(!ty,. a broader, (ore incl"sive ter( which I !refer since it gives (ore fle:ibility in translating the sa(e word in other conte:ts. (In those verses that ,s"("ra is willing to ad(it the word is "sed abstractly he also advocates )e(!tiness. as the inter!retation. *$//1%>$2+) )E(!ty. can (ean "ninhabited

54 or desert, in the sense of !hysical e(!tiness, b"t it can also (ean e(!ty of (eaning, s"ch as worthless, !"r!oseless, or false (as in e(!ty words) in other conte:ts, as can be seen in the Word Associations chart. In fact, based on the larger conte:t, it wo"ld be a!!ro!riate to "se )!"r!oseless. for tohu in Isaiah 14%$0 (God did not create the world to be !"r!oseless). As a side note, Carl Ar(erding co(es to this concl"sion as well in his disc"ssion abo"t the contrast between a cyclical view of history and the Hebrew !"r!osef"l worldview% )Isaiah 14%$0 reaffir(s this h"(an as!ect of creation when it declares, )he did not create it a chaos (or Gwitho"t !"r!ose5), he created it to be inhabited.. ($/<1%1) H.C. 7e"!old5s translation agrees% )He did not create it to no !"r!ose S he for(ed it for (en to dwell in.. (7e"!old $/<$%$&/) ,he (ission and !"r!ose of God5s !eo!le is s!ecified a few verses later% ),"rn to (e and be saved, all yo" ends of the earth F Before (e every nee will bow' by (e every tong"e will swear. (Isaiah 14%&&, &>). ,a ing "ninhabited and )desert. as the (ain (eaning of tohu, as ,s"("ra does, does not allow one to find a root (eaning of the word that can (a e sense in both literal and abstract "ses and conte:ts. ,s"("ra5s !reference for a literal (eaning leads hi( to an "nhel!f"l concl"sion in his disc"ssion of toh" in Isaiah 14%$/. In fact, his !res"!!osition leads hi( to ignore a (ain e:egetical !rinci!le of inter!reting according to the conte:t. He gets too close to the i((ediate conte:t of the !arallelis( within the verse to notice the larger conte:t of the cha!ter or even the rest of the verse% Isaiah 14%$/ (BIO) I have not s!o en in secret, fro( so(ewhere in a land of dar ness' I have not said to Cacob5s descendants, )#ee (e in vain (tohu).. I, the 7ord, s!ea the tr"th' I declare what is right In this verse ,s"("ra ta es tohu to be in !arallel with )in a land of dar ness.. He "ses circ"lar reasoning to decide which ele(ents of the verse corres!ond to each other, s"!!orting his choice )by the fact that tohu basically (eans Ga waste land5 (or Gdesert5).. ($//1%>2&) After a n"(ber of !ages of co(!licated arg"(ents, ,s"("ra arrives at the following translation of Isaiah 14%$/% I did not s!ea in secret, In a land of dar ness, I did not say to Cacob5s descendants (in a land of) desolation, )#ee (e8. ($//1%>2&) ,his is al(ost the e:act o!!osite of (y concl"sion, which "ses a broader ter( for tohu that incor!orates abstract as well as !hysical (eanings. ,s"("ra is i(!lying that God did not s!ea at all8 (He did not say, )#ee (e..) Why insist on tohu being a !hysical !lace in this !assage6 And how does he acco"nt for the last !hrases of the verse that say God s!ea s right things' the tr"th6 (He co(!letely ignores this i((ediate conte:t in his disc"ssion.) ,s"("ra5s translation is "nhel!f"l for ill"(inating the conte:t of the cha!ter. His insistence on a literal desert for tohu is not in har(ony with the te:t. Tohu in this conte:t (eans )e(!ty. in the sense of )no !"r!ose, in vain,

55 falsely'. God is not giving false testi(ony. (#ee this obvio"s "se of tohu in Isaiah &/%&$.) ,s"("ra has overloo ed the rest of the verse in his eagerness to find s"!!ort for his literal inter!retation of toh". ,he !arallelis( and translation sho"ld be as follows% (A) I have not s!o en in secret (A) fro( so(ewhere in a land of dar ness (B) I have not said falselySto no !"r!ose to Cacob5s descendants, )#ee (e,. (C) I, the 7ord, s!ea the tr"th' (C) I declare what is right. ,his translation, s"!!orted by additional evidence in the End Botes, 1 has (issionary i(!lications that are (ade s!ecific by God5s invitation two verses later, ),"rn to (e and be saved, all yo" ends of the earth. (Isaiah 14%&&). In other words, God s!o e !lainly, in the light, and his righteo"s s!ea ing was not in vain, !"r!oseless, or for nothing. #o(e of Cacob5s seed did see hi( and so(e of his descendents did f"lfill God5s !"r!oses. Israel was created as a nation to (a e Hi( nown to the ends of the earth. ,his is in line with Lal!h Winter5s thesis that h"(ans were created to -oin the battle against the !owers of dar ness. It (ay be that ,s"("ra5s overloo ing of the last !hrases of the verse, and as a conseA"ence (issing the (eaning of the !assage, is d"e to his s!ecialty of technical ety(ological st"dies, which reA"ires !aying close attention to one word at a ti(e. ,hro"gh these st"dies ,s"("ra reaches the concl"sion, )it is !robable that Kgaritic thw is a cognate of Hebrew tohu and that both have the co((on (eaning of Ga desert.5. ($//1%>$&) He f"rther concl"des that the Hebrew bohu, )tho"gh still lac ing definite ety(ology, see(s to be a #e(itic ter( based on the root bhw and !ossibly a cognate of Arabic bahiya Gto be e(!ty.5. ($//1%>$>) An e:a(!le of how his ety(ological st"dies have led to his "nderstanding of tohu is fo"nd in a Kgaritic te:t in which !arallelis( assists in discovering shades of (eaning. In this line the Kgaritic ter( for )o"t of order. is eA"ivalent to the Hebrew tohu% ),he earth sha es SS the earth is o"t of order ( thw). . 4 Dro( this ,s"("ra concl"des that )"n!rod"ctive. is an a!!ro!riate translation both for the Kgaritic and the Hebrew ter(. (,s"("ra &@@4%&$) (And )"n!rod"ctive. is descri!tive of ,s"("ra5s favorite translation for toh", )desert,. as well as !art of his final concl"sion for the translation tohu wabohu.) I was enco"raged to try an infor(al ety(ological st"dy of the word bohu (disc"ssed !revio"sly) based on ,s"("ra5s e:a(!le of infor(ed s!ec"lation. In s"((ary, in ,s"("ra5s classification of the "ses of tohu, he sees both literal and fig"rative or abstract "ses, b"t he is deter(ined to concl"de that the word (ost often (eans )desert. or )"ninhabited.. As a res"lt he gives "nsatisfying e:!lanations for the cases in which the ter( is "sed abstractly, or when it is "sed sy(bolically as a literal (eta!hor. In the end ,s"("ra does not even (a e a good case for tohu "s"ally (eaning desert, since in Genesis $%& everything is wet8 B"t at least he considers the ter( )e(!ty Sdesolate. to be an i(!lication of his !referred inter!retation, )desert3li e.. (He recogniJes that in Isaiah &1%$@3$&, tohu is synony(o"sly !arallel to the ter( for desolation following the destr"ction of a city. *$//1%>$/+) )Nesolation. is (ore hel!f"l than )desert. in arriving at an e:!lanation for the co(!o"nd !hrase, tohu wabohu. ,s"("ra5s final concl"sion at the end of a long and co(!le: investigation is that )both the biblical conte:t and e:tra3biblical !arallels s"ggest that the !hrase tohu wabohu in

56 Gen $%& has nothing to do with Gchaos5 and si(!ly (eans Ge(!tiness5 and refers to the earth which is an e(!ty !lace, i.e., an "n!rod"ctive and "ninhabited !lace.. ($//1%>>0) Consolidated 1ist o( Commentators :nterpretations o( Tohu wabohu In concl"ding this section on the contrib"tions of a n"(ber of co((entators to the (eaning of tohu wabohu, a consolidated list of their inter!retations is !rovided% Witho"t for( and void Chaos as a res"lt of -"dg(ent (Nar ness and the dee! as !art of the chaos) Knfor(ed and "nfilled Nesolate and e(!ty Bothing whatever Dor(less waste Bot !rod"cing or s"!!orting life E!!osite or contrary to creation Wrec and r"in Nesolation and disorder Wild and waste Welter and waste Dorces that o!!ose God Kninhabitable and wilderness Nesert3li e E(!tiness Kn!rod"ctive and "ninhabitable 9eaninglessness, sha!elessness Instability and e(!tiness Chaos and -"(ble Con0,/s"ons and a((,"0a "ons o+ he mean"n! o+ tohu wabohu Lal!h Winter5s !referred !hrase for tohu wabohu, destroyed and desolate, fits well with this assort(ent of inter!retations. Tohu wabohuIwherever it is fo"ndIis the disastro"s res"lt of following a co"rse of behavior that is not God5s will. In each occ"rrence of this ter( it describes a -"dged and destroyed state of the earth and )this e(!tiness and (eaninglessness co(es abo"t beca"se it is deserved.. (9otyer $//>%&<$) It i(!lies the e:istence of evil and the need to overco(e that evil in order for God5s will to be done ()on earth as it is in heaven.). ,ranslations for tohu wabohu range fro( to!sy t"rvey, e:tre(ely e(!ty, "n!rod"ctive and "ninhabitable, desert3li e, not !rod"cing or s"!!orting life, wrec and r"in, destroyed and desolate, the o!!osite of creation. ,hese layers of (eaning (fro( whi(sical to deadly and anti3creational) can a!!ly in the c"lt"ral, societal and !ersonal ((ental or !hysical) real(s as well as to the negative, (i:ed3"! state of the !hysical creation. Con 7evenson, in Creation and the 0ersistence o( E#il, e:tends the (eaning of tohu wabohu beyond the (erely !hysical conditions of the earth to ta e it as an )affir(ation that God as the creator of the world is directed against the forces that o!!ose hi( and his acts of creationIthe forces of disorder, in-"stice, affliction, and chaos, which are, in the Israelite worldview, one.. ($/00%:i:) ,his is a ey insight with i(!lications for a warfare (issiology. Tohu wabohu incl"des all forces of disorder, whether visible or internal. (#ee End Bote 2 for a st"dy of the si(ilarities between

57 descri!tions of tohu and descri!tions of a heart that is not right with God, and vice versa.) ,he !attern shown in Genesis $ de(onstrates that God wants to t"rn disorder into order, evil into good, tohu into tob. As we have seen in this lengthy disc"ssion of tohu wabohu, destr"ction and desolation are inherent in a (ind rebelling against God. (#ee End Bote 2.) Evil choices are the evidence of a (ind in o!!osition to God, and that (ind (or society) can be characteriJed by the !hysical (eta!hor of tohu wabohuIdestroyed and desolate. It is destroyed beca"se it isn5t wor ing the way God (ade it to wor Iit is twisted, t"rned to wrong !"r!oses, therefore !"r!oseless fro( God5s !ers!ective. It is desolate beca"se the #!irit has withdrawn fro( that life or society, as in EJe iel5s vision of the #!irit in the wheels leaving the te(!le and the land. Evil choices res"lt in the #!irit leaving ()(y #!irit will not always strive with (an.) and the withdrawal of the #!irit of God leaves behind a desolate !ersonSsociety that self3destr"cts. However, this !essi(istic !ict"re isn5t the end of the story. In Genesis $%&, the #!irit is hovering or stirring over the dee! in !re!aration for a new beginning that will overco(e tohu with tob, or evil with good. #i(ilarly, in the Gos!el of Cohn we see the tradition that healing wo"ld ta e !lace at the !ool called Bethesda when an angel stirred "! the waters, (a ing the( life3!rod"cingShealing. ,he only ho!e for #!irit3abandoned individ"als or societies is for those who have the #!irit dwelling in the( to bring the #!irit to the desolate !erson or society. ,hose wor ing in !laces where !eo!le are s illed at doing evil and where the #!irit does not have a restraining infl"ence (ay need to be !re!ared to give "! their lives in the atte(!t to overco(e evil with good before the ?ingdo( can co(e and God5s will can be done on earth as in heaven in that corner of world.

HERMENEUTIC.6 .::6IC.TIONS Warfare (issiology as a the(e of the Bible% Bringing order o"t of chaos Correcting conditions that are contrary to God5s will Beginnings of a theology of disease

Bereshit bara elohim et hashamayim weet haaretz wehaaretz hayeta tohu wabohu wehosek al-pene tehom weruach elohim merachepet al-pene hammayim In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. As for the earth,

58 it was destroyed and desolate (tohu wabohu), with dar ness on the face of the dee!, b"t the #!irit of God stirring over the face of the waters. (Genesis $%$, &' original translation fro( the Hebrew).

All societies have to answer the A"estion, How shall we bring order o"t of chaos6 =eo!le trying to be s"b(itted to God in any c"lt"re need to find their own !artic"lar i(!lications for how to live in right relationshi! with God within that c"lt"re. ,he !rinci!les of Genesis $ are ti(eless and a!!ly in all c"lt"res in addressing these and other A"estions. ,he last section of this !a!er will a!!ly these !rinci!les in arriving at a (issiology and theology that concern how the Body of Christ sho"ld address disease. For the ancient Israelite culture the desert represented the tohu wabohu waiting in the wings to take over if they didnt care for their land or if their enemies destroyed it. (Oon Lad !oints o"t that !eo!le have always nown that evil l"r s in the bac gro"nd of their e:!erience. )9an has always s"s!ected that behind all creation lies the abyss of for(lessness' Fthat the chaos, therefore, signifies si(!ly the threat to everything created.. *$/<&%4&+) In all c"lt"res thro"gho"t history, disease is one for( of the chaos that is always waiting in the wings to overta e and destroy. AIN#, cancer, (alaria, t"berc"losisIthese are not the evidences of a loving Creator5s intentions for His Creation. ,hese are e:a(!les of o!!osition to God5s willIin other words, these are wor s of the adversary, the devil. ,he !hysical condition of the earth described as tohu wabohu serves as a (eta!hor for the !hysical, !ersonal and social !roble(s that ("st be addressed by a radical (issiology. Where God5s ?ingdo( does not yet e:ist, tohu reigns, with visible evidence of conditions contrary to God5s will (incl"ding disease and violence), and (issionary activity is needed to contin"e Christ5s (ission of destroying the wor s of God5s adversary, the devil. Ne(onstration of God5s will and God5s glory is the res!onsibility of the Body of Christ. Cross3c"lt"ral wor ers are "nder the (andate of Genesis $ to bring order o"t of chaos wherever they go as re!resentatives of the ingdo( of God. God5s !"r!oses for h"(ans in history have to do with overco(ing the evil origins of tohu wabohu by following His e:a(!le in Genesis $ as well as in other scri!t"ral !assages, s"ch as Lo(ans $&%&$ and $ Cohn >%0. ,he conte:t in which the conce!t of tohu wabohu is introd"ced right at the beginning of #cri!t"re, shows God5s !"r!ose is to correct conditions that are contrary to his will. Genesis 1 shows God preparing the land for a new humanity, made in His image for the purpose of working with Him to bring order out of chaos and to defeat the opposition of the adversary. (Both the ca"ses and often violent conseA"ences of that o!!osition can be gro"!ed "nder the two ter(s, tohu and , tohu wabohu.) All of life needs to be oriented to the war against evil that is the the(e of h"(an history. A warfare (issiology recogniJes that h"(ans were created to -oin God in resc"ing Creation fro( the ingdo( of dar ness, incl"ding the !hysical and social res"lts of intelligent evil, and in bringing transfor(ation that re!resents the advance of GodXs ingdo(. Lal!h Winter5s call to the evangelical world to incl"de fighting disease as an as!ect of (ission (&@@4a%$0@) echoes biblical the(es that have their origin in Genesis $%&. At the end of #cri!t"re, in the Boo of Levelation, we see the f"lfill(ent of God5s !"r!oses in history described in ter(s showing that the state of tohu wabohu has

59 finally been reversed% there is no (ore death, crying or !ain, and dar ness and night have been !er(anently re!laced with )good. light (see Levelation &$%>, 1' &&%4). In between this beginning and ending of #cri!t"re, the rest of the Bible e:!lains how to avoid or correct tohu wabohu at vario"s levels or it shows what ha!!ens when tohu wabohu is not corrected and the evil one5s infl"ence is allowed to contin"e. H"(ans are called to -oin God in overco(ing the ca"se of tohu wabohu (evil), with good (Lo(ans $&%$>). Cohn #ailha(er5s insight ill"strates this the(e% )tohu. describes the land before God (ade it )tob.Sgood. ($//2%2>) It is fighting bac against the forces of evil that ca"se tohu wabohu to do anything that brings order o"t of chaos. ,his is the origin of a theology of disease (dis3ease)Ithe o!!osite of ease, the opposite of order, disintegration (tohu wabohu) at the cellular level. Applying the finding of this paper, that tohu is a metaphor for anything contrary to Gods will, to God's intent to reverse such cellular tohu wabohu, is presented here as a candidate for the beginnings of a theology of disease. By describing the o!!osite of God5s intentions in the conte:t of the Creation acco"nt, tohu wabohu !oints toward the goal of that creationIa !lace that can be inhabited by h"(ans in !"r!osef"l fellowshi! with God. ,his ter( gives the ey to the Eld ,esta(ent, and to the entire Bible. An adversary that is hostile to life and who o!!oses God5s intentions e:ists. ,he whole the(e of e:istence is to fight bac against the adversary who orchestrates disorder and chaos in o!!osition to God. ,he rest of Genesis $ !oints the way in showing that it is !ossible to restore order with creativity and !atience, showing how to overco(e evil with good. H"(ans -oining God to defeat the adversary in this way can t"rn their world "!side down, as was said of the disci!les in the boo of Acts. Er !erha!s we sho"ld say, they can hel! t"rn the world right side "!, restoring it in so(e ways to God5s original intentions and bringing Hi( glory in the !rocess. As believers de(onstrate what God5s will is and what He is li e, the !eo!les of the earth will be attracted to follow that ind of God. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

60

END NOTES $. Cohn #ailha(er, the (ost o"ts!o en conte(!orary !ro!onent of the local earth theory, ca"tions in his boo , $enesis "nbound, that )today the word Gearth5 too easily calls "! i(ages of the whole !lanet on which we live.. ($//2%40) ,he (odern view of the "niverse sho"ld not be allowed to control o"r "nderstanding of what the a"thor of Genesis wo"ld have (eant by )earth.. Ene of #ailha(er5s so"rces, Cohn =ye #(ith, stated, )a (ost i(!ortant inA"iry is the (eaning of the word * aretz+ which we render earth.. ($041%&1/) He goes on to !oint o"t that the ancient Hebrews co"ld not have had any conce!tion of the !lanet as we now it ()the s!heroidal fig"re of the earth.), so we ("st base o"r "nderstanding of the )earth. )in confor(ity with the ideas of the !eo!le who "sed it. F DreA"ently it stands for the land of =alestine, and indeed for any co"ntry or district that is (entioned or referred to. #o(eti(es * aretz+ denotes a (ere !lot of gro"nd' and so(eti(es the soil, clay, and sand, or any earthy (atter.. ($041%&4@) &. A n"(ber of res!ected scholars agree that Genesis $%$ does not refer to the beginning of )everything. b"t to so(ething (ore recent. 9errill Knger re!resents the conservative evangelical "nderstanding% )Genesis $%$, & evidently describes not the !ri(eval creation e) nihilo, celebrated by the angels (Cob >0%<' Isa 14%$0), b"t the ("ch later refashioning of a -"dg(ent3ridden earth in !re!aration for a new order of creationI(an. ,he Genesis acco"nt deals only with God5s creative activity as it concerns the h"(an race in its origin, fall and rede(!tion.. ($/40%&0) >. K(berto Cass"to ob-ects to finding the (eaning of tohu wabohu by see ing to "nderstand the (eanings of the co(!onent words. He gives the ill"stration of )broadcast. in which the se!arate (eanings of )broad. and )cast. wo"ld not be !artic"larly hel!f"l in e:!laining the ter( to so(eone "nfa(iliar with the word. )Any one who does not now what Gbroadcast5 denotes will not be able to g"ess the connotation of the word fro( its se!arate ele(ents of Gbroad5 and Gcast.5 Dor the sa(e reason it is !rofitless to co(!are other !assages in which either of the words toh" or boh" occ"rs.. ($/11%&&). However, I res!ectf"lly disagree with Cass"to5s reasoning. His arg"(ent fails to ta e into acco"nt the fig"re of s!eech nown as a )hendiadys,. (entioned in connection with tohu wabohu in Genesis $%& by both Walt e ($//$%1) and Wenha( ($/0<%$4). Beca"se tohu wabohu is a fig"re of s!eech in which two se!arate words are -oined with a con-"nction, Cass"to5s arg"(ent "sing the single word broadcast does not see( a!!licable. It is i(!ortant to "nderstand the (eaning of each of the se!arate words in order to arrive at an "nderstanding of the connotations of the co(!o"nd ter(. 1. Isaiah 14%$/% Based on (y original e:egetical research, the !arallelis( and translation

61 sho"ld be as follows% (A) I have not s!o en in secret (A) fro( so(ewhere in a land of dar ness (B) I have not said falselySto no !"r!ose to Cacob5s descendants, )#ee (e,. (C) I, the 7ord, s!ea the tr"th' (C) I declare what is right. ,he (iddle !hrase (B) is e:!lained by both sets of !arallelis(s% God did not s!ea to the( in secret, b"t o!enly, and he did not s!ea to the( falsely or to no !"r!ose, b"t tr"thf"lly. In describing God as s!ea ing o!enly, and not in a secret, dar !lace, Isaiah (ay have had in (ind the incident in Genesis $0%$<, $0, when the 7ord said, )#hall I hide fro( Abraha( what I a( abo"t to do6 Abraha( will s"rely beco(e a great and !owerf"l nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed thro"gh hi(.. ,his also fits the larger conte:t of the Isaiah 14 in which God is inviting all the !eo!les of the earth to t"rn to hi(. ,he i(!lication of Isaiah 14%$/, is that it is thro"gh Cacob5s seed that the !eo!les of the earth sho"ld now God and be able to see hi(. ,he fact that God5s !lea to Abraha(5s and Cacob5s descendants was not worthless or false is s"!!orted by the "se of the word toh" in Isaiah &/%&$ to (ean )falsely.. In that conte:t Isaiah re!orts the 7ord as saying the !eo!le are dis!leasing hi( by t"rning things )"!side down. (&/%$2) fro( what is right, and one way they are doing this is by de!riving the innocent of -"stice with a )vain thing. or )worthless thing. (toh"), translated )false testi(ony. by the BIO. God5s words are not false testi(ony, they are not worthless or in vain, or to no !"r!ose. Inter!retating toh" as )to no !"r!ose,. also a!!lies to the "sage of toh" in the !receding verse (Isaiah 14%$0%God did not create the world to be !"r!oseless or (eaningless, b"t to be inhabited *by !eo!le with a !"r!ose being s!elled o"t in the larger conte:t of the cha!ter+.) ,he larger conte:t of the cha!ter shows that God did not create the world to be -"dged (toh"), in which case there wo"ld have been no !"r!ose in creating it in the first !lace' the world wo"ld have been toh", !"r!oseless. ,he conte:t of the cha!ter shows that Cyr"s, as God5s servant, is going to reb"ild what God had allowed to be destroyed. God wants all nations to be incl"ded in this reb"ilding, not -"st Israel. ,he sense of verse $/ is that what God declares (not in secret, and not to no !"r!ose) is right and tr"e when He says, )t"rn to (e and be saved all yo" ends of the earth. (verse &&). ,he content of what God said to Cacob5s descendants in relation to )see (e. is )t"rn to (e and be saved.33and he intends for that to ha!!en. He is not giving a false word of ho!e, and he is not saying that he never said, )#ee (e,. as ,s"("ra5s translation i(!lies. After arriving at these concl"sions thro"gh an ind"ctive st"dy, the a"thor discovered confir(ation for this inter!retation fro( a n"(ber of co((entators. Brevard Childs s"((ariJes this !oint of view%)God did not s!ea in secret, or conceal hi(self in a(big"o"s oracle. F God has always s!o en the tr"th and declared with is right.. (&@@$%>44) 9ichael Losenba"( !oints o"t that Israel had bro"ght the charge against Hahweh that he had hidden hi(self fro( the( (see Isaiah 1@%&< and the i((ediate conte:t of 14%$4) and they )wondered whether it was worthwhile see ing Hahweh at all. ,heir clai( was that it was Gvain5 to see Hahweh since he did not answer. Hahweh co"nters that he can be tr"sted to do what is right' it is not Gvain5 to see hi(.. ($//<%$$2) Hehosh"a Gitay draws on the !olitical conte:t, )the co(!laint abo"t God5s hiddenness *v. $4+ so"nds also li e a co(!laint abo"t God5s a!!arently !assive role in the c"rrent !olitical sit"ation. v. $/%GI have not said to Cacob5s descendants%see (e for

62 nothing,5 which declares that there is a !"r!ose and benefit in see ing God, res!onds in generalter(s to the co(!laint.. (Gitay $/0$%$/4) G. W. Wade gives additional historical bac gro"nd for the verse%),he 7ord5s !redictions were !"blic and e:!licit so that (en co"ld -"dge of the corres!ondence of events with the( and in this res!ect they differed fro( (any heathen oracles which were often to be obtained only in o"t3of3the3way localities and were a(big"o"s and enig(atic in character. F It was not the c"sto( of the 7ord, as it was of the heathen oracles, to invite (en to cons"lt Hi( and then afford the( no real hel!.. ($/&/%&/<) Wade5s e:!lanation co(bines both the literal and fig"rative as!ects of what is (eant by God not s!ea ing in )toh",. -"st as this a"thor concl"ded above. #o it ("st be ad(itted that ,s"("ra is not co(!letely wrong in his very detailed -"stification for a !hysical location as the (eaning of tohu in Isaiah 14%$/. ,oh" can be ta en in two ways si("ltaneo"sly% as a !lace !arallel to a land of dar ness (s"ch as a wilderness) and also as not being )in vain. or )false.. God did not s!ea fro( a desert area or secret, dar !lace, beca"se this is tr"e, !"blic infor(ation, and also when he decides to restore his !eo!le, the deserts will no longer be a wasteland, or tohu, b"t instead will beco(e fertile, filled with water and growing things. #ee the descri!tion in Isaiah >4 of the reversal of tohu, God5s goal for history% ),he desert and the !arched land will be glad' the wilderness will re-oice and blosso(. (vs. $) Water will g"sh forth in the wilderness and strea(s in the desert. (vs. 2) ,he b"rning sand will beco(e a !ool, the thirsty gro"nd b"bbling s!rings. In the ha"nts where -ac als once lay, grass and reeds and !a!yr"s will grow. (vs. <) And a highway will be there' it will be called the Way of Holiness. ,he "nclean will not -o"rney on it' It will be for those who wal in that Way (vs. 0) Bo lion will be there, nor will any ferocio"s beast get "! on it' they will not be fo"nd there. B"t only the redee(ed will wal there, (vs. /) and the ranso(ed of the 7ord will ret"rn. F Gladness and -oy will overta e the(, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (vs. $@) 4. An additional insight can be gained fro( these !arallel Kgaritic lines, ),he earth sha es SS the earth is o"t of order,. in which the Kgaritic for )o"t of order. is eA"ivalent to the Hebrew tohu. (,s"("ra &@@4%&$) In (y st"dies I had been investigating whether )sha ing. was associated with tohu, and fo"nd confir(ation in the !arallelis( of this e:a(!le. In addition, confir(ation is fo"nd in the verse following Cere(iah 1%&>% )I loo ed at the (o"ntains, and they were A"a ing' all the hills were swaying. (Cer 1%&1). In his co((entary on the Boo of Cere(iah, Elliott Binns re(ar s, )the effect of earthA"a es see(s to have (ade a dee! i(!ression on the (ind of *!eo!le+ in all ages. F ,he tre(bling of the (o"ntains re!resents to the( the overt"rning of all that is stable and tr"stworthy. E"r 7ord ado!ts this ind of lang"age in s!ea ing of the Glast things5

63 (9ar 0%0, &1 ff.) and 9"ha((ed habit"ally s!ea s of the -"dge(ent as the day when the (o"ntains will be set in (otion (?oran, l:i:. $1, l::viii.&@, :ci:. etc.). ($/$/%14) ,he Word Associations chart in the A!!endi: shows the biblical conte:t"al associations of sha ing with tohu. ,he significance of )sha ing. being !art of the i(!lications of the ter( tohu is seen in Cob >0%$&, $>% )have yo" ever given orders to the (orning, or shown the dawn its !lace that it (ight ta e the earth by the edges and sha e the wic ed o"t of it6. In Cob >0 )sha ing. is whi(sically associated with creation i(agery, indicating that the a!!earance of light ca"ses the wic ed to be sha en o"t of their hiding !lace in the dar ness. (,his al(ost so"nds li e an all"sion to a tent3dwelling no(ad sha ing the bed b"gs o"t of his slee!ing blan et in the (orning8) Tohu wabohu is a whi(sical ter( referring to serio"s conseA"ences of what te(!orarily ha!!ens to the !eo!le and the land when they are in a condition that is o!!osed to God5s will. B"t God5s #!irit ens"res that His !"r!oses will event"ally be acco(!lished and that the condition of toh" waboh" will not last forever. He did not create the world to be tohuS-"dgedSto!sy t"rveyS!"r!oseless, etc. etc. 2. Additional word st"dy co(!aring the word tohu with the word )heart. to show the connection between inner and o"ter tohu andSor tohu wabohu4 Hy!othesis% Tohu wabohu ()destroyed and desolate.) or -"st tohu a!!lies to inner chaos and rebellion against God as well as to the o"ter evidences of -"dg(ent. As a descri!tion of conditions that are not God5s will, tohu wabohu describes the visible or felt res"lts of the root ca"se of h"(an !roble(s, na(ely o!!osition to God5s will. ,hese res"lts incl"de violence at all levels of e:istence., incl"ding disease. When evil choices are (ade intentionally and re!eatedly, the heartS societyS earthS body begins to self3destr"ct and is witho"t the hel! of the #!irit of God. ,he sa(e ter(s are "sed in association with both the inner and o"ter states of tohu wabohu. ,his will be seen in the word st"dy on )heart.. A heart that is in o!!osition to God5s will is described by ter(s si(ilar to those "sed in association with the condition of tohu or tohu wabohu. A heart that is right with God is described in ter(s that are the o!!osite of the words "sed in association with the condition of tohu or tohu wabohu. It is i(!ortant to see no dichoto(y between innerSs!irit"al and o"terS!hysical or visible tohu wabohu. ,here is a contin""( rather than a dichoto(y. If a !erson lets o!!osition to God5s will and rebellion against biblical wisdo( get a foothold in their (ind, it will be e:!ressed in inward and o"tward chaos at the !ersonal, social, !olitical, and cos(ic levels. ,he cos(ic level incl"des weather, !rod"ctivity of the land and geological forces. I a( s!ec"lating along with ,ol ein ($/<<%$&) that #atan and his (inions have destr"ctively b"ilt tohu wabohu into the condition of the !lanet and this res"lts in rando( h"rricanes, ts"na(is, earthA"a es, asteroidal collisions, etc. God holds these disasters bac thro"gh the !rayers of eno"gh of his !eo!le. ,his is the Abraha( and 7ot syndro(e with the cities of #odo( of Go(orrah. Also see & ,hess. &%230% )Bow yo" now what is holding hi( *the (an of lawlessness+ bac , so that he (ay be revealed at the !ro!er ti(e. Dor the secret !ower of lawlessness is already at wor ' b"t the one who now holds it bac will contin"e to do so till he is ta en o"t of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, who( the 7ord Ces"s will overthrow with the breath of his (o"th and destroy by the s!lendor of his co(ing..

64 9y inter!retation of tohu wabohu avoids attrib"ting evil to God. It is God5s (ercy to allow nat"ral conseA"ences of evil to wi!e o"t !oc ets of the ene(y5s strongholds. It is God5s !assivity rather than his activity that brings -"dg(ent. He allows the wic edness of one gro"! to !"nish the wic edness of another gro"!. Er he allows the destr"ctive forces that #atan b"ilt into the cos(os to be "nleashed in rando( destr"ction where the #!irit of God has not been able to be s"fficiently infl"ential thro"gh believers and their !rayers to ward off disaster. Innocent as well as g"ilty !eo!le fall victi( to the b"ilt3in !atterns and conseA"ences of "nrestrained evil, which beco(es God5s -"dg(ent by defa"lt. AIN#, ts"na(is, h"rricanes, etc. are !otential e:a(!les of this. Concordance and conte)t study on the word ;heart%< with a comparison o( themes associated with tohu and themes associated with either a ri!ht or an e#il heart4 E:!ected finding% the inner t"r(oil of a heart in rebellion against God, not s"b(itted to his will, can be described as tohu wabohu. ,his inner reality is connected with o"ter evidences that can also be called tohu wabohu (destroyed and desolate). ,he sa(e ter(s will be fo"nd to describe both the inner and o"ter conditions of tohu wabohu. A heart that is right with God will be fo"nd to be described in ter(s that are the o!!osite of those associated with tohu wabohu. ,hese findings will show that it is the condition of the heart that deter(ines the behavior and the nat"ral or logical conseA"ences of that behavior (-"dg(ent or blessing). Word Associations in tohu !assages (see Word Associations chart in the A!!endi:)% Neath Nar ness #ha ing Water in negative connotations% flood or lac of it in dro"ght Nestr"ction Nesert, wasteland Oain, nothing, no !"r!ose Worthless (idols, foreign gods) 7ac of !"r!ose, lac of -"stice Dalse testi(ony C"dg(ent Kninhabited Conf"sion Nesolation Dear Wic edness L"ins Insanity, de!rived of reason Nr"n en staggering Dools # illed at doing evil Gen. 2%4 BIO% ,he 7ord saw how great (an5s wic edness on earth had beco(e and that every inclination of the tho"ghts of his heart was only evil all the ti(e.

65 Tohu the(es fo"nd in this conte:t of Boah5s flood% evil death -"dg(ent water in a negative conte:t violence destroy E:. >4%>4 BIO% He has filled the( with s ill *wisdo( of heart+ to do all inds of wor as crafts(en and F designers. >2%&% who( the 7ord had given ability *into whose heart the 7ord had !"t wisdo(+ and who was willing to co(e and do the wor . ,he(es that are the o!!osite of tohu wabohu% wisdo( vs. fools # illed at doing right vs. s illed at doing evil Ne"t. 2%4% love the 7ord thy God with all thine heart Broad conte:t in vs. &1ff% ,he 7ord co((anded "s to obey all these decrees and to fear the 7ord o"r God, so that we (ight always !ros!er and be e!t alive, as is the case today. And if we are caref"l to obey all this law before the 7ord o"r God, as he has co((anded "s, that will be o"r righteo"sness. ,he(es that are the o!!osite of tohu wabohu% !ros!er vs. destr"ction or worthless alive vs. death righteo"sness vs. wic edness Ne"t. 0%&% to now what was in thine heart 0%$1% thine heart be lifted "!, and tho" forget Broad conte:t in vs. $/ ff% If yo" ever forget the 7ord yo"r God and follow other gods and worshi! and bow down to the(, I testify against yo" today that yo" will s"rely be destroyed. 7i e the nations the 7ord destroyed before yo", so yo" will be destroyed for not obeying the 7ord yo"r God. BE,E% what is in their heart is what co(es o"t Tohu the(es fo"nd in this conte:t% follow other gods destroyed & Chr. &2%$2% his *KJJiah5s+ heart was lifted "! to his destr"ction BIO%After KJJiah beca(e !owerf"l, his !ride led to his downfall. He was "nfaithf"l to the 7ord His God ,his is an e:a(!le of the fact that the Eld ,esta(ent is a co((entary on what ha!!ens when o!!osition to God5s will is not overco(eItohu wabohu res"lts. & Chron >$%&$% *HeJe iah+ did it with all his heart and !ros!ered Cone:t% He was doing what was good and right and faithf"l before the 7ord his God. In everything that he "ndertoo F and in obedience to the law and the co((ands, he so"ght his God and wor ed wholeheartedly. And so he !ros!ered. BE,E% ,he historical boo s give !hysical and literal e:a(!les and (eta!hors for the

66 !rinci!les artic"lated in the =sal(s. =s <%$@ BIO% 9y shield is God 9ost High, who saves the "!right in heart. =s <%$1 He who is !regnant with evil and conceives tro"ble gives birth to disill"sion(ent. He who digs a hole and scoo!s it o"t falls into the !it he has (ade. ,he tro"ble he ca"ses recoils on hi(self, his violence co(es down on his own head. BE,E% E!!osition to God5s ways (rebellion against God, deliberate evil) is the root ca"se of the conseA"ences that fall "nder the category of tohu wabohu. ,he(es that co(!are with tohu wabohu% "!right vs. wic edness, !regnant with evil violence disill"sion(ent (nothing, no !"r!ose) =s. $4% Who (ay dwell in yo"r sanct"ary6 He who has clean hands and a !"re heart. ,he one who is bla(eless, righteo"s, s!ea s tr"th, no slander, does no wrong, casts no sl"r, honors those who fear the 7ord, ee!s his oath, does not acce!t a bribe. He who does these things will never be sha en. BE,E% ,his !erson is not a candidate for tohu wabohu (will never be sha en). Co(!arisons to tohu wabohu the(es% bla(eless, righteo"s vs. wic ed, evil s!ea tr"th vs. false testi(ony no slander vs. lac of -"stice never sha en vs. sha en and destroyed =s $/%0% the !rece!ts of the 7ord are right, re-oicing the heart =sal( $/%$>, $1% ?ee! yo"r servant also fro( willf"l sins' (ay they not r"le over (e. ,hen will I be bla(eless, innocent of great transgression. 9ay the words of (y (o"th and the (editation of (y heart be !leasing in yo"r sight, E 7ord, (y Loc and (y Ledee(er. BE,E% willf"l sins deter(ine the co"rse of a !erson5s life' they lead down the trac of violence recoiling on one5s own head (=s. <%$@) and visible tohu wabohu. =s. >2%$@% Contin"e yo"r love to those who now yo", yo"r righteo"sness to the "!right in heart. Broad conte:t in vs. $31, $&% an oracle concerning the sinf"lness of the wic ed. ,here is no fear of God before his eyes' F the words of his (o"th are wic ed and deceitf"l' he has ceased to be wise and to do good. Even on his bed he !lots evil' he co((its hi(self to a sinf"l co"rse and does not re-ect what is wrong. F #ee how the evildoers lie fallen Ithrown down, not able to rise8 BE,E% inner tohu wabohu res"lts in !hysical tohu wabohu. ,he origin of disaster was when the wic ed were !lotting evil and choosing a sinf"l co"rse. God withholds His !rotection fro( these !eo!le. B"t those who are following God5s righteo"s ways can clai( these verses in the sa(e cha!ter% )E 7ord, yo" !reserve both (an and beast (vs. 2)' )9ay the foot of the !ro"d not co(e agasint (e, nor the hand of the wic ed drive (e away. (verse $$). In this conte:t, these the(es indicate that tohu wabohu and its o!!osite are !resent at the tho"ght level% wic ed deceitf"l

67 not wise (fool) !lot evil (s illed at evil) righteo"sness vs. wic edness -"stice ref"ge vs. destr"ction river of delights vs. desert, destr"ctive water life vs. death light vs. dar ness evildoers fallen (res"lt of sha ing and destr"ction) =s 4$%$@, $<% create in (e a clean heart E God. F A bro en and a contrite heart, E God, yo" will not des!ise. A heart right with God e:hibits the o!!osite of the characteristics of toh" waboh"% Cleansed fro( sin tr"th wisdo( -oy and gladness =s 4$%$$ No not cast (e fro( yo"r !resence or ta e yo"r Holy #!irit fro( (e *desolation+ BE,E% ,his lends s"!!ort to (y s!ec"lation for how o"ter tohu wabohu co(es abo"t% the Holy #!irit is withdrawn fro( actively !reventing the conseA"ences of sin =s 22%$0% If I regard iniA"ity in (y heart, the 7ord will not hear (e. BE,E% ,he absence of God5s #!irit not wor ing in the hearts of those who )are s illed at evil,. and the res"lting desolation, leads to !hysical tohu wabohu ()the 7ord will not hear (e. and who nows what disaster the 7ord will conseA"ently not !revent6) =s 2/%>&% Ho"r heart shall live that see God (BIO% Ho" who see God, (ay yo"r hearts live8) ,he conte:t incl"des the(es associated with tohu% 2/%$ #ave (e, E God, for the waters *mayim+ have co(e "! to (y nec . 2/%& I sin in the (iry de!ths, F I have co(e into the dee! waters' the floods eng"lf (e. 2/%$1 Lesc"e (e fro( the (ire, do not let (e sin ' deliver (e fro( those who hate (e, fro( the dee! waters 2/%$4 No not let the floodwaters eng"lf (e or the de!ths swallow (e "! BE,E the !arallelis( between sin ing in dee! waters and being hated. ,his is tal ing abo"t the condition of the (ind with (eta!hors fro( the condition of tohu wabohu Conte:t si(ilarities to word associations of tohu: floodwaters de!ths (not tehom in this cha!ter) dr"n ards (vs. $&) resc"e (not -"dge) retrib"tion dar ness (vs. &>% 9ay their eyes be dar ened so they cannot see) wrathSanger !lace be deserted

68 no one to dwell in their tents Is. 4/%$> rebellion and treachery against the 7ord, t"rning o"r bac s on o"r God, fo(enting o!!ression and revolt, "ttering lies o"r hearts have conceived BE,E% ,he origin of the evidences of tohu wabohu (rebellion, treachery) was in the heart. Cer. >%$<% At that ti(e they will call Cer"sale( ,he ,hrone of the 7ord and all nations will gather in Cer"sale( to honor the na(e of the 7ord. Bo longer will they follow the st"bbornness of their evil hearts. BE,E% Tohu wabohu, o!!osition to God5s will and the disastro"s conseA"ences, which Cere(iah is describing the in the rest of the boo , starts in the heart. Cer. $<%/% ,he heart is deceitf"l above all things and beyond c"re. Who can "nderstand it6 $<%$@% I the 7ord search the heart and e:a(ine the (ind, to reward a (an according to his cond"ct, according to what his deeds deserve. BE,E% ,his verse see(s to i(!ly that what is in the (ind is eA"ivalent to cond"ct and deeds. Cer. $0%$$, $&% I a( !re!aring a disaster for yo" and devising a !lan against yo". #o t"rn fro( yo"r evil ways F ,hey will re!ly F we will contin"e with o"r own !lans' each of "s will follow the st"bbornness of his evil heart. BE,E% Dollowing this declaration is a descri!tion of tohu wabohu% $0%$4% 9y !eo!le have forgotten (e' they b"rn incense to worthless idols, which (ade the( st"(ble in their waysF $0%$2% ,heir land will be laid waste, an ob-ect of lasting scorn $0%$<% I will show the( (y bac and not (y face in the day of their disaster. $0%&@% sho"ld good be re!aid with evil6 BE,E% In this !a!er I a( calling attention to the fact that a (a-or the(e of #cri!t"re is to overco(e evil with good. B"t in order to de(onstrate His goodness, God chooses to allow disaster on !eo!le and societies whose hearts are st"bbornly t"rned away fro( Hi(. ,hen those who are not intentionally rebellio"s will have o!!ort"nity to e:!erience God5s goodness and restoration. ,his is sy(boliJed thro"gho"t the !ro!hets by the desert beco(e fr"itf"l. EJe iel $$%$/ I will give the( an "ndivided heart and !"t a new s!irit in the( EJe iel $0%>$ Lid yo"rselves of all the offenses yo" have co((itted, and get a new heart and a new s!irit. BE,E% ,his is the sol"tion to the root of all h"(an !roble(s% a new heart that follows God5s ways. Rech. <%$@% No not o!!ress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the !oor. In yo"r hearts do not thin evil of each other. BE,E% ,he first is the direct conseA"ence of the second' o!!ression is the res"lt of thin ing evil of others. Concl"sion%

69 ,hese sa(!le st"dies of !assages in which the word )heart. occ"rs show that destr"ction and desolation are inherent in a (ind rebelling against God. Evil choices are the evidence of a (ind in o!!osition to God, and that (ind (or society) can be characteriJed by the !hysical (eta!hor of tohu wabohuIdestroyed and desolate.

REFERENCE 6IST Alden, Lobert C. $/20 )7"cifer, Who or What6. B"lletin of the Evangelical ,heological #ociety. $$ (Winter)%>43>/. Alter, Lobert. $/0$ ,he Art of Biblical Barrative. Bew Hor . &@@1 ,he Dive Boo s of 9oses%A ,ranslation with Co((entary. Bew Hor % W. W. Borton Y Co.

Anderson, Bernhard $/4< ,he Knfolding Nra(a of the Bible. Bew Hor % Association =ress. $/2> $/2< $//1 ,he Beginning of History% Genesis. Bew Hor % Abingdon =ress. Creation vers"s Chaos. Bew Hor % Association =ress Dro( Creation to Bew Creation%E, =ers!ectives. 9innea!olis% Dortress

Anderson, Bernhard, W., ed. $/01 Creation in the Eld ,esta(ent. =hiladel!hia% Dortress. (Essays by G"n el, von Lad, Eichrodt, Wester(ann, and others) Andersen, B.E. $/0$ ),he Word GEarth5 in Gen $%$.. Erigins 0%$>3$/. Ar(erding, Carl E. $/<13<4 )An Eld ,esta(ent Oiew of Creation.. Cr": $&%>31.

Ar(strong, ?aren $//2 In the Beginning% A Bew Inter!retation of Genesis. Bew Hor % Alfred A. ?no!f. Barnho"se, Nonald G. $/24 ,he Invisible War. Grand La!ids% Rondervan.

70

Beal, ,i(othy ?. &@@& Leligion and Its 9onsters. Bew Hor % Lo"tledge. Binns, 7. Elliott $/$/ ,he Boo of the =ro!het Cere(iah. 7ondon% 9eth"en Y Co. Blocher, Henri $/01 In the Beginning% ,he E!ening Cha!ters of Genesis. Nowners Grove%InterOarsity. Blythin, I. $/2& )A Bote on Genesis $%&.. Oet"s ,esta(ent"( $&%$&@3&$.

Boice, Ca(es 9ontgo(ery $//0 E:!ositional Co((entary on Genesis. Ool $. Grand La!ids% Ba er. Bono, Ca(es C. &@@4 ,he ,wo Boo s% 7ing"istic As!ects of ,heir Interaction in the #i:teenth and #eventeenth Cent"ries. Kn!"blished !a!er !resented at the =ascal Conference C"ly $03&>. Boyd, Gregory A. $//< God at War% ,he Bible and #!irti"al Conflict. Nowner5s Grove% InterOarsity =ress. &@@$ #atan and the =roble( of Evil% Constr"cting a ,rinitarian Warfare ,heodicy. Nowner5s Grove% InterOarsity =ress.

Brandon, #GD $/2> Creation 7egends of the Ancient Bear East. 7ondon% Hodder and #to"ghton. Brown, Drancis, #. L. Nriver, and Charles A. Briggs $/</ ,he Bew Hebrew and English 7e:icon. =eabody, 9A% Hendric son ="blishers. Br"egge(ann, Walter $/0& Genesis. Atlanta% Cohn ?no: =ress. Calvin, Cohn $441 Co((entaries on the Dirst Boo of 9oses, Called Genesis. & vol. ,ranslated by Cohn ?ing for( the 7atin and Co(!ared with the Drench Edition. Edinb"rg% Dor the Calvin ,ranslation #ociety, $01<. Le!rint. Edinb"rgh% Banner of ,r"th. $/24 $/2@ Instit"tes of the Christian Leligion. Edited by Cohn ,. 9cBeill.

71 =hiladel!hia% West(inster. Ca(!olo, ,ony $//& How to Lesc"e the Earth witho"t Worshi!ing Bat"re%A Christian5s Call to #ave Creation. Bashville% ,ho(as Belson.

Candlish, Lobert #. $020 #t"dies in Genesis. Edinb"rg% AYC Blac . Le!rint. Grand La!ids%?regel. Cass"to, K(berto. $/11 A Co((entary on the Boo of Genesis. =art Ene% Dro( Ada( to Boah. Cer"sale(% ,he 9agnes =ress, ,he Hebrew Kniversity. Childs, Brevard #. $/4/ ),he Ene(y fro( the Borth and the Chaos ,radition.. Co"rnal of Biblical 7iterat"re <0%$/<. Clifford, Lichard. C., #. C. $/04 ),he Hebrew #cri!t"res and the ,heology of Creation.. ,heological #t"dies 12%4@<3&>. Coats, George W. $/0> Genesis, with an Introd"ction to Barrative 7iterat"re. Dor(s of Eld ,esta(ent 7iterat"re. Edited by Lolf ?nieri( and Gene 9. ,"c er, vol $. Grand La!ids% Eerd(ans. Cohn, Bor(an $//> Cos(os, Chaos, and the World to Co(e% ,he Ancient Loots of A!ocaly!tic Daith. Bew Haven% Hale Kniversity =ress. C"stance, A.C. $/<@ Witho"t Dor( and Ooid. Broc ville, Canada% C"stance. Crowther3Heyc , ?athleen &@@4 9osaic =hiloso!hy% ,he role of her(ene"tics in a #cri!t"re3based !hiloso!hy. Kn!"blished !a!er !resented at the =ascal Conference C"ly $03&>. Nanielo", Cean, #. C. $/<2 ,he Angels and ,heir 9ission According to the Dathers of the Ch"rch. ,rans. Navid Hei(ann. West(inster, 9N% Christian Classics. Navis, Edward and EliJabeth Ch(ielews i &@@4 Galileo and the Garden of Eden% Historical Leflections on Creationist Her(ene"tics. Kn!"blished !a!er !resented at the =ascal Conference

72 C"ly $03&>. Nill(ann, A. 1897 Genesis, Critically and Exegetically Expounded. Translated by William B. Stevenson. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

NelitJsch, DranJ $000 A Bew Co((entary on Genesis, 2th ed. & vols. ,ranslated by #o!hia ,aylor. Edinb"rgh% ,Y, Clar . Nes(ond, Ale:ander, ,. and Navid W. Ba er, editors &@@> Nictionary of the Eld ,esta(ent% =entate"ch. Nowners Grove%InterOarsity. Nodds, 9arc"s. $0/> ,he Boo of Genesis. E:!ositor5s Bible. 7ondon% Hodder YW#to"ghton. Nriver, #. L. $/10 ,he Boo of Genesis, with Introd"ction and Botes. $4th ed. Edited, with an A!!endi: by G. L. Nriver. West(inster Co((entaries. 7ondon% 9ethe"n. Edershei(, Alfred $0/2 7ife and ,i(es of Ces"s the 9essiah. Bew Hor % 7ong(ans, Green, and Co. Eichrodt, W. $/2& )In the Beginning.. Israel5s =ro!hetic Heritage% Essays in Honor of C". 9"lenb"rg, ed. B.W. Anderson and W. Harrelson. Bew Hor % Har!er and Low. !!. $3$@. Eliade, 9. $/4/ Cos(os and History. Chicago% Kniversity of Chicago =ress.

Evans, Craig A. and Willia( D. #tines!ring $/0< Early Cewish and Christian E:egesis. Atlanta, GA% #cholars =ress. Deinberg, Charles 7. $/0& Cere(iah%A Co((entary. Grand La!ids% Rondervan Legency Leference 7ibrary. Dields, Weston W. $/<2 Knfor(ed and Knfilled. Collinsville, I7% B"rgener Enter!rises. Dinegan, Cac

73 $/2& In the Beginning %A Co"rney thro"gh Genesis. Bew Hor % Har!er Y Brothers.

Dishbane, 9ichael $/<$ Cere(iah IO &>3&2 and Cob III >3$>%A Lecovered Kse of the Creation =attern. Oet"s ,esta(ent"( &$%$4$3$2>. Disher, 7.L. $/2/ Do

)An Kgaritic Lit"al and Gen $%$34Q 9ission de Las #ha(ra $<. Kgaritica 2%$/<3&@4.

el(an, C.=. $/<4 Barrative Art in Genesis. Assen and A(sterda(.

Do:, Everett, ,rans, Ed. $/0> In the Beginning% A Bew English Lendition of the Boo of Genesis, ,ranslated with Co((entary and Botes. Bew Hor % #choc en Boo s. Drethei(, ,errence E. $/2/ Creation, Dall, and Dlood% #t"dies in Genesis $3$$. 9innea!olis%A"gsb"rg ="blishing Ho"se. $//$ &@@4 ,he Lecla(ation of Genesis. Inter!retation, A Co"rnal of Bible and ,heology%>413>24. God and World in the Eld ,esta(ent% a Lelational ,heology of Creation

Gibson, Cohn C. $/0$ Naily #t"dy Bible #eries% Genesis, Ool. $. 7o"isville, ?ent"c y% West(inster, Cohn ?no: =ress. GinJberg, $/41 ,he 7egends of the Cews. =hiladel!hia% Cewish ="blication #ociety of A(erica.

Gitay, Hehosh"a $/0$ =ro!hecy and =ers"asion% A #t"dy of Isaiah 1@310. Bonn% 7ing"istica Biblica Bonn. Glasser, Arth"r D. with Charles E. Oan Engen, Nean #. Gilliland, and #hawn B. Ledford &@@> Anno"ncing the ?ingdo(. Grand La!ids% Ba er Acade(ic. Go"ld, #te!hen Cay $/// ,he =re3Ada(ite in a B"tshell. Bat"ral History. Ool. $@0, Bo. /%&13&<.

74 Groh, Nieter &@@4 Creation3,heology, Biblical Her(ene"tics and Bat"ral =hiloso!hy in Western Christianity. ,ranslated fro( the Ger(an by Cohannes Wienand. Kn!"blished !a!er !resented at the =ascal Conference C"ly $03&>. G"n el, Her(ann $//1 ,he #tories of Genesis. ,rans. by Cohn C. #c"llion.Oalle-o, CA%BIBA7 =ress. Harlan, 9ar &@@4 Conte:t"aliJing ,heology. Botes ta en fro( 9issiology lect"re at the K#CW9, C"ly &0.

Ha(ilton, Oictor =. $//@ Genesis Cha!ters $3$<. Grand La!ids% Eerd(ans. Har3Naview, N.E. $/>& ,he Genesis of Genesis. Bew Hor % Dle(ing H. Levell. Harner, =.B. $/2< )Creation Daith in Ne"tero3Isaiah.. Oet"s ,esta(ent"( $<%&/03>@2. Harris, L. 7aird, L., Gleason 7. Archer, Cr., and Br"ce ?. Walt e, Editors. $/0@ ) Leshit, Dirst, Beginning.. ,heological Wordboo of the Eld ,esta(ent. Chicago% 9oody =ress. Hasel, Gerhard D. $/<1 ),he =ole(ic Bat"re of the Genesis Cos(ology.. EvZ12%0$3$@&. $/<& ),he significance of the Cos(ology in Genesis $ in Lelation to Ancient Bear Eastern =arallels.. AK## $@%$3&@.

Heidel, A7e:ander $/4$ ,he Babylonian Genesis. &d ed. Chicago%Kniversity of Chicago =ress. Hess, Lichard #. $//1 Ene H"ndred Difty Hears of Co(!arative #t"dies on Genesis $3$$%An Everview. :n )I #t"died Inscri!tions fro( before the Dlood.% Ancient Bear Eastern, 7iterary, and ling"istic A!!roaches to Genesis $3$$. Lichard #. Hess and Navid ,oshio ,s"("ra, eds. =!. >3&2. Winona 7a e, IB% Eisenbra"ns. Howell, ?enneth, C. &@@4 Bat"ral ?nowledge and ,e:t"al 9eaning in the ,ho"ght of A"g"stine% ,he 9anichean Challenge. Kn!"blished !a!er !resented at the =ascal Conference C"ly $03&>. H"((el, Charles E. $/02 )Inter!reting Genesis Ene.. Co"rnal of the A(erican #cientific

75 Affiliation (CA#A) Ool. >0, Bo. >, #e!te(ber. Cacob, E. $/40 Ca i, #tanley $/<1 ,heology of the Eld ,esta(ent. 7ondon% Hodder Y #to"ghton. #cience and Creation%Dro( Eternal Cycles to an Escillating Kniverse. Bew Hor % #cience History ="blications.

$//&a Kniverse and Creed. 9ilwa" ee, WI% 9arA"ette Kniversity =ress. $//&b Genesis $ thro"gh the Ages. 7ondon% ,ho(as 9ore. Cans(a, ,. $/<@ )#o(e Le(ar s on the #yro3He:a!laric Leading of Gen $%&. Oet"s ,esta(ent"( &@%$23&1.

Cen ins, =hili! &@@2 ,he Bew Daces of Christianity%Believing the Bible in the Global #o"th. E:ford% E:ford Kniversity =ress. ?aiser, Christo!her B. $//< Creational ,heology and the History of =hysical #cience%,he Creationist ,radition fro( Basil to Bohr. 7eiden% E.C. Brill. ?aiser, Walter C. $/<@ ),he 7iterary Dor( of Genesis $3$$.. :n Bew =ers!sectives in the Eld ,esta(ent. Ed C.B. =ayne, !!. 10324. Waco% Word. ?ass, 7eon L. &@@> ,he Beginning of Wisdo(% Leading Genesis. Bew Hor %Dree =ress. ?a"f(ann, HeheJ el $/<& ,he Leligion of Israel. Bew Hor % #choc en. (an abridge(ent and translation of his 03vol"(e Hebrew wor , !"blished between $/>< and $/42). ?e(!, ?arl ,. &@@> Oerse3by3Berse #t"dy of Genesis cha!ters $3>. #er(on Botes. ?eil, Carl Driedrich $022 Biblical Co((entary on the E,. Ool.$, ,he =entate"ch. ,ranslated by Ca(es 9artin. Edinb"rgh% ,Y, Clar . ?elly, No"glas D. $//& Creation and Change% Genesis $.$ 3 &.1 in the 7ight of Changing #cientific =aradig(s. Loss3#hire% 9entor.

76 ?e(!, ?arl ,. &@@> Oerse3by3Berse #t"dy of Genesis cha!ters $3>. #er(on Botes. ?idner, Nere (A"oted by Walt e in Bib#ac) $/2< Genesis% An Introd"ction and Co((entary. Nowners Grove%InterOarsity. ?ittel, Gerhard, and Gerhard Driedrich $/21 )Noctrine of Angels in C"dais(.. ,heological Nictionary of the B,. ,rans. Geoffrey W. Bro(iley. Grand La!ids% Eerd(ans. ?line, 9.G. $/4< )Beca"se It Had Bot Lained.. West(inster ,heological Co"rnal &@%$123 $4<.

?sel(an, C. #. $/<0 ,he Lecovery of =oetic Drag(ents fro( the =entate"chal =riestly #o"rce. Co"rnal of Biblical 7iterat"re /<%$2$3$<>. 7a(bert, Wilfred G. $/24 QA Bew 7oo at the Babylonian bac gro"nd of Genesis.Q Co"rnal of ,heological #t"dies, Bew #eries $2%&00. 7e"!old, Herber Carl $/1& E:!osition of Genesis. & vols. Grand La!ids% Ba er. $/<$ E:!osition of Isaiah% Ool"(e II Cha!ters 1@322. Grand La!ids% Ba er. 7ewis, Edwin $/10 ,he Creator and the Adversary. Bew Hor % Abingdon3Co esb"ry. 7ewis, Cac =. $/0/ ),he Nays of Creation% An Historical #"rvey of Inter!retation.. Co"rnal of the Evangelical ,heological #ociety, Ool. >&, Bo. 1 (Nec.) 7ewis, ,ayler $044 ,he #i: days of Creation' or ,he #cri!t"ral Cos(ology, with the Ancient Idea of ,i(e3World in Nistinction fro( Wolrds in #!ace. #chenectady% G.O. Oan Nebogert. 7evenson, Con $/00 Creation and the =ersistence of Evil% ,he Cewish Nra(a of Nivine E(ni!otence. #an Drancisco% Har!er Y Low. 7eibowitJ, Beha(a $/<& #t"dies in Genesis. Cer"sale(% World Rionist ErganiJation. 7ightfoote, Cohn $21& A Dew, and Bew Ebservations, "!on the Boo e of Genesis. 7ondon% ,o

77 Badger. 7oewen, Cacob A. &@@@ ,he Bible in Cross3C"lt"ral =ers!ective. =asadena% Willia( Carey 7ibrary.

7"ther, 9artin $/40 7"ther5s Co((entary on Genesis %A Bew ,ranslation . & vols. ,ranslated by ,heodore 9"eller fro( In !ri("( libr"( 9ose enarrationes. Grand La!ids% Rondervan. 9atthews, ?enneth A. &@@$ Genesis $3$$%&2. Broad(an Y Hol(an, !!. $1@3$1>% 9ay, Herbert Gordon $/>/ ),he Creation of 7ight in Genesis $%>34.. CB7 40%&3>3$$. 9c?enJie, C.7. $/22 ,he ,wo3Edged #word. Bew Hor %I(age. 9ettinger, ,ryggve B. N. $/04 Dighting the =owers of Chaos and HellI,owards the Biblical =ortrait of God. #t"dia ,heologica >/%&$3>0. 9olt(ann, Cergen $/04 God in Creation. #an Drancisco% Har!er and Low. 9orea", A. #cott, ,o "nboh Adeye(o, Navid G. B"rnett, Bryant 7. 9yers and Hwa H"ng &@@& Neliver Ks fro( Evil% An Kneasy Drontier in Christian 9ission 9orris, Henry $/<1 #cientific Creationis(. #an Niego% Creation 7ife ="blishers. $/<< $/<2 ,he Beginning of the World. El Ca-on, CA% 9aster Boo s. ,he Genesis Lecord% A #cientific and Nevotional Co((entary on the Boo of Beginnings. Grand La!ids% Ba er.

9otyer, C. Alec $//> ,he =ro!hecy of Isaiah%An Introd"ction and Co((entary. Nowners Grove%InterOarsity. 9"lder, 9artin Can, Ed. &@@1 9i ra% ,e:t, ,ranslation, Leading and Inter!retation of the Hebrew Bible

78 in Ancient C"dais( and Early Christianity. =eabody, 9A% Hendri son ="blishers. Bewso(, Carol A. &@@> ,he Boo of Cob%A Contest of 9oral I(aginations. Bew Hor %E:ford Kniversity =ress. Bet Bible, accessed thro"gh the internet. Bielsen, ?irsten $//0 #atan% ,he =rodigal #on6%A Da(ily =roble( in the Bible. #heffield, England% #heffield Acade(ic =ress B"(bers, Lonald l. $//& ,he Creationist% ,he Evol"tion of #cientific Creationis(. Ber eley% Kniversity of California =ress. Ech, Bernard $//4 Creation and Lede(!tion% ,owards a ,heology of Creation. C"dais( Ool. 11%&&231>. #!ring. Ed"yoye, 9od"!e $/0< ,he #ons of the Gods and the Na"ghters of 9en% An Afro3Asiatic Inter!retaiton of Genesis $3$$. 9ary noll%Erbis Boo s. =agels, Elaine $//4 ,he Erigin of #atan. Bew Hor % Lando( Ho"se. =annenberg, Wolfhart $/<@ Basic Z"estions in ,heology% Collected Essays, Ool"(e $. ,rans. George H. ?eh(. =hiladel!hia% Dortress =ress. =ayton, Ca(es L. Cr. &@@4 Bat"ral =hiloso!hy and #cri!t"re in Eastern Christianity. Kn!"blished !a!er !resented at the =ascal Conference C"ly $03&>. =assinya, 7. 9onsengwo $/<2 ),he 7iterary Dra(ewor of Genesis $.. Biblica 4<%&&43&1$. =atton, Corrine 7. $//4 Genesis $ thro"gh the Ages%a Boo Leview. ,he Catholic Biblical Z"arterly. 4<%$1@3$1$. Can"ary. =ayne, N. D. $/21 Genesis Ene Leconsidered. 7ondon% ,yndale =ress.

=ayton, Ca(es L. Cr. &@@4 Bat"ral =hiloso!hy and #cri!t"re in Eastern Christianity. Kn!"blished !a!er !resented at the =ascal Conference C"ly $03&>.

79 =earcey, Bancy &@@1 ,otal ,r"th% 7iberating Christianity fro( Its C"lt"ral Ca!tivity. Wheaton% Crossway Boo s. =e(ber, G.H. $0<2 Earth5s Earliest Ages and ,heir Connection with 9odern #!irit"alis( and ,heoso!hy. 7ondon and Glasgow% =ic ering Y Inglis. =etersen, Navid 7. $/</ )Hahweh and the ErganiJation of the Cos(os.. C#E, $>%1<321. =ritchard, C.B. ed. $/44 Ancient Bear Eastern ,e:ts Lelating to the Eld ,esta(net. =rinceton% =rinceton Kniversity =ress. Lees, N. Ben, ed. &@@> Oehicles of Grace and Ho!e% Welsh 9issionaries in India $0@@U$/<@. =asadena% Willia( Carey 7ibrary. Lenc ens, Henric"s #.C. $/21 Israel5s Conce!t of the Beginning%,he ,heology of Genesis $3>. Bew Hor % Herder and Herder. Lichards, 7arry $/<2 7et Nay Begin%9an in God5s Kniverse. #t"dies in Genesis and Cob. Elgin, I7% Navid C. Coo . Lichardson, Alan $/4> Genesis I3PI. ,orch Bible Co((entaries. 7ondon% #C9. Li((er, Harry $/1$ 9odern #cience and the Genesis Lecord. Grand La!ids% Eerd(ans. Lobbins, Gregory Allen, Ed. $/00 Genesis $3> in the History of E:egesis%Ingrig"e in the Garden. 7ewiston, BH% ,he Edwin 9ellen =ress Losenba"(, 9ichael $//< Word3Erder Oariation in Isaiah 1@344%A D"nctional =ers!ective. Assen, the Betherlands% Oan Gorc"(. Losenba"(, 9. and A.9. #ilber(ann, translators $/12 =entate"ch with ,arg"( En elos, Ha!htaroth and =rayers for #abbath and Lashi5s Co((entary. 7ondon% #ha!iro, Oallentine. Loss, Allen =. $//2 Creation and Blessing% A G"ide to the #t"dy and E:!osition of Genesis.

80 Grand La!ids% Ba er. Loss, H"gh $//0 &@@$ ,he Genesis Z"estion% #cientific Advances and the Acc"racy of Genesis. Colorado #!rings% Bav!ress. ,he Creator and the Cos(os% How the Greatest #cientific Niscoveries of the Cent"ry Leveal God. Colorado #!rings% Bav=ress.

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#arna, Bah"( 9. $/22 Knderstanding Genesis. Bew Hor % #choc en Boo s. $/0/ #a"er, Erich $/2& Genesis. C=# ,orah Co((entary Ool.. $. =hiladel!hia% Cewish ="blication #ociety. ,he ?ing of the Earth. Grand La!ics %Eerd(ans.

#chaeffer, Drancis $/<& Genesis in #!ace and ,i(e. Glendale% Legal Boo s. #chlier, Heinrich $/2$ =rinci!lalities and =owers in the Bew ,esta(ent. Bew Hor % Herder and Herder. #eitJ, Christo!her L. $//> Isaiah $3>/. Inter!retation% A Bible Co((entary for ,eaching and =reaching. 7o"isville% Cohn ?no: =ress. #hea, WIllia( H. $/<0 ),he Knity of the Creation Acco"nt.. Erigins 4%/3>0. #ilber(ann, Labbi A. 9., ed. $/>1 Lashi5s Co((enatary ,ranslated into English and Annotated. Cer"sale(% Deldhei( ="blishers. # inner, Cohn $/$@ A Critical and E:egetical Co((entary on Genesis. &d ed. International

81 Critical Co((entary. Edinb"rgh% ,Y, Clar . #(ith, Gary O. $/<< )#tr"ct"re and ="r!ose in Genesis $3$$.. CE,# &@%>@<3$/. #(ith, Cohn =ye $041 ,he Lelation Between the Holy #cri!t"res and #o(e =arts of Geological #cience. 7ondon%Henry G. Bohn. #!eiser, E!hrai( E. $/21 Genesis%,he Anchor BIble. Bew Hor . #!"rrell, George Ca(es $0/2 Botes on the Hebrew ,e:t of the Boo of Genesis. &d ed. 7ondon% Dro"de. #tacey, Navid $//> Isaiah%Cha!ters $3>/. 7ondon% E!worth =ress. #ternberg, 9. $/0< ,he =oetics of Biblical Barrative%Ideological 7iterat"re and the Nra(a of Leading. Indiana #t"dies in Biblical 7iterat"re. Bloo(ington% Indiana Kniv. =ress. #tigers, Harold G.A. $/<2 A Co((entary on Genesis. Grand La!ids% Rondervan. #tra"s, 7eo $/4< $/0$ )Inter!retation of Genesis.. A lect"re in the Wor s of the 9ind series at the Kniversity of Chicago. Can"ary &4. )En the Inter!retation of Genesis.. 75Ho((e PPI, no. $ (Can.39ar.) !!. 43&@.

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82 Dlood.% Ancient Bear Eastern, 7iterary, and ling"istic A!!roaches to Genesis $3$$. Lichard #. Hess and Navid ,oshio ,s"("ra, eds. =!. >$@3 >&0. Winona 7a e, IB% Eisenbra"ns. &@@4 Creation and Nestr"ction% A Lea!!raisal of the Chaos a(!f ,heory in the Eld ,esta(ent. Winona 7a e, IB% Eisenbra"ns.

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83 ,heory and the =recreation Chaos ,heory.' !art 1 ),he ,heology of Genesis $Q, !art 4, ),he ,heology of Genesis $,. cont. Bib#ac $>&%&43 >2, $>2311, &$23&0, >&<31&' $>>%&031$. $//$ ),he 7iterary Genre of Genesis $.. Cr": &< (Nec.) !!. &3$@.

Walt e, Br"ce ?. with Cathi C. Dredric s &@@$ Genesis% A Co((entary. Grand La!ids%Rondervan. Wel er, 9ichael $/// Creation and Leality. ,ranslated by Cohn D. Hoff(eyer. 9innea!olis% Dortress. Wenha(, Gordon C. $/0< Genesis $3$4, Word Biblical Co((entary. Waco, ,P% Word Boo s. West, Gerald E. N"be #ho(anah, 9"sa W.Boston &@@$ ,he Bible in Africa. Brill Acade(ic ="blishers. Wester(ann, C. $/<$ Creation. 7ondon%#=C?. $/01 Genesis $3$$. 9innea!olis% A"gsb"rg. Wenha(, Gordon C. $/0< Genesis $3$4, Word Biblical Co((entary. Waco, ,P% Word Boo s. Wildavs y, Aaron $/01 ,he B"rsing Dather% 9oses as a =olitical 7eader. Kniversity of Alaba(a =ress. Win , Walter $/01 Ba(ing the =owers% ,he 7ang"age of =ower in the Bew ,esta(ent. =hiladel!hia% Dortress =ress. Winter, Lal!h N. &@@4a Drontiers in 9ission%Niscovering and #"r(o"nting Barriers to the 9issio Nei. =asadena% WCIK =ress. &@@4b Leview of ,otal ,r"th by Bancy =earcey and ="r!ose Nriven 7ife by Lic Warren. ICD9 &$%1,$</. &@@4c =lanetary Events and the 9ission of the Ch"rch. Nonald 9cCl"re 7ect"reshi!, =ittsb"rgh ,heological #e(inary. Ectober >, 1. &@@4d Interview with a"thor. Bov $$. 2006 The Unfinished Epic: in five acts. Unpublished paper.

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Wright, C. #tafford $/42 ),he =lace of 9yth in the Inter!retation of the Bible.. Co"rnal of the ,ransactions of the Oictorian Instit"te. 00%$03>@ Wright, B.,. $/// ,he Challenge of Ces"s% Lediscovering Who Ces"s Was and Is. Nowners Grove%InterOarsity =ress. Ho"ng, E.C. $/21 #t"dies in Genesis Ene. Grand La!ids%Ba er Boo Ho"se.

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Genera,E9e!es"s and Hermene/ "0s: de9argarie, Bertrand, #.C. $//> An Introd"ction to the History of E:egesis. Ool I%,he Gree Dathers. =etersha(, 9A% #aint Bede5s ="blishing. Dee, Gordon, and No"glas #t"art $//> How to Lead the Bible for All Its Worth. &nd Edition. Grand La!ids% Rondervan. Dishbane, 9ichael $/</ ,e:t and ,e:t"re. Bew Hor . Dree(an, Hobart E. $/20 An Introd"ction to the Eld ,esta(ent =ro!hets. Chicago% 9oody =ress. Hirsch. E.N. $/2< Oalidity in Inter!retation. Bew Haven% Hale Kniversity =ress. Cacobs, 7o"is $/<> Cewish Biblical E:egesis. Bew Hor % Behr(an Ho"se. ?"gel, Ca(es 7. and Lowan A. Greer $/02 Early Biblical I(ter!retation. =hiladel!hia% West(inster =ress. Boble, =.L.

85 $//4 ,he Canonical A!!roach% A Critical Leconstr"ction of the Her(ene"tics of Brevard #. Childs, BI# $2 (7eiden%Brill), !!. $0<3&$0, >1@34@.

Elth"is, Ca(es H. with Nonald G. Bloesch, Clar H. =innoc and Gerald ,. #he!!ard. $/0< A Her(ene"tics of Klti(acy% =eriod or =ro(ise6 7anha(%Kniversity =ress of A(erica.

#t"art, No"glas $/0@ Eld ,esta(ent E:egesis% A =ri(er for #t"dents and =astors, &nd ed. =hiladel!hia%West(inster =ress. Oan Ge(eren, WIlle( A., Ed. $/<< A G"ide to Eld ,esta(ent ,heology and E:egesis. Grand La!ids%Rondervan.

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