Yale - RLST145 - Lecture 4 - Doublets and Contradictions, Seams and Sources
Channel: Michael Rupp
Date: 2013-03-01

Lecture Chapters: 1. 0:00 The Taming of Enkidu in The "Epic of Gilgamesh"; 2. 5:44 The Story of Enkidu as Parallel to the Second Story of Creation in Genesis; 3. 21:29 Major Themes in the Story of Cain and Abel; 4. 24:02 Comparing Mesopotamian, Semitic and Israelite Flood Stories; 5. 35:32 Contradictions and Doublets in the Flood Story in Genesis 6-9; 6. 42:42 Implications of the Repetitions and Contradictions throughout the Bible
Overview:
This lecture continues the discussion on Genesis, including the familiar accounts of Cain and Abel, the Flood and Noahide covenant. The story of Cain and Abel expresses the notion of the God-endowed sanctity of human life and a "universal moral law" governing the world. Examination of the contradictions and doublets in the flood story leads to a discussion of the complex composition and authorship of the Pentateuch. These features as well as anachronisms challenge traditional religious convictions of Moses as the author of the first five books of the Bible.

Extra Reading:
1. Jewish Study Bible: Introduction to the Torah, pp. 1-7; Gen 5-11
2. Habel, Norman. Literary Criticism of the Old Testament. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1971. pp. 1-42
For Discussion w/peer's:
3. Gen 1-3
4. Boyarin, Daniel. "Behold Israel According to the Flesh" and "Different Eves." In Carnal Israel. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1993. pp. 31-46, 77-106
5. Pagels, Elaine. Adam, Eve and the Serpent. New York: Random House, 1988. pp. 57-77
6. Trible, Phyllis. "Depatriarchalizing in Biblical Interpretation." In JAAR 41. pp. 30-48

Yale Source:
http://oyc.yale.edu/religious-studies/rlst-145/lecture-4