Study Questions for the Homework Assignment

OLD Testament Genesis 12-24

1. Read the stories about Abraham (=the father of nations) and his descendants as a historian would read a historical document, and mine it for information about marriage and inheritance laws, and sexual transgressions. For example, why was it okay for Abraham to have sex with his slave? Why does Lot rather want to give up his daughter than hand over his guests?

2. What do you think is the significance, function and meaning of circumcision in the covenant of God with Abraham?

3. Carefully examine Abraham's sacrifice of his son Isaac. Usually, it is understood as a symbolic act. Some however, have argued that infanticide (the killing of one's child) was a widespread practice during that time. If the latter were the case, would that change your interpretation of the story?

4. What do you think was the significance for women to be able to bear sons?

5. Were the slave girls given to the brides by their fathers an extension of the brides’ uterus, or were they sexual playmates for the husbands?

6. What say did wives have in who their husbands would “lie with”?

7. Given the fact that God has been given different names throughout Genesis, how do we know that it has been the same God throughout? Do genealogies have anything to do with this?