Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 92 No. 5, 2022.
Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.53745/bs.92.5.11
The Force of Love and Hate in the Narrative of Joseph (Gen 37–50)
Irena Avsenik Nabergoj
; Faculty of Theology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
The Joseph story in Genesis 37-50 is a homogeneous literary narrative, although it consists of various sources (J, E, P). The key to understanding the narrative is the statement at the beginning of the story about the special relationship of Jacob’s (Israel’s) father to his younger son Joseph and the negative reaction of Joseph’s brothers to his advantage over them: »Now Israel loved (ʼāhab) Joseph more than any of his other sons /…/ And when his brothers saw that their father loved him (kî-ʼōtô ʼāhab ’ăbîhem) more than all his brothers they hated him (wayyiśněʼû ʼōtô) /…/« (Gen 37:3-4). The article is based on a semantic and literary analysis of the structure of the narrative, which stands out for its contrasts. In revealing the literary manner of demonstrating the work of characters in their positive or negative role, we find out how much the characters act under the influence of their own desires, passions or ideals and how much their presentation is under the influence of a higher plan of history in a broader perspective of biblical theology and ethics.
Keywords
emotions and feelings in the Old Testament; love; hate; trust; forgiveness; semantic analysis; biblical interpretation
Hrčak ID:
301114
URI
Publication date:
2.5.2023.
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