Hymn of the Creator (Gen 1,1-2.4a) in the interpretation of the Book of Jubilees (Jub 2)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/BPTh.2011.006Keywords
Genesis, creation story, God the Creator, Jubilees, interpretation of the creation story, creation of the angels, Israel’s election, the sabbathAbstract
The Book of Jubilees was written in Hebrew around the middle of the second century B.C. This document has taken from the biblical creation story (Gen 1,1–2,4a) the arrangement into six days of work, after which comes the seventh day of rest. Like Genesis, Jubilees numbers the days and details what was made on each one. There are, however, some differences. For example, the creation of the angels on the first day (Jub 2,2) and the mention of the Garden of Eden (Jub 2,7). The Book of Jubilees highlights many of the themes. Firstly, the emphasis in Jubilees lies on God as creator and recipient of praise. God alone created the universe and all its parts. Secondly, the sun is ruler of times in the creation. The sun alone has calendrical duties, not the moon and stars. The sun, like the sabbath, is a great sign given by God. Thirdly, Israel’s election is built into creation story, as God rested at the end of 22 works, so Jacob (Israel) arose after 22 generations. Jacob (Israel) and the sabbath are blessed and holy. Israel was chosen to keep the sabbath.
References
Brzegowy T., Czytając Heksaemeron (Rdz 1,1-2,3), w: W. Chrostowski (red.), Jak śmierć potężna jest miłość. Księga pamiątkowa ku czci Księdza Profesora Juliana Warzechy SAC (1944-2009), Warszawa-Ząbki 2009.
Charles R. H., The Book of Jubilees or the Little Genesis, London 1902.
Crawford S. W., Rewriting Scripture in Second Temple Times (SDSSRL), Grand Rapids-Cambridge 2008.
Denis A. M., Fragmenta pseudepigraphorum quae supersunt graeca (PVTG 3), Leiden 1970.
Endres J., Biblical Interpretation in the Book of Jubilees (CBQMS 18), Washington 1987, 238-249.
Flint W., Noncanonical Writings in the Dead Sea Scrolls: Apocrypha, Other Previously Known Writings, Pseudepigrapha, w: P. W. Flint (red.), The Bible at Qum- ran. Text, Shape, and Interpretation (SDSSRL), Grand Rapids-Cambridge 2001.
Kondracki A., Księga Jubileuszów, w: R. Rubinkiewicz (red.), Apokryfy Starego Testamentu, Warszawa 1999, 262-342.
Muchowski P., Komentarze do rękopisów znad Morza Martwego (Seria Judaica i Hebraica, 1), Poznań 2005.
Segal M., The Book of Jubilees: Rewritten Bible, Redaction, Ideology and Theology (JSJSup 117), Leiden 2007, 1-41.
Steck O. H., Die Aufnahme von Genesis 1 in Jubiläen 2 und 4. Ezra 6, JSJ 8 (1977), 154-182.
van Ruiten J. T. G. A. M., Primaeval History Interpreted: The Rewriting of Genesis 1-11 in the Book of Jubilees (JSJSup 66), Leiden 2000, 18-27.
VanderKam J. C., Genesis 1 in Jubilees 2, w: tenże, From Revelation to Canon. Studies in the Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Literature, Boston-Leiden 2002.
VanderKam J. C., Textual and Historical Studies in the Book of Jubilees (HSM 14), Missoula 1977, 207-285.
VanderKam J. C., The Book of Jubilees. A Critical Text (CSCO 510; Scriptores Aethiopici 87), t. I, Louvain 1989.
VanderKam J. C., The Manuscript Tradition of the Book of Jubilees, w: G. Boccaccini, i in. (red.), Enoch and the Mosaic Torah: The Evidence of Jubilees, Grand Rapids-Cambridge 2009, 3-21.
VanderKam J. C., The Origins and Purposes of the Book of Jubilees, w: M. Albani i in. (red.), Studies in the Book of Jubilees (TSAJ 65), Tübingen 1997.
VanderKam J. C., Milik J. T., Jubilees, w: H. Attridge, i in. (red.), Qumran Cave 4.VIII: Parabiblical Texts, Part 1 (DJD 13), Oxford 1994.
Wintermute O. S., Jubilees, 55-58; L. Fusella, Libro dei Giubilei, w: P. Sacchi (red.), Apocrifi dell'Antico Testamento (TEA Religioni e Miti, 17), Milano 2002, 126-131.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
CC BY ND 4.0. The Creator/Contributor is the Licensor, who grants the Licensee a non-exclusive license to use the Work on the fields indicated in the License Agreement.
- The Licensor grants the Licensee a non-exclusive license to use the Work/related rights item specified in § 1 within the following fields: a) recording of Work/related rights item; b) reproduction (multiplication) of Work/related rights item in print and digital technology (e-book, audiobook); c) placing the copies of the multiplied Work/related rights item on the market; d) entering the Work/related rights item to computer memory; e) distribution of the work in electronic version in the open access form on the basis of Creative Commons license (CC BY-ND 3.0) via the digital platform of the Nicolaus Copernicus University Press and file repository of the Nicolaus Copernicus University.
- Usage of the recorded Work by the Licensee within the above fields is not restricted by time, numbers or territory.
- The Licensor grants the license for the Work/related rights item to the Licensee free of charge and for an unspecified period of time.
FULL TEXT License Agreement
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 2090
Number of citations: 0
