From Noah to Israel: Realization of the Primaeval Blessing After the Flood

by Carol Kaminski

Publisher:

T&T Clark

, 2004

Overview

The primeval blessing, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth,' first announced to humankind in Genesis 1.28 is renewed to Noah and his sons after the flood in Genesis 9.1. There is widespread scholarly consensus that the ensuing dispersion in Genesis 10.1-32 and 11.1-9 is the means by which the creation blessing is fulfilled. Kaminski argues that the primeval blessing is not fulfilled in the Table of Nations and that Yahweh's scattering Noah's descendants in the Babel story does not contribute positively to the creation theme. Rather, the creation blessing is being taken up in the primary line of Shem (Genesis 11.10-26), which leads directly to Abraham.

She further suggests that divine grace is not absent after the Babel judgment, as is commonly assumed, but is at work in the Shemite genealogy. She argues that the primeval blessing, which is unfulfilled in the primeval history, is taken up by Abraham and his descendants by means of a divine promise. While the blessing is in the process of being realized in the patriarchal narratives, it is not fulfilled. The multiplication theme is resumed, however, in Exodus 1.7, which describes Israel's proliferation in Egypt. This is the first indication that the creation blessing is fulfilled. Realization of the primeval blessing progresses after the flood, therefore, from Noah to Israel. Yet God's blessing on Israel is not for their sake alone - it is the means through which the divine intention for creation will be restored to the world.

Product Details

• Title: From Noah to Israel: Realization of the Primaeval Blessing After the Flood
• Author: Carol M. Kaminski
• Series: Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement series
• Publisher: Sheffield Academic Press
• Publication Date: 2005
• Volume: 413
• Pages: 168

About Carol Kaminski

Dr. Carol M. Kaminski has taught Old Testament and Hebrew language courses at the Boston and South Hamilton campuses of Gordon-Conwell since joining the seminary faculty in 2002. She is a member of the Institute for Biblical Research, the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Biblical Literature. Her dissertation has been published by T&T Clark, entitled, From Noah to Israel: Realization of the Primaeval Blessing After the Flood, and she is currently writing a book entitled Was Noah Good? Finding Favor in the Flood Narrative, which examines the role of divine favor in the Flood Story. Dr. Kaminski has also created an Old Testament CASKET Timeline and written a companion text, Old Testament CASKET Study Guide (forthcoming fall 2009), which are part of the CasketEmpty Bible Series (www.casketempty.com). She speaks at conferences and retreats, focusing on in-depth biblical teaching for laity. Originally from Australia, Dr. Kaminski holds an M.A. in Old Testament and an M.A.in Religion from Gordon-Conwell, and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge. Her research interests include exegesis and theology of Genesis, Old Testament covenants and the meta-narrative of the Old Testament.