Motifs, Themes, and Symbols in the Primeval Cycle
(Genesis 1:11-11:32)
Theme of Creation and Work
y
“In the beginning,” after Eden
y
after the Flood
y
in the plains of Shinar
Symbolism of Sacred Space and Mountain
y
Eden
y
Ararat
y
Tower of Shinar
Man as Gardener and Maker
y
Adam
y
Cain
y
Noah
y
neighbors of Shinar
Issue of Will, Desire, Aggressive Rebellion
y
Eve, Adam, and serpent
y
serpentine sin and Cain
y
gods and daughters of earth
y
evil people of Noah’s time
y
builders of Babel
The Pantheon
y
at creation of man
y
at exile from Eden
y
with the daughters of the earth
y
at the dispersal from Babel
Motif of Exile, Destruction, Dispersion
y
after rebellion in Eden
y
after murder of Abe
y
after evil and violence in generation of Noah
y
after challenge of builders of Tower of Babel
Cite as: Ina Lipkowitz, course materials for 21L.458 The Bible, Spring 2007. MIT OpenCourseWare
(http://ocw.mit.edu/), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on [DD Month YYYY].
Geographical Orientation
y
“the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east”
y
the exile of man “east of Eden”’
y
the exile of Cain “eastward of Eden”
y
the movement of peoples “from the east” to build the tower
Typology of Man and Time
y
10 generations between Adam and Noah
y
10 generations between Noah and Abram
Cite as: Ina Lipkowitz, course materials for 21L.458 The Bible, Spring 2007. MIT OpenCourseWare
(http://ocw.mit.edu/), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Downloaded on [DD Month YYYY].