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Genesis and the Qualifications of the Chosen People Author: Jeffrey M. Jaffe Publisher: Gefen Publishing House
Price: $19.95 Special Price: $18.00 Format: Hard Cover ISBN 10: 9657801443 ISBN 13: 9789657801444 Catalog Number: 7801-44 Year Published: 2024
Description: From the Preface
A major theme of the book of Genesis is the genealogy of the Jewish people. Starting with Genesis chapter 11, which introduces Abraham, the remaining forty-one chapters are all about the life of Abraham, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Evidently the purpose is to introduce the nation that will be freed from slavery and stand at Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. This nation will have the unique and difficult 613 mitzvot (commandments) to perform, as part of their covenant with God.
The story of that nation could be told in many ways. There must be a purpose to the particular narrative and set of vignettes provided in Genesis. It stands to reason that the purpose of Genesis is to explain and justify why the Patriarchs and the nation of their descendants were worthy of this historical role. While that seems reasonable, it can sometimes be difficult to see how the vignettes in Genesis support the worthiness of the nation.
