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Identify the Theological themes which can be distinguished in the Primeval Account (Genesis 1-11). Discuss with reference to the text and Authors Concerns. " In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth " (Genesis 1.1) The Pentateuch (the name given to the first five books of the bible) is considered to be the most important part of the Old Testament. It records the account of creation, the fall of man, the law code as well as the experiences of ancient Israel. Genesis is the first of these books, which records the creation of the world and Israeli history up until the time of Joseph. In chapters Gen 1-11, the origins of the world and that of the human race are introduced and in chapters, 12 onwards are the stories of the Ancestors. In this essay one will concentrate and discuss the theology of chapter one to eleven which contains much valuable and important messages for its readers who were properly Israelites in post-exilic period (which will be discussed later). Also, the author’s intent and concerns for the text will be explored, to see what they may have wanted to convey to the reader. However before one discusses the theology of Genesis 1-11 and in order to understand the text, it may be of some importance to gain an insight into the historical and social background of which the author would have composed his work. As a result a brief introduction of the Ancient Israelites may help to distinguish the author’s concerns and intentions for the text, within the readers social and religious lives at that time. Evidence in both Biblical and archaeological records show us that besides the Israelites, there were of course many other nations of people living in Palestine at the time of authorship. These included among others the Kenites, Hitties, Perizzites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girga* censored*es and Jebusites etc. Yet in this essay one will refer to them as the Canaanites to keep things simple. Basically, the Canaanites religions are polytheistic (a belief in many gods on many different levels). These gods also were separated into that of national, functional, family and ancestral gods of the different tribes. Religion in the Ancient Near East was diverse yet although the gods worshiped were different, there were similarities in religious doctrine. It is also noted that the gods of the Ancient Near Eastern religions were closely linked to natural phenomenon with each God having their own status and purpose. Examples can be seen in the religions of Canaan and Babylon were Baal Hadad was known As the thunder god responsible for rain. Other examples included El Elyon who was the sun God, Yamm who was the god of the sea and Mot the god of death. It seems that the purpose of Genesis and the intent of its author under the background of such Polytheistic beliefs was to create an image of an all-powerful and almighty God, which would eclipse all other Gods in other religions and project a true monotheistic faith. The theology of Genesis 1-11 with the author's concern to show Gods power and the relationship between God and his people (the Israelites) can be thus seen to follow a pattern of explanation and clarification in a belief towards a one true God.
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