The Sale of Joseph in Genesis 37:18–26: Narrative Cohesion and Coherence
The purpose of this discussion is to assess the ability of the Documentary Hypothesis to provide a compelling reading of Genesis 37. Is the literary reconstruction of the J/E source divisions able to offer a compelling, internally consistent text? As a counter proposal, I consider the framework of c...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Alberta Library
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Hebrew Scriptures |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/29634 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832582762366763008 |
|---|---|
| author | Matthew McAffee |
| author_facet | Matthew McAffee |
| author_sort | Matthew McAffee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The purpose of this discussion is to assess the ability of the Documentary Hypothesis to provide a compelling reading of Genesis 37. Is the literary reconstruction of the J/E source divisions able to offer a compelling, internally consistent text? As a counter proposal, I consider the framework of coherence theory as a means of evaluating the central claim of documentarians that Genesis 37 lacks compositional cohesion and coherence. The method of this discussion takes the following course. First, I sketch out a brief overview of the various compositional approaches to Genesis 37 and its place in the Joseph story. Second, I consider the nature of narrative cohesion and coherence and how these concepts inform one’s reading of Genesis 37, arguing that the markers of cohesion embedded in the narrative provide a means of guiding the reader coherently through the twists and turns of the plot line. Third, I highlight several narrative links that cross proposed source boundaries, functioning as linguistic signals for cohesion, and that suggest literary coherence. Fourth, I re-assess the so-called Ishmaelite/Midianite problem that has served a central role in most source divisions of Genesis 37.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-90a77e34c04348c1b9944cc11c2593f6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1203-1542 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | University of Alberta Library |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hebrew Scriptures |
| spelling | doaj-art-90a77e34c04348c1b9944cc11c2593f62025-01-29T09:23:18ZengUniversity of Alberta LibraryJournal of Hebrew Scriptures1203-15422025-01-012410.5508/jhs29634The Sale of Joseph in Genesis 37:18–26: Narrative Cohesion and CoherenceMatthew McAffee0Welch CollegeThe purpose of this discussion is to assess the ability of the Documentary Hypothesis to provide a compelling reading of Genesis 37. Is the literary reconstruction of the J/E source divisions able to offer a compelling, internally consistent text? As a counter proposal, I consider the framework of coherence theory as a means of evaluating the central claim of documentarians that Genesis 37 lacks compositional cohesion and coherence. The method of this discussion takes the following course. First, I sketch out a brief overview of the various compositional approaches to Genesis 37 and its place in the Joseph story. Second, I consider the nature of narrative cohesion and coherence and how these concepts inform one’s reading of Genesis 37, arguing that the markers of cohesion embedded in the narrative provide a means of guiding the reader coherently through the twists and turns of the plot line. Third, I highlight several narrative links that cross proposed source boundaries, functioning as linguistic signals for cohesion, and that suggest literary coherence. Fourth, I re-assess the so-called Ishmaelite/Midianite problem that has served a central role in most source divisions of Genesis 37. https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/29634Genesis 37Documentary Hypothesis(Neo-)DocumentarianJ/E sourcecohesioncoherence |
| spellingShingle | Matthew McAffee The Sale of Joseph in Genesis 37:18–26: Narrative Cohesion and Coherence Journal of Hebrew Scriptures Genesis 37 Documentary Hypothesis (Neo-)Documentarian J/E source cohesion coherence |
| title | The Sale of Joseph in Genesis 37:18–26: Narrative Cohesion and Coherence |
| title_full | The Sale of Joseph in Genesis 37:18–26: Narrative Cohesion and Coherence |
| title_fullStr | The Sale of Joseph in Genesis 37:18–26: Narrative Cohesion and Coherence |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Sale of Joseph in Genesis 37:18–26: Narrative Cohesion and Coherence |
| title_short | The Sale of Joseph in Genesis 37:18–26: Narrative Cohesion and Coherence |
| title_sort | sale of joseph in genesis 37 18 26 narrative cohesion and coherence |
| topic | Genesis 37 Documentary Hypothesis (Neo-)Documentarian J/E source cohesion coherence |
| url | https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/29634 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT matthewmcaffee thesaleofjosephingenesis371826narrativecohesionandcoherence AT matthewmcaffee saleofjosephingenesis371826narrativecohesionandcoherence |