Biblical History   Term Paper ID:27956 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Presents biblical history as one of tensions between siblings. States that such rivalry is responsible for much of the dispersion of peoples & development of different nations.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Presents biblical history as one of tensions between siblings. States that such rivalry is responsible for much of the dispersion of peoples & development of different nations. Paper Introduction: In the stories of various sibling groups in the Bible, we can see that one of the clear effects of sibling rivalry is the dispersion of peoples, serving as an explanation of why different groupings of people take place. The Bible explains the development of different nations and groups of people by reference to their seminal founders, usually brothers who fought and separated for some reason. Relations between siblings in Genesis tend to be antagonistic, often based on disputes about the right of succession in the family and about the way inheritance is divided. The story of Cain and Abel, the first siblings, sets the tone for the relationship. It is not that every pair of siblings leads to a murderous act, but rather that tensions between siblings produce a variety of crimes and other problems. As with the outcome of the story of Cain and Abel, one of the results in Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. Pleasantville, New York: The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. God gives Moses a series of laws in addition to the Ten Commandments,and one of these holds that the firstborn is entitled to a double portionof the inheritance that will be divided among the sons. This would be the origin of the twelve tribes of Israel.This is another case in which the tensions within a family group led to thefurther dispersion of people and the creation of new tribes and groups,tribes that were separate but also linked through inheritance (Genesis 37-45). As with the outcome of the story of Cain and Abel, oneof the results in each of these stories is the dispersion of peoplethroughout the world as groups associated with different siblings move intonew territory. The reason why thiscould happen at all is that Adam and Eve had fallen from grace and hadtransmitted sin through sexual reproduction: "So Cain, when another formof carnal desire, envy, overcame his rational judgment, murdered hisbrother, exemplifying the lust for power that now dominates and distortsthe whole structure of human relationships" (Pagels, 1988: 114). Biblical history can be seen asa history of tensions between people who are in truth related in somefashion, having originated from a common root and then having moved apart. (1991). The tensions that develop betweenthe brothers lead to the murder of Abel, after which Cain is cast out andhis progeny cursed. If there were no such tension, there would instead by an orderlytransition to the firstborn, which would not have the same effect asdispersing the sons to spread people through more of the world as God hascommanded. Having sold his birthright, Esau grows tohate his brother as he sees the father giving the other son the blessingthat should have been his (Genesis 27-37). After they had survived the Flood, the three brothers would divergebecause of the sin of Ham, the youngest (or perhaps the middle son, sincethere is some argument over this point). Now, Joseph's father favors his younger child because thatchild was born in his old age, and the brothers all hate Joseph because ofthe actions of their father. The story of Cain and Abel has meaning beyond relations betweensiblings. The results are not in dispute, though -whatever Ham saw, he told his brothers about it, compounding his offenseand angering them. (1988). The Bible explains the development of different nations andgroups of people by reference to their seminal founders, usually brotherswho fought and separated for some reason. God isusing prophecy and the foibles of human beings to bring about good after aperiod of evil. (ed.). TheBible is not clear as to why Cain is not favored before he kills Abel. That sin works its way through his children until Joseph setsthings right. Jacob is able to fool his fatherbecause the older man is blind. 137). The other brothers joined with their father againstHam, and Ham's son, Canaan, and his progeny were cursed. In time, Joseph becomes the head of Egypt, and when there is afamine, his brothers come to Egypt seeking food for their people. In the stories of various sibling groups in the Bible, we can seethat one of the clear effects of sibling rivalry is the dispersion ofpeoples, serving as an explanation of why different groupings of peopletake place. Esau is thefirstborn, but Jacob becomes involved in a devious scheme with his motherto cheat Esau out of his rightful place, meaning taking both hisinheritance and his role as leader of the family. Esau is not blameless, for he sells his birthright and thus breaksthe tradition and the law himself. He isone of the descendants of Jacob, who had himself broken the law ofsuccession. And Cain was very wroth,and his countenance fell" (Genesis 4.5). Josephgets his revenge before revealing himself and preserving the family, whichis important because this family is to receive God's covenant. Even with twins, one child is older than the other. The origin of the tension is in fact notalways clear - why Cain's offering is scorned is not clear, nor is the sinof Ham. ABC's of the Bible. New York: Random House.Ward, K. It is not that every pair of siblings leads to a murderousact, but rather that tensions between siblings produce a variety of crimesand other problems. The brothers plot against him and have him soldinto slavery in Egypt, thus placing him under the dominion of others in away that God would abhor. Adam, Eve, and The Serpent. These stories also serve to explain other factors, such as theenslavement of the Canaanites and the low status of certain tribal groups.All can be traced back to original sin and to its effects on humankind,with each generation having to cope with this legacy in the form of sin andcorruption. The sin of Jacob was foretold, but it was a sinnonetheless. Anotherimportant case of sibling tensions can be found in the story of the sons ofNoah. For that matter, there is someuncertainty about the meaning of the sin committed by Ham - it seems tohave been accidental that he saw his father naked, and what this means inany case is open to some dispute. Sibling rivalry develops not only over questions of succession butover questions of preference, and the story of Joseph shows this. Even his father is displeased when he dreams these furthergrandeurs for himself. Jacob succeeds in thisscheme. Interestingly, though, it is the firstborn in the case of Cain andAbel who is the criminal and who is not favored in the eyes of God. These tensions developed because thetraditional family relationships are distorted, ignored, or challenged,whether by a child who does not accept the normal lines of succession (aswith Cain and Abel) or because the father favors one child over the others,and that child out of the proper order of succession (as with the story ofJoseph). The act of murderis an extreme example of having dominion over another. In addition, Joseph has a dream that he willhave dominion over his brothers, which angers them the more because he isthe youngest and thus should not have dominion over any of them. Thestory of Cain and Abel, the first siblings, sets the tone for therelationship. If a man had sonsby two wives and disliked the mother of the firstborn, it was stillforbidden for him to give the right to any son but the first one. The distortion of human relationships is seen in various siblingrelationships in which one brother seeks dominion over others. One of themost obvious such instances is seen in the story of the twins Esau andJacob. The descendantsof the three sons of Noah would become the three major divisions of peoplesknown to the ancient world - those of the Arabian peninsula, the north ofAfrica, and the people of the Caucasus region (Genesis 1 :1 ). Relations between siblings inGenesis tend to be antagonistic, often based on disputes about the right ofsuccession in the family and about the way inheritance is divided. Josephcontinues to dream and sees more and more of the world as paying obeisanceto him. What is clear is that tensions in the family group lead to thedispersion of the family members, and each son becomes the leader ofanother faction and another tribe. Most of the stories of siblings discussed here involve questions ofsuccession, with the exception of the story of Noah and his sons, whichinvolves a different sort of sin. ReferencesPagels, E. This lawwas violated many times, but the principle endured: "It was through thefirstborn sons that family lines continued and that tradition was upheld,and in that sense the first male issue remained special in the eyes of God"(Ward, 1991, p. Thetext states that both Cain and Abel brought an offering to the Lord: "Butunto Cain and his offering he had not respect. Some of these peoples, such as the sons of Cain, are seenas enemies, while others are more benign. God did not want rational creatures to have dominion over oneanother but only over irrational creatures, the animals ("God blessed themand said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase, fill the earth and subdue it,have dominion over the fish in the sea, the birds of the air, and everyliving thing that moves on the earth" [Genesis 1:28]). If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.