Language:
English
Year of publication:
2023
Titel der Quelle:
Jewish, Christian and Muslim Travel Experiences
Angaben zur Quelle:
(2023)
Keywords:
Bible. Criticism, interpretation, etc.
;
Travel in the Bible
;
God Biblical teaching
;
Babel, Tower of
Abstract:
This article studies the role of travel and the identity of the travelers in Gen 11:1-9, the Tower of Babel story. The introduction reflects on Genesis as a book of travels and lists the various occurrences of travelling in the Primeval History. The main part of the article discusses Genesis 11. This narrative presents YHWH as a travelling deity and commences and ends with the migration of a group of unidentified travelers. Who are they? Where did they go to and where have they come from? How did their journey change them? By identifying the travelers as primeval humanity, the author illustrates that Genesis 11 is a theological and sociological story concerning identity formation in which travel plays a prominent role. The journey to and from Sinear prefigures the itineraries of the patriarchs, founds Israel’s history in Mesopotamia, but also mocks the role of Mesopotamia for the identity of the Israelites. In Genesis 11, Babel functions as a transient place for a pre-Abrahamic humanity that will be dispersed to allow Abraham, and the Israelites, to enter the stage. The conclusion illustrates how reflection on (modern) travel experiences and the study of biblical itineraries could fertilize each other.
DOI:
10.1515/9783110717488-002
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
Permalink
