The Elusive Covenant : A Structural-Semiotic Reading of Genesis / / Terry J. Prewitt.

• Author: Prewitt, Terry J. 1945-
• Place / Publishing House: Bloomington : : Indiana University Press,, 1990.; ©1990.
• Year of Publication: 1990
• Language: English
• Series: Advances in semiotics
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (1 online resource x, 146 pages) :; illustrations.

The Elusive Covenant takes a fresh look at the book of Genesis, at the foundational text of the Hebrew bible. Uniting the studies of literary form, sign theory, and kinship structures, Terry J. Prewitt demonstrates the close relationship between the unfolding genealogies and the narrative structures of Genesis. The links between kinship structure and narrative structure, fashioned from diverse written and oral sources, underscore the sense of Genesis as a political document, created by a particular priesthood. The ingenious and informed method of The Elusive Covenant breaks from traditional biblical analysis. Prewitt's "whole-text" perspective and his search for a unified structure in Genesis results in innovative character treatments and a rich appreciation of the scriptural integration of history, social depiction, and spatial representation. At the same time, the author remains cognizant of source-critical and form-critical approaches. Overall, Prewitt's detailed analyses and broad interpretation establish important new connections between Genesis and other biblical scriptures (Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, and so on) and lead to conclusions of broad significance for those in the fields of anthropology, religion, and semiotics.

Table of Contents

I. Genealogies -- Genealogical patterns in Genesis 1-11 -- Social patterns in Genesis 12-50 -- Birth, death, and rite of passage -- Time and place -- Structural implication of the Terahite system -- The covenant of circumcision -- The definition of Israel -- II. Polity and history -- Historicity -- Mythscapes -- Tribal ranking and monarchic succession -- Birth order and maternal heritage -- Names, blessings, rank, and social structure -- Intersecting alliances of the Levites -- Territory, kingship, and social structure -- III. Structural hermeneutics -- Rhetorical structures and cultural themes -- Structural patterns in Genesis 1-14 -- Genesis 1 and 14 -- Genesis 2 and 13 -- Genesis 3 and 12 -- Adam and Abraham -- Genesis 4 and 11 -- Genesis 5 and 10 -- Genesis 6 and 9 -- Genesis 7 and 8 -- Adam, Noah, and Abram -- Toward a unified Genesis structure -- Themal analysis -- Holism and reductionism as hermeneutic principles -- IV. Mythos and Ethos -- Kinship, place, and story types -- Matrimonial alliance in Biblical narrative -- Withdrawn-woman narratives -- Central marriage narratives -- Redemption narratives -- Mythos of patriarchal succession -- Threats to lineage continuity -- Violations of patriarchal authority -- Validations of the lineage -- Justice in the resolution of conflict V. Semiosis.