The Speeches of Reuben and Judah in Genesis 37: 21-22, 26-27: A Literary-Critical Study Dohyung Kim, Ph.D. Adjunct Professor, Department of Theology Seoul Christian University This paper reviews the pleas of mitigation by Reuben and Judah in Genesis 37:21-22, 26-27. Many historical-critical commentators of Genesis believe that a discrepancy exists between these two speeches, which have resulted in the theory of multiple sources, J(Judah and Israel) and E(Reuben and Jacob). They consider these speeches as duplicates or doublets, that is, ‘rival versions of the same story.’ However, I support a literary approach, which promotes ‘a literary unity’ in the narrative. A close reading of the text as a subtle communicative device of the author accounts for this variation better than the results of the conflation of sources. The text represents the technique of repetition in the chapter to compare and contrast the two characters. The main difference between the two characters is the explicit mention of Reuben’s motives and the hidden implication of Judah’s. Reuben has good intentions which are ultimately not realized. On the contrary, Judah’s intentions are enigmatic, but his actions ensure the continuation of the story, just as in the end it will prove, against the reader’s expectations, that it is his lineage, not Joseph’s, that will carry Israel’s story forward to the monarchy and beyond. The focus of chapter 37 is centered on Judah rather than Reuben, based on the results of their speeches towards the brothers in order to save Joseph. Judah’s speech is more systematic and persuasive so that the brothers accept his suggestion of selling Joseph to foreign traders. This serves as a stepping-stone for strengthening his leadership for the future. Finally, Judah’s ambiguous motivation against Joseph forms a significant prelude to the larger narrative of Jacob and his sons’(Gen. 37-50).
한국어
이 논문은 야곱의 첫째와 넷째 아들인 르우벤과 유다가 위기에 처한 요셉을 구해내기 위해 제시한 진술들(창 37장 21-22, 26-27절)을 분석한다. 저자는 이 두 인물의 발언이 ‘같은 이야기에 대한 라이벌 장면’으로써 쌍을 이루거나(duplicates) 중복(doublets)된 것이 아니라 내러티브 읽기의 관점에서 ‘하나의 문학적인 일치'를 보여주는 본문임을 주장한다.
목차
1. 들어가는 말 2. 창 37장 21-22, 26-27절에 등장하는 두 가지 발언의 비교 3. 르우벤 대 유다: 누가 진정한 리더인가? 4. 나오는 말 5. 참고문헌 Abstract
한국구약학회는 구약연구의 발전을 위해서 서로 협조함으로써, 교회에 봉사하며 신학교육의 향상에 기여함을 그 목적으로 창립하였으며, 구약학의 발전과 학술교류 활동에 관한 아래의 사업을 추진한다;
1. 학술 연구 활동과 발표회 및 강연회
2. 학회지 발간 및 구약학 연구에 필요한 자료 발간
3. 국내외 학계와의 학술 교류
4. 신학교육 향상을 위한 노력과 교회에 봉사하는 활동
5. 그 밖에 구약학 연구에 도움이 되는 학술 활동
간행물
간행물명
구약논단 [The Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies]