Priestly and Post-Priestly Voices on Bethel
A Diachronic Analysis of Genesis 28:10–22 and 35:9–15
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8135298 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Itzhak Amar (0000-0002-0202-0801, Bar-Ilan University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 17 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 274 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-23 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religions (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/rel17020274 |
| OpenAlex | W7131070078 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 16 |
This article re-examines Gen 28:10–22 through a diachronic analysis informed by its close literary and thematic parallels with Gen 35:9–15. In light of recent developments in Pentateuchal scholarship that question the traditional dating of supposedly pre-Priestly texts, the study adopts a method grounded in detailed textual, linguistic, and literary observation rather than reliance on fixed source-critical models. The analysis argues that Gen 28:10–22 is not a unified narrative but a composite text consisting of an early narrative core overlaid by a post-Priestly addition. Particular attention is given to the ritual acts of pillar erection, anointing with oil, and Jacob’s vow, which exhibit strong affinities with Priestly and Deuteronomistic idioms. A comparison with the Priestly account in Gen 35 suggests that the post-Priestly expansion in Gen 28 responds polemically to a Priestly tendency to neutralize Bethel’s sanctity. The article situates this literary development within the religious landscape of Persian-period Yehud
Ancestor · Biblical studies · Deuteronomist · Hebrew Bible · Narrative · Parallels · Scholarship · Theme (computing · Biblical Studies and Interpretation · Contemporary Christian Leadership and Education · Development, Ethics, and Society
| Highly cited | No |
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