CRITICAL COMMENTARY

Critical Commentary

Critical Commentary

Old Testament: Genesis 7:1-10

Genesis 1 describes the creation of the heavens and the earth, and its pinnacle is found in the creation of humanity in Gen. 1:26-28. After forming and filling the heavens and earth, God turns his focus to the creation of humanity. The distinction of humanity from the rest of creation is clear: only humanity is created as the image and likeness of God and given dominion over all the creatures. Genesis 1:26-27 portray humanity created and this image is functionally expressed in humanity's rule over creation. The royal function of images in the ancient Near East has been noted in recent literature. In Mesopotamia, kings established their authority through images, set up in different places, and gods established kings as their image. However, these images of kings were used not only for royal purposes but also to show the king's perpetual attitude of supplication to deity, and, in a few rare cases, as minor deities in their own right before which offerings were made (Baker, 2010, 80). Genesis 1:28 lies at the head of an interpretative stream in the Old Testament, growing as it is fed by tributaries from different sources. However, space constraints preclude a full-fledged exploration of this entire river and demand a tighter literary focus on language from Gen 1:28 in the Old Testament. Since the specific texts in the New Testament will be explored later that alluded back to Gen 1:28, 3:16, and Exod 1:7, it is not necessary to explore the entire interpretative stream. Some would debate that Gen 1:28 should be seen as a command, stressing that it is a promise and blessing. The promissory nature of Gen 1:28 are more explicit in the reiterations to Abraham and his descendants. However the mood of command is not absent here; for example, Gen 12:1-2 connects the command to Abraham to leave his country with God's blessing to make him a great nation. Nevertheless, this promise is clear in the institution of the Abrahamic covenant in Gen 17:2, 6, and 8. The language of fruitfulness and multiplication shows the connection with Gen 1:28, 6 and God clearly enable this multiplication to happen. This promise is not only given to the patriarchs but also to Israel. In Leviticus 26, the blessings of obedience are described in terms of the fruitfulness of the land (26:3-5), peace from enemies (26:6-8), climaxing with God's presence in their midst (26:9-13) (Carson, 2005, 127).

Similarly, Deut 7:13 allude to the fulfillment of Gen 1:28 as a result of Israel's obedience: “He will love you, and bless you and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb.” Deuteronomy 30:9, 16 anticipates the fulfillment of the primeval blessing. This obedience is presented after Israel's rebellion and exile (Deut 30:1-2), after which the blessings of obedience (Deut 30:3-10) will be fulfilled, particularly the blessing of fruitfulness. It is interesting, in light of Gen 3:16, that the pain of exile is presented as the backdrop of the ...