Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 18/0
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Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 18
Adam and Avraham
There are many points of parallel between the stories of Adam and Avraham. Both are granted an ideal land on condition of living according to God’s will, and both stories center around themes of blessing and curse.
Articles
- See יחסה של פרשת אברהם והמלאכים לסיפור גן עדן ולרשעת סדום by R. Zvi Ehrlich for analysis of parallels between the story of Adam in Gan Eden to the story of Avraham welcoming the angels
Divine Promises of Children
Tools
- Makbilot BaMiIkra demonstrates that there are several instances in Tanakh in which Hashem promises a child to a childless parent: the stories of the births of Yitzchak, Yaakov and Esav, Shimshon, Shemuel, and the child of the Shunamite woman.
Articles
- For an analytical comparison and contrasting of these narratives, see How Convention Helps Us Read: The Case of the Bible’s Annunciation Type-Scene by Robert Alter.
Parallel Narratives of Continuity
Tanakh Lab1 demonstrates that Bereshit 18 is most linguistically similar to Bereshit 24, which details the selection of Rivka as the wife of Yitzchak. This reflects the focus of both chapters on the continuity of Avraham’s family.
Tools
- Compare the two chapters in the Tanakh Lab.
- Interestingly, the next chapter with which Bereshit 18 has most in common is Shemot 33, which concerns the forgiveness of the Jewish people for the sin of the golden calf -- another chapter that focuses on continuity, in this case the question of national continuity after devastating sin. See here to compare the two.
