Your Sunday school student asks you this question after you relate the story to the class.
“God said, ‘You shall not kill’. So can disobeying God be a good person?”
As a Bible teacher, how would you answer her? If you say that Goliath is the enemy of Israel and need to be killed, does that mean that you can kill any evil person? Or did David killed Goliath because God tell him to do it (1Sam 17:45)? Would not that amount to say that God is the mastermind of taking away life?
We now look at the first characteristic of a Bible story, the scene and setting. Stories are usually depicted with certain scenes like times of war, destruction, famine, in a garden, agricultural background or even a normal lifestyle (including birth and death). As these stories are way beyond our time, cultural and historical background may influence our way of understanding the passage.
As such it may be good to read widely of these cultures from a Bible handbook.
1. Scene
Let’s look at some of the more common scene in Bible Stories.
War
Many passages like 1Sam 4, 15 & 17 are in the context of war. So David killing Goliath does not violate the 10 commandment, “You shall not kill”.But killing your enemies in peace time is murder. Thus, Joab killing of Abner in Hebron (a city of refuge) during peace time is murder (2Sam 3). He does this in revenges of Abner killing of Joab’s brother, Asahel during the battle of Gibeon (2Sam 2)
In war time, warriors consult their gods through prophets, Urim & Thummim (1Sam 28:6), offer sacrifices and even bring there “gods” with them to war. We may read into them as superstitious, but that is not the point of view of the narrator.
Destruction
Passages like Gen 19 – destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah; Gen 7 – the Great Flood; 1Sam 15 - call for total destruction of Alamekites.
Such passages depict final judgment of that era for that situation and must be seen as God’s justice, exercising His Judgment.
Such passages depict final judgment of that era for that situation and must be seen as God’s justice, exercising His Judgment.
Lifestyle
Many passages talk about the normal life of the people – Gen 18: Abraham welcoming strangers; Ruth gleening;
We can greatly appreciate the Bible stories when we know their cultures – e.g. role of women, birth-rights, marriages, etc.
2. Timing
There are two timing involved in a story (1) Narration Time & (2) Narrated Time
Narration Time is the time the narrator takes to tell the story
Narrated Time is the time depicted in the narrative
When the author stops at a point in time to tell a detail situation, the focus is there. Pay attention to what is narrated. The opposite is also true. When the narrator suddenly skip past narrated time, ask why he is doing that.
Example: Gen 1-2:4:
There are two timing involved in a story (1) Narration Time & (2) Narrated Time
Narration Time is the time the narrator takes to tell the story
Narrated Time is the time depicted in the narrative
When the author stops at a point in time to tell a detail situation, the focus is there. Pay attention to what is narrated. The opposite is also true. When the narrator suddenly skip past narrated time, ask why he is doing that.
Example: Gen 1-2:4:
Narrated Time = 7days of creation
Narration Time = 34 verse, 3min to read
Gen 16:16 (last verse of Gen 16) and Gen 17:1
Narrated Time = 13 years
Narration Time = 2 verses, 10 sec to read
Implication:
Narration Time = 34 verse, 3min to read
Gen 16:16 (last verse of Gen 16) and Gen 17:1
Narrated Time = 13 years
Narration Time = 2 verses, 10 sec to read
Implication:
In Genesis 1, the creation story is very important and all the detail of creation is captured in the passage. In Abraham case, after he married Hagar and have a son, Ishmael, nothing is deem important to narrate (for 13 years, nothing significant was told)
Another example: Gen 26:34,35 (last verses of Gen 26) and Gen 27:1
Gen 26:34 – Isaac is 100 years old
Gen 27:1 – Isaac is 137 years old (try to calculate this! Can be done)
What is the implication?
The author is telling the reader that life is bitter for Isaac & Rebekah (Gen 26:35, the verse in between this two timing) for 37 years, a very long time indeed.
3. Space
This is the Character’s movement in space (geographically)
Generally, when the narrator slow down and elaborate the story at that point, pay attention to that narration as the emphasis and important is in that passage. (Example: Gen 32 – a lot of movement at action, until v 24-32 when at night, Jacob is alone. Then, Gen 33 continues the movement).
By being aware of the scene and timing in the story, one can follow what the intention of the narrator is saying.
Another example: Gen 26:34,35 (last verses of Gen 26) and Gen 27:1
Gen 26:34 – Isaac is 100 years old
Gen 27:1 – Isaac is 137 years old (try to calculate this! Can be done)
What is the implication?
The author is telling the reader that life is bitter for Isaac & Rebekah (Gen 26:35, the verse in between this two timing) for 37 years, a very long time indeed.
3. Space
This is the Character’s movement in space (geographically)
Generally, when the narrator slow down and elaborate the story at that point, pay attention to that narration as the emphasis and important is in that passage. (Example: Gen 32 – a lot of movement at action, until v 24-32 when at night, Jacob is alone. Then, Gen 33 continues the movement).
By being aware of the scene and timing in the story, one can follow what the intention of the narrator is saying.
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