(V) Dialogues In Bible Stories

Generally, you really get to know someone when he starts to talk. Whether he is talking about fact, opinions, feelings, or even gossiping, he is actually revealing himself to you. Sometimes a person may lie. We need discernment when listening to others talk.

Likewise, Bible characters also make speeches, just like movies.

(Except Mr. Bean, which is silent.)

What the characters talk reveal their traits and inner self. It also reveal relationship (when they address one another as brothers and sisters; Gen 33:9; 2Sam 13:11), social standing (as in addressing king as “my lord”)

Some important point about Dialogues

1. Dialogue happen usually between two people or at most three.
By using dialogue, the narrator sometimes makes it as part of the plot and structure.

Example #1: Gen 27 – Jacob deceives Isaac for the blessing
In this example, each conversation involved only 2 people at any time. And it is always one parent with one child:

A Isaac and Esau (vv. 1-5) ...........A’ Isaac and Esau (vv. 31-40)
B Rebekah and Jacob (vv. 6-17) ....B’ Rebekah and Jacob (vv. 42-45)
C Isaac and Jacob (vv. 18-30) .......C’ Isaac and Jacob (v 46; 28:1-5)

(taken from JP Fokkelman, Reading Biblical Narrative)

This is also a parallel structure.

Example #2: 2Sam 13 – Amnon and Tamar
In this example, we see that the plot and structure are very well played out using dialogues. Again, the conversation is only 2 people at any time

..................................(4) Tamar – Amnon
.......................(3) David – Tamar (5) Amnon - Servant
............(2) Amnon-David ........................(6) Servant-Tamar
(1) Jonadab-Amnon ............................................(7) Tamar-Absalom

There is a link and pattern in this structure. All the links are connected to one another by the fact that the second character in each of them is the first in the succeeding one.

The structure is also symmetrical in the fact that Jonadab, who is close to and supports Amnon, appears in the first link whereas Absalom, who is close to and supports Tamar, appear in the last one.

(taken from Shimon Bar-Efrat; Narrative Art in the Bible)

2. Most important speeches come from God – the final authority, then angel, prophets and individual.

Example: Judges 6 (about Gideon) – When the angel of the LORD first appeared to Gideon:

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." (verse 12)

14 The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"

15 "But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

In these 2 speeches, the LORD called Gideon a mighty warrior, but Gideon portrays himself as someone weak and insignificant. Who is right? And why did Gideon do that?

3. Sometimes, the speeches are repeated verbatim
For example: Marriage arrangement of Isaac & Rebekah (Gen 24)

The command of Abraham to the servant to get a bride from his kindred in Gen 24:3,4 is repeated in verses 37 & 38.

The servant’s prayer (Gen 24:14) is repeated in verses 43 & 44.

The focus on this marriage arrangement is therefore God ordained.

4. Other times, the speeches sequences are changed or certain part omitted or added.

Example: in Gen 2:16,17 God told Adam (before Eve was created):

2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

But when the woman answers the serpent about what God told them, she said:

3:3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "

Eve added to the speech of what God has said. We do not know how she knows about what God said. Probably Adam told her and add “you must not touch it” into the conversation.

In Summary, always pay attention what is spoken by the characters. They help in interpretation and understanding of the Bible stories.