Time in the Priestly Creation Narrative: The First Day (Gen. 1:3-5)

Krzysztof Napora

Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II , Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7923-4517


Abstract

In this article the author addresses the issue of the temporal dimension of the created world as found in the Priestly Creation Narrative (Gen. 1:1–2:4a). He focuses particularly on the first day of the creation process (Gen. 1:3-5) where God creates light, separates it from darkness, and calls the light Day and the darkness Night. This seems to set a cosmic clock in motion, thus laying the foundation for the temporal structure of the cosmos. An important element of this structure seems to be a sequence of evening/morning which defines the limits of the individual days and periods. This issue seems to be of particular importance for religious observances, e.g. for Sabbath.

Keywords:

Priestly Creation Narrative, time, day, evening, morning, Gen. 1:1-2:4a, Gen. 1:3-5

Barth Ch. – Ringgren H. – Bergmann J., „‎בֹּקֶר bōqer”, Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 1977) II, 217-228.

Beauchamp P., Création et séparation: Étude exégétique du chapitre premier de la Genèse (Lectio Divina 201; Paris: Cerf 2005).

Beckwith R.T., Calendar and Chronology, Jewish and Christian: Biblical, Intertestamental and Patristic Studies (Boston, MA – Leiden: Brill 2001).

Budde K., „Wortlaut und Werden der ersten Schöpfungsgeschichte”, Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 35 (1915) 65-97. (Crossref)

Cassuto U., A Commentary on the Book of Genesis: From Adam to Noah: Genesis I–VI 8, (trans. I. Abrahams) (Publications of the Perry Foundation for Biblical Research in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem: The Magnes Press, The Hebrew University 1961).

Gardner B.K., The Genesis Calendar: The Synchronistic Tradition in Genesis 1-11 (Lanham, MD – Oxford: University Press of America 2001).

Giuntoli F., Genesi 1,1-11,26: Introduzione, traduzione e commento (Nuova Versione Della Bibbia Dai Testi Antichi 1/1; Cinisello Balsamo: San Paolo 2013).

Guillaume P., Land and Calendar: The Priestly Document from Genesis 1 to Joshua 18 (Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies 391; New York – London: T & T Clark 2009).

Hamilton V.P., The Book of Genesis: Chapters 1-17 (New International Commentary on the Old Testament; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 1990).

Heawood P.J., „The Beginning of the Jewish Day”, The Jewish Quarterly Review 36/4 (1946) 393-401. (Crossref)

L’Hour J., Genèse 1-2,4a: Commentaire (Études Bibliques Nouvelle série, no 71; Leuven – Paris – Bristol, CT: Peeters 2016).

Kapełuś M. (red.), Mity akadyjskie (Antologia Literatury Mezopotamskiej; Warszawa: AGADE 2000).

Lakhmitskaya T. – Napora K., „‘I Widział Bóg, Że Światło Było Dobre…’ (Rdz 1,4). Motyw światła w kapłańskim opowiadaniu o stworzeniu (Rdz 1,1–2,4a)”, Verbum Vitae 29 (2016) 19-42. (Crossref)

Lemański, J., Księga Rodzaju. Rozdziały 1–11. Wstęp, przekład z oryginału, komentarz (Nowy Komentarz Biblijny Stary Testament 1/1; Częstochowa: Święty Paweł 2013).

Levenson J.D., Creation and the Persistence of Evil: The Jewish Drama of Divine Omnipotence (San Francisco, CA – London: Harper & Row 1988).

Lewy J. – Lewy, H., „The Origin of the Week and the Oldest West Asiatic Calendar”, Hebrew Union College Annual 17 (1942) 1-152.

Mcguire J.A., „Evening or Morning: When Does the Biblical Day Begin?”, Andrews University Seminary Studies 46/2 (2008) 201-214.

Napora K., „Chronology in the Flood Narrative (Gen 6-9)”, Sympozjum 20/1 (2016) 63-82.

Napora K., „Obraz świata po potopie według Rdz 8,22”, Verbum Vitae 31 (2017) 45-67. (Crossref)

Niehr H., „‎עֶרֶב ̔ ereḇ; עָרַב ̔āraḇ; ‎מַעֲרָב ma ̔arāḇ”, Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI – Cambridge: Eerdmans 2001) XI, 335-341.

Nodet E.T., „Oeuvre achevée le Vie jour ou le Viie ? (Gn 2,2)”, Revue biblique 118/1 (2011) 116-122.

Noort E., „The Creation of Light in Genesis 1:1-5: Remarks on the Function of Light and Darkness in the Opening Verses of the Hebrew Bible”, The Creation of Heaven and Earth: Re-Interpretation of Genesis I in the Context of Judaism, Ancient Philosophy, Christianity, and Modern Physics (red. G.H. Van Kooten) (Themes in Biblical Narrative 8; Leiden: Brill 2005) 3-20. (Crossref)

Plinius Secundus, Gaius, C. Plini Secundi Naturalis Historiae Libri XXXVII: post Ludovici Iani obitum recognovit et scripturae discrepantia adiecta edidit Carolus Mayhoff (Bibliotheca scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana; Lipsiae: B.G. Teubner 1906-1908).

Robbins E., Studies in the Prehistory of the Jewish Calendar (Dys.; New York 1989).

Sarna, N. M., Genesis: The Traditional Hebrew Text with New JPS Translation. Commentary by Nahum M. Sarna. (The JPS Torah Commentary; Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society 1989).

Skinner J., Genesis (International Critical Commentary 1; Edinburgh: T & T Clark 1910).

Smith M.S., „Light in Genesis 1:3 – Created or Uncreated: A Question of Priestly Mysticism?”, Birkat Shalom: Studies in the Bible, Ancient near Eastern Literature, and Post-Biblical Judaism Presented to Shalom M. Paul on the Occasion of His Seventieth Birthday (red. C. Cohen) (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns 2008) 125-134. (Crossref)

Von Soden W. – Bergman J. – Sæbø M., „יוֹם yôm; ‎יוֹמָם yômām; ‎יוֹם יהוה yôm YHWH,” Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI – Cambridge: Eerdmans 1990) VI, 7-32.

Speiser E.A., Genesis (The Anchor Yale Bible 1; New York 1964).

Stiglmair A., „‎לַיִל/‎לַיְלָה layil/laylâ”, Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI – Cambridge: Eerdmans 1990) VII, 533-542.

Stroes H.R., „Does the Day Begin in the Evening or Morning ?”, Vetus Testamentum 16 (1966) 460-475. (Crossref)

de Vaux R., Instytucje Starego Testamentu (Poznań: Pallotinum 2004) I-II.

Wenham G.J., Genesis 1-15 (The Word Biblical Commentary 1; Dallas, TX: Nelson Reference & Electronic 1987).

Westermann C., Genesis 1-11 (A Continental Commentary; Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press 1994).

Zeitlin S., „The Beginning of the Jewish Day During the Second Commonwealth”, Jewish Quarterly Review New (1946) 403-414. (Crossref)

Zeitlin S., „The Judean Calendar During the Second Commonwealth and the Scrolls”, Jewish Quarterly Review New (1966) 28-45. (Crossref)


Published
2019-06-30


Napora, K. (2019). Czas w kapłańskim opowiadaniu o stworzeniu: dzień pierwszy (Rdz 1,3-5). Verbum Vitae, 35, 13–37. https://doi.org/10.31743/vv.4724

Krzysztof Napora  naporus@gmail.com
Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II

Ks. Krzysztof Napora, sercanin, doktor nauk biblijnych, absolwent Wyższego Seminarium Misyjnego Księży Najświętszego Serca Jezusowego w Stadnikach, Papieskiej Akademii Teologicznej w Krakowie, Pontifcio Istituto Biblico w Rzymie,  Rothberg International School Uniwersytetu Hebrajskiego w Jerozolimie oraz École Biblique et Archéologique Française de Jérusalem. Od 2012 r. pracownik naukowo-dydaktyczny Instytutu Nauk Biblijnych KUL.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7923-4517



License

The author(s) grant (s) to the Licensee a non-exclusive and royalty-free license in accordance with the provisions of the Appendix: LICENSE TO USE THE WORK