Atheist Bible Study 1: Genesis

[Bucky Ball]

Genesis is a literary work, from a collection of texts from the Ancient Near East, and various phrases are "placed in his (the god's) mouth" by the authors/editors/redactors of the texts, and the things this god is "said to have said", reflects the views of the authors, and their view of the deity they chose to follow. These cultural views changed over time, and from situation to situation. "He" never actually "said" anything.

This Abimelech is mythical, as is Abraham, (or in any case Abraham cannot be verified historically ... and may be an oral construction based on a possible figure from the migrations from Ur.
Abimeleck is both a generic title (like "Pharoh") and an actual name for Philistine kings.
Inasmuch as the story of Abraham taking in and feeding strangers, (who turn out to be angels), was an actual attempt to portray genuine hospitality, (in a desert region where turning away a wandering stranger might result in death), there are any number of possible interpretations of the sister-wife story.

What IS undoubtedly important is what happens as a result of the return of Abraham's wife, in the story. Abimeleck returns Sarah and gave gifts, and offered a settlement OF LAND, and a thousand pieces of silver, possibly to buy a veil, thus as a criticism to her for not having worn a veil which, as a married woman, she ought to have done. A few years after this, Abimelech visited Abraham, who had moved southward beyond his territory, and there entered into a league of peace and friendship with him, (in the myth). It was said to have been confirmed by a mutual oath at Be'er-sheba. This is seen by some as a precursor to establish the right of occupation of Abraham's descendants to "the promised land", (which has not happened yet in the story). There are 7 wells at Beersheba, (and Abraham gives 7 lambs). The possible interesting connections, are at least two-fold. A well was the only legitimate place a (really) single woman could meet (run into) a man who was a stranger ... so maybe it was a way of saying to Abimeleck ... "go sit by the well, if you really want to meet a nice girl", AND this well which was given to Abraham by Abimeleck, was one of the old ways the "promised land" was demarcated (in shorthand or common parlance), .. ie "it stretched from Beersheba to Dan" (144 miles, Dan is in the North, and an important center of early worship).

The Treaty at Beersheba
22 At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. 23 Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.” 24 Abraham said, “I swear it.” 25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimelek’s servants had seized. 26 But Abimelek said, “I don’t know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today.” 27 So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty. 28 Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, 29 and Abimelek asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?” 30 He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.” 31 So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there. 32 After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God. 34 And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time.

Ahimelech/Abimelech (a different one) is also the father of Abiathar the priest, (around the time of David) of whom there will be a great deal to say, when we get there.