G-D's Relationship with Avraham

There are many biblical scholars in this world that believe in the JEDP theory when the Old Testament should be looked at as one literary whole. The JEDP theorists believe that the Old Testament was compiled by four different sources; the Yahwist, Elohist, Deuteronomist, and Priestly sources. There are many passages in the bible that can confirm the JEDP theory, but when examined closely one could see the similarities in the passages that were supposedly written at different times by different groups of people. JEDP theory believers assume that Genesis 12:1-9 was written by the J source or Yahwists, and Genesis 22:1-19 was written by the E source or Elohists, with some J material intertwined. When looked at more closely a reader can see that these two passages actually have similarities that would suggest that the Old Testament should be looked at as one literary whole instead of four different documents put together. By looking at language similarities and themes both of these texts are linked and parallel each other in many ways.

The first connection is probably the most easily seen by the common reader which is the use of language in both texts. In Genesis 12:1 according to Fox’s translation it says, “YHWH said to Avram: Go-you-forth from your land…” and similarly in Genesis 22:2 G-d says, “… and go-you-forth to the land of Moriyya/Seeing.” In both cases when G-d is speaking to Avram, who is later renamed Avraham, G-d uses the term “go-you-forth” If these two sections of the bible had actually been written by different sources at different times then how come the same words are used? The answer is that they were not written by different sources but the reason the same language is used for both is because it is one source. Had it been written by two different sources there would most likely be different words used for, go-you-forth, like travel, journey or move. The fact that the source of the Old Testament chose to use the word “go-you-forth” for both of these passages meant that there was supposed to be a link between the two especially because it is G-d speaking these words in both situations.

Besides for the obvious language connection there are also many thematic connections that would unite the two passages to the same source. In the case of slaughter sites there are two connections throughout the text. The first is connected through language. In both cases the place where the offering is going to take place is referred to as a, “slaughter-site”. In Genesis 12:7 it states, “He [Avram] built a slaughter-site there” and in Genesis 22:9 it states, “There Avraham built the slaughter-site.” The likenesses of the two phrases are too close to be two different sources. A thematic resemblance between the two slaughter-sites has to do with what occurred after they were built. Once Avram/Avraham made his sacrifice to G-d he then continued on his journey. This goes along with the theory that alters could be made anywhere and whoever compiled the bible must have believed that as opposed to believing that the Temple was the only place to make sacrifices.

One of the most thematic likenesses between these two passages comes from the idea of offspring. In both of these chapters Avram/Avraham is told that his will either “make a great nation” (Genesis 12:2) or “I [G-d] will make your seed many, yes,