The Deep Sleep of Adam and Abram in the Book of Jubilees

Topias Tanskanen

The Deep Sleep of Adam and Abram in the Book of Jubilees

Theology

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

In his article on instances of "deep sleep" (Gen 2:21 and 15:12) in the Hebrew Bible and their reception in the book of Jubilees, Topias Tanskanen traces different interpretations of the term as reflected in varying translation choices. While in the Ethiopic Jubilees' rendition of Gen 2:21, "deep sleep" is translated with the respective word for "sleep, slumber," underlining the passivity of Adam vis-à-vis God's sovereign action, in Gen 15:12 the same Hebrew term is rendered with a Ge'ez term signifying a tumultuous state of mind, involving fear and terror, rendering someone unable to act. This suggest at least some kind of conscious participation of Abraham in the act of covenant-making in Jubilees' rendition of the narrative. The article also opens up and discusses the issues of retroversion from Ge'ez and/or Latin to the reconstructed Hebrew of Jubilees by taking "deep sleep" as a case study.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Understanding Abnormalities in Biblical Figures
Editors	Guido Baltes, Lukas Bormann, Martin Meiser
Place of Publication	Åbo
Publisher	Network for the Study of the Reception History of the Bible, Åbo Akademi University (Distribution: Eisenbrauns - Pennsylvania State University Press)
Pages	59-79
Number of pages	21
ISBN (Print)	978-952-12-4243-4
Publication status	Published - 2022
MoE publication type	A4 Article in a conference publication
Event	Understanding Abnormalities in Biblical Figures - Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany Duration: 8 Oct 2020 → 9 Oct 2020

Publication series

Name	Studies in the Reception History of the Bible
Publisher	Network for the Study of the Reception History of the Bible
Volume	11
ISSN (Print)	2342-5741

Conference

Conference	Understanding Abnormalities in Biblical Figures
Country/Territory	Germany
City	Marburg
Period	08/10/20 → 09/10/20

Keywords

Jubilees
Abram
Abraham
Adam
ecstasy
reception history
semitic
hebrew
ge'ez
classical ethiopic

Interpreting Abnormality Away? The Reception of "Deep Sleep" in Jubilees
Tanskanen, T. (Speaker)
8 Oct 2020
Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation

Cite this

Tanskanen, T. (2022). The Deep Sleep of Adam and Abram in the Book of Jubilees. In G. Baltes, L. Bormann, & M. Meiser (Eds.), Understanding Abnormalities in Biblical Figures (pp. 59-79). (Studies in the Reception History of the Bible; Vol. 11). Network for the Study of the Reception History of the Bible, Åbo Akademi University (Distribution: Eisenbrauns - Pennsylvania State University Press).

Tanskanen, Topias. / The Deep Sleep of Adam and Abram in the Book of Jubilees. Understanding Abnormalities in Biblical Figures. editor / Guido Baltes ; Lukas Bormann ; Martin Meiser. Åbo : Network for the Study of the Reception History of the Bible, Åbo Akademi University (Distribution: Eisenbrauns - Pennsylvania State University Press), 2022. pp. 59-79 (Studies in the Reception History of the Bible).

@inproceedings{8425cceeef534a8e8c93a8d9b7e5c852,

title = "The Deep Sleep of Adam and Abram in the Book of Jubilees",

abstract = "In his article on instances of {"}deep sleep{"} (Gen 2:21 and 15:12) in the Hebrew Bible and their reception in the book of Jubilees, Topias Tanskanen traces different interpretations of the term as reflected in varying translation choices. While in the Ethiopic Jubilees' rendition of Gen 2:21, {"}deep sleep{"} is translated with the respective word for {"}sleep, slumber,{"} underlining the passivity of Adam vis-{\`a}-vis God's sovereign action, in Gen 15:12 the same Hebrew term is rendered with a Ge'ez term signifying a tumultuous state of mind, involving fear and terror, rendering someone unable to act. This suggest at least some kind of conscious participation of Abraham in the act of covenant-making in Jubilees' rendition of the narrative. The article also opens up and discusses the issues of retroversion from Ge'ez and/or Latin to the reconstructed Hebrew of Jubilees by taking {"}deep sleep{"} as a case study.",

keywords = "Jubilees, Abram, Abraham, Adam, ecstasy, reception history, semitic, hebrew, ge'ez, classical ethiopic",

author = "Topias Tanskanen",

year = "2022",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-952-12-4243-4",

series = "Studies in the Reception History of the Bible",

publisher = "Network for the Study of the Reception History of the Bible, {\AA}bo Akademi University (Distribution: Eisenbrauns - Pennsylvania State University Press)",

pages = "59--79",

editor = "Guido Baltes and Lukas Bormann and Martin Meiser",

booktitle = "Understanding Abnormalities in Biblical Figures",

note = "Understanding Abnormalities in Biblical Figures ; Conference date: 08-10-2020 Through 09-10-2020",

}

Tanskanen, T 2022, The Deep Sleep of Adam and Abram in the Book of Jubilees. in G Baltes, L Bormann & M Meiser (eds), Understanding Abnormalities in Biblical Figures. Studies in the Reception History of the Bible, vol. 11, Network for the Study of the Reception History of the Bible, Åbo Akademi University (Distribution: Eisenbrauns - Pennsylvania State University Press), Åbo, pp. 59-79, Understanding Abnormalities in Biblical Figures, Marburg, Germany, 08/10/20.

The Deep Sleep of Adam and Abram in the Book of Jubilees. / Tanskanen, Topias.
Understanding Abnormalities in Biblical Figures. ed. / Guido Baltes; Lukas Bormann; Martin Meiser. Åbo: Network for the Study of the Reception History of the Bible, Åbo Akademi University (Distribution: Eisenbrauns - Pennsylvania State University Press), 2022. p. 59-79 (Studies in the Reception History of the Bible; Vol. 11).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - The Deep Sleep of Adam and Abram in the Book of Jubilees

AU - Tanskanen, Topias

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - In his article on instances of "deep sleep" (Gen 2:21 and 15:12) in the Hebrew Bible and their reception in the book of Jubilees, Topias Tanskanen traces different interpretations of the term as reflected in varying translation choices. While in the Ethiopic Jubilees' rendition of Gen 2:21, "deep sleep" is translated with the respective word for "sleep, slumber," underlining the passivity of Adam vis-à-vis God's sovereign action, in Gen 15:12 the same Hebrew term is rendered with a Ge'ez term signifying a tumultuous state of mind, involving fear and terror, rendering someone unable to act. This suggest at least some kind of conscious participation of Abraham in the act of covenant-making in Jubilees' rendition of the narrative. The article also opens up and discusses the issues of retroversion from Ge'ez and/or Latin to the reconstructed Hebrew of Jubilees by taking "deep sleep" as a case study.

AB - In his article on instances of "deep sleep" (Gen 2:21 and 15:12) in the Hebrew Bible and their reception in the book of Jubilees, Topias Tanskanen traces different interpretations of the term as reflected in varying translation choices. While in the Ethiopic Jubilees' rendition of Gen 2:21, "deep sleep" is translated with the respective word for "sleep, slumber," underlining the passivity of Adam vis-à-vis God's sovereign action, in Gen 15:12 the same Hebrew term is rendered with a Ge'ez term signifying a tumultuous state of mind, involving fear and terror, rendering someone unable to act. This suggest at least some kind of conscious participation of Abraham in the act of covenant-making in Jubilees' rendition of the narrative. The article also opens up and discusses the issues of retroversion from Ge'ez and/or Latin to the reconstructed Hebrew of Jubilees by taking "deep sleep" as a case study.

KW - Jubilees

KW - Abram

KW - Abraham

KW - Adam

KW - ecstasy

KW - reception history

KW - semitic

KW - hebrew

KW - ge'ez

KW - classical ethiopic

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 978-952-12-4243-4

T3 - Studies in the Reception History of the Bible

SP - 59

EP - 79

BT - Understanding Abnormalities in Biblical Figures

A2 - Baltes, Guido

A2 - Bormann, Lukas

A2 - Meiser, Martin

PB - Network for the Study of the Reception History of the Bible, Åbo Akademi University (Distribution: Eisenbrauns - Pennsylvania State University Press)

CY - Åbo

T2 - Understanding Abnormalities in Biblical Figures

Y2 - 8 October 2020 through 9 October 2020

ER -

Tanskanen T. The Deep Sleep of Adam and Abram in the Book of Jubilees. In Baltes G, Bormann L, Meiser M, editors, Understanding Abnormalities in Biblical Figures. Åbo: Network for the Study of the Reception History of the Bible, Åbo Akademi University (Distribution: Eisenbrauns - Pennsylvania State University Press). 2022. p. 59-79. (Studies in the Reception History of the Bible).

The Deep Sleep of Adam and Abram in the Book of Jubilees

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

Fingerprint

Activities

Interpreting Abnormality Away? The Reception of "Deep Sleep" in Jubilees

Cite this