01_Biblica_Hong_Layout 1 08/07/13 12:54 Pagina 331 01_B 331 ABRAHAM, GENESIS 20–22, AND THE NORTHERN ELOHIST First, we must ask whether the mere fact that Abraham is called nābî’ and given a role of intercession constitutes enough evidence to mark this text as prophetic. True, the protagonist is given a prophetic vocation. God acknowledges the efficacy of the prophet’s intercession (Gen 20,7). Still, whether Abraham’s prophetic office is depicted positively in the text remains debatable. The disobedience of the prophet, namely, failing to protect the matriarch, once again, before a foreign king — this time, more importantly, in the wake of the eventual birth of the promised son — is contrasted with the seemingly just actions of the antagonist. This reminds the reader of the account of Jonah and the Gentile sailors (Jonah 1). One can also read this in light of false prophecy insofar as God grants Abraham a prophetic office despite ascribing a less just status to the seeker of prophetic service (reminiscent of 1 Kgs 13,11-32) 39. One may even take the above-mentioned character portrayals as anti-prophetic sarcasm. If so, this twisted attitude toward prophecy may not necessarily point to the time of Elijah and Elisha. Second, we must ask whether a mere indication of a prophetic quality proves its northern provenance. In the past, scholars have generally ascribed prophecy somewhat exclusively to the north be- fore it allegedly found its way to the south after the fall of Samaria in 722 BCE 40. The unstated assumption behind this idea is J’s tradi- tional early dating, based on which J predates the rise of prophecy. Some have made this objection on the grounds of evidence of early prophetic activity in Judah, found either in J (cf. Gen 15,1) or in David’s history 41. More problematic, however, is today’s dominant tendency to give a late date to J. If its late date is accepted, there re- mains no reason to disqualify J from containing prophetic qualities. In fact, the main argument in support of H.H. Schmid’s late date for J was precisely this — J’s wide-ranging affinity with prophetic liter- ature. A closely related point is Alt’s influential thesis concerning the charismatic monarchy of north Israel, since the role of prophet is prominent in Israel’s supposed charismatic leadership (Cf. 1 Samuel 12, Deut 17,14-20). This thesis, however, is widely contested 42. As a result, it became more difficult to take a prophetic quality as an in- dicator of a northern provenance. Cf. VON RAD, Genesis, 225-228. 39 E.g. E.W. NICHOLSON, Deuteronomy and Tradition (Philadelphia, PA 40 1967) 94. NOTH, Pentateuchal Traditions, 230, n. 604. 41 © Gregorian Biblical Press 2013 - Tutti i diritti riservati