Birth Narratives in Genesis and Luke

Author(s): C. T. Ruddick, Jr.

Source: Novum Testamentum , Oct., 1970, Vol. 12, Fasc. 4 (Oct., 1970), pp. 343-348
Published by: Brill

Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1559930

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 BIRTH NARRATIVES IN GENESIS AND LUKE

BY

C. T. RUDDICK, Jr.
Providence

Lucan scholarship has become increasingly conscious of th

fluence of the Old Testament scriptures on the composition of
gospel, especially in the nativity stories 1). It is now clear that
influence extends far beyond direct quotations and obvious
lels to rather subtle verbal reminiscences and allusions. Most at-
tention has hitherto been directed to parallels from the prophet
books, but it would seem reasonable to expect the birth narrativ
of Genesis to provide an obvious model for the evangelist. In fac
the language and events of some fifteen chapters of Genesis, from
birth of Jacob's children through their migration to Egypt (xxv
xliii) are remarkably paralleled by Luke i-ii.
The three canticles (i 46-55; i 68-79; and ii 29-32) already po
us back to the patriarchs, for each one speaks of Jacob:
'He has helped his servant Israel' (i 54)
'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel' (i 67)
'... and the glory of his people Israel' (ii 32)
Whether these were pre-Christian psalms taken over by Luke
original compositions, they seem only slightly adapted to th
ostensible settings. Mary's hymn is a jubilant thanksgiving fo
reversal of fortunes-more appropriate, in fact, to Elizabeth
whom a few MSS attribute it) or equally to Rachel, who was barr
(Gen. xxix 31) but conceived when God 'remembered' her (xxx
cf. Luke i 54). The hymn of Zechariah similarly dwells on deliver
ance 'from those who hate us' and the sending of one ahead
prepare the way: 'to guide our feet into the way of peace'. In ter
of Genesis, one is reminded of Jacob's escape from Laban (xxxi 17
and his preparations, including sending ahead messengers, for
potentially hostile encounter with his brother Esau (xxxii 3 ff.).

1) Cf. e.g. R. LAURENTIN, Structure et Theologie de Luc I-II, Paris, 19

pp. 64 ff.

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344 C. T. RUDDICK, Jr.

With these hints to go on, a number of verbal and thematic

parallels can be discovered:

Luke i-ii Genesis xxvii-xliii

Isaac blesses Jacob and sends him to

An angel appears to Zechariah in the
temple and promises that his wifeLaban to find a wife.
will bear a son.

Jacob in a dream sees a ladder with

Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel,
who is sent 'from God': the angels of God:
o' &yyeXoq r. 470' '7o0 Oli5 (26) & ocyyeXol 'OiO5 OCOi5 (XXViii 12)
The angel says, 'Hail, 0 favoured The angel says, 'I am the Lord. -
one, the Lord is with you': I am with you':
o x pt6LQ tZ aoi5 (28) &yco X6p&Oq (13) ... Y&Y lie' cro5 (15)
(at 48b Mary says, 'all generations He says 'by you all the families of
shall call me blessed') the earth shall bless themselves' (14)
Mary is afraid, but the angel reas- Jacob is afraid (vv. 16-17), but the
sures her, 'Be not afraid': angel reassures him, 'Be not afraid':
[V?~ cpo3oi5 (30) UL2 'fOPi3 (I3)
Mary is to bear a son and call his Jacob sets up a pillar and calls the
name Jesus: name of the place Bethel:
xot xocAXa Zb S voEo0 ' cx'O5'Irao05v (31) xad exoc 0a7v 'Ioxcf tr 6voa toi '6,ou
exeLvou Olxoq OCO5 (9g)
He will reign over the house of Jacob Jacob prays to return to his father's
for ever: house in peace:
MLTOV Ol oTxo 'IOcxwp (33) et 'r6v olxov '7&5 Tcazpo4 [ou (21)
Moreover, her kinswoman Elizabeth (at xxix 25 Jacob mistakes Leah for
'has conceived': Rachel, and she conceives:
oi58 ~v Aetoc... auv&?4aplv AcLo (32)
18oi0 'EXtaa'le. . . oci',r- auvel?Xcp1v,
although Rachel 'was barren':
although she 'was called barren':
7t x 0,ou[L&vn a'7e'P (36) PaTq), 3' 'v G're'P (31)
(Cf.ofxxx 3, 'Behold my handmaid':
Mary says, 'Behold the handmaid
the Lord':

18o0i -51 8oU6X- xup'ou, 1805 7=8&Aay.r [IOU,

and 'let it be to me according to and xxx 35, 'let it be according to

your word': your word':
yevoLvro [Lot xocta rio P71L aDu (38) gat,m x0cra 'o, P'6 dc aou.)
Mary arises and goes into the hill Jacob journeys to the land of the
country: east:

Uop'OE q r'v 'PLV'v (39), Exope1 O E yiv 'voc'oXCov (xxix i)

where her kinswoman Elizabeth where his kinsmen greet him warmly
greets her warmly (vv. 40ff.) (vv.and
4 ff.). Rachel has been deprived
says, 'Blessed is the fruit of your of 'the fruit of the womb':
womb':

o x(ocp7 'O5S xoL&Xoc (42). XOCp7rQV XOL?EoC4 (xxx 2)

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 BIRTH NARRATIVES IN GENESIS AND LUKE 345

and 'blessed is she who believed': but Leah says, 'Blessed am I':
[0caxapta T xorzeuaaa6 (45) paocxapia o yc (xxx 13)
Mary sings a song of exultation: Leah exults after the birth'of each son:
xal ?r7Mv Mxapta[I ... (46), xo0C eInv Azt . . . (xxx 13),
and says, 'all generations shall call and says, 'women shall call me bless-
me blessed.: ed':

.0axaPLtouoiv [L (48), [cxaOtpLouaiv pt (xxx 13)

'for (the Lord) has looked upon the
(at xxix 32, Leah says, 'for the Lord
lowliness of his handmaiden': has seen my lowliness':
OT. 'e74e
cm v zL '7r'
'PXEtEV t- TrNLvoLtv,
TY'V TaTCME'VcTV, &6OTt ?1I8V VLOU XUpLOq TrV TaONTLVCooV,
and 'now all generations shall call and 'now my husband will love me':
me blessed':

'o7 T5OU vuv fLaXapLMOUCV ... v V aLYxat l . . .)

God is praised for 'remembering'God
his'remembers' Rachel and she also
mercy: conceives:

lvY0a6vat (54). [tV,5TOr . . T. Tq POaXX (xxx 22).

He has reversed the fortunes of the
She says, 'God has taken away my re-
meek and has helped his servantproach'
Is- (23) With God's help Jacob
rael (Jacob). outwits Laban (vv. 25 ff.).
Mary remains with Elizabeth three
Jacob escapes from Laban and re-
turns to his home (xxxi I7ff).
months and returns to her home (56).
Elizabeth's son is born and named Jacob wrestles with an angel, and his
not Zechariah but John: name is changed to Israel:
ou .xX7OazTat
o6Xu, aXXa x-jlOoezra 'Iwoawvv (6I) . . . . 'loxop, OXX& 'Iapa(X
'Ioiwvvyq ?aTLv 6vo[LcO aou (63) Trat 6TO vo(JiL aou (xxxii 29)
His father speaks, blessing God:Jacob compels the angel to bless him:
uXoyC ro'6v O06v (64). 7u6X6Yya 5v aUTOv (xxxii 30).
The 'dwellers-around' are afraid: Jacob praises 'the fear of Isaac':
??'?
ey o Ir~
vero ML rrdw~ q060o
x7r vtraq p6po4(65),
(65), 6 cp6poq 'Ioaax jv tLOL (xxxi 42),
for 'the hand' of the Lord was with who delivered him from 'the hand'
him: of his brother:

ZXip XUplOU jv ie'oT'auTou (66). ex X 'Lpoc TrO &X?cpo0o [OU (xxxii II).
Zechariah praises the God of Israel(Cf. above)
(Jacob) for delivering his people
'from the hand' of all their enemies:
ex Xlep6? 7Ti'V . . . (7 ).
God is praised for 'showing mercy' on(at xxxiii I I Jacob says, 'God has had
our fathers: mercy upon me':
7ZrroLial EX0ei gTa TOV ' Trepcov, 7])XQo'?V El? 6 Oe6oq.)
and for 'remembering' his covenant:
(Cf. xxx 22, where 'God remembered
Rachel')
[uvla0voca 8LoaO)x7 q (72).
God has 'sworn to deliver us without (Jacob has 'sworn by the fear of
fear': Isaac':

4oo0sv ... &. 9 '6Bc (73). 4JLoaov 'IaxcWp xaoca 'oU cp6oou .

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346 C. T. RUDDICK, Jr.

They are to worship God with 'righte-

(at xxx 33 Jacob boasts of his 'righte-
ousness before his face': ousness before your face':
?v 8&xatOCUa6v) ?V0ToV ao'UTO (75). Y] IlxaolOrvY ~ou... Evcoro6v aou).
The boy is to 'go before the face Jacob,
of on his way to meet Esau,
the Lord to prepare his way': sends some of his flocks ahead as a
present:
rpoTmopE6ar bv6tULov xupLou (76). rporrop SeaO E urpoo0Ov lou (xxxii 17
God gives light to 'those who sitJacob,
in who fears death from his
brother, is allowed to go his way in
the shadow of death' and guides their
feet 'into the way of peace' (79). peace (xxxiii i ff.).
Mary and Joseph journey to the cityJacob journeys to the city of She-
of David (where Mary is to bear chem;
her Rachel dies giving birth to
son), 'which is called Bethlehem': Benjamin andis buried at Bethlehem:
TqTL xaXe!LarL BQ0X?e~ (ii 4). auS'r? sarlv BrOXi? (xxxv 19).
Shepherds, having seen a heavenly Joseph dreams that the heavenly
vision of angels, come to worship bodies worship him while he is shep-
Jesus: herding the flock with his brothers:
Ot 07ro?ive (I5). 'ICoap 9... .v 7roTLavDcov (xxxvii 2).
All who hear are surprised, but Mary His brothers are jealous, but his
'kept all these words in her heart': father 'kept this word in mind':
] 8 MaplOa Trovrt auvsTrjpetl ra 6 8e 7trna'p auC'ro5 8t61I PYEv TO' pjp
p4j^ata rauta (19). (xxxvii I I).
The child is called Jesus, as he was Judah's wife conceives, bears a son,
named before he was conceived: and calls his name Er:

?xO09Y) T0 ovooa aououI 'Iaou . . . auoBapouoa ET?X?V U6v XOaL &XOia?Ev

7rpo toU ouaXXYtp0pvCL ocrauov (21). ovo[toc a6uou Hp (xxxviii 3).
When the days of Mary's purification Joseph, having been sold into slaver
were fulfilled, they take Jesus to is taken to Egypt:
Jerusalem:
a&vyayov oauTOv i[c 'IepoaoBXu[a (22). 'ICoCYp 's xor ZaTX0 i 'q AL'yTnro
(xxxix I).
There Jesus is recognized as 'having There Pharaoh recognizes Joseph
the grace of God in him': 'having the spirit of God in him':
X apt? 0oe5 qv Ev 0c'T (40). XZet rveLta 6eoi5 ev auTjr (xli 28).
Jesus' parents go up to Jerusalem to Joseph's brothers go down to Egy
the feast and return leaving Jesus to buy grain (xlii I ff.) and retur
there. leaving Simeon there.
At the end of a day's journey they At the end of a day's journey the
find he is missing. discover the money in their sacks.
Jesus is 'listening' to the rabbis: Joseph 'listens' to his brothers:
axovuorc auTrO)v, OCxOUeL 'IcQY(p (xlii 23).
and 'questioning' them: and questions them:
erepcoTcvTra auocouq6 (46). ?7xpCT7-C?V YUiqa (xliii 7).
All are amazed: Joseph's brothers are amazed:
otaxcavxo 8E 7rcvrTS (47). eiaT qn Y] xapoC8ia aUTv (xlii 28).

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 BIRTH NARRATIVES IN GENESIS AND LUKE 347

Jesus' parents, when they find him, Joseph's brothers,

ask, 'Why have you done this to money, ask, 'Why has God done this
us?': to us?':

TL 7ronaoca ]JLv
Jesus goes down
is subject to them: ers, though Jacob at first objects:
xa'c' pIeT' O)jV (51). o'u XCTOzaCT?Ta . O'. . e6O)V (xlii 38).
Not only does this cursory survey reveal some 30 dire
parallels between Luke and the Greek of the Septuagint,
of these also occur in the same order in both documents. The frame-
work, as well as many details, of the Lucan nativity narrative
would appear to have been determined by the sequence of events nar-
rated in Genesis xxvii-xliii. One cannot help speculating how this
came about.

We know that the reading of the Gospel in the Christian assemb

took over the place of honour held by the Torah in the synagogu
and was surrounded by similar ceremonies. Is it not possible t
Luke was consciously writing a Christian Torah to replace or supp
ment the Pentateuch? Or did the gospel originate in a series
homilies preached in the primitive Christian assemblies and
fluenced by the lessons read from the Pentateuch? 1) Ancie
Jewish homilies were related to the lessons of the synagogue
just the sort of verbal connections we have detected above in Luke
The Palestinian triennial lectionary spread the story of Jacob fro
which our parallels have been drawn over some fifteen Sabbaths
When the text of Luke I-2 is divided into matching sections, the
appear to correspond almost perfectly with the natural divisi
of the narrative. The numbered chapter-divisions of Codex
in fact, will serve very well for this purpose.
Codex B: Masoretic Text:
Luke Seder Gen
I i I-4 Introduction 25 xxvii I Story of Jacob
2 5-25 Zechariah's vision 26 xxvii 28 Jacob's blessing
3 26-38 Annunciation 27 xxviii io Vision of angels
(i 26=xxviii 12; i 28
=xxviii 13-15; i 30=
xxviii 30; i 3 I= xxviii
I9; i 33=xxviii 21)

1) I have made a similar suggestion with regard to the Fourth Gospel in

'Feeding and Sacrifice', Expository Times LXXIX (I968), pp. 340 f.
2) Cf. J. MANN, The Bible as Read and Preached in the Old Synagogue,
Cincinnati, 1940, pp. II ff.
3) MANN, op. cit., pp. 208 ff.

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348 RUDDICK, BIRTH NARRATIVES IN GENESIS AND LUKE

4 39-45 Visitation 28 xxix 31 Leah gives birth

(i 42=xxx 2; i 45=
xxx 13)
5 45-46 Mary's song 29 xxx 22 God remembers Ra-
chel
6 57-66 Naming of John Bap- 30 xxxi 3 God names Jacob
tist
(i 65 =xxxi 42)
7 67-end Zechariah's song 31 xxxii 4 Messengers sent
(i 7I=xxxii 12; i 76=
xxxii 17)
8 ii I-5 Journey to Bethlehem 32 xxxiii 18 Journey to Shechem
9 6-I4 Birth of Jesus 33 xxxv 9 Death of Rachel
10 15-20 Shepherds 34 xxxvii I Shepherds
(ii I5=xxxvii 2; ii 19
=xxxvii II)
II 21 Naming of Jesus 35 xxxviii I Judah's incest
(ii 21 = xxxviii 3)
12 22-24 J. taken to Jerusalem 36 xxxix I J. taken to Egypt
(ii 22=XXXiX I)
13 25-35 Simeon's prophecy 36b xl I J. interprets dreams
I4 36-38 Anna's prophecy 37 xli I J. interprets dreams
15 39-4I Jesus has grace of God 38 xli 38 J. has spirit of God
(ii 40=xli 38)
I6 42-end J's.parents come to him 39 xlii 18 J's. brothers come
(ii 46-xlii 23 & xliii to him
7; ii 47-8=xlii 28; ii
5i=xlii 38)

It would appear to be more than accident that 20 verbal parallels

fall within the sections thus arranged. It is possible that Codex
(the earliest complete MS of the gospels we have) preserves the orig
inal units of composition, by which the evangelist has consciously
matched the lessons of the triennial cycle?

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