"Greek literary influences are present throughout the Primary History (Genesis-Kings). Greek literary influences on the book of Judges in specific have been studied (and in my opinion convincingly established) by a number of scholars (Spronk 2015; Römer 2015; Louden 2019). "
Hi Professor Lemche,
I've come across something in the Torah that is still unaccounted for by academia though you posted it for me on ANE-2 years ago without much comment. My paper:
The Fundamental Structure and Systematic Theology of the Torah
describes the Vedic template that underlies the structure of the Torah. The dismemberment of the Purusha in the Hymn of Man describes the process of non-sedentary Vedic tribes settling down in northwestern India. Michael Witzel writes that the Hymn of Man was updated as the Vedic tribes were re-organized into the 4 varna: brahman, warrior (rajanya) were the original 2 varna in the hymn, and he writes the other two varna were added during the process of the Vedic tribes settling down and establishing the Kuru kingdom (the first Indian state or nation) and updating the Vedas during a Re-Sanskritization of their ancient documents.
It is the identical process in the Torah. A character named Melchizedek in pastoral Genesis is dis-membered into a priestly class (Aaron) and a warrior class (Joshua) as the narrative moves from pastoral Genesis to national Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
In addition, Melchizedek's compound name in Genesis represents the memorization and internalization of the written law, which is the pastoral theology in both the Hymn of Man and in Genesis with implications for the New Testament and its Letter to the Hebrews which posits Jesus as being of the Order of Melchizedek.
My question is: why is the Torah's foundation based on a Vedic template which would suggest a Persian provenance for the Torah? Who in Alexandria would be likely to inject a Persian provenance into the Torah?
This warrior priest theology is the foundation of the theology of diaspora in the Torah. It appears more responsive to an analysis using Georges Dumezil's tripartition than any Canaanite or Semitic theology. Dumezil used his tripartition to analyze Indo-European myth, not Semitic. Why is this Vedic structure the foundation and structure of the Torah?
I want to bring it to your attention because it is easily discerned in the structure of the text of the Torah.
The Torah structure is a LOOP (ring or wheel structure)
Nonsedentary diaspora 'life is established by entering' Egypt from Canaan.
Sedentary national 'life is established by entering' Canaan from Egypt.
========= The LOOP reverses direction at Exodus 1:7-10 where the pharaoh is alarmed by the "numbers and strength" of the Israelites who will now suffer a reversal of fortune that leads back to Canaan. Takeaway? The Torah is a TRUE Pentateuch containing two establishment structures.
I'm bringing it up because the Vedic structure is easily seen and will have to be accounted for sooner or later so the Persian provenance can be ruled out.
"Greek literary influences are present throughout the Primary History (Genesis-Kings). Greek literary influences on the book of Judges in specific have been studied (and in my opinion convincingly established) by a number of scholars (Spronk 2015; Römer 2015; Louden 2019). "
Hi Professor Lemche,
I've come across something in the Torah that is still unaccounted for by academia though you posted it for me on ANE-2 years ago without much comment. My paper:
The Fundamental Structure and Systematic Theology of the Torah
describes the Vedic template that underlies the structure of the Torah. The dismemberment of the Purusha in the Hymn of Man describes the process of non-sedentary Vedic tribes settling down in northwestern India. Michael Witzel writes that the Hymn of Man was updated as the Vedic tribes were re-organized into the 4 varna: brahman, warrior (rajanya) were the original 2 varna in the hymn, and he writes the other two varna were added during the process of the Vedic tribes settling down and establishing the Kuru kingdom (the first Indian state or nation) and updating the Vedas during a Re-Sanskritization of their ancient documents.
It is the identical process in the Torah. A character named Melchizedek in pastoral Genesis is dis-membered into a priestly class (Aaron) and a warrior class (Joshua) as the narrative moves from pastoral Genesis to national Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
In addition, Melchizedek's compound name in Genesis represents the memorization and internalization of the written law, which is the pastoral theology in both the Hymn of Man and in Genesis with implications for the New Testament and its Letter to the Hebrews which posits Jesus as being of the Order of Melchizedek.
My question is: why is the Torah's foundation based on a Vedic template which would suggest a Persian provenance for the Torah? Who in Alexandria would be likely to inject a Persian provenance into the Torah?
This warrior priest theology is the foundation of the theology of diaspora in the Torah. It appears more responsive to an analysis using Georges Dumezil's tripartition than any Canaanite or Semitic theology. Dumezil used his tripartition to analyze Indo-European myth, not Semitic. Why is this Vedic structure the foundation and structure of the Torah?
I want to bring it to your attention because it is easily discerned in the structure of the text of the Torah.
The Torah structure is a LOOP (ring or wheel structure)
Nonsedentary diaspora 'life is established by entering' Egypt from Canaan.
Sedentary national 'life is established by entering' Canaan from Egypt.
========= The LOOP reverses direction at Exodus 1:7-10 where the pharaoh is alarmed by the "numbers and strength" of the Israelites who will now suffer a reversal of fortune that leads back to Canaan. Takeaway? The Torah is a TRUE Pentateuch containing two establishment structures.
I'm bringing it up because the Vedic structure is easily seen and will have to be accounted for sooner or later so the Persian provenance can be ruled out.
Thank you,
Rich Faussette