neilgodfrey

The Isaac narrative was special part of a constellation narratives and topoi that are about the beloved son who is sacrificed literally or symbolically, and whose death came to be seen as atoning or salvific in the Second Temple period. If Galatians precedes Mark and Mark's gospel is in any sense "Pauline" then the the Isaac narrative was very much part of the "midrash" that contributed to the shaping of the narrative.

Having since read Knohl's article, what he is proposing is hardly as radically new as media beat-ups might indicate. He is focusing on the Josephite beloved son atoning sacrifice idea and this is part of the the Second Temple theological trend that Levenson discusses as part of the Isaac beloved-son-sacrifice midrashic development. Joseph midrash is just as central to the Jesus narrative, and its themes of supersessionism, hostility of older and longer-serving brothers, their intent to murder over the inheritance, and the reversal of all they hoped are brought to the fore in the parable of the wicked husbandmen.

Mark 1:11 is certainly based in part on Isaiah 42:1, and Isaiah is as much informed of the suffering beloved son theme as other Jewish writings. Isaiah itself stands within the deeper tradition. Isaiah's parable of the vineyard is also the bridge between the "Josephite christology" and the Parable of the wicked husbandmen.

The Second Temple development of these Isaac-Joseph beloved-son atoning-sacrifice ideas would fit and enrich your own model of the Jesus story having emerged from a progression of Jewish messianic and apocalyptic traditions.

(I've since completed my notes on Levenson's study, btw.)

Neil

neilgodfrey

The 3 days motif in relation to the Passover sacrifice also came to be connected to interpretations of the Isaac narrative in the Second Temple Period. (And as discussed in my much earlier post the Isaac narrative was being reinterpreted among some Jews of the time as a sacrifice to atone for all Israel.) Jubilees adds to the Genesis account:

Jubilees 18:17-19:
From my Levenson notes:The idea of a beloved son being sacrificed to save martyrs and others who followed in the faith does not appear to have been novel to Christianity. What does seem to have been novel, as I understand it for now, was the apocalyptic meaning given to the story.

Neil