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C O U R S E L E C T U R E The Shepherd Motif Notes taken on July 18, 2015 by Edward Tanguay |
Israel is another name for Jacob
the last 14 chapters of the book of Genesis
Joseph speaks ill of Bilhah and Zilpah
Jacob makes Joseph nice coat
Joseph's brothers hate Joseph for this
Joseph is introduced in this story as a shepherd
this is typical of Biblical stories and stories of the ancient Near East about individuals who are bound to become leaders
the shepherd was an image of royalty
even in Mesopotamian culture, one can kind images of kings represented as shepherd shepherding his flock
Jesus is portrayed as "the good shepherd" from the New Testament
Psalm 23: the Lord is my shepherd
so it's not by chance when Joseph is introduced in the Book of Genesis, that he is introduced as a shepherd
this tells us as readers that Joseph is destined for great significance
King David as parallel to Joseph story
David's predecessor Saul being rejected by the prophet Samuel
Samuel is commanded by God to go to the city of Bethlehem to find Israel's next king
summons Jesse and his son's to come and see him
Lord: do not look at his stature
man looks at the outward appearance
the Lord looks on the heart
Jesse passes Abinadab and Shammah, or seven of his other sons
Samuel says to each one: the Lord has not chosen these
Samuel says, "are these all of your son?"
Jesse: there remains yet the youngest (David) but he is tending the sheep
Joseph was also young, the second youngest
Samuel: we will not sit down until he comes here
David was "ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome"
the Lord said: arise and anoint him for this is he
the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David
two things to be noted in this story
1. both David and Joseph were not the first son but a latter born sun
therefore, the choosing and preferred treatment of David and Joseph comes as a surprise
the relationship of shepherd to rulership
Psalms 78:71 He chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart, with skillful hands he led them.
this shepherd motif will reappear in the New Testament as a characterization of Jesus