Overview

In the ongoing debate over the when and how our universe began, Genesis chooses to answer the theological question, Who set in motion the beginning of the heavens and the earth?"" Once that question is answered by vivid and memorable stories, the focus moves to ancestral stories that identify the roots and early branches of the Jewish family tree. This same tree grows in Christian settings as the matriarchs and patriarchs of Genesis appear over and again in New Testament writings. Given the growing interest in family genealogies, in this commentary Joan Cook leads us to appreciate and delight in our ancient and awesome spiritual heritage as well. We should not be surprised, however, to discover that our earliest spiritual kith and kin were guilty of deceit, marital infidelity, jealousy, and murder. But readers will learn that the God who created the heavens and the earth is also a forgiving and protective God-the God of ancient time, of our time, of all time. Joan E. Cook, SC, teaches Scripture at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. She is author of Hannah's Desire, God's Design (Sheffield Academic Press, 1999) and Hear, O Heavens and Listen, O Earth: An Introduction to the Prophets (Liturgical Press, 2006), which won a first-place Catholic Press Association award in 2007. Cook has also written numerous articles on biblical women and biblical prayer. Also available with Little Rock Scripture Study

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Reviews

Joan Cook gives us a clear explication of the complex interwoven stories of Genesis. She highlights the character traits of these pioneers of our faith, follows the threads of various themes throughout the book, and relates the details to ancient Near Eastern culture. An enlightening book.Irene Nowell, OSB, Adjunct Professor of Theology, St. John’s University School of Theology With deep knowledge of the ancient Near East and its customs, and with sensitivity to the contours of the biblical stories, Sr. Joan Cook opens up the book of Genesis, passage by passage, in stimulating terms. She shows how Genesis invites us into its narratives of puzzlement, of unbearable pain, and of joyful amazement in living in relationship with God. Delving into Genesis with Cook’s commentary will help readers appreciate the providence of a God who continues to guide us--we who share the same dignity and frailties of our ancestors in faith.Robert D. Miller II, Associate Professor of Old Testament, The Catholic University of America Sr. Joan Cook, S.C. provides a sweeping and accessible commentary on the Book of Genesis through the lens of historical-critical and canonical criticism, which also takes into account the theological arc of the book. The commentary and biblical text are helpfully broken up into five sections that demonstrate the development of the plot and could be especially useful for lectio divina. Her immersion in the culture and language of Genesis helps her to illustrate important connections between Abraham and Joseph in the Hebrew and the type-scene that connects Isaac and Jacob with later biblical figures. She highlights important theological principles such as humanity being made in the image and likeness of God, and the book has useful index to the Catechism of the Catholic Church that will also help those trying to connect Genesis to important theological principles. The commentary helps the reader see the unwavering obedience of Abraham, the complexity of Jacob, and the wisdom of Joseph in

Joan Cook gives us a clear explication of the complex interwoven stories of Genesis. She highlights the character traits of these pioneers of our faith, follows the threads of various themes throughout the book, and relates the details to ancient Near Eastern culture. An enlightening book.Irene Nowell, OSB, Adjunct Professor of Theology, St. John's University School of Theology With deep knowledge of the ancient Near East and its customs, and with sensitivity to the contours of the biblical stories, Sr. Joan Cook opens up the book of Genesis, passage by passage, in stimulating terms. She shows how Genesis invites us into its narratives of puzzlement, of unbearable pain, and of joyful amazement in living in relationship with God. Delving into Genesis with Cook's commentary will help readers appreciate the providence of a God who continues to guide us--we who share the same dignity and frailties of our ancestors in faith.Robert D. Miller II, Associate Professor of Old Testament, The Catholic University of America Sr. Joan Cook, S.C. provides a sweeping and accessible commentary on the Book of Genesis through the lens of historical-critical and canonical criticism, which also takes into account the theological arc of the book. The commentary and biblical text are helpfully broken up into five sections that demonstrate the development of the plot and could be especially useful for lectio divina. Her immersion in the culture and language of Genesis helps her to illustrate important connections between Abraham and Joseph in the Hebrew and the type-scene that connects Isaac and Jacob with later biblical figures. She highlights important theological principles such as humanity being made in the image and likeness of God, and the book has useful index to the Catechism of the Catholic Church that will also help those trying to connect Genesis to important theological principles. The commentary helps the reader see the unwavering obedience of Abraham, the complexity of Jacob, and the wisdom of Joseph in

Sr. Joan Cook, S.C. provides a sweeping and accessible commentary on the Book of Genesis through the lens of historical-critical and canonical criticism, which also takes into account the theological arc of the book. The commentary and biblical text are helpfully broken up into five sections that demonstrate the development of the plot and could be especially useful for lectio divina. Her immersion in the culture and language of Genesis helps her to illustrate important connections between Abraham and Joseph in the Hebrew and the type-scene that connects Isaac and Jacob with later biblical figures. She highlights important theological principles such as humanity being made in the image and likeness of God, and the book has useful index to the Catechism of the Catholic Church that will also help those trying to connect Genesis to important theological principles. The commentary helps the reader see the unwavering obedience of Abraham, the complexity of Jacob, and the wisdom of Joseph in

Author Information

Joan E. Cook, SC, teaches Scripture at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. She is author of Hannah's Desire, God's Design (Sheffield Academic Press, 1999) and Hear, O Heavens and Listen, O Earth: An Introduction to the Prophets (Liturgical Press, 2006), which won a first-place Catholic Press Association award in 2007. Cook has also written numerous articles on biblical women and biblical prayer.

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