Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/35

 The Book of Genesis

17

not related by blood or birth, surpassing his love for father

Chapter IV how men began

and mother. folk-tale,

came

Chapter

XI

at

all.

in

the

form of a charming

worship God and how death

contains the

the dififerent languages

Manifestly these

to

Chapters VI-IX relate the great flood

into the world.

myth.

tells,

folk-tale

of

the

first

stories

similar in

many

of

of Genesis are not history

They are without exception myths and details to the

primitive peoples.

origin

and nations.

myths and

folk-tales,

folk-tales of other

In fact, they contain, particularly in the

much that was borrowed directly from non-Israelite sources. Yet in one vital respect these myths and folk-tales do differ radically from those of all other peoples. They breathe through and through the spirit of the one, living God, the Creator of the universe and of life, who looks out upon all that He has made, alone and This is the thought and unaided, and finds it very good. spirit of Judaism in them. And this Jewish thought and spirit distinguish these myths and folk-tales from all others, and make them the priceless, eternal heritage of the Jew, and only through him of the world at large. These stories tell, of the creation by God, not of Israel alone, but of all mankind. God is the Creator and Father He has of all men, and all men are equally His children. Him usethem walk with and live nobly and commanded to fully. When they turn from Him and tread forbidden paths, He punishes them necessarily and justly, but also sorrowfully and reluctantly. But with the next generation He makes a covenant of love, never to bring another flood to destroy mankind. Instead, should mankind sin again, He will raise up one little people, which shall stand close to Him and keep His law, and walk faithfully in His way, and serve Him as His messenger and the witness of His truth unto all mankind. And through this people mankind shall come at last to know God and to walk with Him, even as He had

creation and flood stories,