the

EPIC

of

EDEN

A Christian Entry into the Old Testament

SANDRA L. RICHTER

An imprint of InterVarsity Press

Downers Grove, Illinois

InterVarsity Press

P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426

World Wide Web: www.ivpress.com

E-mail: email@ivpress.com

©2008 by Sandra L. Richter

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from InterVarsity Press.

InterVarsity Press® is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA®, a student movement active on campus at hundreds of universities, colleges and schools of nursing in the United States of America, and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. For information about local and regional activities, write Public Relations Dept., InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, 6400 Schroeder Rd., P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895, or visit the IVCF website at <www.intervarsity.org>.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Design: Cindy Kiple

Images: Ian Cumming/Getty Images

ISBN 978-0-8308-2577-6

InterVarsity Press is committed to protecting the environment and to the responsible use of natural resources. As a member of Green Press Initiative we use recycled paper whenever possible. To learn more about the Green Press Initiative, visit <www.greenpressinitiative.org>.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Richter, Sandra L.

The epic of Eden: a Christian entry into the Old Testament/Sandra L. Richter.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-8308-2577-6 (pk.: alk. paper)

1. Bible. O.T.—Criticism, interpretation, etc. 1. Title.

BS1171.3.R53 2008

221.6’1—dc22

2008022661

In memory of

Meredith G. Kline,

who first helped me put my Bible together,

and to all the students with whom

I have learned along the way.

CONTENTS

List of Figures and Tables

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Introduction: The Dysfunctional Closet Syndrome

1 The Bible as the Story of Redemption

2 The Bible in Real Time and Space

3 The Concept of Covenant: The “General Law” That Holds Our Facts Together

4 God’s Original Intent

5 God’s Final Intent: The New Jerusalem

6 Noah and Abraham

7 Moses and the Tabernacle

8 David and the Monarchy

9 The New Covenant and the Return of the King

Frequently Asked Questions

What Role Does the Law of Moses Play in the Christian’s Life?

What About Modern-Day Israel?

Glossary

Scripture Index

FIGURES AND TABLES

Figures

1.1 Israelite society

1.2 Footprint of the Israelite four-room pillared house

1.3 Israelite four-room pillared house

2.1 A timeline of biblical chronology

2.2 The Fertile Crescent

2.3 Mesopotamia

2.4 Abraham’s migration into Canaan

2.5 Abraham’s ridge route in Canaan

2.6 Joseph’s journey to Egypt

2.7 The exodus and journey to the Promised Land

2.8 Israel’s tribal allotments in Canaan...