I have been unbelievably busy over the past few weeks, so I have not been able to post as I would like. Alas...
We officially began our third reading cycle yesterday and I had forgotten to post this cycle's instructions. So, here they are:
Third Read-Through: Peoples, Places, and Things
Instructions:
1. You
now have a solid base with which you can structure the progression of the story
thematically and chronologically. In this read-through, you will focus on the
people, places, and things. Your first task is to keep track of common names of
characters and names of places throughout the Torah. Please note:
This is not common character traits or descriptions. Look for the same or
similar names. This will probably require you to spend a bit more time in the
genealogy and geographical sections.
a. For
example: Lamech, the son of Methusael, is mentioned as a member of Cain’s
genealogy (Genesis 4:18); Lamech, the son of Methusaleh, is a member of Seth’s
genealogy (Genesis 5:25).
b. Also
stay alert for people groups that are named after their ancestors. For example:
Moab, the son of the illicit union between Lot and his daughter (Genesis
19:37), is also a group of people mentioned throughout Numbers and Deuteronomy
(see particularly Numbers 21-26).
c. Finally,
look for similar objects: animals, tools, elements, etc. For example: altars
are built on several occasions by Noah (Genesis 8:20), Abraham (Genesis 12:7),
Moses (Exodus 24:4), etc.
2. After
you have compiled your data, use your colored pencils to connect different subsections by their common geography or character
references on your thematic maps.
a. A
good way of accomplishing this might be to connect the subsections
or the major sections with a line of a certain
color and write the name of the person, place or thing that connects them.
b. Revamp
your sections as needed.
