Divine Messengers in Genesis 18-19 and Ovid. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gnuse, Robert
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian journal of the Old Testament. Volume 31:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 66
• Page End: 79
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Ovid -- Abraham -- Lot -- Hyrieus -- Baucis -- Philemon; 221
• DOI: 10.1080/09018328.2017.1301637
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0901-8328

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Stories of divine messengers who bring an announcement of an impending birth or a warning to escape destruction are found in Gen 18-19 and the writings of Ovid. Two sets of stories deserve close attention because of their great similarities. Three divine messengers promise a child to Abraham and Sarah and three Greek gods promise a son to Hyrieus in Ovids Fasti. Two divine messengers save Lot from the destruction of Sodom and two Greek gods save Philemon and Baucis from flooding in Ovid's Metamorphoses . Perhaps the biblical author was familiar with the traditions used by Ovid.