Between Creatures and G-d: Ancient Near Eastern Agriculture, Reverent Co-Creation, and the Interpretation of Pentateuchal Shepherdry

Author ORCID Identifier

0009-0006-1689-3925

Degree Year

2025

Document Type

Thesis - Oberlin Community Only

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Religion

Advisor(s)

Dexter Brown

Committee Member(s)

Dexter Brown
Shari Rabin
Joyce Babyak

Keywords

Shepherds in the Bible, Animals in the Bible, Bible-- Genesis: 30–32, Co-Creation, Jacob’s flocks, Shepherd metaphor

Abstract

Shepherdry is a frequent image in Abrahamic scripture and liturgy, traditions in which the work of biblical shepherds has often been interpreted as a metaphor for spiritual leadership. This paper extends an additional significance, contending that the Pentateuch presents spirituality as implicit to the lived work of animal husbandry. Through an analysis of the story of Jacob’s Flocks (Gen 30:25-32:54) in light of Christian and Jewish nature theology, I will argue that this narrative presents shepherdry as a form of reverent co-creation between human beings and the divine, wherein the unique characteristics of this form of agriculture give Jacob an opportunity to strengthen his spiritual position by recognize and acknowledge his own dependence on G-d’s power. Additionally, I will compare a metaphorical interpretation of shepherdry within the Joseph story to a reading which considers the specific role of ancient Near Eastern agriculture. In doing so, I will show that this new, more literal, framework avoids historical anachronism while revealing a set of connotations for the pentateuchal shepherd image based in family life, fertility, and the spiritually instructive power of human dealings in the natural world.

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