A Sound Survey of Genesis

I would like to go through the bible and hear all its sounds. I managed an idiosyncratic ‘listen’ of Genesis. What sounds can you hear?

Genesis 37

Listen to this dream I had Listen… I had another dream (Vs6,9) The telling of a dream is using sound to invoke image. The dreams themselves have no sound. No speech, no other sound. But it is through sound we know of Joseph’s dreams. The telling of dreams and their interpretation becomes core to the … Continue reading Genesis 37

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Genesis 38

Again an odd sound is inserted into the flow of a pattern of sound. The story of  Jacob and his sons is interrupted by this story.  An astonishing story of Tamar’s ingenuity. Tamar becomes an important sound in many genealogies that follow. She becomes the ancestor of the kings. There are questions as to why … Continue reading Genesis 38

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Genesis 39

The sound of Genesis 39 echoes Genesis 38. It might explain the presence of the break of Genesis 38. Potiphar’s wife is a counterpoint sound to Tamar. Both are resourceful women able to negotiate their way through the world made in the male image. Both act cunningly for self-preservation. Yet they are at different ends … Continue reading Genesis 39

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Genesis 40

Tell me your dreams (Vs8) More dreams are sounded. These are not Joseph’s dreams. His prisonmates dreams are sounded so that Joseph can sound back their meanings. And he does. Not only does Joseph sound dreams, he sounds back others’ dreams. Joseph wants to be remembered. (Vs14) But he is forgotten. (Vs23) The KJV says … Continue reading Genesis 40

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Genesis 41

I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. When this story is heard, in certain parts of the world the image of an Elvis style pharaoh, with the rock n’ roll groove pops up. The musical is one way in which the story reaches people. But … Continue reading Genesis 41

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Genesis 42-45

This story of Joseph and his brothers through these chapters is very memorable. The story flits back and forth, from Caanan to Egypt to Caanan to Egypt and back to Caanan again. Joseph, the brother is hidden from his brothers’ sight as he is now probably in Egyptian clothes. His voice is now unrecognizable, as … Continue reading Genesis 42-45

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Genesis 46

Jacob, Jacob (Vs2) The sound of God’s speech has been absent for a while. After Jacob’s wrestling we haven’t heard from him. God’s sounds seem to be strongest when Jacob is on the move. Possibly, it is moving from one place to another that makes us far more alert than being in a cosy settled … Continue reading Genesis 46

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