“You Shall Not Marry a Canaanite!” Endogamy, (Canaanite) Exogamy and Theology in Genesis 12–50

Abstract

In Gen 12–50 the interactions between the patriarchs and the Canaanites are more positive than in the later Hebrew Scriptures, with the exception of the ban on marriage. This article examines the relevant passages in Genesis (24; 26:34–28:9; 34 and especially 38), reading them canonically, particularly in light of the patriarchal promises which form a key underlying theme of the patriarchal narratives. It is argued that while the passages discourage exogamy, the situation is more complex than a simple ban. This is particularly so in the case of Tamar (Gen 38). While (probably) Canaanite she is the hero of the story and the ancestor of both David and Jesus, becoming an important part of the fulfilment of the promises. A brief comparison with the conquest narratives suggest that this complexity is also evident there, and that the focus is not on ethnicity but on one’s attitude to YHWH.