Freedman Again

Peter J. Leithart, April 21, 2004

Freedman comments, "It may be pure coincidence that the Book of Genesis begins with the words beresit . . . elohim, 'In the beginning, . . . God. . .,' while the book of Ezra-Nehemiah ends with the words elohay letoba, '. . . my God for good.' We need not point out that 'good' is the theme word of Genesis 1:1-2:3, and remains the leitmotif of the whole Hebrew Bible." Or, maybe not pure coincidence. If this connection works, then the "good" that Nehemiah is looking for is the "good" of a new creation.