Jacob and the Divine Trickster: A Theology of Deception and Yhwh's Fidelity to the Ancestral Promise in the Jacob Cycle

by John E. Anderson

The book of Genesis portrays the character Jacob as a brazen trickster who deceives members of his own his father Isaac, brother Esau, and uncle Laban. At the same time, Genesis depicts Jacob as YHWH’s chosen, from whom the entire people Israel derive and for whom they are named. These two notices produce a latent tension in the Jacob is concurrently an unabashed trickster and YHWH’s preference. How is one to address this tension? Scholars have long focused on the implications for the character and characterization of Jacob. The very question, however, at its core raises an issue that is theological in nature. The Jacob cycle (Gen 25–36) is just as much, if not more, a text about God as it is about Jacob, a point startlingly absent in a great deal of Genesis scholarship. Anderson argues for the presence of what he has dubbed a theology of deception in the Jacob YHWH operates as a divine trickster who both uses and engages in deception for the perpetuation of the ancestral promise (Gen 12:1–3). Through a literary hermeneutic, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between how the text means and what the text means, and a keen eye to the larger task of Old Testament theology as literally “a word about God,” Anderson examines the various manifestations of YHWH as trickster in the Jacob cycle. The phenomenon of divine deception at every turn is intimately tethered in diverse ways to YHWH’s unique concern for the protection and advancement of the ancestral promise, which has cosmic implications. Attention is given to the ways that the multiple deceptions―some previously unnoticed―evoke, advance, and at times fulfill the ancestral promise. Anderson’s careful and thoughtful interweaving of trickster texts and traditions in the interest of theology is a unique contribution of this important volume. Oftentimes, scholars who are interested in the trickster are unconcerned with the theological ramifications of the presence of material of this sort in the biblical text, while theologians have often neglected the vibrant and pervasive presence of the trickster in the biblical text. Equally vital is the necessity of viewing the Old Testament’s image of God as also comprising dynamic, subversive, and unsettling elements. Attempts to whitewash or sanitize the biblical God fail to recognize and appreciate the complex and intricate ways that YHWH interacts with his chosen people. This witness to YHWH’s engagement in deception stands alongside and paradoxically informs the biblical text’s portrait of YHWH as trustworthy and a God who does not lie. Anderson’s Jacob and the Divine Trickster stands as a stimulating and provocative investigation into the most interesting and challenging character in the Bible, God, and marks the first true comprehensive treatment of YHWH as divine trickster. Anderson has set the stage to continue the conversation and investigation into a theology of deception in the Hebrew Bible.

Genres: Theology

210 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 2011

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Laurent Dv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvellous study of deceitfulness ("theology of deception") in the Jacob's cycle (toledoth) in the book of Genesis. I consider this thesis as an excellent (maybe the best ?) commentary on jacob's story which is unfortunately so often neglected in biblical studies (everybody runs into Ge 1 & 2 or Abraham)

This work makes the case that Jacob's story (and more broadly all Genesis) is all about God's tricks for fulfulling his promises to the patriarchs. One phrase to summarize it "YHWH is deceptive yet trustworthy". Plus, the parallel draw between the christian God being a trickster and the trickering gods of Ancient Near East is a good contribution.

This study is really important because this idea of God tricking people who reject him recurs everywhere in the Bible.

What was missing is parallel with Christ and the Father's "ultimate trick" by triumphing against the world and satan with Christ's shameful and frail death for saving his people (fulfilling his promises).

"Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[a] to save those who believe. (1 Corinthians 1.20-21)"

[Stephen Sorensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book seeks to fill a gap in Biblical scholarship pertaining to YHWH's role in allowing and orchestrating deception in the life of Jacob. Anderson (the author) argues that YHWH is a divine trickster who chooses Jacob because Jacob is also a trickster, as shown throughout his life.

On page 46, Anderson defines trickery/deception as "what a trickster employs through any various means of distorting, withholding, or manipulating information in order to serve or advance the trickster's own purposes and goals". Anderson goes on to show YHWH and Jacob using these means to achieve their goals.

Chapter 1 orients the reader with previous scholarship on the topic and explains what gap in the literature is being filled. Chapters 2-4 focus on the 3 major episodes in Jacob's life and how YHWH is involved. The final chapter, Chapter 5, summarizes the preceding chapters, distills the conclusions that can be drawn, and leaves notes on where future studies might be conducted.

The author appears to be well aware of other scholarship in this area and expresses what he sees as strong and weak arguments from other scholars.

Page 20 has a concise relisting of Hamori's verses that deal with YHWH's "spirit of falsehood".

This book has footnotes, a bibliography, and indexes at the end, one for authors and the other for scriptures.

After reading, I can't help but wonder if Paul, the author of New Testament works, would share Anderson's opinions. My curiosity here is heavily influenced by my recent reading of Given's 'Paul's True Rhetoric' (review available under that book here on Goodreads). Both Anderson and Given appear to argue for a sophistic/trickster god that has no issue deceiving as long as it helps get the job done.

I think this book is more suited for intermediate to advanced readers in this subject, but even beginners might enjoy it and learn from it.

[Charles Krouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting analysis of how Yahweh participates in Jacob's deceptive actions. Using the story of Jacob as a guide, Anderson posits four theological implications resulting from his theology of deception:

1. God will engage in surprising and unexpected modes of fulfillment in order to honor his promises - namely, Yahweh uses deception to maintain the Abrahamic covenant

2. When God makes a promise, there is no situation that will negate His fidelity to that promise

3. God has subversive tendencies that seem to undermine conventional ideas of propriety. This may be because the Biblical author is trying to make God's attributes relatable to the other religions and nations of the time which had subversive gods, or because Yahweh is limitless so the field of God's possibilities extends beyond our comprehension

4. God will resist any claim that attempts to whitewash, sanitize, or domesticate Him. Yahweh is "untamable"