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Jacob's Story as Christian Scripture
Jacob is all too often underappreciated in works on biblical theology. He nevertheless stands squarely in the line of promise and is the man who becomes Israel. His blessings come not because he is virtuous but because God remains faithful. In this, his story contributes to the themes of Genesis and of the Pentateuch as a whole, and extends into the life of the church.
Jacob’s Story as Christian Scripture begins with a reading of Genesis 25 to 35, and then moves beyond the boundaries of Genesis to track the words he pronounces over his twelve sons. Jacob’s blessings give shape to Balaam’s oracles and ultimately to subsequent prophecies concerning the lion of the tribe of Judah. Prophetic appropriation of Jacob’s story, presented here via a fresh investigation of OT passages from Jeremiah, Obadiah, Micah, and others, includes troubling elements of Jacob’s character to indict the nation—in the hope that God’s people, like the patriarch, will stop being Jacob and become Israel.
Jacob’s Story as Christian Scripture begins with a reading of Genesis 25 to 35, and then moves beyond the boundaries of Genesis to track the words he pronounces over his twelve sons. Jacob’s blessings give shape to Balaam’s oracles and ultimately to subsequent prophecies concerning the lion of the tribe of Judah. Prophetic appropriation of Jacob’s story, presented here via a fresh investigation of OT passages from Jeremiah, Obadiah, Micah, and others, includes troubling elements of Jacob’s character to indict the nation—in the hope that God’s people, like the patriarch, will stop being Jacob and become Israel.
210 pages, Paperback
Published January 6, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 16, 2024
Missing an in-depth treatment of Gen 48-49…
March 7, 2021
Genesis is home to some of the most intriguing stories in the Bible. Of its characters, Jacob stands above the rest as an unlikely recipient of God’s grace and promises. I was pleased to receive a review copy of Philip Kern’s new book, Jacob’s Story as Christian Scripture, for the chance to dive a little deeper into the Scriptural account. Jacob’s Story is a pleasantly short and insightful study of the story as it is recounted in Genesis 25-35 and echoed in later Scriptures.
According to Kern, Jacob’s story is essentially one of reproduction, of Jacob’s development into a powerful clan (vii). This story in the context of Genesis is part of the narrator’s purpose of “identifying and establishing the line of promise” (vii), seen in light of the programmatic promise that the seed of the Woman would crush the serpents head (viii, xii-xiii). Because the story looks forward to this promise of curse removal, reading Jacob’s story involves paying attention to the story’s role in developing the hopes of God’s people. The book was originally presented as a series of lectures intended to be accessible to the public; Kern has not made significant changes for print format. The purpose of the book is not to move from the story to contemporary application but to uncover what is needed to know “about the Jacob story in order to preach it as a Christian Scripture.” Thus, “it is a prelude to that final step of bringing the text to bear on the life of one’s hearers” (viii). Kern’s exposition follows the flow of the Biblical narrative, beginning with more detailed expositions of key early texts (e.g. Chapter 1, Gen 25:27-34) and moving towards more sweeping accounts of the later events (e.g. Chapter 7, Genesis 31).
Kern shows himself to be a careful reader of the text. He draws on some of the best narrative scholarship of the Old Testament, building on Alter and Bar-Efrat’s work, among others. He exercises sober judgment in doing so, not following the former in some of his more idiosyncratic readings. The reader will benefit from Kern’s attention to the narrative detail and engagement with the scholarship surrounding Jacob’s story. Sometimes Kern’s style, perhaps owing to the book’s originally verbal context, results in confusion. That is, he will occasionally make an assertion that is not yet apparent, usually drawing it out a page or two later. Perhaps the weakest part of the books was Chapter 12, where Kern turned to the echoes of Jacob’s story in Scripture. Here, he follows Sailhamer’s analysis of the Pentateuch, which is helpful in many ways. However, I did not find his exposition of Jacob's significance in Obadiah/Jeremiah 49 and Malachi convincing. That being said, I believe the reader will be served greatly by Kern’s work and heartily recommend it for those looking to understand Jacob’s story better.
According to Kern, Jacob’s story is essentially one of reproduction, of Jacob’s development into a powerful clan (vii). This story in the context of Genesis is part of the narrator’s purpose of “identifying and establishing the line of promise” (vii), seen in light of the programmatic promise that the seed of the Woman would crush the serpents head (viii, xii-xiii). Because the story looks forward to this promise of curse removal, reading Jacob’s story involves paying attention to the story’s role in developing the hopes of God’s people. The book was originally presented as a series of lectures intended to be accessible to the public; Kern has not made significant changes for print format. The purpose of the book is not to move from the story to contemporary application but to uncover what is needed to know “about the Jacob story in order to preach it as a Christian Scripture.” Thus, “it is a prelude to that final step of bringing the text to bear on the life of one’s hearers” (viii). Kern’s exposition follows the flow of the Biblical narrative, beginning with more detailed expositions of key early texts (e.g. Chapter 1, Gen 25:27-34) and moving towards more sweeping accounts of the later events (e.g. Chapter 7, Genesis 31).
Kern shows himself to be a careful reader of the text. He draws on some of the best narrative scholarship of the Old Testament, building on Alter and Bar-Efrat’s work, among others. He exercises sober judgment in doing so, not following the former in some of his more idiosyncratic readings. The reader will benefit from Kern’s attention to the narrative detail and engagement with the scholarship surrounding Jacob’s story. Sometimes Kern’s style, perhaps owing to the book’s originally verbal context, results in confusion. That is, he will occasionally make an assertion that is not yet apparent, usually drawing it out a page or two later. Perhaps the weakest part of the books was Chapter 12, where Kern turned to the echoes of Jacob’s story in Scripture. Here, he follows Sailhamer’s analysis of the Pentateuch, which is helpful in many ways. However, I did not find his exposition of Jacob's significance in Obadiah/Jeremiah 49 and Malachi convincing. That being said, I believe the reader will be served greatly by Kern’s work and heartily recommend it for those looking to understand Jacob’s story better.
July 23, 2024
This book gives a careful study of Genesis 25-35, the chapters in which the patriarch Jacob is featured. Along the way, the author follows important themes from the Jacob story through the Tanakh and New Testament. Despite Jacob's shortcomings, God's grace and faithfulness prevail.
Jacob's story is part of the big theme of the promise of the Messiah. Following John Sailhamer, the author shows how that theme is highlighted in the poetic passages in Gen 49, Num 23-24, and Dt 33. He goes on to show how the prophets draw upon Jacob and Esau, bringing in Hosea 12, Jeremiah 9 and 49, Micah 4-5, and Malachi.
The author draws upon a wide range of sources, bringing out a number of valuable insights. I appreciated his careful study of Genesis 34 in cultural context. In particular, he explains the idea, quite foreign to us in the West, of marriage by abduction, which lies behind the puzzling events and violence of that chapter.
Jacob's story is part of the big theme of the promise of the Messiah. Following John Sailhamer, the author shows how that theme is highlighted in the poetic passages in Gen 49, Num 23-24, and Dt 33. He goes on to show how the prophets draw upon Jacob and Esau, bringing in Hosea 12, Jeremiah 9 and 49, Micah 4-5, and Malachi.
The author draws upon a wide range of sources, bringing out a number of valuable insights. I appreciated his careful study of Genesis 34 in cultural context. In particular, he explains the idea, quite foreign to us in the West, of marriage by abduction, which lies behind the puzzling events and violence of that chapter.
March 22, 2021
I really liked it. I have a longer review to be published, so will update when that's out.
If he were to do a 2nd ed, there's one incorrect verse reference:p96 the reference to servitude in 32:5 should be 32:4 (32:5 is the Hebrew versification)
And I would remove the appendix at the end on food and drink, which seems to be the result of research relating to the two meals at the beginning of the Jacob and Esau story. There was only one paragraph pertinent to the topic (Meals and Betrayal); this could have been included at the appropriate place in the book and the rest of the appendix discarded.
But you should get a copy and read through with the text of Genesis in front of you - it will be a good use of your time!
If he were to do a 2nd ed, there's one incorrect verse reference:p96 the reference to servitude in 32:5 should be 32:4 (32:5 is the Hebrew versification)
And I would remove the appendix at the end on food and drink, which seems to be the result of research relating to the two meals at the beginning of the Jacob and Esau story. There was only one paragraph pertinent to the topic (Meals and Betrayal); this could have been included at the appropriate place in the book and the rest of the appendix discarded.
But you should get a copy and read through with the text of Genesis in front of you - it will be a good use of your time!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews