Because deception is usually considered immoral, it is surprising to find so many occurrences of it within Genesis, often perpetrated by Israel's venerated patriarchs. While deception in Genesis has been addressed in piecemeal fashion in previous studies, this is the first time that it has been dealt with comprehensively. This book analyzes this phenomenon from the perspectives of the Bible itself, later Jewish exegetical tradition, ancient Near Eastern parallels, and folklore. These perspectives unanimously indicate that the moral evaluation of deception in Genesis is both complex and unique in the ancient and modern world.
"The various incidents of deception in Genesis have long been a source of perplexity to believers and fodder for opponents of the Bible. In this study, Michael James Williams expertly analyzes each incident, pointing out the subtle and sometimes surprising ways in which Genesis communicates its evaluation of the characters' behavior and what it regards as the proper and improper uses of deception. Dr. Williams explores how later Jewish tradition evaluated and sometimes revised the same events and how the views of Genesis compare with those of other books in the Bible and with those found elsewhere in the ancient Near East and in world folklore. The study, viewing the narratives in philological, comparative, literary, ethical, and folkloristic terms, is judicious, thorough, and more broadly conceived than any previous study of the subject." (Jeffrey H. Tigay, Ellis Professor of Hebrew and Semitic Languages and Literatures, University of Pennsylvania)
"Deception is a major themein Genesis and plays an important role throughout the Bible. In some passages the narrator condemns the deception, but in others condones it. Wherein lies the difference? In a careful, exhaustive, and masterful study, Michael Williams guides us through the texts and sets them in the broad context of the ancient Near Eastern world. I highly recommend this book to all serious students of the Bible." (Tremper Longman III, Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies, Westmont College)
"Deception is a major themein Genesis and plays an important role throughout the Bible. In some passages the narrator condemns the deception, but in others condones it. Wherein lies the difference? In a careful, exhaustive, and masterful study, Michael Williams guides us through the texts and sets them in the broad context of the ancient Near Eastern world. I highly recommend this book to all serious students of the Bible." (Tremper Longman III, Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies, Westmont College)