The Joseph Paradox
A Radical Reading of Genesis 37–50
$39.95
In stock
About the Book
This book is a reader-friendly treatment of the Joseph story—one of the most popular tales in the Bible. Instead of the usual interpretation as an Horatio Alger success story, the text proposes that we are presented with a cautionary tale of high achievement and the pursuit of success. In the context of the larger biblical narrative, Joseph’s short-term success leads to the enslavement of his descendants and the centuries-long derailment of the destiny of the Children of Israel. The self-limiting nature of the pursuit of power is just one of the themes illuminated in this work.
About the Author(s)
Bibliographic Details
Hillel I. Millgram
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 260
Bibliographic Info: maps, appendices, notes, glossary, bibliography, indexes
Copyright Date: 2012
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6850-8
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8982-4
Imprint: McFarland
Table of Contents
Preface 1
Introduction 5
Prologue: The Way of the Fathers 31
1. A Family Tragedy 41
2. Rehabilitation 54
3. The Slave 68
4. The Interpreter of Dreams 76
5. The Egyptian 88
6. Cat and Mouse 96
7. The Entrapment 108
8. The Unmasking 123
9. The Long Farewell 135
10. The Egyptian Trajectory 150
11. The Write-Off 158
12. Legacy 169
13. The Closing of Accounts 182
14. Conclusion 1: Between God and Man 197
15. Conclusion 2: Joseph’s Place in History 207
Appendix 1.: Who Sold Joseph into Egypt? 221
Appendix 2.: Can Judah and Tamar Be Fitted into the Joseph Narrative? 225
Appendix 3.: What Is a Poem Doing in the Joseph Story? 228
Glossary of Terms and Place Names 233
Who’s Who in the Joseph Story 239
Bibliography 243
Scriptural Index 247
General Index 249
Book Reviews & Awards
“Millgram focuses on the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors as a self-contained literary unit within the larger narrative of Genesis”—Reference & Research Book News.
