The History of the Jacob Cycle (Genesis 25-35)

Untangling the growth of the Jacob Cycle and the historical realities behind it is of enduring interest, as the studies on the Jacob Cycle in recent years indicate. It seems to be one of the oldest origin traditions preserved in the Hebrew Bible. In spite of the previous consensus in the field, new studies and current archaeological findings have scrutinized several of the previous "certainties", leading to a debate on whether some of the basic assumptions should be modified or even rejected. This volume comprises seven articles from renowned international specialists in the field that offer comprehensive insights into new approaches and current research questions. The unique perspective lays in its combining of literary, archaeological, and historical approaches in order to understand and to evaluate the historical realities behind the Jacob Cycle and its traditions.