Adam as Israel - by Seth D Postell (Paperback)

About the Book

A thought-provoking discussion of Genesis 1-3 showing numerous intentional links between the story of Adam and the story of the people of Israel, and explaining many otherwise perplexing features of the Garden of Eden narrative.

Book Synopsis

A discussion of how the links between the stories of Adam and of the people of Israel explain otherwise perplexing features of the Eden narrative.

Postell contends that the opening chapters of the Bible, when interpreted as a strategic literary introduction to the Torah and to the Tanakh, intentionally foreshadows Israel's failure to keep the Sinai Covenant and their consequent exile from the Promised Land, in order to point the reader to a future work of God. Postell highlights numerous intentional links between the story of Adam and the story of Israel and, in the process, explains numerous otherwise perplexing features of the Eden story.
Postell employs a wealth of theologies to support his argument including those of Nicholas of Lyra, John Calvin, Wellhausen, Johannes Coccejus and Matthew Poole; successfully breathing new life into the wealth of exegeses.

Review Quotes

...I would recommend this book for biblical scholars and advanced students interested to explore new avenues for theological interpretation of Genesis...--Igal German "Theological book review, Vol. 24, No 2, 2012"

...Postell has provided an excellent work that is readable, interesting, and has a handful of fascinating insights that will provide scholars, pastors, and lay-readers alike good material for years to come...--James A. E. Mulroney "The Expository Times, Vol. 124, Number 9, June 2013"

...Postell's Adam as Israel, filled with rich exegetical insights and engendering many suggestive rabbit trails to pursue, is a solid contribution to biblical theology, joining a growing body of scholarship that, through holistic readings, marks a critically minded return to an earlier understanding of the Hebrew and Christian canons. Readers will be impressed afresh concerning the profound significance of the Eden narratives, along with the highly complex literary artistry at play within the Tanak...--L. Michael Morales "Review of Biblical Literature, October 2012."

Seth Postell puts forward a convincing argument to take seriously the cohesion of the final, canonical form of the Torah and Tanakh, as well as the introductory role that Genesis 1-3 plays within that final form. [...] The writing is very accessible, and would be of use to laypersons as well as academics and students of biblical studies.--Matthew James Hamilton "Reviews in Religion & Theology, Volume 20, Issue 2, March 2013."