Profiles in family and public leadership : telling leaders in the Hebrew Bible by Mark S. Smith, Helena Professor of Old Testament Literature and Exegesis, is now available at Wright Library.
Find it on the shelf at BS1199.L4 S65 2026 and as an eBook.
From the publisher:
“The Bible tells its story about leaders and leadership in terms of domain (familial and public); gender (male and female); and position (socio-political heads such as warriors and kings versus intermediaries such as prophets and diviners). These three socio-political axes intersect in this book’s major theme: how family models both family and public leadership, how it molds leaders, and how it is commonly entangled in public life for the Hebrew Bible. Family leaders in Genesis are the initial focus of this book, with a look at a major moment in the life of three great family ancestors. In Genesis 22, Abraham is commanded to sacrifice his son, thus facing the greatest challenge to his leadership. Rebecca receives an oracle in Genesis 25 about the twins Jacob and Esau in her womb. Because of her “prophetic pregnancy,” Rebecca is the hero of her generation, and she leads the way to the Israel’s future. With Genesis 47, Jacob offers a telling reflection back on the days of his long life, which he strangely calls ‘few and evil.’ These figures offer models of family leadership and telling messages for the communities that received their stories.”