The Trickster Archetype In The Old Testament

An excerpt from, “The Old Testament Use of An Archetype: The Trickster” By Richard D. Patterson, Evangelical Theological Society, September 1999:

Trickery appears to be a common trait of human culture. For not only does it form an important part of several human activities such as battle and sports strategies as well as humor and entertainment, but wherever the traveler goes he must be acutely aware of trickery. It is small wonder, then, that the antics of the trickster are given literary expression in many parts of the world. Indeed, one may say that the trickster forms an important archetype common to the writings of numerous cultures.

. . . The biblical story of trickery par excellence is that of Jacob. Interestingly, one denominative verb (aqab) associated with his name (ya Aqob) stresses the element of trickery while retaining its nominal origin associated with the heel of the foot. Indeed, “The supplanting of Jacob becomes synonymous with the deception of Jacob.” Further, two of the nominal derivatives from the denominative verb carry some reflection of the thought of deception or trickery: (aqob, “deceitful”; oqbâ, “trickery”). Jacob is quickly portrayed as a trickster, first tricking his brother out of his birthright in exchange for a bowl of stew (Gen 25:27–34) and then tricking his father out of Esau’s rightful blessing (Gen 27:1–40). In all of these early dealings “Jacob shows himself resourceful, crafty, dishonest, greedy—exactly what we have come to expect of this trickster.”

Jacob’s trickery became legendary. Accordingly, it served as a ready symbol for the prophets to seize upon in condemning the grasping, greedy ways of contemporary society. Thus Jeremiah describes the Judahites of his day in terms of Jacob’s deception of his brother: “Do not trust your brothers. For every brother is a deceiver” (Heb. aqôb ya qob, Jer 9:4). The mention of brothers and the choice of the verbal form yaçqob make the allusion to the patriarch Jacob (ya Aqob) unmistakable.

The use of Jacob’s trickery to denounce Israel’s treacherous ways becomes crucial to the understanding of two of Hosea’s prophetic oracles. Hosea 12:2–6[3–7] records the prophet’s observations on God’s condemnation of Israel’s deceitful political policies (11:12–12:1[12:1–2]). He points out that his people have a history of deceit stretching back to their forefather Jacob.