Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>The Bible tells its stories about leaders and leadership in terms of domain (familial and public); gender (male and female); and position (sociopolitical heads such as warriors and kings versus intermediaries such as prophets and diviners). These three sociopolitical 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. The book of Genesis offers surprising reflections on three family leaders: Abraham’s strange, obedient response to the strange divine command to sacrifice his son (Gen 22); Rebecca’s “pregnant prophecy” (Gen 25:22–23) that inaugurates her leadership in the family; and Jacob’s reflection on “the few and evil” years of his long life (Gen 47:7–10). The book then turns to public leaders, particularly prophets, warriors, and kings. These roles are not only interwoven with one another; they also reflect the vicissitudes of family life. The Afterword highlights four features that inform the stories discussed in this book: authorship, attractiveness, authority, and anonymity. Together, these factors shaped the Bible’s projects of leaders and leadership, as well as its audiences’ perceptions.</jats:p>