SOURCE: “Genesis: The Irony of Israel,” in Irony in the Old Testament, pp. 81-114, The Westminster Press, 1965.

In the following essay, Good maintains that “thematic irony” is developed throughout the book of Genesis. Good discusses Genesis's use of such irony, from the creation myth through the stories of Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph.

An essay on irony in the book of Genesis should probably be of book length. Such an essay, thoroughly done, would approximate a commentary, which would necessitate attention to many subjects that must here be passed by. I cannot consider in any detail the problems of the composition of the book of Genesis, whether they be solved by documentary analysis, by traditio-historical criticism, by form criticism, or by any other method. I will not, therefore, weary the reader with J, E, D, and P, as the study of irony in Genesis does not necessitate either...