Fighting the Angel

As the Biblical patriarch Jacob, after twenty years of exile, is about to cross the river that separates him from home, he gets into a nocturnal fight with a supernatural figure, traditionally referred to as 'the angel'. As a result of the wrestling match Jacob is injured, however he also receives a blessing and a new name: from now on he is called Israel. The present study proposes a Jungian reading of this famous episode in Genesis. The focus is on the intriguing identity of Jacob's enigmatic adversary: who or what is that figure on the riverside and what does he want from Jacob? In order to clarify this matter, parallels from other mythological tales are discussed. It will be shown that Jacob is by no means the only character in world mythology to get into a conflict with a demon or deity, even though Jacob's attitude towards unwilling divine powers is rather special. Reading like a detective story, the book takes us on a journey that slowly but steadily unlocks the true nature of Jacob's mysterious opponent. The surprising outcome adds to our understanding of the figure of Jacob-Israel. Moreover, it makes us aware of a number of hitherto overlooked characteristics that modern Western society inherited from its Judaeo-Christian past. -- "In this fascinating study, Maria Kardaun unpacks the psychological implications of one of the most puzzling episodes in Genesis: Jacob's wrestling with the angel. It seems strange to say it of so scholarly a study, but this is a book hard to put down. It ranges widely, taking us on a Jungian journey through legends from many cultures to find the Jacob legend's meaning: a decisive step forward in humans' and civilizations' modernization." Norman N. Holland, Eminent Scholar Emeritus at University of Florida. -- "Fighting the Angel not only makes delightful reading, it is also evidence of thorough and impressive scholarship, in Biblical exegesis and theology no less than in Jungian criticism. Far from being "just another Jungian interpretation" to convince the convinced, this study is a major contribution, convincing even to people who do not accept Jungian theory." Reuven Tsur, Professor Emeritus of Hebrew Literature, Tel Aviv University, Israel Prize Laureate in General Literature, 2009. -- "A wonderful book, that clearly demonstrates the great value of depth psychological analysis. The author manages to bridge the gap that separates us from ancient Biblical times. This reading has great relevance for our understanding of the cultural changes that have created the world that we still live in today." Maaike Meijer, Professor of Gender and Diversity at Maastricht University, author of M. Vasalis. Een biografie.