The first comprehensive application of René Girard's revolutionary theory of the origins and nature of violence to the whole of the Bible.

"A delight... this eminently readable book should have a great impact not only on biblical scholars, but on all cultivated readers concerned with the rise of nihilism and eager to follow the great philosophical and reli- gious debate that is now raging all around us."

-RENÉ GIRARD, author of Violence and the Sacred

"Williams's work demonstrates the effectiveness of René Girard's method of interpretation over a wide range of biblical texts. It is especially impressive in the several accounts of rival brothers in Genesis-the fresh analysis of the stories of Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, is brilliant.

-ROBERT HAMERTON-KELLY, Stanford University, edi- tor of The Journal on Violence & Religion, and author of Sacred Violence: Paul's Hermeneutic of the Cross