The oldest trick in the book: Narrative explorations of oppression and resistance in Exodus 1

Abstract

Philosophers and theorists have offered many explanations of the origins and nature of injustice. The distilled wisdom of victims of oppression, however, often find expression in indigenous literary forms such as folk songs and narratives. This article examines Exodus 1 as one such narrative reflection on the causes of oppression and the ways that suffering communities and their allies might resist regimes that employ fear, prejudice, and violence to exploit vulnerable populations for political gain.