Prof. Kristen Lindbeck is Associate Professor of Jewish Studies at Florida Atlantic University’s Department of Languages, Linguistics, and Comparative Literature. She holds an M.A. in Talmud and Rabbinics and a Ph.D. in Ancient Judaism from JTS, and is the author of Elijah and the Rabbis: Story and Theology (Columbia, 2010).
Last Updated
November 17, 2025
Books by the Author
Amazon paid links
Articles by the Author
Why would God make righteous people suffer just to test their faithfulness? With Job, the Bible is explicit that it was in response to Satan’s challenge, but what about Abraham? Jubilees (2nd cent. C.E.), and later the Talmud and midrash, reimagine the Akedah to have been instigated by Mastema, the Satan, or jealous angels. The midrash goes further and envisions Samael tempting Abraham to make him fail.
Why would God make righteous people suffer just to test their faithfulness? With Job, the Bible is explicit that it was in response to Satan’s challenge, but what about Abraham? Jubilees (2nd cent. C.E.), and later the Talmud and midrash, reimagine the Akedah to have been instigated by Mastema, the Satan, or jealous angels. The midrash goes further and envisions Samael tempting Abraham to make him fail.
