The dynamics of violence and revenge in the Hebrew Book of Esther / by Francisco-Javier Ruiz-Ortiz.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ruiz-Ortiz, Francisco-Javier, 1976- author.

Series:

Supplements to Vetus Testamentum ; v. 175.

Supplements to Vetus Testamentum

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bible. Esther--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Bible. Esther.

Violence in the Bible.

Revenge in the Bible.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

xiii, 275 pages ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, [2017]

Summary:

"This volume offers a thematic study of an integral part of the Hebrew text of Esther, namely, violence. In 'The Dynamics of Violence and Revenge in the Hebrew Book of Esther, ' Francisco-Javier Ruiz-Ortiz makes the first ever monographic research on the topics of hostility and the mechanisms of revenge as expressed by the author of the Hebrew book of Esther. The present book is divided into two parts consisting of three chapters each. After an introductory chapter reviewing previous studies on the book of Esther, the author analyses the main vocabulary of violence and revenge in this biblical text before studying the narrative of Esther from the point of view of violence. The results of these two avenues of research are then applied on three pericopes which are representative of the dynamics of violence. Each of the chosen texts illustrates how violence and revenge are used by the author to express the message of survival and the importance of the Jewish people."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Part 1 Literary Inquiry into the Book of Esther

1 The Book of Esther in Context 13

1 Purim 13

1.1 Origins of the Feast 13

1.2 Liturgical Relationship Between the Book of Esther and Purim 15

2 Textual Questions 16

2.1 Textual Landscape 16

2.2 Qumran Fragments 19

2.3 Relation Between the Different Texts 21

3 Literary Dimensions 21

3.1 Literary Genre 22

3.2 Characterisation 27

3.3 Structure 27

3.4 Re interpretation of Biblical Stories 29

3.5 Irony/Sarcasm 32

3.6 Rhetorical Devices 33

4 Motifs and Themes 34

4.1 Banquets 35

4.2 Kingship 35

4.3 Obedience/Disobedience 36

4.4 Power 37

4.5 Loyalty to the Jewish Community 37

4.6 Inviolability of the Jewish Nation and Reversal 38

4.7 Shame and Honour 38

4.8 Absence of God 39

5 Interpretative Currents 42

5.1 Carnivalesque Reading 42

5.2 Political Explanation 43

5.3 Feminist Interpretations 44

6 Reception History 46

6.1 Reception History of the Book of Esther 46

7 Conclusion 51

2 Vocabulary of Violence 52

1 Subjects of Violent Actions 53

1.1 "attacker, enemy" 53

1.2 "one who hates, enemy" 55

1.3 "enemy" 57

1.4 Summary 59

2 Feelings Leading to Violence 59

2.1 "to be angry; anger" 60

2.2 "anger" 64

3 Violent Acts 67

3.1 "to hang" 67

3.2 "to gain dominion" 70

3.3 "to stretch out the hand" 71

3.4 "to exterminate" 73

3.5 "to (cause to) perish" 75

3.6 "to kill" 78

3.7 "to take revenge" 79

4 Conclusion 83

3 Violence in the Narrative of Esther 85

1 Literary Composition 86

1.1 What Kind of Plot? 87

1.2 The Narrator's Telling and Showing 90

1.3 The Characters' Dialogue 93

1.4 Legal Documents 95

1.5 Summary 96

2 Plot 97

2.1 Nature of the Plot: Revelation or Resolution? 97

2.2 Role of Violence in the Plot 100

3 Point of View 104

3.1 Narrator's Point of View 104

3.2 Characters' Point of View 106

4 Characters 107

4.1 Ahasuerus 109

4.2 Vashti 111

4.3 Mordecai 113

4.4 Esther 117

4.5 Haman 120

4.6 Jewish People 122

4.7 Minor Characters 124

5 Framework 126

5.1 Time 126

5.2 Space 129

6 Universals of Narrative 130

6.1 Suspense 130

6.2 Curiosity 132

6.3 Surprise 132

7 Conclusion 133

Part 2 Exegesis of Chosen Passages

4 The King's Life is Spared: Exegesis of Esther 2:21-23 137

1 Text 137

1.1 Textual Notes 138

1.2 Translation 139

2 Literary Analysis 140

2.1 Delimitation 140

2.2 Setting 140

2.3 Structure 142

3 Commentary 143

3.1 Use of Verbs 146

3.2 Description of Characters 148

3.3 A Was Written in the Chronicles 151

4 Conclusion 154

5 The Beginning of the End: Exegesis of Esther 7:1-10 155

1 Text 156

1.1 Textual Notes 156

1.2 Translation 159

1.3 The Greek Versions 160

2 Literary Analysis 161

2.1 Delimitation 161

2.2 Setting 162

2.3 Structure 163

3 The Banquet Motif 164

3.1 Eating and Drinking in Classical Sources 165

3.2 Eating and Drinking in the Old Testament 167

3.3 Eating and Drinking in the Book of Esther 169

4 Commentary 171

4.1 Exposition (7:1-2a) 172

4.2 Complication (7:2b-5) 173

4.3 Turning Point (7:6-8) 179

4.4 Denouement (7:9-10a) 185

4.5 Final. Situation (7:10b) 187

5 Conclusion 187

6 Before the Party Begins: Exegesis of Esther 9:1-19 190

1 Text 191

1.1 Translation 192

1.2 The Greek Versions 194

2 Literary Analysis 195

2.1 Delimitation 195

2.2 Setting 196

2.3 Structure 198

3 Thorny Questions about Chapter 9 199

3.1 Description of Characters 200

3.2 Interpretation 203

4 Commentary 204

4.1 Background Information (9:1-4) 205

4.3 First Action (9:5-11) 213

4.3 Dialogue between the King and the Queen (9:12-13) 218

4.4 Fulfilment of the Command (9:14-19) 220

5 Conclusion 225.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 239-263) and indexes.

Other Format:

Online version: Ruiz-Ortiz, Francisco-Javier, 1976- Dynamics of violence and revenge in the Hebrew Book of Esther.

ISBN:

9789004337015

9004337016

OCLC:

962843803