Esther in ancient Jewish thought / Aaron Koller.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Koller, Aaron J., 1978- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Esther, Queen of Persia.

Esther.

Bible. Esther--Criticism, interpretation, etc., Jewish.

Bible.

Rabbinical literature--History and criticism.

Rabbinical literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiii, 262 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2014.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The book of Esther was a conscious reaction to much of the conventional wisdom of its day, challenging beliefs regarding the Jerusalem Temple, the land of Israel, Jewish law, and even God. Aaron Koller identifies Esther as primarily a political work, and shows that early reactions ranged from ignoring the book to 'rewriting' Esther in order to correct its perceived flaws. But few biblical books have been read in such different ways, and the vast quantity of Esther-interpretation in rabbinic literature indicates a conscious effort by the Rabbis to present Esther as a story of faith and traditionalism, and bring it into the fold of the grand biblical narrative. Koller situates Esther, and its many interpretations, within the intellectual and political contexts of Ancient Judaism, and discusses its controversial themes. His innovative line of enquiry will be of great interest to students and scholars of Bible and Jewish studies.

Contents:

Setting the stage: the theological challenge of political stability

The movement of Ezra and Nehemiah

Authoring/editing: Joseph, Daniel, and God

Identity of a hero: Mordecai the yehudi, scion of the House of Saul

Persian law and Persian king in the book of Esther

Modeling heroes: Daniel, Esther, and Mordecai

Hero models: Joseph and Saul

Diaspora revisions: rethinking the Exodus and rethinking God

A tense embrace: the reception of Esther in Hellenistic Alexandria

Subvert or ignore: canonical re-contextualization and outright rejection of Esther

Criticism by adaptation: rewriting Esther in Hellenistic and Roman times

Adoption: Esther in the eastern Diaspora and in the canon

Introduction to the rabbinic literature on Esther

Biblicizing Esther

Restoring God and Torah.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-107-72113-X

1-107-72341-8

1-107-72812-6

1-107-72872-X

1-107-67388-7

1-107-72411-2

1-107-73048-1

1-107-73223-9

1-107-26141-4