Book of Esther

These are notes from Sunday, March 23.

The Book of Esther is an extremely important book for understanding the ethos of Judaism. It is the last of five festal scrolls (Megilloth) but first in the hearts of Jewish people (Megillah). Esther contains no explicit religious or ethical teaching, and seems to be indifferent to the theology and institutions of Judaism. It purports to be a chapter from the history of the dispersion, and relates to the intrigues of the Persian court life at Susa, in the kingdom of Xerxes.

There are several major characters: Queen Vashti, Xerxes, Haman, Mordecai, and Esther.

The character-driven story follows this plot: Vashti is deposed; Esther is selected; Haman hatches a plot; Mordecai gives directions; Haman is executed; Mordecai appointed; the Jews saved.

The story is an account of the establishment of the Feast of Purim, instituted as an annual two day festival. The book's purpose is to explain and justify the celebration of the festival, for which there is no basis in the Law; and also to regulate the observance of Purim. There is no real historical evidence of the origin of this festival. It might have been borrowed from the Persians just as the Israelites borrowed agricultural festivals from the Canaanites and nationalized them. As Christians we did the same kind of thing -- for examble borrowed from the Romans and established Christmas.

Around A.D. 200 the Jews officially added the two days of Purim to their calendar. The author is unknown.

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Upcoming: The Book of Isaiah; Apocalyptic literature in the Bible (Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation); select Minor Prophets. Our course will wrap up on May 18!