Finding Morality in the Diaspora? : Moral Ambiguity and Transformed Morality in the Books of Esther

This volume explores issues of moral character found in the different text versions of the book of Esther. First the study suggests the two most common approaches to perceived moral problems in the story of Esther: avoidance and transformation. Then it investigates selected portions of the Hebrew Masoretic Text, the Greek Septuagint Text, and the Greek Alpha-Text stories of Esther, focusing on issues of morality via character analysis. Finally it concentrates on the moral ambiguity found in all three versions, and on the ways in which moral character in the Greek stories has been transformed. Abbreviations 11 Part I: Approximations & Anticipations 15 1 Introduction 17 1.0 Context 17 1.1 Delimitation of Texts 19 1.2 A Brief Description of the Esther Texts to be Studied 20 1.3 Versification 28 1.4 Explanation of Procedure 29 Part II: Elucidations & Evaluations 33 2 Moral Character in the MT 35 2.0 Introduction 35 2.1 Vashti 36 2.2 Esther 38 2.3 Mordecai 59 2.4 Haman 71 2.5 The Jews 79 2.6 The King 84 3 Moral Character in the LXX 95 3.0 Introduction 95 3.1 Astin 96 3.2 Esther 98 3.3 Mardochaios 116 3.4 Aman 127 3.5 The Jews 136 3.6 The King (Αρταξέρξης) 144 4 Moral Character in the AT 153 4.0 Introduction 153 4.1 Ouastin 154 4.2 Esther 156 4.3 Mardochaios 175 4.4 Aman 187 4.5 The Jews 201 4.6 The King (Ασσυήρος) 208 Part III: Extrapolations & Adumbrations 219 5 Assessing Conclusions 221 5.0 Introduction 221 5.1 Assessing Moral Character in the Hebrew Book of Esther 221 5.2 Assessing Moral Character in the Greek Books of Esther 228 5.3 Final Conclusions 246 Bibliography 249 Index of Authors 275 Index of Biblical Texts 281 The series Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft (BZAW) covers all areas of research into the Old Testament, focusing on the Hebrew Bible, its early and later forms in Ancient Judaism, as well as its branching into many neighboring cultures of the Ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world. BZAW welcomes submissions that make an original and significant contribution to the field; demonstrate sophisticated engagement with the relevant secondary literature; and are written in readable, logical, and engaging prose. Pt. I. Approximations & Anticipations -- 1. Introduction -- Pt. Ii. Elucidations & Evaluations -- 2. Moral Character In The Mt -- 3. Moral Character In The Lxx -- 4. Moral Character In The At -- Pt. Iii. Extrapolations & Adumbrations -- 5. Assessing Conclusions. Charles D. Harvey. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [233]-258) And Indexes. Perhaps mirroring the troubles faced by Jews in the perilous Diaspora of the Esther story and beyond, the way travelled by the book of Esther has been fraught with difficulties and misunderstandings.