Thread by @Simcha_Gross

The book of Esther is in many ways incongruous with other works revered by Jews.

At least three fascinating Jewish responses and strategies emerged before the common era: erasure, supplementation, and reproduction.

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[Image from the 400 year old Esther Ferrara Scroll]

In the vast collection of works known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, one work in particular is absent: the book of Esther.

While some suggest this may simply be an accident of preservation, others argue that it was absent because it clashed with the sect’s ideology.

In particular, the work lacks any reference to God, observance of ritual or law. Esther also wed a non-Jew, an egregious sin according to the sect, following works like Jubilees that declare: “It is a disgraceful thing for Israelites who give or take [in marriage] foreign women."

Other Jews supplemented Esther with a series of Greek additions that radically changed the nature of the work. Here Esther prays, Mordechai has prophetic visions, and god is mentioned. Esther also declares: "You know that I…abhor the bed of the uncircumcised & of any foreigner.”

Other Jews no doubt simply embraced the work as a story in which god's presence was assumed, approached it as a work of history recounting true events, or found ways to interpret out elements they found problematic. E.g. Josephus largely retells the story with minor changes.

The reception of Esther is hardly unique; all texts presented challenges to later communities whose interests, laws, values, theologies & assumptions were in a constant state of development, and needed to be reconciled & harmonized with the texts they revered.

Happy Purim!

Fin.