Description
Book SynopsisThis handbook in the Baylor Handbook on the Hebrew Bible series provides students of Hebrew with the translation of Esther paired with an exhaustive word by word morphological analysis of the text. Through careful syntactic and textual investigation, Holmstedt and Screnock bring to life one of the most loved biblical books. Esther enables a linguistic understanding of the Old Testament Hebrew text through solid contextual interpretation.
Trade ReviewAs an aid to understanding how the Hebrew in the book of Esther functions, and how the linguistic structures contribute to the book's meaning, this compact volume is worth its weight in gold. -- D.W. Rooke -- Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
This handy volume, part of the Baylor Handbook on the Hebrew Bible series, offers students of Biblical Hebrew a translation and exhaustive word-by-word morphological analysis of the MT of Esther. -- Gerald A. Klingbeil -- Bulletin for Biblical Research
[ Esther ] is a helpful guide through the Hebrew text of the book of Esther. Dividing the narrative into four parts, each with its own set of episodes, Screnock and Holmstedt carefully pick their way through the grammar, morphology, and syntax of nearly every clause and phrase of the book. -- Kurtis Peters -- Expository Times
The authors bring the latest linguistic research on diachronic study of the Hebrew Bible, valency, and the relative clause, to name just a few, to an accessible format that serves the novice as well as the expert. -- Ethan C. Jones -- Review of Biblical Literature
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Part I: Esther Becomes Queen of Persia (1:1â2:23) Episode 1âVashtiâs Downfall (1:1-22) §1: The Kingâs Banquet (1:1-9) §2: Vashtiâs Removal (1:10-22) Episode 2âEsther is Chosen as Queen (2:1-23) §1: Ahashverosh Seeks a Replacement for Vashti (2:1-4) §2: Esther Wins the Kingâs Favor (2:5-20) §3: Mordecai Saves the King (2:21-23) Part II: Haman and Mordecai in Conflict (3:1â7:10) Episode 1âThe Rise of Haman (3:1-15) §1: Hamanâs Rage against Mordecai and the Jews (3:1-7) §2: Hamanâs Plot (3:8-15) Episode 2âMordecaiâs Response (4:1-17) §1: Mordecai and the Jews Lament Hamanâs Plot (4:1-3) §2: Mordecai Convinces Esther to Intercede (4:4-17) Episode 3âEstherâs Plan (5:1-8) §1: Esther Invites the King and Haman to a Banquet (5:1-4) §2: Esther Issues a Second Invitation (5:5-8) Episode 4âHamanâs Plan Implodes (5:9â6:14) §1: Hamanâs Hubris (5:9-14) §2: Mordecaiâs Fortunes Reversed (6:1-10) §3: The Rise of Mordecai (6:11-14) Episode 5âThe End of Haman (7:1-10) §1: Estherâs Banquet (7:1-8) §2: Hamanâs Death (7:9-10) Part III: The Jews and the Peoples in Conflict (8:1â9:32) Episode 1âA Plan to Save the Jews (8:1-17) §1: The King Empowers Mordecai and Esther (8:1-8) §2: The Conter-edict Is Issued (8:9-17) Episode 2âThe Jews Prevail (9:1-19) §1: The First Day of Fighting (9:1-10) §2: The Second Day of Fighting (9:11-19) Episode 3âThe Jewsâ Victory Commemorated and Reprised (9:20-32) §1: Mordecai Establishes the Festival (9:20-25) §2: The Festival and Lots (Purim) (9:26-28) §3: Esther and Mordecai Confirm the Festival (9:29-32) Part IV: Epilogue (10:1-3) Appendix A: Numeral Syntax in Esther Appendix B: Bergeyâs Features for Diachronic Analysis Appendix C: Glossary of Linguistic Issues Bibliography Index of Linguistic Issues