Bibliography
| Title: The Books of Ester. Structure, genre, and textual integrity Type: Thesis Year: 1989 Abstract: "Since Usher's 1655 publication of a single MS containing a non-LXX Greek text tradition of Esther, this so-called Lucianic witness (now four known MSS) has been considered later/inferior vis-a-vis LXX and MT. This dissertation constitutes a first attempt (1) to apply form critical tools to the Lucianic (L) and LXX (o') Esther texts (keeping Josephus in purview), and (2) to show--by detailed structure, redaction, content and style analyses--the relative ages and literary intentions of L, o' and MT. L and o' macrostructures evince major similarities, but also differences which show that L stands farther from MT than o', and the L and o' comprise two independent traditions. L, o' and MT function as feast etiologies, but each text is distinctive and multigeneric. All three texts contain a similar but individualized rescue novella and varying appendices. The two Greek texts became propheticized at the final text level (dream/interpretation), and show evidence of cultic use (condensed (synagogal?) homilies). L contains the earliest form of the rescue novella among o', MT (and Josephus), and may witness to a lost sacralized semitic Vorlage, which came into existence after the secular semitic Uresther appeared. Differences in vocabulary, content and style show o' and L being independent traditions aimed at, and stemming from two distinct religious communities. L appears more personal, orthodox, nationalistic and Jewish, aimed at a Palestinian audience, intending to foster communal identity. LXX/o' breathes a more matter of fact, reportorial, Hellenistic style, with an eye to tolerance of Gentiles and audience entertainment, although all Esther books contain satire and ironic humor. MT became canonized because it is the most multivalent of the Esthers, appealing to both religious and secular elements of Judaism. A proposed text transmission history allows that textual mixing among o' and L is possible, but derivation one from the other is ruled out. Before text critical work is done from a hermeneutic of suspicion, o's and L's textual integrity must be approached with a hermeneutic of respect". Keywords: Relation of Josephus to Hebrew Bible, Septuagint, and Rabbinic Literature |