Purim: An Exegesis by Pictures

By Christophe Stener

This book presents the Book of Esther historical underground, its theological and political meanings to better understand Purim feast signification. 100 works of art pictures are referred and commented.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books on Demand
• Release date: Mar 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9782322172214

Christophe Stener

Christophe Stener, auteur de plusieurs livres d'histoire de l'art associant exégèse biblique et histoire générale, notamment sur le Livre d'Esther, DREYFUS et Judas Iscariot, enseigne à l'Université Catholique de l'Ouest.

Book preview

Images

Cover page

Soffer Jacob, Morocco, 19th century, MAHJ, Esther in majesty, Mordecai triumph, yad – Marrano style https://www.mahj.org/sites/mahj.org/files/img_collections/10009_21422_tceg_MAHJ_800.jpg

Back page

Hammentaschen, Haman’s ears

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Hamantaschen_Purim_Dresden_%282%29.JPG/1024px-Hamantaschen_Purim_Dresden_%282%29.JPG

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Summary

Introduction

Biblical Sources

The Book of Esther, a palimpsest

Midrash

Historicity, author and dating

Author

Datation

Textual Sources

A story, not History

From Nebuchadnezzar to Artaxerxes

The rabbinical background of the biblical tale

Esther, diaspora vade mecum

A story full of pagan deities

The characters

Ahasuerus, inspired by Xerxes

Xerxes or Artaxerxes?

Ahasuerus, antisemitic or protector of the Jews?

Vashti

Vashti repudiated and/or beheaded

Vashti disfigured or decked out of a tail

Modern rehabilitation of Vashti

Hadassah

Onomastics

Esther-Ishtar - Venus

Hadassah, the Myrtle

Esther Hidden

Non-exclusive but complementary etymologies

Esther, vindictive virgin

Esther's appearance

Love at first sight

Esther and Ahasuerus wedding, morganatic or holy union?

Esther, Mordecai’s hidden wife?

Devout Esther

Esther, a prophetess

Esther, wife's model

A Persian named Jewish

Jewish affiliation of Mordecai

A Yehoudim, a Jew from the diaspora

A Benjamite

One diaspora Jew or back from exile Jew?

Mordecai, yeshiva master

Mordecai mocked by the Purim Shpil

Mordecai, Esther's hidden betrothed?

Mordecai second in the kingdom

Onomastics

Haman the first adviser to King Ahasuerus

The conceited Haman

Haman the anti-Semitic

Haman a tragicomic character

Haman The Traitor

Story meanings

Hebrew monotheism wins

Cyrus’ Edict

An vade mecum for the diaspora

A secular tragicomedy

A feast

An oriental tale

A religious apologue

Esther, an exception to aniconism

What is a Jewish art?

Timeline of Jewish art

Esther scrolls

Synagogue and family Esther srolls

Timeline

Megila transcription precepts

Megilot cases

Jewish art work Inspired by the book of Esther

Ketubah

Me'ah-Berachot

Iconography of the Book of Esther

The dream of Mordecai

Suse

Ahasuerus enthroned

Banquet of Ahasuerus

Queen Vashti Feast

Queen Vashti's refusal to perform before the guests of the King

Disfigurement of Vashti

Repudiation and banishment of queen Vashti

Execution of Queen Vashti

Esther, Jewish Virgin

Entrance in the harem

Mordecai watches over the well-being of Esther at the harem

Esther in the Harem

King’s love at first glance

The second roundup

Coronation of Esther

The conspiracy of the two eunuchs revealed by Mordecai

Elevation of Haman

Disdain of Mordecai

Draw lots of the date of the pogrom

Haman gets from the king the license to kill the Jews

Despair of Mordecai

Omen of the three schoolchildren

Lamentation of the Jews

Mordecai called by Esther to get dressed

Mordecai asks Esther to intercede

Esther anguished

Mordecai makes children fast

Mordecai dreams a snake

Esther hesitation

Esther calls the Jews to the fast

Esther & Mordecai prayers

Esther's swoon

Esther's toilet

Esther's hesitation at the King's Palace door

Esther's intercession

The Golden Scepter

Esther invites the King to a dinner the next day

Esther's first Banquet

Haman's wife suggests hanging Mordecai

Haman is forced to attend Esthers banquet

The King’s insomnia

The king orders Haman to honor Mordecai

The Children and the Omer

Aman has to shave and bath Mordecai

Mordecai’s triumph

Haman's daughter blunder

Haman concern

Pessimism of Haman's wife

Haman forced to go to Esther's Feast

The Queen denounces Haman to Ahasuerus

The king withdraws to his garden

Supplication of Haman

Haman assaults Esther

Wrath of the King and punishment of Haman

Punishment of Haman

The king gives Haman’s property to Esther

Mordecai presents himself before the king

The king gives his seal to Mordecai

The King empowers Mordecai and Esther to revoke the edict of the massacre of the Jews and revenge

Triumph of Mordecai and Jews

Revenge of the Jews and celebration

Hanging of the ten sons of Haman

Decimation of the enemies of the Jews

Conversion, Circumcision, pagans

Purim Letters

Mordecai, second of the Kingdom