TY - BOOK AU - Koller,Aaron TI - Esther in Ancient Jewish Thought SN - 9781107261419 (ebook) AV - BS580.E8 K65 2014 U1 - 222/.90609 23 PY - 2013/// CY - Cambridge PB - Cambridge University Press N1 - Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 04 Apr 2016) N2 - The book of Esther was a conscious reaction to much of the conventional wisdom of its day, challenging beliefs regarding the Jerusalem Temple, the land of Israel, Jewish law, and even God. Aaron Koller identifies Esther as primarily a political work, and shows that early reactions ranged from ignoring the book to 'rewriting' Esther in order to correct its perceived flaws. But few biblical books have been read in such different ways, and the vast quantity of Esther-interpretation in rabbinic literature indicates a conscious effort by the Rabbis to present Esther as a story of faith and traditionalism, and bring it into the fold of the grand biblical narrative. Koller situates Esther, and its many interpretations, within the intellectual and political contexts of Ancient Judaism, and discusses its controversial themes. His innovative line of enquiry will be of great interest to students and scholars of Bible and Jewish studies UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107261419 ER -