Struktura i styl Księgi Estery. Przyczynek do tematu

Abstract

This article deals with identification of the literary structure of the Book of Esther. This task is not simple due to the coexistence of two language versions of the book and three versions of the text (Masoretic, LXX and Alpha). Another problem is posed by the Greek additions and their place in the Book. Despite the hindrances, the paper offers the following suggestions regarding the literary structure. This begins with a presentation of Michael Fox’s theory, the key idea of which is the term ﬠמ:וםתּח (mišteh) denoting feasting. Fox claims that the structure of the Book is based on information about 10 feasts. Moreover, he notes that the entire composition forms a logical whole as it has an introduction, a development and a conclusion. Frederic Bush suggested recreating the structure of the Book based on the key elements of the narrative, which he respectively called: introduction, problem, resolution, final solution and conclusion. Jon Douglas Levenson suggested interpretation of the Book as a concentric composition, that is as one containing a climax with all preceding events leading to it. Levenson remarks that the climax is made up of the events described in chapter six. Another suggestion focuses on the expression נןהפושך השא (nahăpôk hû). According to this theory, every significant event of the first part is mirrored in a parallel event in the second one. What has also been discovered is the role of the core נפל denoting collapse. Finally, there is a description of the style of the book.