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The Book of Esther
14 pages, Unknown Binding
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 10, 2022
Esther was a badass, the end.
Seriously. This girl was basically orphaned, infiltrated the kingdom, won the king's favor, and basically manipulated to get him to help her people and to kill the adversary of the Jews, who had previously been his righthand man.
She was super brave while being scared. She knew she easily could have been killed by the king and his anger if he didn't want to grant her that favor.
This is the same king that when he summoned one of his other wives, and she refused to come, he wrote a law saying all women/wives MUST obey men/husbands and now men/husbands rule the houses and women shouldn't have rights anymore.
Can't wait to read the book of Judith next.
Seriously. This girl was basically orphaned, infiltrated the kingdom, won the king's favor, and basically manipulated to get him to help her people and to kill the adversary of the Jews, who had previously been his righthand man.
She was super brave while being scared. She knew she easily could have been killed by the king and his anger if he didn't want to grant her that favor.
This is the same king that when he summoned one of his other wives, and she refused to come, he wrote a law saying all women/wives MUST obey men/husbands and now men/husbands rule the houses and women shouldn't have rights anymore.
Can't wait to read the book of Judith next.
Read
March 21, 2024Esther was a baddie, so excited to celebrate her and her journey in a couple days 😌 Chag Purim Sameach in advance to my Jewish friends on here!!
March 4, 2023
Pre Purim reading. Man this haman guy seems like a real jerk.
January 29, 2023
Great story that moves nicely from start to finish with plenty of details that dont slow the story down at all.
March 27, 2020
For whatever reason the book of Esther has always been my favorite in the Bible. The Jewish girl, an orphan raised by a cousin, has some serious guts! I suppose I've always admired her. She won a contest to marry the king of Persia without trying or wanting to; replaced the prior queen deposed and exiled by the king for refusing to attend his banquet; at the risk of her life stood up against the king's first minister who was intent on exterminating every Jew in the empire. She won. Saved her people. Gained the admiration of her husband the king at a time when women were typically considered little more than property.
In this age when people most often name someone 'hero' for the most frivolous of reasons, most have lost the genuine concept of a hero and heroism. Esther was a real one and expressed it with the way she lived her life!
This is a relatively short book everyone could benefit from reading.
In this age when people most often name someone 'hero' for the most frivolous of reasons, most have lost the genuine concept of a hero and heroism. Esther was a real one and expressed it with the way she lived her life!
This is a relatively short book everyone could benefit from reading.
October 24, 2023
🇪🇸 aquí / 🏴 below
Es mucho, mucho mejor que el libro de Judit. Tiene profecías, conspiraciones palatinas, drama, emperadores persas… Lo único que le falta son ángeles, pero no se puede tenerlo todo.
De primeras, los capítulos están distribuidos de manera bastante confusa y liosa sin razón aparente. Están numerados, pero no siguen el orden numérico: especialmente, varios capítulos dizque finales se van intercalando al inicio, y algunos capítulos no se sabe si tienen duplicados alternativos o si, siendo un único capítulo, tienen atravesado otro capítulo por medio que los divide en dos. Se ve que el Espíritu Santo quiso probar a introducir algún elemento de la literatura experimental, ergódica o de vanguardia tantísimas eras antes de que el postmodernismo fuera una cosa… (y, con todo, aún hay quien duda de Él). ¿Es esto un punto fuerte o débil? No soy nadie para juzgarlo, por más vueltas que le dé: supongo que este asunto es uno de los inescrutables caminos que quedan nomás a discreción de Su omnisciencia. En cualquier caso, la duda que surge es cómo ha de leerse: ¿Por el orden dado, o según la numeración de los capítulos? ¿Son ambos órdenes alternativos igualmente aceptables?
La propia estructura narrativa de la trama es también es algo confusa, con varios fláshbacks y prolepsis que hacen que no sea narrada de modo totalmente cronológico. Algunos acontecimientos de la historia se cuentan repetidos, pero omitiendo o añadiendo detalles, en capítulos sucesivos. Por ejemplo, el capítulo 15 va seguido por el capítulo 5. Todo el capítulo 15 es resumido en tan solo los versículos 5:1-2, y la historia inmediatamente continúa. Ambos capítulos presentan perspectivas diferentes pero complementarias acerca de la reacción de entrambos reyes, Asuero y Ester, al verse.
La reiteración aparece asimismo usada como recurso bastante efectivo en ciertas frases formulaicas con ligeras variaciones, como cuando Asuero repite «Aunque fuera la mitad de mi reino, te sería otorgada / la tendrías» en diferentes ocasiones. Las estructuras paralelísticas difunden harmonía en el medio del caos.
En una época donde estamos viendo genocidios en Artsaj o Palestina, entre otros, los hechos históricos relatados en Ester no han perdido actualidad y son fuente de enseñanza. Todos los sionistas deberían tenerlo muy en cuenta y preguntarse en qué momento hecharon los purim y pasaron de ser Mardoqueo a Amán…
El libro también suelta casualmente varias perlas relativas a asuntos de poca importancia para la historia; en mí resonó especialmente que el emperador mencionase «la noble sencillez de los soberanos» como la forma correcta de gobernar, y también me ha parecido muy sabio que las leyes se pusieran en todos los idiomas y escrituras de sus súbditos, cuando en pleno siglo XXI muchos gobiernos nacionales se niegan a hacer lo propio.
No obstante, también debo ser crítico con algunas cosas que no me han parecido buenos ejemplos. Para empezar, Asuero, sin ser un mal tipo, no es muy buen rey: no tiene ninguna iniciativa o criterio propio, delega todo el gobierno en los demás y acepta como propia toda ley que sus favoritos quieran imponer, dejándose manipular y causando grandes estragos de la India a Etiopía. Aparte del holocausto, también es reprochable su reacción hacia la reina Vasti por apenas haber visto su frágil masculinidad amenazada. Por último, la venganza de los judíos se pasa un poco de la raya.
___________
It is much, much better than Judith's book. It has prophecies, palatine conspiracies, drama, Persian emperors... The only thing it lacks are angels, but one can't have it all.
At first, the chapters are distributed in a rather confusing and messed manner for no apparent reason. They're numbered, but don't follow the numerical order: especially, several supposedly final chapters are interspersed at the beginning, and some chapters are unknown to have alternative duplicates or if, being a single chapter, they have another chapter put amidst which divides them into two. One can see that the Holy Spirit wanted to try to introduce some element of experimental, ergodic or avant-garde literature so many eras before postmodernism was even a thing... (and, yet, there are still those who doubt Him). Is this a strong or weak point? I'm noöne to judge him, no matter how many times I think about it: I suppose that this matter is one of the inscrutable paths left solely to the discretion of His omniscience. In any case, the question that arises is how it should be read: In the given order, or according to the numbering of the chapters? Are both alternative orders equally acceptable?
The narrative structure of the plot itself is also somewhat confusing, with several flashbacks and flashforwards, thus it's not narrated in a completely chronological way. Some events in the story are told repeatedly, but omitting or adding details, in successive chapters. For example, chapter 15 is followed by chapter 5. The entirety of chapter 15 is summarized in just verses 5:1-2, and the story immediately continues. Both chapters present different but complementary perspectives on the reaction of both kings, Ahasuerus and Esther, upon seeing each other.
Reiteration also appears used as a fairly effective resource in certain formulaic phrases with slight variations, such as when Ahasuerus repeats "Even if it were half my kingdom, it would be granted to you / you would have it" on different occasions. Parallel structures spread harmony in the midst of chaos.
In a time where we're seeing genocides in Artsakh or Palestine, among others, the historical events recounted in Esther have not lost relevance and are a source of teaching. All Zionists should take this into account and ask themselves at what point did they cast purim and went from being Mordecai to Haman...
The book also casually drops several gems concerning matters of little importance to the story; It especially resonated with me that the emperor mentioned "the noble simplicity of sovereigns" as the correct way to govern, and it also methinks very wise that laws were put in all the languages and scripts of his subjects, when yet in the XXI century many national governments refuse to do so.
However, I must also be critical of some things that didn't look like good examples to me. To begin with, Ahasuerus, without being a bad guy, is not a very good king: he has no initiative or criteria of his own, he delegates all government to others and accepts as his own any law that his favourites want to impose, allowing himself to be manipulated and causing great havoc from India to Ethiopia. Aside from the holocaust, his reaction towards queen Vashti upon barely seeing his fragile masculinity threatened by her is also reprehensible. Finally, the revenge of the Jews goes a little overboard.
Es mucho, mucho mejor que el libro de Judit. Tiene profecías, conspiraciones palatinas, drama, emperadores persas… Lo único que le falta son ángeles, pero no se puede tenerlo todo.
De primeras, los capítulos están distribuidos de manera bastante confusa y liosa sin razón aparente. Están numerados, pero no siguen el orden numérico: especialmente, varios capítulos dizque finales se van intercalando al inicio, y algunos capítulos no se sabe si tienen duplicados alternativos o si, siendo un único capítulo, tienen atravesado otro capítulo por medio que los divide en dos. Se ve que el Espíritu Santo quiso probar a introducir algún elemento de la literatura experimental, ergódica o de vanguardia tantísimas eras antes de que el postmodernismo fuera una cosa… (y, con todo, aún hay quien duda de Él). ¿Es esto un punto fuerte o débil? No soy nadie para juzgarlo, por más vueltas que le dé: supongo que este asunto es uno de los inescrutables caminos que quedan nomás a discreción de Su omnisciencia. En cualquier caso, la duda que surge es cómo ha de leerse: ¿Por el orden dado, o según la numeración de los capítulos? ¿Son ambos órdenes alternativos igualmente aceptables?
La propia estructura narrativa de la trama es también es algo confusa, con varios fláshbacks y prolepsis que hacen que no sea narrada de modo totalmente cronológico. Algunos acontecimientos de la historia se cuentan repetidos, pero omitiendo o añadiendo detalles, en capítulos sucesivos. Por ejemplo, el capítulo 15 va seguido por el capítulo 5. Todo el capítulo 15 es resumido en tan solo los versículos 5:1-2, y la historia inmediatamente continúa. Ambos capítulos presentan perspectivas diferentes pero complementarias acerca de la reacción de entrambos reyes, Asuero y Ester, al verse.
La reiteración aparece asimismo usada como recurso bastante efectivo en ciertas frases formulaicas con ligeras variaciones, como cuando Asuero repite «Aunque fuera la mitad de mi reino, te sería otorgada / la tendrías» en diferentes ocasiones. Las estructuras paralelísticas difunden harmonía en el medio del caos.
En una época donde estamos viendo genocidios en Artsaj o Palestina, entre otros, los hechos históricos relatados en Ester no han perdido actualidad y son fuente de enseñanza. Todos los sionistas deberían tenerlo muy en cuenta y preguntarse en qué momento hecharon los purim y pasaron de ser Mardoqueo a Amán…
El libro también suelta casualmente varias perlas relativas a asuntos de poca importancia para la historia; en mí resonó especialmente que el emperador mencionase «la noble sencillez de los soberanos» como la forma correcta de gobernar, y también me ha parecido muy sabio que las leyes se pusieran en todos los idiomas y escrituras de sus súbditos, cuando en pleno siglo XXI muchos gobiernos nacionales se niegan a hacer lo propio.
No obstante, también debo ser crítico con algunas cosas que no me han parecido buenos ejemplos. Para empezar, Asuero, sin ser un mal tipo, no es muy buen rey: no tiene ninguna iniciativa o criterio propio, delega todo el gobierno en los demás y acepta como propia toda ley que sus favoritos quieran imponer, dejándose manipular y causando grandes estragos de la India a Etiopía. Aparte del holocausto, también es reprochable su reacción hacia la reina Vasti por apenas haber visto su frágil masculinidad amenazada. Por último, la venganza de los judíos se pasa un poco de la raya.
___________
It is much, much better than Judith's book. It has prophecies, palatine conspiracies, drama, Persian emperors... The only thing it lacks are angels, but one can't have it all.
At first, the chapters are distributed in a rather confusing and messed manner for no apparent reason. They're numbered, but don't follow the numerical order: especially, several supposedly final chapters are interspersed at the beginning, and some chapters are unknown to have alternative duplicates or if, being a single chapter, they have another chapter put amidst which divides them into two. One can see that the Holy Spirit wanted to try to introduce some element of experimental, ergodic or avant-garde literature so many eras before postmodernism was even a thing... (and, yet, there are still those who doubt Him). Is this a strong or weak point? I'm noöne to judge him, no matter how many times I think about it: I suppose that this matter is one of the inscrutable paths left solely to the discretion of His omniscience. In any case, the question that arises is how it should be read: In the given order, or according to the numbering of the chapters? Are both alternative orders equally acceptable?
The narrative structure of the plot itself is also somewhat confusing, with several flashbacks and flashforwards, thus it's not narrated in a completely chronological way. Some events in the story are told repeatedly, but omitting or adding details, in successive chapters. For example, chapter 15 is followed by chapter 5. The entirety of chapter 15 is summarized in just verses 5:1-2, and the story immediately continues. Both chapters present different but complementary perspectives on the reaction of both kings, Ahasuerus and Esther, upon seeing each other.
Reiteration also appears used as a fairly effective resource in certain formulaic phrases with slight variations, such as when Ahasuerus repeats "Even if it were half my kingdom, it would be granted to you / you would have it" on different occasions. Parallel structures spread harmony in the midst of chaos.
In a time where we're seeing genocides in Artsakh or Palestine, among others, the historical events recounted in Esther have not lost relevance and are a source of teaching. All Zionists should take this into account and ask themselves at what point did they cast purim and went from being Mordecai to Haman...
The book also casually drops several gems concerning matters of little importance to the story; It especially resonated with me that the emperor mentioned "the noble simplicity of sovereigns" as the correct way to govern, and it also methinks very wise that laws were put in all the languages and scripts of his subjects, when yet in the XXI century many national governments refuse to do so.
However, I must also be critical of some things that didn't look like good examples to me. To begin with, Ahasuerus, without being a bad guy, is not a very good king: he has no initiative or criteria of his own, he delegates all government to others and accepts as his own any law that his favourites want to impose, allowing himself to be manipulated and causing great havoc from India to Ethiopia. Aside from the holocaust, his reaction towards queen Vashti upon barely seeing his fragile masculinity threatened by her is also reprehensible. Finally, the revenge of the Jews goes a little overboard.
October 20, 2013
The Jewish Esther is Queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus. The story reveals the politics of harem in the pagan Persia, persecution of the Jews and the cost of living by faith. There, it is quite easy to lead a life of idolatry and the Jewish nation are challenged to protect their identity, roots and Jewish heritage among the pagans. In this book he author raises great questions such as: would you today as a Christian stand up for your faith when the national law is Islamic, pagan or anti-Christian? The Jews here a minority among the pagans, but Esther puts her faith to test, trusts in God to save her people and speaks up for her people. despite being a woman in a patriarchal community where the female voice is of no value, Esther does not only question the national law but by her faith she also questions the very politics of harem to which women were subjected.
May 18, 2023
Esther was an amazing woman. She was highly favored by the king & became queen. She stood up against Haman, one of the king's advisors to save her people against death. Haman was an evil man who got his just reward in the end... death by rope.
August 31, 2023
This should be a movie! Esther and Mordecai served God, yes, but this also occurs in such a vivid era in history.
January 19, 2024
The book really hypes up Mordecai (understandably), but Esther is the true vibe. Such a queen. Plus her faith in God is inspiring. “If I perish, I perish.”
March 12, 2025
Yet another banger.
Read
February 19, 2026And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants!
June 15, 2026
i might as well have been reading A Thousand and One Arabian Nights. this story was so lilting like a fairy tale. i highly enjoyed it.
August 9, 2026
Good story about courage. Still don't understand why the king didn't just rescind his order and save thousands of lives.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews