This volume explores issues of moral character found in the different text versions of the book of Esther. First the study suggests the two most common approaches to perceived moral problems in the story of Esther: avoidance and transformation. Then it investigates selected portions of the Hebrew Masoretic Text, the Greek Septuagint Text, and the Greek Alpha-Text stories of Esther, focusing on issues of morality via character analysis. Finally it concentrates on the moral ambiguity found in all three versions, and on the ways in which moral character in the Greek stories has been transformed.
"Methodisch reflektierte und glänzend geschriebene Monographie." - Harald Wahl in: Theologische Literaturzeitung 5/2005
"Harvey s arguments are well documented, and he uses a freat deal of contemporary scholarship to bolster his position as well as careful, original, exegetical work. His writing style is clear, concise, and without jargon. Even more impressive is that his work does not read as a doctoral dissertation but rather as a scholarly study of a particularly troublesome biblical book."Ilona N. Rashkow in: Shofar 4/2005 "Methodisch reflektierte und glänzend geschriebene Monographie."Harald Wahl in: Theologische Literaturzeitung 5/2005