Difference between revisions of "Yosef and Megillat Esther/0"
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<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li><span style="color: #993300;"><b>Exile</b> </span>– | + | <li><span style="color: #993300;"><b>Exile</b> </span>– Each of the Yosef saga and the story of Esther take place in exile (Egypt and Persia).</li> |
| − | <li><span style="color: #993300;"><b>Position of power</b></span> – Yosef, Esther, and Mordechai all rise to power in the king' palace, | + | <li><span style="color: #993300;"><b>Position of power</b></span> – Yosef, Esther, and Mordechai all rise to power in the king's palace, positioning them to aid their brethren.</li> |
<li><span style="color: #993300;"><b>Children of Rachel</b> </span>– In each narrative, the main protagonists are descendants of Rachel. [Mordechai is from the line of Binyamin.]</li> | <li><span style="color: #993300;"><b>Children of Rachel</b> </span>– In each narrative, the main protagonists are descendants of Rachel. [Mordechai is from the line of Binyamin.]</li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
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<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li><b><span style="color: #008000;">Beauty and charm</span></b> – Both Yosef and Esther are marked by exceptional beauty and charm.</li> | <li><b><span style="color: #008000;">Beauty and charm</span></b> – Both Yosef and Esther are marked by exceptional beauty and charm.</li> | ||
| − | <li><span style="color: #008000;"><b>Dual name</b></span> – Yosef is given the name Tzafnat Paneach | + | <li><span style="color: #008000;"><b>Dual name</b></span> – Yosef is given the name Tzafnat Paneach, and Hadasah is known as Esther.</li> |
| − | <li><b><span style="color: #008000;">Hiding of identity</span> </b>– Yosef disguises himself in front of his brothers, while Esther hides her Jewish identity from Achashverosh. Both reveal themselves at the end of the story.</li> | + | <li><b><span style="color: #008000;">Hiding of identity</span> </b>– Yosef disguises himself in front of his brothers, while Esther hides her Jewish identity from Achashverosh.  Both reveal themselves at the end of the story.</li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
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<td> | <td> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Refuse to be swayed</span></b> – Yosef rejects Mrs. Potiphar's daily advances while Mordechai rejects Haman's daily demand that he bow.</li> | + | <li><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Refuse to be swayed</span></b> – Yosef rejects Mrs. Potiphar's daily advances, while Mordechai rejects Haman's daily demand that he bow.</li> |
| − | <li><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Second in command</span> </b>– Both Yosef and Mordechai rise to second | + | <li><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Second in command</span> </b>– Both Yosef and Mordechai rise to be second to the king.</li> |
| − | <li><span style="color: #0000ff;"><b>Signs of kingship</b></span> – Both characters are given the king's signet ring, dressed in royal finery and paraded through the streets on the king's horse/chariot as others proclaim their | + | <li><span style="color: #0000ff;"><b>Signs of kingship</b></span> – Both characters are given the king's signet ring, dressed in royal finery, and paraded through the streets on the king's horse/chariot, as others proclaim their royal status.</li> |
<li><span style="color: #0000ff;"><b>Good deeds forgotten</b></span> – Yosef is forgotten by the butler, only to be remembered two years later when Paroh's sleep is bothered by dreams. Mordechai's saving of the king's life is similarly ignored until the king's turbulent sleep leads him to read a record thereof.</li> | <li><span style="color: #0000ff;"><b>Good deeds forgotten</b></span> – Yosef is forgotten by the butler, only to be remembered two years later when Paroh's sleep is bothered by dreams. Mordechai's saving of the king's life is similarly ignored until the king's turbulent sleep leads him to read a record thereof.</li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
| − | <tr><th><span style="color: #ff6600;"> | + | <tr><th><span style="color: #ff6600;">The King</span></th> |
<td> | <td> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li><b><span style="color: #ff6600;">Punishing of eunuchs</span></b> – Paroh imprisons the butler and baker while Achashverosh hangs Bigtan and Teresh.</li> | + | <li><b><span style="color: #ff6600;">Punishing of eunuchs</span></b> – Paroh imprisons the butler and baker, while Achashverosh hangs Bigtan and Teresh.</li> |
<li><b><span style="color: #ff6600;">Party</span></b> – Both celebrate parties at which fateful events occur.</li> | <li><b><span style="color: #ff6600;">Party</span></b> – Both celebrate parties at which fateful events occur.</li> | ||
| − | <li><b><span style="color: #ff6600;">Troubled sleep</span></b> – Paroh's sleep is plagued by inexplicable dreams while Achashverosh's uneasy sleep awakens him.</li> | + | <li><b><span style="color: #ff6600;">Troubled sleep</span></b> – Paroh's sleep is plagued by inexplicable dreams, while Achashverosh's uneasy sleep awakens him.</li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
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<td> | <td> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li><b><span style="color: #800080;">Mourning</span></b> – Upon hearing distressing news, both Yaakov and Mordechai don | + | <li><b><span style="color: #800080;">Mourning</span></b> – Upon hearing distressing news, both Yaakov and Mordechai don mourning garb and refuse to be consoled.</li> |
| − | <li><b><span style="color: #800080;">Reluctant agreement</span></b> – Yaakov and Esther both reluctantly agree to their relative's plan to save the nation/family from harm, recognizing that it might cost them their life | + | <li><b><span style="color: #800080;">Reluctant agreement</span></b> – Yaakov and Esther both reluctantly agree to their relative's plan to save the nation/family from harm, recognizing that it might cost them their son/life.</li> |
| − | <li><b><span style="color: #800080;">Plea</span> </b>– Both Yehuda and Esther plea for salvation (for Binyamin/nation) before the ruler, claiming that they | + | <li><b><span style="color: #800080;">Plea</span> </b>– Both Yehuda and Esther plea for salvation (for Binyamin/nation) before the ruler, claiming that they cannott bear to see evil befall their loved ones.</li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
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<h2 name="">Literary Allusions</h2> | <h2 name="">Literary Allusions</h2> | ||
| − | <p>Throughout | + | <p>Throughout the Book of Esther there are continuous allusions to Bereshit.  These range from short phrases to almost complete verses:</p> |
<multilang style="overflow: auto;"> | <multilang style="overflow: auto;"> | ||
<table xml:lang="he" dir="rtl"> | <table xml:lang="he" dir="rtl"> | ||
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</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td> | + | <td>(לז:לד) <span style="color: #ff0000;">וַיִּקְרַע</span> יַעֲקֹב <span style="color: #ff0000;">שִׂמְלֹתָיו</span> וַיָּשֶׂם <span style="color: #ff0000;">שַׂק</span> בְּמָתְנָיו וַיִּתְאַבֵּל עַל בְּנוֹ יָמִים רַבִּים</td> |
| − | <td> | + | <td>(ד:א) <span style="color: #ff0000;">וַיִּקְרַע</span> מָרְדֳּכַי אֶת <span style="color: #ff0000;">בְּגָדָיו</span> וַיִּלְבַּשׁ <span style="color: #ff0000;">שַׂק</span> וָאֵפֶר וַיֵּצֵא בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר וַיִּזְעַק זְעָקָה גְדֹלָה וּמָרָה</td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
<td>(לט:ו) וַיְהִי יוֹסֵף <span style="color: #0000ff;">יְפֵה תֹאַר וִיפֵה מַרְאֶה</span></td> | <td>(לט:ו) וַיְהִי יוֹסֵף <span style="color: #0000ff;">יְפֵה תֹאַר וִיפֵה מַרְאֶה</span></td> | ||
| − | <td> | + | <td>(ב:ז) וְהַנַּעֲרָה <span style="color: #0000ff;">יְפַת תֹּאַר וְטוֹבַת מַרְאֶה</span></td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td> | + | <td>(לט:י) <span style="color: #008000;">וַיְהִי כְּדַבְּרָהּ</span> <span style="color: #008000;">אֶל</span> יוֹסֵף <span style="color: #008000;">יוֹם יוֹם וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ </span></td> |
| − | <td> | + | <td>(ג:ד)<span style="color: #008000;"> וַיְהִי  כְּאָמְרָם אֵלָיו יוֹם וָיוֹם וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֲלֵיהֶם </span></td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td> | + | <td>(מ:ב) <span style="color: #ff6600;">וַיִּקְצֹף</span> פַּרְעֹה עַל <span style="color: #ff6600;">שְׁנֵי סָרִיסָיו</span> עַל שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים וְעַל שַׂר הָאוֹפִים</td> |
| − | <td> | + | <td>(ב:כא) בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם ... <span style="color: #ff6600;">קָצַף</span> בִּגְתָן וָתֶרֶשׁ <span style="color: #ff6600;">שְׁנֵי סָרִיסֵי</span> הַמֶּלֶךְ מִשֹּׁמְרֵי הַסַּף </td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td> | + | <td>(מ:כ) <span style="color: #800080;">וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי</span> יוֹם הֻלֶּדֶת אֶת פַּרְעֹה <span style="color: #800080;">וַיַּעַשׂ מִשְׁתֶּה לְכָל עֲבָדָיו</span></td> |
| − | <td> | + | <td>(א:ג) <span style="color: #800080;">בִּשְׁנַת שָׁלוֹשׁ</span> לְמָלְכוֹ <span style="color: #800080;">עָשָׂה מִשְׁתֶּה לְכָל</span> שָׂרָיו <span style="color: #800080;">וַעֲבָדָיו</span> </td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td> | + | <td>(מא:לד-לה) <span style="color: #00ccff;">וְיַפְקֵד פְּקִדִים </span>עַל הָאָרֶץ... <br/><span style="color: #00ccff;">וְיִקְבְּצוּ אֶת כָּל</span> אֹכֶל הַשָּׁנִים הַטֹּבוֹת </td> |
| − | <td> | + | <td>(ב:ג) <span style="color: #00ccff;">וְיַפְקֵד</span> הַמֶּלֶךְ <span style="color: #00ccff;">פְּקִידִים</span> בְּכָל מְדִינוֹת מַלְכוּתוֹ <span style="color: #00ffff;">וְ</span><span style="color: #00ccff;"><span style="color: #00ffff;">יִ</span>קְבְּצוּ אֶת כָּל</span> נַעֲרָה בְתוּלָה טוֹבַת מַרְאֶה</td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td> | + | <td>(מא:לז) <span style="color: #ff00ff;">וַיִּיטַב הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינֵי פַרְעֹה</span></td> |
| − | <td> | + | <td>(ב:ד) <span style="color: #ff00ff;">וַיִּיטַב הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ</span></td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td> | + | <td>(מא:מב) <span style="color: #00ff00;">וַיָּסַר פַּרְעֹה אֶת טַבַּעְתּוֹ מֵעַל יָדוֹ וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָהּ</span> עַל יַד יוֹסֵף </td> |
| − | <td> | + | <td>(ג:י) <span style="color: #00ff00;">וַיָּסַר</span> <span style="color: #00ff00;">הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת טַבַּעְתּוֹ מֵעַל יָדוֹ וַיִּתְּנָהּ</span> לְהָמָן בֶּן הַמְּדָתָא <br/>(ח:ב) <span style="color: #00ff00;">וַיָּסַר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת טַבַּעְתּוֹ</span> אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱבִיר מֵהָמָן <span style="color: #00ff00;">וַיִּתְּנָהּ</span> לְמָרְדֳּכָי</td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td> | + | <td>(מא:מב) <span style="color: #ff9900;">וַיַּלְבֵּשׁ</span> אֹתוֹ בִּגְדֵי שֵׁשׁ ... <span style="color: #ff9900;">וַיַּרְכֵּב אֹתוֹ</span> בְּמִרְכֶּבֶת הַמִּשְׁנֶה אֲשֶׁר לוֹ <span style="color: #ff9900;">וַיִּקְרְאוּ לְפָנָיו</span> אַבְרֵךְ...</td> |
| − | <td> | + | <td>(ו:ח-ט) יָבִיאוּ <span style="color: #ff9900;">לְבוּשׁ</span> מַלְכוּת... <span style="color: #ff9900;">וְהִרְכִּיבֻהוּ</span> עַל הַסּוּס בִּרְחוֹב הָעִיר <span style="color: #ff9900;">וְקָרְאוּ לְפָנָיו</span> כָּכָה יֵעָשֶׂה לָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר הַמֶּלֶךְ חָפֵץ בִּיקָרוֹ</td> |
</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
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</tr> | </tr> | ||
<tr> | <tr> | ||
| − | <td>מד:לד) <span style="color: #339966;">כִּי אֵיךְ</span> אֶעֱלֶה אֶל אָבִי...<span style="color: #339966;"> פֶּן אֶרְאֶה בָרָע אֲשֶׁר יִמְצָא אֶת אָבִי</span></td> | + | <td>(מד:לד) <span style="color: #339966;">כִּי אֵיךְ</span> אֶעֱלֶה אֶל אָבִי...<span style="color: #339966;"> פֶּן אֶרְאֶה בָרָע אֲשֶׁר יִמְצָא אֶת אָבִי</span></td> |
<td>(ח:ו) <span style="color: #339966;">כִּי אֵיכָכָה</span> אוּכַל <span style="color: #339966;">וְרָאִיתִי בָּרָעָה אֲשֶׁר יִמְצָא אֶת עַמִּי </span></td> | <td>(ח:ו) <span style="color: #339966;">כִּי אֵיכָכָה</span> אוּכַל <span style="color: #339966;">וְרָאִיתִי בָּרָעָה אֲשֶׁר יִמְצָא אֶת עַמִּי </span></td> | ||
</tr> | </tr> | ||
Version as of 01:53, 14 December 2014
Yosef and Megillat Esther
Introduction
The plethora of similarities between the Yosef narratives and the Book of Esther have been noted by many.1 There is much overlap between the general setting of the stories, the events that transpire, and the characters of the protagonists. Moreover, these content parallels are buttressed by numerous linguistic similarities, suggesting that the author of Megillat Esther was intentionally calling on the reader to compare the two stories.
Content Parallels
| Backdrop |
|
|---|---|
| Yosef and Esther |
|
| Yosef and Mordechai |
|
| The King |
|
| Yaakov's family and Mordechai and Esther |
|
Literary Allusions
Throughout the Book of Esther there are continuous allusions to Bereshit. These range from short phrases to almost complete verses:
EN/HEע/E
| סיפורי יוסף (בראשית) | מגילת אסתר |
| (לז:לד) וַיִּקְרַע יַעֲקֹב שִׂמְלֹתָיו וַיָּשֶׂם שַׂק בְּמָתְנָיו וַיִּתְאַבֵּל עַל בְּנוֹ יָמִים רַבִּים | (ד:א) וַיִּקְרַע מָרְדֳּכַי אֶת בְּגָדָיו וַיִּלְבַּשׁ שַׂק וָאֵפֶר וַיֵּצֵא בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר וַיִּזְעַק זְעָקָה גְדֹלָה וּמָרָה |
| (לט:ו) וַיְהִי יוֹסֵף יְפֵה תֹאַר וִיפֵה מַרְאֶה | (ב:ז) וְהַנַּעֲרָה יְפַת תֹּאַר וְטוֹבַת מַרְאֶה |
| (לט:י) וַיְהִי כְּדַבְּרָהּ אֶל יוֹסֵף יוֹם יוֹם וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ | (ג:ד) וַיְהִי כְּאָמְרָם אֵלָיו יוֹם וָיוֹם וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֲלֵיהֶם |
| (מ:ב) וַיִּקְצֹף פַּרְעֹה עַל שְׁנֵי סָרִיסָיו עַל שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים וְעַל שַׂר הָאוֹפִים | (ב:כא) בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם ... קָצַף בִּגְתָן וָתֶרֶשׁ שְׁנֵי סָרִיסֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ מִשֹּׁמְרֵי הַסַּף |
| (מ:כ) וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי יוֹם הֻלֶּדֶת אֶת פַּרְעֹה וַיַּעַשׂ מִשְׁתֶּה לְכָל עֲבָדָיו | (א:ג) בִּשְׁנַת שָׁלוֹשׁ לְמָלְכוֹ עָשָׂה מִשְׁתֶּה לְכָל שָׂרָיו וַעֲבָדָיו |
| (מא:לד-לה) וְיַפְקֵד פְּקִדִים עַל הָאָרֶץ... וְיִקְבְּצוּ אֶת כָּל אֹכֶל הַשָּׁנִים הַטֹּבוֹת | (ב:ג) וְיַפְקֵד הַמֶּלֶךְ פְּקִידִים בְּכָל מְדִינוֹת מַלְכוּתוֹ וְיִקְבְּצוּ אֶת כָּל נַעֲרָה בְתוּלָה טוֹבַת מַרְאֶה |
| (מא:לז) וַיִּיטַב הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינֵי פַרְעֹה | (ב:ד) וַיִּיטַב הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ |
| (מא:מב) וַיָּסַר פַּרְעֹה אֶת טַבַּעְתּוֹ מֵעַל יָדוֹ וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָהּ עַל יַד יוֹסֵף | (ג:י) וַיָּסַר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת טַבַּעְתּוֹ מֵעַל יָדוֹ וַיִּתְּנָהּ לְהָמָן בֶּן הַמְּדָתָא (ח:ב) וַיָּסַר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת טַבַּעְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱבִיר מֵהָמָן וַיִּתְּנָהּ לְמָרְדֳּכָי |
| (מא:מב) וַיַּלְבֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ בִּגְדֵי שֵׁשׁ ... וַיַּרְכֵּב אֹתוֹ בְּמִרְכֶּבֶת הַמִּשְׁנֶה אֲשֶׁר לוֹ וַיִּקְרְאוּ לְפָנָיו אַבְרֵךְ... | (ו:ח-ט) יָבִיאוּ לְבוּשׁ מַלְכוּת... וְהִרְכִּיבֻהוּ עַל הַסּוּס בִּרְחוֹב הָעִיר וְקָרְאוּ לְפָנָיו כָּכָה יֵעָשֶׂה לָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר הַמֶּלֶךְ חָפֵץ בִּיקָרוֹ |
| (מג:יד) וַאֲנִי כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁכֹלְתִּי שָׁכָלְתִּי | (ד:טז) וְכַאֲשֶׁר אָבַדְתִּי אָבָדְתִּי |
| (מד:לד) כִּי אֵיךְ אֶעֱלֶה אֶל אָבִי... פֶּן אֶרְאֶה בָרָע אֲשֶׁר יִמְצָא אֶת אָבִי | (ח:ו) כִּי אֵיכָכָה אוּכַל וְרָאִיתִי בָּרָעָה אֲשֶׁר יִמְצָא אֶת עַמִּי |
| (נ:ג) כִּי כֵּן יִמְלְאוּ יְמֵי הַחֲנֻטִים | (ב:יא) כִּי כֵּן יִמְלְאוּ יְמֵי מְרוּקֵיהֶן |
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