Difference between revisions of "Yosef and Megillat Esther/0"
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<li><b>Individual versus national</b> – While the Book of  Esther speaks of a nation in exile, the Yosef stories focus on just one individual in a foreign land.</li> | <li><b>Individual versus national</b> – While the Book of  Esther speaks of a nation in exile, the Yosef stories focus on just one individual in a foreign land.</li> | ||
<li><b>National persecution versus family strife</b> – While the story of Esther revolves around a threat to the survival of the Jewish nation by an antagonistic foreign ruler,<fn>Thus, amongst the many parallels above, there are none that focus on Haman.</fn> there is no such threat of persecution in the Yosef saga.<fn>The story does, though, serve as an introduction to the later oppression in Egypt.</fn>  In contrast, the Yosef narratives focus on the division and reunification of a family, a theme which is absent from the Esther story.</li> | <li><b>National persecution versus family strife</b> – While the story of Esther revolves around a threat to the survival of the Jewish nation by an antagonistic foreign ruler,<fn>Thus, amongst the many parallels above, there are none that focus on Haman.</fn> there is no such threat of persecution in the Yosef saga.<fn>The story does, though, serve as an introduction to the later oppression in Egypt.</fn>  In contrast, the Yosef narratives focus on the division and reunification of a family, a theme which is absent from the Esther story.</li> | ||
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<p>It is perhaps the exilic setting that is most telling in accounting for the similarities between the stories:</p> | <p>It is perhaps the exilic setting that is most telling in accounting for the similarities between the stories:</p> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li>Success in exile – The two stories suggest that to be successful in exile, at times one needs to aid the foreign ruler and act as an ally.  It might be necessary to make use of all ones' beauty, charm or wisdom to position one's self in a place of power.  From the palace one can then sway the ruler so as to aid one's family or nation.</li> | + | <li><b>Paradigm of exile </b>– The Yosef story, being the first story of exile in Tanakh, can be seen as a paradigm for future similar stories.  Yosef in the microcosm of what will later happen to the entire nation, and thus it is perhaps expected that later such stories will recall it.  </li> |
| − | <li>Hashem's providence – In exile, God's providence is not as evident as it is in the Land of Israel, yet His hand still guides events.  Yosef | + | <li><b>Success in exile</b> – The two stories suggest that to be successful in exile, at times one needs to aid the foreign ruler and act as an ally.  It might be necessary to make use of all ones' beauty, charm or wisdom to position one's self in a place of power.  From the palace one can then sway the ruler so as to aid one's family or nation.</li> |
| + | <li><b>Hashem's providence</b> – In exile, God's providence is not as evident as it is in the Land of Israel, yet His hand still guides events.  This is explicit in the Yosef narratives where Yosef tells his brothers, "אַל יִחַר בְּעֵינֵיכֶם כִּי מְכַרְתֶּם אֹתִי הֵנָּה כִּי לְמִחְיָה שְׁלָחַנִי אֱלֹהִים לִפְנֵיכֶם". Megillat Esther, which makes no mention of Hashem at all, might allude to the stories of Yosef to teach this very lesson.  Just as in the first story of exile, where God seemed absent, but was nonetheless pulling all the strings, in this later story of exile, the same is true.</li> | ||
| + | <li><b>Instability</b> – Both stories highlight the uncertainty of life under foreign rule. Yosef's life in Egypt is a roller coaster of ups and downs. He rises to power in Potiphar's house only to be sent to prison, but then is freed and rise to second in command.   In the Esther story too, a fickle king seems to act on whim, changing his mind repeatedly.  Though the Esther story seems to end positively, the enslavement that follows Yosef's rise to power reminds the reader that, despite Mordechai's rise, not all are necessarily safe in Persia either.</li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
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Version as of 00:27, 19 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.
Plot Parallels
The table below charts many of the similarities in the content of the two narratives:
| 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 the Yosef narrative. These range from short phrases to almost complete verses:
EN/HEע/E
| סיפורי יוסף (בראשית ל"ז-נ') | מגילת אסתר (א'-י') |
|---|---|
| (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-מג) 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 |
| a | |
Analysis
- Uniqueness of phrases – About half of the above parallels are unique to these two stories. Thus, the phrases "וַיְהִי כְּאָמְרָם/ כְּדַבְּרָהּ יוֹם יוֹם וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ", "וְיַפְקֵד הַמֶּלֶךְ פְּקִידִים ...וְיִקְבְּצוּ אֶת כָּל", "וַיָּסַר פַּרְעֹה אֶת טַבַּעְתּוֹ מֵעַל יָדוֹ וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָהּ", "פֶּן אֶרְאֶה בָרָע אֲשֶׁר יִמְצָא אֶת אָבִי", and "כֵּן יִמְלְאוּ יְמֵי"4 appear only in these two narratives. Several of the other parallels are also somewhat unique, appearing only in a few other places in Tanakh.5
- Degree of similarity – The parallels have a high degree of similarity. Several phrases are totally identical,6 while in others the choice of word is the same though the form might differ due to number, tense, or gender.7
- Function of the parallels – Many of the linguistic parallels serve to support the content parallels, reinforcing both the similar plot line and messages of both stories.
- Esther and Yosef's beauty is what leads both into a position where those more powerful than they desire them.
- The "daily refusal" of both Yosef and Mordechai (against the sexual advance of Mrs. Potiphar and Haman's demand to bow down) highlights how both stand up against figures of authority, despite the inherent dangers.
- In both narratives the giving of a ring symbolizes a transfer of power and marks both Yosef and Mordechai's rise to second in command.
- The anger at/of the eunuchs serves as a turning point in both stories, in one case leading to Yosef's emergence from prison and in the other to Mordechai's saving of Achashverosh's life.
- Finally, Esther's lament "כִּי אֵיכָכָה אוּכַל וְרָאִיתִי בָּרָעָה אֲשֶׁר יִמְצָא אֶת עַמִּי" echoes the anguish of Yehuda's similar cry. In both stories, a character who had previously not felt so strongly for their brethren,8 in the end is moved by feelings for them to plea before the ruler for salvation.9
- Character parallels – The characters in the two stories are not consistently paired with one specific figure in the parallel story. Thus, Yosef shares traits/ actions with both Esther and Mordechai. Esther echoes not only Yosef, but Yaakov and Yehudah as well, and though Mordechai mainly recalls Yosef, he is also paralleled to Yaakov. Only Paroh and Achashverosh are matched only to each other.
- Content – Some of the overall plot parallels are not unique to these stories, but are also shared by the Daniel narratives. In all three, a Jew, exceptional in his/her beauty, rises to power in exile and it is the kings' troubled sleep which is the stimulus through which they find favor in his eyes. Only in the Esther and Yosef stories, though, does the new position enable a salvation and is there a sub-theme relating to the hiding of identity. In addition, many of the specific details of the rise to power, such as the giving of the signet ring and parading through the streets, are unique to here.
Most of the parallels between the two stories are very close in language. In addition, much of the exact phraseology is rare, with about half the parallels being unique to these stories:
- "וַיִּקְרַע... שִׂמְלֹתָיו... שַׂק" – These signs of mourning appear in seven other cases besides the Book of Esther and the Yosef narratives.
- "יְפַת תֹּאַר וְטוֹבַת מַרְאֶה" – Only Yosef, Esther, and Rachel are described with this dual language of beauty.
- "וַיְהִי כְּאָמְרָם/ כְּדַבְּרָהּ יוֹם יוֹם וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ" – This phrase is unique to these two stories.
- "וַיִּקְצֹף... שְׁנֵי סָרִיסָיו" – Although the individual words קצף and סָרִיס come up multiple times in Tanakh, they appear together only in these two cases and in Esther 1:12. In both of these cases, moreover, the verse speaks specifically of two eunuchs.
- "מִשְׁתֶּה לְכָל עֲבָדָיו" – Besides Paroh and Achashverosh, only Shelomo also "makes a party for his servants".10 The additional time marker of three days/years is mentioned only in Esther and Bereshit.
- "וְיַפְקֵד פְּקִדִים... וְיִקְבְּצוּ אֶת כָּל" – Only in these two narratives is there mention of an appointment of officers followed by a gathering,
- "וַיִּיטַב הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינֵי" – This phrase appears only here and in Devarim 1:23, Yehoshua 22:33, and Melakhim I 3:10.11
- "וַיָּסַר... אֶת טַבַּעְתּוֹ מֵעַל יָדוֹ וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָהּ" – This parallel is exceptional in being a full sentence long. Moreover, it is only found in these stories.
- "וַיַּלְבֵּשׁ... וַיַּרְכֵּב... וַיִּקְרְאוּ" – While each of these individual verbs are quite common, their combined usage and the context of royalty is unique to these two episodes.
- "כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁכֹלְתִּי שָׁכָלְתִּי/ אָבַדְתִּי אָבָדְתִּי" – Although these two terms are not identical, the similar cadence of the words and the meaning and pathos behind them closely resemble one another.
- "...פֶּן אֶרְאֶה בָרָע אֲשֶׁר יִמְצָא אֶת" – This unique lament is found only in these two stories.
- "כֵּן יִמְלְאוּ יְמֵי" – This exact phrase appears only here.12
Contrasts
Despite the many similarities above, there are some major points of contrast between the narratives:
- Individual versus national – While the Book of Esther speaks of a nation in exile, the Yosef stories focus on just one individual in a foreign land.
- National persecution versus family strife – While the story of Esther revolves around a threat to the survival of the Jewish nation by an antagonistic foreign ruler,13 there is no such threat of persecution in the Yosef saga.14 In contrast, the Yosef narratives focus on the division and reunification of a family, a theme which is absent from the Esther story.
Implications
It is perhaps the exilic setting that is most telling in accounting for the similarities between the stories:
- Paradigm of exile – The Yosef story, being the first story of exile in Tanakh, can be seen as a paradigm for future similar stories. Yosef in the microcosm of what will later happen to the entire nation, and thus it is perhaps expected that later such stories will recall it.
- Success in exile – The two stories suggest that to be successful in exile, at times one needs to aid the foreign ruler and act as an ally. It might be necessary to make use of all ones' beauty, charm or wisdom to position one's self in a place of power. From the palace one can then sway the ruler so as to aid one's family or nation.
- Hashem's providence – In exile, God's providence is not as evident as it is in the Land of Israel, yet His hand still guides events. This is explicit in the Yosef narratives where Yosef tells his brothers, "אַל יִחַר בְּעֵינֵיכֶם כִּי מְכַרְתֶּם אֹתִי הֵנָּה כִּי לְמִחְיָה שְׁלָחַנִי אֱלֹהִים לִפְנֵיכֶם". Megillat Esther, which makes no mention of Hashem at all, might allude to the stories of Yosef to teach this very lesson. Just as in the first story of exile, where God seemed absent, but was nonetheless pulling all the strings, in this later story of exile, the same is true.
- Instability – Both stories highlight the uncertainty of life under foreign rule. Yosef's life in Egypt is a roller coaster of ups and downs. He rises to power in Potiphar's house only to be sent to prison, but then is freed and rise to second in command. In the Esther story too, a fickle king seems to act on whim, changing his mind repeatedly. Though the Esther story seems to end positively, the enslavement that follows Yosef's rise to power reminds the reader that, despite Mordechai's rise, not all are necessarily safe in Persia either.
