The Book of Esther relates the rise of a Jewish orphan to be Queen of Persia, the promotion of the loyal Jew Mordechai to the second highest rank after the king, and the salvation of God's chosen people of Israel, whose very existence is threatened by the Governor Haman. The interpretation of the present material involves fundamental questions of language, literature, the history of editorship, theology and hermeneutics which are unique within the Hebrew Bible. The interpretation of the Megilla takes up a dialogue with the Greek traditions together with contemporary literature and the most ancient rabbinic exegesis. The introduction presents the most important questions posed for the interpreter.

Harald Martin Wahl, Philipps-Universität Marburg.