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Esther As the New Moses: Deliverance Motifs in the Book of Esther

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Esther As the New Moses: Deliverance Motifs in the Book of Esther Esther as the New Moses: Deliverance Motifs in the Book of Esther Lapani Langford Sankhani Nkhonjera Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master’s degree of Theology, Department of Old and New Testament in the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University Superviser: Prof. Louis C. Jonker December 2015 1 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this thesis, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author and owner of the copyright thereof (unless to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Copyright © 2015 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved 2 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstract This study aims to compare the figures of Moses in the Exodus narratives and Queen Esther in the Esther narratives. The study will proceed to argue that Esther, a remarkable Jewish deliverer figure in the Persian period can be viewed as a reinterpretation of the Moses figure in the Exodus narratives. Within a broad analysis of these narratives, the researcher investigates how Esther fits into the Old Testament deliverance motifs. Commonalities between Moses and Esther and their parallels and characterization as Old Testament deliverer figures assist in drawing a comparative analysis between the two. The study proceeds to prove that Esther is a new Moses figure, arguing that the Esther narratives are presented deliberately in such a way that they reinterpret the Moses narratives. A survey of previous studies that investigated the two narratives provides further evidence for the view that the Esther narratives are reinterpreting the Moses narratives, and hence that Esther can be regarded as a new Moses in the Old Testament deliverance motifs. This study argues that Esther stands within the same category of Old Testament deliverer figures like Moses and that female figures like Esther are not ignored in the deliverance of God’s people. The concluding part of this study investigates what implications the Old Testament narratives of Moses and Esther as deliverer figures may have for the modern-day context of African leadership. The focus is on investigating whether biblical models of leadership and deliverance offer anything to the discourse on African leadership. In the last section, the models of Moses and Esther are applied to modern-day ethical problems of leadership in African societies. It is postulated that Old Testament ethical reflections on biblical characters such as Moses and Esther may inform modern-day reflection on responsible leadership. 3 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Opsomming Die studie vergelyk die rol wat Moses in die Exodus-verhaalsiklus speel met die rol van Ester in die Ester-verhaal. Die argument is dat Ester se rol as ʼn merkwaardige bevrydingsfiguur uit die Persiese tyd dié van Moses herinterpreteer. Die studie is ʼn breë narratiewe analise wat nagaan of Ester binne die Ou Testamentiese bevrydingsliteratuur ʼn geïsoleerde figuur is al dan nie. Die ooreenkomste tussen Moses en Ester saam met tipiese eienskappe van Ou Testamentiese bevrydingsfigure lei die studie tot ʼn suksesvolle vergelykende analise van die twee figure. Trouens, dit word duidelik dat Ester ʼn nuwe Moses is waar Moses se rol doelbewus herinterpreteer word. ʼn Oorsig oor bestaande studies wat die twee verhale nagana, verskaf verdere stawing vir die seining dat die Ester-siklus die van Moses herinterpreteer. As sodanig is Ester ʼn tweede Moses binne die Ou Testamentiese bevrydingsliteratuur en staan sy geen tree terug as ʼn vroulike figuur in die rol nie. In die laaste en samevattende gedeelte van die navorsing word die implikasies van bevrydingsfigure soos Moses en Ester toegepas op leierskap in Afrika. Die oogmerk is om hierdie Bybelse bevrydingsfigure as model voor te hou en om dan daarmee in gesprek te gaan met die aard van leierskap in Afrika. Die Ou Testamentiese verhale en leiers het bepaalde waardes en oortuigings wat huidige leierskap in Afrika krities onder die loep kan neem. Dit kan ʼn vormende invloed op Christelike morele waardes, identiteit en die verstaan van mag uitoefen. As sodanig sal Moses en Ester as modelle voorgehou word om moderne etiese leierskapprobleme en -uitdagings aan te spreek. Die studie is oortuig dat Ou Testamentiese leiers waardevolle insig bied vir etiese refleksie en kontekstuele riglyne virverantwoordelike leierskap. 4 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Acknowledgements I firstly give thanks and gratitude to God for the challenging experience throughout the period of my studies at Stellenbosch and my stay here in South Africa. My sincere gratitude also goes to my supervisor, Prof. Louis C. Jonker for his valuable guidance, insights and his patience with me throughout my study period. I wholeheartedly appreciate the manner in which he related to me as a person, and he really inspired me, Baie dankie. The financial contributions from the following institutions and individuals are greatly appreciated and hereby acknowledged: the NRF, the commission for witness, the NG Kerk in South Africa, the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, the PCI global team, the Rev Marrs and Robin Quinn. These financial contributions made my studies possible. Finally, thanks to my dear wife, Anita for her supportive love and encouragement throughout my studies which made my research and writing easier and smooth. 5 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Dedication To the Rev Robin Quinn and the PCI council for the Global team. 6 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Table of Contents Contents Declaration................................................................................................................................ 2 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Opsomming ............................................................................................................................... 4 Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................. 5 Dedication ................................................................................................................................. 6 Table of Contents ................................................................................................................. 7 List of Tables .......................................................................................................................... 10 Chapter One ............................................................................................................................ 11 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 11 1.1. Motivation and Focus of the Study .................................................................... 11 1.2. Studies on the Book of Esther ................................................................................ 12 1.2.1 Background to the Book of Esther ...................................................................... 12 1.2.2 Literature review .................................................................................................. 13 1.3. Problem Statement, Hypotheses and Research Questions .................................. 15 1.3.1 Problem Statement................................................................................................ 15 1.3.2 Hypotheses ............................................................................................................. 16 1.3.3 Research Questions ............................................................................................... 16 1.4. Research Design, Delimitation and Research Methodology ............................... 16 1.5. Further Chapters .................................................................................................... 18 Chapter Two ............................................................................................................................ 20 A Literary and Historical Analysis of the Book of Esther ............................................. 20 2.1 Literary Analysis ...................................................................................................... 20 2.1.1 Broader Narrative Structure of Esther............................................................... 20 2.1.2 Narrative structure of Chapter 4 (the macro-and micro-units) ....................... 26 2.1.3 Clause Analysis of Esther 4:1-17 ......................................................................... 27 2.1.3.1 Esther 4:1-17....................................................................................................... 27 2.1.3.2 Discussion of Clause delimitation ..................................................................... 29 2.1.4 Structural-Exegetical Analysis of Esther 4:1-17 ................................................ 29 2.1.5 Summary of the literary analysis......................................................................... 40 2.2 Characters and characterization in the Book of Esther ....................................... 41 2.2.1 Preliminary view ................................................................................................... 41 7 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za
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