Book of Esther

[Augustine3]

It has been said the Septuagint had been found with additional texts compared to the original Hebrew. Here’s is a note from Wikipedia:

“Additional six chapters appear interspersed in Esther in the Septuagint, the Greek translation, which then was noted by Jerome in compiling the Latin Vulgate; additionally, the Greek text contains many small changes in the meaning of the main text. Jerome recognized them as additions not present in the Hebrew Text and placed them at the end of his Latin translation as chapters 10:4-16:24.”

Are they basing the Hebrew text from the Masoretic text? If so can’t the argument be thrown back the other way that writers of the Masoretic text took these texts out since this came after the Septuagint text?

How did the Catholic church conclude the additionals are divinely inspired?

Brother in Christ,

 

[COPLAND_3]

I have not yet studied Esther enough to give the kind of informed opinion like I prefer. But I do hold some positions on the variant texts among the versions. Here are some possibilities. 1) the author of Esther could have written more than one account, making a shorter version and making a longer version. I would write more than one copy of an important document if I did not have a copy machine! 2) the LXX being an original and the Hebrew being a condensed version.

 

[rom422]

It has been said the Septuagint had been found with additional texts compared to the original Hebrew. Here’s is a note from Wikipedia:

“Additional six chapters appear interspersed in Esther in the Septuagint, the Greek translation, which then was noted by Jerome in compiling the Latin Vulgate; additionally, the Greek text contains many small changes in the meaning of the main text. Jerome recognized them as additions not present in the Hebrew Text and placed them at the end of his Latin translation as chapters 10:4-16:24.”

Are they basing the Hebrew text from the Masoretic text? If so can’t the argument be thrown back the other way that writers of the Masoretic text took these texts out since this came after the Septuagint text?

How did the Catholic church conclude the additionals are divinely inspired?

Brother in Christ,

How did the Catholic Church conclude the additionals are divinely inspired? Tradition!

 

[Crumpy]

Aside: The Jewish Publication Society put out its commentary on Esther a year or two ago. It’s the second modern Jewish commentary on Esther that describes this book a riotous comedy.

You have to live with idea of later additions and editing of Biblical books. It happens all over the place, and you can’t look up a credible modern commentary that does not discuss the “redaction” – editing – of holy books.

All the goofiness that occurs in Esther is – comedy – like the idea that the king could not reverse a decision. There’s no proof that such a restriction existed in Biblical times.

Certainly, the danger in Esther creates the tension that is relieved in comical reversals that occur in the book.

To the Jewish commentator, the purpose of Esther is twofold: 1) to explain the feast of Purim, and 2) to establish a precedent for celebrating another type of Jewish feast that was not mandated by the Torah.

Proverbs also stands out as breaking out of the grip of the Torah, with all kinds of new rules for living.

The additions to Esther are rather obvious and almost awkward. Whatever other reason that might have been given for adding these verses, they surely attempt to change the tone from comedy to something more serious and scripture-like.

To the Masorete or even to a modern Jew, you wouldn’t WANT to have the Divine name in a book that is so bawdy as non-septuagint Esther.

 

[rdscheirer]

And Jesus said love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, and soul.And love your neighbor as yourself.

 

[Crumpy]

And Jesus said love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, and soul.And love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus said love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.

I feel so lacking in not loving God with all my strength. It seems so at the time, but when I look back, I seem to conclude that I could have loved with more strength.