A novel approach to Esther's story - FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

Hadassah: One Night with the King

·       While not a book I'd choose again, this novel was recommended after I posted the beautiful phrase - Perhaps you were born for such a time as this Esther 4: 14 

A novel based on Scripture in Esther – Tommy Tenney from Louisiana – has several similar novels.

·       Take-away about the novel (fiction – or historical fiction)

1.     The author adds details of a ‘back story’ and weaves an enriched story-line into the scriptural passages in the Book of Esther.

2.     The author describes festivals, palaces, homes, people, and adds fictional characters such as Jesse, Jacob, and Rachel who populate the narrative.

3.     The story is from a letter made into a book that is read by the “next in line” of the women to come into a position of power as in married to an influential man. The story is supposed in the hand of the true Queen Esther, told in her voice.

Historical time period

1.     486-465 B.C.

2.     Code of Hammurabi has been in effect

3.     King Darius and King Xerxes

4.     Queen Vashti

5.     Grecian Wars with Persia

6.     Feast of Purim

7.     Time after the story – Xerxes murdered within 4 years and the Palace burned within 6 years

Scripture and Lineage

1.     1 Samuel 15 – about King Agag and the Amalekites

2.     The Chronicles (public record, record of the kings and the city)

3.     Esther 2: 7 – Hadassah, daughter of Abehai

4.     Esther 3: 10 – Haman son of Hamnedatha the Agagite

5.     Esther 3: 2, 4 – Mordecai – son of Jair

6.     Remaining chapters conclude the story with Haman’s demise

Culture

1.     Royal extravagance and opulent beauty

2.     Code of Conduct strict at penalty of immediate death

3.     Ritual role of boys and girls – even in disguising themselves (Yentl – Barbra Streisand movie)

4.     Hedonism

5.     Savagery, torture, ferocity, ruthlessness

6.     Death penalty involving gallows

7.     Palace concubines and eunuchs (how did we suppose these people came to be who and what they are. The author gives his researched take on this cultural institution.)

Discourse on these topics:

1.     The presence of God

2.     Discerning the Voice of God

3.     God’s overall plan for Good

4.     Questions of Why? And God’s response

5.     Relationship with God as Father

6.     Conversations with God

7.     Intimacy

8.     Marriage

9.     Health and Dietary laws

10.  Sexual love

Concepts that persist through Christianity

1.     “My heart broke with you…” in the midst of your pain.

2.     “I simply conversed with God.”

3.     “A reason that would reveal itself over time.”

4.     “God’s Law guides our choices but does not guarantee our outcome.”

5.     “Make godly choices within the course available to you. He will guide you.”

6.     “God walks through disappointments with us.”

7.     “God goes before me and prepares the way.”

8.     “What we purpose in our hearts…”

9.     “God has a different path – Trust Him.”

10.  “Please, LORD, Give me wisdom.”

11.  Page 194 in the novel – FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.

Incongruencies in dialogue (sounds too modern to have been written or spoken by Queen Esther)

“literally and figuratively”     “I bit my tongue.”   “going off in my head.”  “good old-fashioned disgust.”

Private parts, slop bucket, tip-toed, puffy eyes, “Well, girls…”  “butterflies”  “Give me 10 minutes.”

“From the looks of things…” How Hadassah became Esther (name change, etc…totally contrived)

To me, these words and phrases sound too colloquial for something supposedly written in a scroll and then transcribed into a book.