Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Why reception? -- An irredeemable book? -- Jewish tradition -- Christian tradition -- Godless scripture -- Allegory -- Providence, chosenness, nationhood -- Providence -- Exile and diaspora -- Nationalism -- Patriotism -- Political application -- Esther as literature -- Esther 1:1-9 -- 1:1 the king and empire -- 1:3 the king's feast -- 1:4 display of wealth -- 1:8 there was no compulsion to drink -- Women's feast -- Vashti -- Esther 1:10-12 -- 1:12 disobedience -- 1:13-22 the empire strikes back -- 1:19 Vashti's punishment -- 1:22 the decree -- Esther 2:1-7 -- 2:1 the king remembers Vashti -- 2:2-4 to the Harem -- 2:5-6 Mordecai -- 2:7 Hadassah-Esther -- Esther 2:8-23 -- 2:8-14 Esther in the Harem -- 2:15 Esther's beauty -- 2:16-18 Esther becomes queen -- Esther 3 -- 3:1 Haman -- 3:2 But Mordecai did not bow down? -- 3:7 casting lots -- 3:8 (mis) representing Jews : a people set apart -- 3:8 evil counsellors -- 3:12-15 genocidal edicts -- 3:15 the king and Haman sat down to drink? -- Esther 4:1-14 -- 4:1-3 great mourning among the Jews? -- 4:4-14 Esther and Mordecai confer -- 4:14 from another quarter -- Esther 4:15-17 -- 4:15 fast ye for me -- 4:16 if I perish, I perish -- Esther as exemplar of resolve -- 4:17 mordecai [...] did everything as Esther had ordered him -- Esther 5 -- 5:4-8 Esther's first banquet -- 5:9-14 Haman's wrath -- Esther 6 -- The king's sleeplessness -- 6:11 the triumph of Mordecai -- Esther 7 and 8 -- 7:1-6 Esther's second banquet -- 7:7-8 Haman's fate -- 8:1-6 how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? -- 8:7-14 the irreversible decree -- 8:15-17 the Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour -- Esther 9 and 10 -- 9:2 scenes of slaughter -- 9:7-10 ten sons of Haman -- 9:26 Purim -- 9:29 & 32 then Esther the queen ... wrote with all authority -- The greatness of Mordecai.