The Identities of Joseph and Esther from the Old Testament
The Bible is full of common themes, yet there one prominent underlying thread that runs constant throughout is that in order to be influential, people are placed in positions where they are able to assimilate to the common culture, but are still set apart from other ordinary people. Assimilation is defined as the process where a group adopts the customs of the prevailing culture, whereas consecration refers to someone who is set apart as sacred. Due to the apparently conflicting definitions, it seems as though the two cannot coexist with one another. In fact, they even appear to be paradoxical, however, both ingredients are necessary in order for people to influence the lives of many more. Conformity in culture and divine consecration are in reality exclusively dependent on each other for a person to be influential and this is displayed by two prime examples of the Old Testament: Joseph and Esther.
After Joseph is sold into slavery in Egypt and is introduced to its culture, he loses his Jewish identity and becomes completely transformed from a measly shepherd boy to an Egyptian official. When Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream, the Pharaoh is pleased with him and Joseph is given a new name: “Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. Thus Joseph gained authority over the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41.45). The fact that he is given a new forename has much significance because it implies his life’s specific calling. The people are given new names in the Bible because in this way, God reveals his intended purpose for their lives. Prior to the story of Joseph, this same alteration of nam...
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...s, Esther’s destiny is disclosed by the words of her relative.
The unique identity that both Joseph and Esther have is that they live amongst society, yet are not of it due to their given destiny. There were living contradictions that God chooses to use in a significant way. This principle that they lived out is so important, that it is even echoed in the New Testament with the teachings of Jesus. Centuries following the life of Joseph and Esther, this principle continues to resonate as Jesus commands: “Do not be conformed to this world… (Romans 12:2). You do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world” (John 15.19). Demonstrating these commands in their lives, it is unmistakable that Joseph and Esther would not have been the influential people that they became, if they had failed to possess either of the two qualities mentioned.
Firstly, through Joseph’s memories and thoughts, conflict is revealed by him remembering his experiences with his son. Joseph recalls the first time he went camping overnight in the woods with David. That evening, Joseph knew his son was awake, “but was not sure whether [he] had been happy or just tired. He could not ask him, even then.” Joseph always had troubles talking to his son, but hoped that his actions had made an impact on his son, leaving him a time to remember and enjoy; a time he was happy. Joseph knew his son was bright, “proud of the many new things [he] could read and understand,” but worried that would lead him to going away. Joseph remembered the day David went off to
...es these primitive standards, she becomes melancholy because she does not attune into the gender roles of women, which particularly focus on marriage, maternity, and domesticity. Like other nineteen year old women, Esther has many goals and ambitions in her life. Nevertheless, Esther is disparaged by society’s blunt roles created for women. Although she experiences a tremendous psychological journey, she is able to liberate herself from society’s suffocating constraints. Esther is an excellent inspiration for women who are also currently battling with society’s degrading stereotypes. She is a persistent woman who perseveres to accomplish more than being a stay at home mother. Thus, Esther is a voice for women who are trying to abolish the airless conformism that is prevalent in 1950’s society.
Joseph is a careful, loving, caring, person; he is a man of local consequence. He is religious and has loads of respect for others, Joseph is a loyal man who cares for others, yet enforces rules well and strictly. Joseph is similar to his father because he is obsessed with enforcing rules, and being normal, also like his father Joseph is really religious and does preaching.
Many times there are characters that are represented as equals, even though they share a different identity and time period; this notion remains true with Joseph the Golem and Yod the Cyborg as they are seen to have a correlation to the legends of the Jewish Golem. Jewish priests created Joseph the Golem from clay to be a protector of the Jewish people, due to threats from the Christians. The Golem, Joseph, was not a typical story of a human creation, due to the fact that he was created from clay. This gives us insight into the Jewish culture, as it differs from many other times of creation stories around the world. There is an intersection between these novels that sheds light on what the golem was and why it was created, by the different
Jacob's name means "deceiver" and he lives up to his name. His deceitfulness began with stealing his brother's birthright. One day, Esau came in from the fields famished and found Jacob cooking a meal. Jacob offered his half-starved brother, "Give me the birthright and I'll give you some soup." Esau being starved, sold his birthright to Jacob. (Genesis 25: 29-34). Sometime later when Isaac thought he was going to die, he called Esau into his tent and told him to kill an animal and make him some soup. Isaac's wife overheard this and connived a plan with Jacob to deceive Isaac. Jacob disguised himself as Esau and obtained his blind and dying father's blessing (Genesis 27).
Esther reached her ambitions at such a level that was unheard of by woman at that time. She is a prime example of how serving others is a treasured and beneficial principle. It is who Esther is that makes her Jewish, rather than her actions or what she believed (Meyers & Craven, 2001). Admired as a true heroine Esther encapsulates the true model of the feminine power and beauty of all females (Raver,
In relation to the other canonical books of the Old Testament, the book of Esther of the Hebrew version contains unique theological figure, which involves the removal of the name of God and the direct absences of various important religious elements essential to a Jewish or Hebrew religious writings. The book of Esther is never referred to either in the New Testament nor the Dead Sea Scrolls, neither did the early church fathers rarely even referred to it in their writings. The book of Esther seems to be “anthropocentric,” and other than fasting there does not seem to any references or any implied points to the religious perspectives on God, Law, covenants and many other important themes that play central role in the Bible as a whole. Due to the lack or deliberate omission of God and various other religious references from the book, scholars have approached and viewed the book as doubtful and question the validity and the canonicity of the book. The book is supposed to contain some theological references and objectives therefore the book is understood by Biblical scholars in light of the commencement of the festival of Purim. Biblical scholars have approached the book with hesitance and have not given a clear and concise understanding on the much neglected and misunderstood theology of the book of Esther. Biblical scholars throughout the ages have regarded the book of Esther as questionable in moral, religious, ethical and cultural values.
In David deSilva book, Honor, Patronage, Kinship, and Purity: Unlocking New Testament Culture deSilva states that context is extremely important as well as understanding the culture, without these elements one cannot properly understand the interpretation of Scripture. David deSilva gives an enlightening contextual study of first century Mediterranean culture. deSilva believes that all culture delivers the framework for all communication, and the New Testament writings is no different in how the culture provides the framework for communication.
Chapters thirty-nine through forty-one of Genesis chronicle a portion of the life of Joseph, the eleventh, and most favored, son of Jacob. “The book of Genesis is an account of the creation of the universe (Genesis 1-2), the origins of human communities (Genesis 3-11), and the beginnings of the people set apart by God (Genesis 12-50)” (Hauer and Young 67). The Joseph story begins in chapter thirty-seven, and spans nearly fourteen full chapters; the book ends, in chapter fifty, with the death of Joseph. The narrative of Joseph’s life is well crafted and highly detailed. It is, in fact, the most comprehensive narrative in the book of Genesis. The story flows, from beginning to end as a novel would. “Unique, too, is the somewhat secular mold in which the biography is cast. The miraculous or supernatural is conspicuously absent” (Sarna 211). Although God is mentioned, as a presence, he never overtly presents himself as he did with the many of the heroes that came before Joseph. The ending chapters of Genesis are a coming of age story; the tale of a boy, becoming a man.
Following the creation story of the book of Genesis is the book of Exodus. In Genesis, God promised Abraham a “great nation from which all nations of the earth will be blessed (Gen 12:1-3)” and in Exodus God completes this promise through the creation of the holy nation, Israel. Exodus tells the story of the God who rescued his people out of Egypt because of the promise he had made to Abraham. God calls to Moses to complete his promise. God’s call to Moses is not only important because he liberates the Israelites but also because God reveals His name(s) along with His true Nature. God calls upon Moses and tells him that He’s back to help the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and that Moses is to lead them. God then gives him full instructions on what to tell the Pharaoh and, more importantly, the Israelites, who are promised, land “flowing with milk and honey”.
The book of Esther tells of a courageous young woman who uses her mind to please God. She becomes the wife of a great king and allows for protection of her own people, the Jews. Esther is a great role model for women of modern day times because of her strength, nobility, and honesty. She portrays a woman with power that most women of that day did not have. The story of Esther has empowered women of all backgrounds and will continue to do so well into the future.
...e Biblical story weighs heavily on Joseph’s divine dream interpreting ability and the story it provides, focusing on the theme of God caring for His people and fulfilling his divine plan. The Qur’an appreciates this but sees it as a means to the end of the spread of faith to non-believers. The Christian and Jewish version of Joseph’s trials serves a greater literary purpose than the Qur’an’s version, advancing belief by showing God’s abilities and the way they may be manifested in others in order to fulfill his divine plan. However, the Qur’an expands upon the Biblical version by including additional plot points and explicitly portraying Joseph’s goals and how they align with Islamic theology. The accounts differ in functionality, but both are crucial to the holistic understanding of the story of Joseph and some of the fundamental differences between the religions.
The baby boy grew up and was adopted into the Pharaoh’s household and named Moses. His name is derived from the Egyptian root “mose” meaning “son”, but in the Bible, it is said to hale from the Hebrew root meaning “drawn out of the water.” Even though Moses, was raised as an Egyptian, he knew that he was truly Hebrew. After seeing an Egyptian taskmaster cruelly beating a Hebrew, Moses became so furious that he murdered the Egyptian. Fearing that the Pharaoh would find out what he had done, Moses fled to the wilderness, “the eternal safe retreat of outcasts from ancient society and of those in revolt against authority.” Moses found himself in the Sinai Desert amongst other Semitics and befriended a family in which he was adopted into, and, later married into.
The redeemed Israelites exodus from Egypt, has brought them to Mont Siani, where they struggle with obedience. Jehovah teaches the chosen children of Israel His character of holiness, sovereignty, healer and provider, the who blesses and makes His children fruitful, as He is the keeper of the covenant and everything is brought under Him. God sets up His earthly throne with his people reveal Himself as holy, as in Leviticus 20:26, “You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own,” God also builds his people to be holy.
Joseph as an individual started as a lost, depressed individual with no insight on what is happening in his life which leads to constant flashbacks to his father. The loss of Joseph 's father pointed out the feeling of how many children across this world might feel especially in places where conflict and war are still existent. This story did have a little bit of the plot focused on racism but the idea of being new and unique dominated the