The Book of Esther
⭑ Catholic Public Domain Version 2009 ⭑
- Kapitel 14 -
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Fußnoten
(a)8:2 Esther covered her head with “cinere et stercore,” literally, “ashes and filth” or “ashes and dung.” However, Esther did not literally put dung on her head. This was not the Jewish custom, as is clear from other sections of the text, where Mordecai and the other Jews put only ashes on their head. The correct understanding of this text leads to a more accurate, but less literal translation. In some arid lands, where there are not many trees to use as fuel for fires, people use dried animal dung to burn for their fires. Esther took ashes from such a fire and put them on her head. The translation should be “ashes from burnt dung,” rather than “ashes and dung.”(Conte)
(b)8:11 That which does not exist, “his, qui non sunt,” refers to the idols because such gods do not exist.(Conte)
(c)8:13 The lion, leonis, here is the king and the enemy is Haman and the others.(Conte)
(d)8:15 The word “alienigenæ” here refers not to persons from a foreign land, for Esther was herself a foreigner to the land of Persia, but rather to outsiders, those from another religion or no religion.(Conte)
(e)8:16 The sign of her exaltation is her crown, which she must wear when brought before the king and his associates (something Vashti refused to do), and perhaps also her royal garments. The days of her silence are the days when she does not have to present herself publicly before the king and others. Esther prefers the days of her silence over the days of her exhibition.(Conte)
(f)8:17 The “vinum libaminum” is the wine the king uses in his worship of idols and false gods.(Conte)