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14:39
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A: What was Esther’s relationship to Mordecai?

Adithia KusnoWhat was the biological relationship between Esther and Mordechai? Were they cousins or uncle and niece? And was Mordechai Esther’s adoptive father or even her husband? The Hebrew Masoretic text is straightforward, on Esther 2:7, He was foster father to Hadassah—that is, Esther—his uncle’s ...

SLM
SLM
I keep waiting to read the quotes from the Talmud or Sages that supports the idea that Mordecai and Esther were married. The earliest reference from Josephus confirms they were "father" and "daughter". Moreover, it is rather disingenuous to suggest they were married and then Esther given as a virgin to the king. If that were so, they'd both be dead for lying to the king! Having explained this, it only remains to understand why this "old guardian" and "young virgin" tale was a later redaction (again no actual Sage or Talmud quotes from the earliest times) to support Infancy Gospel of James.
Adithia Kusno
Adithia Kusno
@SLM St. Aquinas explains that lying to deceive a person with good intention is sin and to give an answer for an oppressor or someone who would use the truth for a false cause is also wrong. So in this case both Esther and Mordechai didn't lie to the king, instead as explained in the tradition they were forced to separate because the king loved Esther despite of her having a husband. I have shown above how Josephus reference to Mordechai as Esther's uncle is wrong and can't be trusted. In regards to calling her as 'daughter' I also cited Song of Solomon and Ruth to show this as endearment.
SLM
SLM
Well again, there's nothing from early Jewish tradition. The comment about Babylonian Talmud, still much later, reaffirms the Christian and Jewish tradition. Esther was a virgin; she wasn't married to Mordecai. The king wasn't stupid; he would know whether his decree was followed or not (see Deut. 22:17). No one was going to deceive or disobey his order. Again, the idea of a "married" "old guardian" to "young virgin" appears simply as a redaction to the Infancy tale. So far, you've shown no early tradition that a non-virgin was sent as a virgin to the king.
Traditions: As a result of her mother’s death, Mordecai had to care for Esther’s nursing. According to one tradition, he could not find a wet nurse and he himself miraculously had milk and nursed her (Gen. Rabbah 30:8). Another tradition has Mordecai’s wife nursing the infant (Midrash Tehilim, on Ps. 22:23). The Babylonian tradition maintains that Esther was Mordecai’s wife. Esth. 2:7 states: “Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter [literally: took her le-vat],” which the midrash understands as: Mordecai took her le-bayit, that is, as a wife (BT Megillah loc. cit.).
Adithia Kusno
Adithia Kusno
@SLM The king didn't know her ethnic origin. I have added scholars such as Michael Fox, Eliezer Segal, Barry Walfish, and Joshua Breman to support my conclusion. The testimony from Old Greek Esther 2:7 (written in 200s BC) support this tradition. You may not agree with this tradition, which is fine by me but you need to substantiate your claim with scholars. I have shown how Josephus made mistake by referring to Mordechai as Esther's uncle. I hope this article will be a good help to you. chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/2485034/jewish/…
@SLM can you name well accepted scholars who disagree with this tradition? Please give me the names and where they published their critiques of this tradition? I will read it and update my response accordingly. Please keep it civil and not emotional. People who read your response will be able to note that you're responding emotionally. Keep it cool and rational. Address the points you're disagreeing from the scholars I cited and I promise I will look into your arguments. Don't write condescendingly like above. I respect your disagreement and we can agree to disagree. Be a Christ like man. Gbu
SLM
SLM
found this; see pages 82-83 for your answers, like with Josephus: all the best; bye. books.google.com/…
Adithia Kusno
Adithia Kusno
14:42
@SLM thanks I will check it when I have time. Currently the link block out page 80 to 90. I will order the book and will respond accordingly. There is no new debate under the sun. I assume her approach will be that of the vowelization. It's quite weak though because the vowelization has no influence from Christianity on the virgin Theotokos.
 
1 hour later…
SLM
SLM
16:01
The problem to overcome isn't particularly whether you can find a scholar who agrees with you or not. The problem is you have a king who calls (commands, decrees) specifically for virgins, which even the Septuagint acknowledges in 2:2, and people think a married woman (Esther to Mordecai) would pass muster. She wouldn't. The chamberlain wouldn't have even given her audience, unless she was a virgin. He'd have lost his head too, along with Mordecai and Esther for disobeying a command!

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