Hidden in Plain Sight: Esther and a Marginalized Hermeneutic

Hidden in Plain Sight explores the potential contours of reading biblical narrative. The Old Testament book of Esther is used to advance a prospective shape for this reading method and proposes a profile for curriculum design. This work demonstrates that the text of Scripture itself proposes a reading method. Esther is an underestimated heroine in her story world. Her character is informed by the silent actions of Vashti and by the intentionality of Mordecai. She is confronted with a writing that challenges her with few options each of which is deconstructed and focused in community dialogue. At a pivotal stage in the narrative she acts in solidarity with those under a death threat emerging as an agent of life. Esthers actions and speeches are traced as one entry into a story world proposing a means for students of Scripture to gain appreciable reading skills via sensitivity to the general components of Old Testament narrative. This reading informs a study method enabling direct engagement with a text and appreciation for the art of literary crafting. The approach is suitable for Christian education and biblical study settings at the academic level and for use in local church ministries. Rob Debelak is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Lee University Cleveland Tennessee. Rob is a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary Decatur Georgia. (He also holds degrees from the Community College of the Air Force the City Colleges of Chicago Ohlone College East Coast Bible College and the Church of God Theological Seminary.)