Abstract:
In hierdie studie is die bydrae wat sosiaal-wetenskaplike kritiek as analitiese metode vir die verstaan van die boek Ester kan maak, ondersoek. Die doel, naamlik om die boek Ester beter te verstaan, is bereik deur ‘n uitgebreide literatuurverkenning. Die nege vrae wat Elliott (1993:72) in sy boek “What is Social-Scientific Criticism?” stel, is as basis vir analise gebruik. Die outeur van die boek Ester het waarskynlik die diaspora-Jode (539 vC tot 332 vC) in gedagte gehad by die skrywe van die Ester-verhaal, wat deur verskeie navorsers beskryf is as ‘n goeie verhaal wat goed vertel word. Die sosiale agtergrond van die verhaal is verken en die leser-gehoor is geïdentifiseer. Die strategie wat die outeur gebruik het om die leser-hoorders te motiveer om getrou aan hulle Joodse tradisies te bly, is bespreek. Die ideologiese tema van die boek Ester verwys na die voorsienigheid van God, al word sy naam nie in die oorspronklike Hebreeuse teks genoem nie. Die outeur sluit hierby aan deur implisiete boodskappe aan die lesers te rig. ‘n Bespreking van die makrostruktuur van die boek Ester, insluitend die dinamiese motiewe en temas, voltooi die ontsluiting van die sosiale en kulturele aspekte van die boek. ENGLISH : In this study, the contribution of social-scientific criticism as an analytical method towards an understanding of the book Esther has been researched. The aim, namely to improve an understanding of the book Esther, has been achieved by means of an extensive literature study in order to obtain answers to the nine questions that Elliott (1993:72) uses as a basis for social-scientific criticism in his book “What is Social-Scientific Criticism?” The unknown author of the book Esther presumably had the Diaspora Jews (539 BC to 332 BC) in mind when he wrote the Esther narrative. Various researchers have described the Esther narrative as a good story that is well told. In this study, the social background to the story is explored and the reader audience identified. The strategy used by the author to motivate his readers to remain true to their Jewish traditions is discussed. The ideological theme of the book Esther refers to the providence of God, although his name is not mentioned in the original Hebrew text. The author concurs with this theme by means of implicit messages directed at the readers. A discussion of the macrostructure of the book Esther, including the dynamic themes and motives, completes the exposition of the cultural and social aspects of the book.
