Introduction

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents ix
3. Illustrations xi
4. Acknowledgments xiii
5. Introduction 1
6. PART ONE.BIBLICAL LEGACIES
7. 1. The Book of Esther 23
8. 2. A Pair of Queens 46
9. 3. Mordecai’s Reckless Refusal 63
10. 4. The Eternal Haman 81
11. 5.Amalek 107
12. PART TWO. JEWS LIVING DANGEROUSLY
13. 6. “The Fascination of the Abomination” 149
14. 7. Mild Men or Wild Men? 187
15. 8. Ancient Jewish Violence and Modern Scholarship 213
16. 9. Purim, Carnival, and Violence 248
17. 10. Local Purims and the Invention of Tradition 279
18. Abbreviations 317
19. Bibliography 319
20. Index 325