The Aramaic Bible: Targums in their Historical Context

EGO Targumization as Theologization 355
by the Meturgeman, not only by insertions and explanations, but also
by the development of the theme directly from the text itself, when
formulations which at first glance appear to be of a profane nature are
interpreted in a theological sense. Thus a passive construction such as
the one found in Esth. 2.1 may be reinterpreted as passivum divinum.
'He remembered Vashti and what she had done, as well as what was
decreed against her (n iL ?u IT:] ie?«)' is interpreted by the Meturgeman
as follows: 'He remembered Vashti and what she had done, as well as
what was decreed against her, that she was not worth the judgment
decree of death, except that it was decreed from Heaven, that the
descendents of Nebuchadnezar, king of Babylon, should come to end'.
Vashti's death sentence is decreed by God, Ahasverosh being only the
instrument of the divine will. 4
The interpretation of the term 'king' is along the same line: it is
interpreted with reference not only to King Ahasverosh in the simple
sense, but also to God himself as the heavenly king. The Midrash Esth.
R. 3.10 formulates this principle of interpretation explicitly:
R. Judan and R. Levi in the name of R. Johanan said: Wherever there
occurs in this book [meaning the book of Esther] the expression 'to king
Xerxes' the text speaks of the actual King Xerxes; wherever we find
simply the expression 'to the King' it may be either sacred or profane,
i.e., sometimes it refers to God and sometimes to Xerxes.
Targum Rishon Esth. 7.3 illustrates the changes and new, even surprising,
dimensions which a text can sustain on the basis of this principle.
Within the framework of Esther's discussion with King
Ahasverosh, the Hebrew text as translated into English reads: 'Then
Esther replied and said: If I have found compassion before you, O
King, and if it is favorable before the king, let my life be granted to
me in my request, and my people in my petition'. In rendering the
text into Aramaic, a completely new situation results from a brief
insertion. The verse begins with the words: 'Then Esther raised her
eyes toward the heavens and said: If I found compassion before you,
O King, and if it is favorable before the king...' In this context,
'King' can be meant as none other than God. 5 Thus a scene in the
4. For a similar interpretation of a passive construction cf. also Targ. Esth. II
2.11, 22; concerning the insertion 'by the holy spirit' see Targ. Esth. II 4.1.
5. Cf. also Targ. Esth. I 5.1 with the commentary of Grossfeld, Two Targums,
p. 62.