The Aramaic Bible: Targums in their Historical Context

EGO Targumization as Theologization 359
reign of Solomon, 14 is manifested as nothing other than the kingly
reign of God. The victory of Mordecai over Haman is God's answer
to the enmity against Israel and the redemption of the oath which he
swore after the struggle of Israel against Amalek: 'n» nnraN Kna
D'Qon nnno p^au—I will blot out Amalek from under the Heaven'
(Exod. 17.16).
Targum Sheni which must be dated in Byzantine times on the basis
of the prominent role assigned to Edom, 15 accentuates and actualizes
the traditional biblical narrative content through aggadic expansions
and explanations and, in this way, integrates it into the theological
concept of salvation of the people of Israel.
14. Cf. the formulations of Targ. Esth. II 10.3 with these concerning the reign of
Solomon in Targ. Esth. II 1.2.
15. Cf. P. Churgin, Targum Ketubim (New York, 1945), p. 234; Y. Komlosh,
Targum Sheni', EncJud, XV, pp. 811-13; Grossfeld, Two Targums, pp. 20-21.