Esther 6:13 and a "Biblical Theology" of the Bible's Least Appreciated Book

I am grateful that the latest issue of JETS contains my second article on the book of Esther:

Paul A. Himes, "A Touch of Wisdom: The Literary Role of Esther 6:13 in Bridging to a Biblical Theology of Scripture's Least 'Theological' Book," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 68, no. 3 (2025): 495–507. 

Anybody wishing for a PDF copy may email me at phimes@gmail.com.

The paper originally received a split decision with an invitation to "revise-and-resubmit," but ironically a comment by the peer-reviewer who had not recommended publication spurred me on to what was almost a total rewrite (except for the first couple pages), which was then recommended for publication by the next two reviewers.

Here is the abstract: 

“The lack of constructive discussion in Old Testament theologies on the book of Esther is lamentable yet understandable, given its status as the only canonical book not to mention God. Those few scholars who discuss Esther theologically generally focus on the theme of hidden sovereignty or the virtues or vices of its characters, while a few also note the significance of the survival of the Jewish people. In support of that latter theme, this article proposes that the theological center of the book can be found in Esther 6:13b, a sentence that stands out both in its intense alliteration and in the odd relabeling of Haman’s “friends” as “wise men.” Esther 6:13 deliberately evokes echoes of sapiential material to put a theological spin on the story, namely, that those seeking to destroy the Jewish people will fall into the pit that they themselves have dug. This article focuses on how Esther 6:13 within its literary context can legitimately be said to fashion a biblical theology for the book with practical significance even today.”