Queer Futures and Phallic Humour in the Book of Esther

Abstract

In ancient Hebrew, the word for “hand” can also refer metaphorically to personal power—or be innuendo for the phallus. This observation serves as a key to the many appearances of “hands” in the book of Esther, from the king’s superlative “hand” to the ever-active “hands” of eunuchs. This abundance of hands has an ironic significance, alternately humorous and profound, as it points to the non-procreative nature of power in Esther’s Persia. Drawing from Lee Edelman’s theory of reproductive futurism, this article examines the upside-down, queer world of Esther, where the “hands” that matter are precisely those “hands” that society views as disabled.

Keywords

• esther
• eunuchs
• euphemism
• hands
• phalli