Esther's second banquet (Es. 7:1)
Ahasuerus returns from the palace garden (Es. 7:8)
Haman begging for his life (Es. 7:8)
New decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves (Es. 8:8-10)
King's scribe(s) (Es. 8:9)
Ahasuerus' messenger(s) (Es. 8:14)
Dog |
Before the 8th column of the text, 5 illustrations of different sizes (nos. 12-16) are placed. Illustrations nos. 12-14 are labeled in Hebrew.
Illustration no. 12 (upper-right corner) is labeled לא תוכל לו ("You shall not prevail against him", Es. 6:13). It shows Haman's wife, Zeresh (a rather plump woman with a ladle), and two of his friends warning him that he will not defeat Mordecai. Haman is shown sitting, with his head and arms down.
Illustration no. 13 (upper-left corner) is labeled ויבא המלך והמן אל המשתה ("So the king and Haman came to the banquet", Es. 5:5). The quotation alludes to the first feast given by Esther, but other details suggest that the second queen's banquet is depicted here. Urged on, Haman arrives at Esther's second banquet (Es. 7:1). The scene shows the king and Esther sitting at a table, while Haman bows to the king. Guards and servants stand in the background.
Illustration no. 14 (the center) is labeled הגם לכבוש את המלכה עמי בבית ("Will he force the queen also before me in the house", Es. 7:8). On the left, Haman is begging for his life and kneeling with outstretched arms towards the queen who sits on a couch (Es. 7:8). On the right, Ahasuerus enters the banquet room from a garden and raises a fist in anger towards Haman (Es. 7:8). Next to him, a dog is running.
Illustration no. 15 (lower-right corner) shows the same three scribes as in illustration no. 4, writing a new decree on scrolls (Es. 8:8-10).
Illustration 16 (lower-left corner) shows two king's messengers on horses, delivering the decree (Es. 8:14).
The Book of Esther in Hebrew
The scroll is formed of 3 paper sheets containing 12 columns of the text with 42 lines, except for col. 10 which has 11 lines divided into two half-columns.
The vocalized text of the Book of Esther is printed in Ashkenazi stam script with tagim, in black ink. It reproduces text written by an expert scribe (rather than moveable type) and it shows scribal practices of typical Ashkenazi megillot, such as enlarged and diminished letters in the names of Haman's sons and other enlarged letters ח (Es. 1:6) and ת (Es. 9:29).
A short biography and Geismar's immigration card are available https://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/bearing-witness/esther-scroll.asp (accessed on 24.10.2020).
Other copies of the megillah are stored in the Jewish Museum in Prague (inv. nos. 095.541 and 084.999), in the MAHJ in Paris (Inv. 2009.17.015 and Inv. 2000.16.169), in the JTS Library in New York (S282 and S474), belongs to the Gross Family Collection (see ID 35191) and other institutional and private collections.
The images of the scroll are available on http://collections.jewishmuseum.cz/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/221868 (accessed on 24.10.2020).