Book of Esther

The Book of Esther is a special book found in the third part of the Hebrew Bible, called Ketuvim or "Writings." It is one of the Five Scrolls and is also included in the Christian Old Testament. This story tells about a Jewish woman named Hadassah, who is known as Esther. She became the queen of Persia and helped save her people from a very dangerous plan.

The story happens when King Ahasuerus ruled the First Persian Empire. His wife, Queen Vashti, was sent away for not following the king's orders. Then, a special event was held to choose a new queen, and Esther was chosen. Her cousin Mordecai, a Jewish leader, found out that one of the king's advisors named Haman wanted all Jews in the empire to be hurt. Mordecai asked Esther to help. She told the king she was Jewish and asked him to stop Haman's plan. The king listened, and the Jews were saved. This story is celebrated every year during the Jewish festival of Purim.

One interesting thing about the Book of Esther is that it is one of only two books in the Hebrew Bible that do not mention God directly. Many people believe this shows how God can help in secret ways, using everyday events and people's actions. During Purim, the story of Esther is read from a special handwritten scroll in a synagogue. People also give charity and share special foods, which are traditions started because of this book. Even though some think it is a true story, many scholars believe it was written to explain why we have the Purim celebration.

Setting and structure

The Book of Esther takes place in the Persian capital city of Susa, also called Shushan. The story happens during the time of a Persian king named Ahasuerus, who many believe was Xerxes I. The events of the book begin around 483–482 BCE and end in March 473 BCE.

The book is divided into three parts: an introduction in chapters 1 and 2, the main story in chapters 3 to 9:19, and a conclusion in 9:20–10:3. The story centers around special meals called banquets, which happen many times throughout the book. These banquets lead to a big change in the story, where a dangerous plan against the Jewish people is turned around, and they are saved instead. This sudden change is an important part of the book's message.

Summary

King Ahasuerus, ruler of the Persian Empire, held a grand feast for his court and then for everyone in the capital city, Shushan. During the celebration, Queen Vashti refused the king's command to appear before the guests, so he removed her from her position as queen.

The king then chose a new queen from young women across his empire. One of these women was a Jewish girl named Esther, who had been raised by her cousin Mordecai. Esther became the new queen but did not tell the king about her Jewish background. Mordecai discovered a plan by two palace workers to kill the king, and they were stopped and punished.

Later, the king made Haman a high official. Mordecai, who refused to bow to Haman because of his Jewish faith, was targeted by Haman, who wanted all Jews killed. Haman convinced the king to allow this terrible plan.

Mordecai asked Esther to speak to the king, but she was afraid because appearing without being called could lead to danger. After three days of fasting, Esther spoke to the king, who welcomed her. At a special meal, she revealed that she was Jewish and that Haman wanted to hurt her people. The king, angry at Haman's actions, allowed the Jews to protect themselves. As a result, many who wanted to harm the Jews were removed, and the Jewish people celebrated their safety with a special holiday called Purim.

Authorship and date

The Book of Esther, also called the Megillat Esther, was the last of the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible to be officially recognized. Ancient teachers believed it was based on an original text by Mordecai and later put together by a group of wise leaders. It is usually thought to have been written around the 4th century BCE.

There is also a Greek version of the story, found in a collection of old writings called the Septuagint. This version tells the same story but adds some extra details, like connecting the king Ahasuerus to a real king named Artaxerxes II. This Greek version was written later, around the late 2nd to early 1st century BCE. The Coptic and Ethiopic versions of the book come from translations of this Greek version, not the Hebrew one.

In Latin, the book was translated by Jerome for a collection known as the Vulgate. He used the Hebrew version but added in some parts from the Greek when it had more information. Before this, there was an older Latin version called the Vetus Latina, which came from a different Greek text not in the Septuagint.

During the Middle Ages, several translations of Esther into Aramaic were made. Three of these old translations still exist today. These include extra stories related to the holiday of Purim.

Historicity

Some believe the Book of Esther is a made-up story rather than a true historical account. They point out that the story has many made-up details and lacks references to real events. Many scholars think the author created the story to explain the Jewish holiday of Purim.

Others argue that parts of the story match real history. The book is set during the time of a Persian king named Xerxes I, and the author seems to know a lot about Persian customs and palaces. Some scholars feel the book should be read as a special kind of story that mixes history with fiction to celebrate Purim.

Historical reading

Many people think the king in the story, Ahasuerus, might be the real king Xerxes I, who ruled from 486 to 465 BCE. Some used to think it was Artaxerxes II, who ruled much later, from 405 to 359 BCE. The name Ahasuerus likely comes from the Persian name Xšayārša, which is also the origin of the Greek name Xerxes.

The Greek writer Herodotus wrote about Xerxes and his harem after losing the Greco-Persian Wars. Herodotus mentioned a strong queen named Amestris, but did not talk about Vashti from the story. Some think Amestris and Vashti might be the same, but this is tricky because Amestris stayed powerful even after Xerxes’ rule, while Vashti was dismissed early on. Others even suggest Amestris could be the same as Esther, though Esther’s parentage is different in the story.

Scholars have also found names similar to Mordecai in Persian court records from Xerxes I’s time, which might be connected to the Mordecai in the story. Different thinkers have also tried to match Ahasuerus with other kings like Artaxerxes I or even Cyaxares, but there is no clear agreement.

Interpretation

In the Book of Esther, the special name for God does not appear directly. Some believe it is hidden in four special word patterns in the Hebrew text. This book tells a story where the Jewish people face a big danger, but they solve it through their own actions and teamwork, without God being mentioned.

Different thinkers have shared various ideas about the book’s meaning. Some see it as a story of hidden miracles, where good things happen in secret ways. Others think it teaches important lessons about responsibility and getting along with people from different backgrounds. The story shows how Esther, a Jewish queen, helps save her people even though she is part of Persian culture.

Additions to Esther

The Book of Esther has some extra parts that appear in a Greek version called the Septuagint. These additions were noticed by Jerome when he was working on a Latin translation of the Bible called the Vulgate. He saw that these extra parts were not in the original Hebrew Text, so he put them at the end of his translation.

Different Bible versions handle these additions in various ways. Some put them at the end, while others mix them into the main story. The ways they are numbered also change depending on the version.

The six extra parts are labeled with letters and include:

• Addition A: A prologue about a dream Mordecai had.
• Addition B: The details of a decree against the Jews.
• Addition C: Extra dialogue between two characters and prayers for help.
• Addition D: A longer scene where Esther meets the king.
• Addition E: A copy of a decree that helps the Jews.
• Addition F: Mordecai talking about his dream again, and some ending notes.

There has been a lot of discussion about whether these additions should be considered part of the official Bible. Some important groups, like the Council of Trent, say they are important. Others, like some Protestant groups, see them as extra reading but not part of the main Bible text.

Modern retelling