For example, if we were to compare the niv and the esv translations. Did queen esthers beauty or bravery foil a massacre. Xerxes of course and vishta the deposed queen so called by name in two of the books along with various eunuchs and servants, mordecai who raised esther and. She was the daughter of one of darius is fellows in arms with whom he conquered the empire. Esther lived in the persian empire during the reign of king xerxes i who reigned from 486465 bc. Among this group was esther, a jewess who kept her ethnic background hidden verse 8. The feast was for all the important men who had authority in the kingdom. It was written either at the end of xerxes reign or during the reign of his son artaxerxes who ruled from 465 to 424 b. His powerful empire spread from india to ethiopia esth.
The period between the deposition of vashti and the selection of esther is the events of the pelleponesian war. May 04, 2015 the persian king traditionally identified as the husband of esther is xerxes the great, who succeeded darius and fought the second persian war. So the king made mordecai one of his highest officials good news translation that same day king xerxes gave queen esther all the property of haman, the enemy of the jews. He was a man who was used to controlling his own fate as well as the fate of others. Esther and mordecai under xerxes of persia amazing bible timeline. Esther in the picture study bible the book of esther. Most scholars today agree that the kjv ahasuerus was the xerxes who reigned 486 b. Ethical dilemma in the book of esther this paper will summarize the book of esther, chapters 110, from the life application study bible. Ahasuerus appears most prominently in the book of esther, and the intrigues of the kings court provide the biblical origin of the festival of purim. In at least one of these films, the events of the book of esther are depicted as taking place upon xerxes return from greece. The book of esther does not record any children of queen esther. King domestic architecture and the new testament, by h.
Ironically, despite being the namesake of the book, esthers a. With jen lilley, linda bisesti, john clement, kass connors. At the time, persia was in conflict with greecelargely because xerxes father and predecessor, darius i, had attempted to take athens by force and. God already had a wife picked out for this heathen king. The book of esther, which may be a work of fiction, is set in xerxes rule and was written about 400 bce. A group of beautiful young virgins from the city of susa was selected verse 3. Royal beauty by angela hunt, esther the queen by h b.
The book of esther says that vashti was the wife of king xerxes when he first became king of persia, followed three years later by queen esther. The persian king traditionally identified as the husband of esther is xerxes the great, who succeeded darius and fought the second persian war. Her story is recorded in the old testament book that bears her name. He is identified as the ahasuerus of persia in the biblical book of esther although his son, artaxerxes i, is also a. Esther in the picture study bible the book of esther with. How many children did queen esther and king xerxes have. It was written after the death of king xerxes esth. Secular history knows him better by his greek name, king xerxes i who ruled persia from 486 to 465 b. There is no reference to known historical events in the story. And when the king saw queen esther standing in the court, she. Nehemiahs major position within his court and his queen influencing him to order the resumption of the building of the jerusalem temple nehemiah 2. The book of esther confirms that darius i is the most likely candidate for esthers king in another way as well. Sep 27, 2011 today i want to start with the book of esther. Thus, ahasuerus and xerxes are the same individual by different names.
In it, esther asturya, the daughter of mordecai, marries xerxes called ahasuerus, in order to foil a plot by the wicked haman who seeks to organize a pogrom against the jews. The author is unknown, but it is evident from the details of the record that he was well acquainted with the persian. The queen described in the book of nehemiah is queen esther. Xerxes reigned over the persianmedian empire in 486465 bc. The story of esther takes place during the reign of king xerxes i of persia, primarily in the kings palace in susa, the capital of the persian empire.
For such a time as this the story of ahasuerus and esther. According to the bible, daniel was alive during the time of nebuchadnezzar, and esther was around the time of king xerxes. Xerxes is also the king in the biblical book of esther, who has a beauty contest, which esther wins, to select a new queen. Sometimes different bible translations can lead to interesting questions. The jews called him ahasuerus, the hebrew form of his persian name. Jun 18, 2019 the story of esther takes place during the reign of king xerxes i of persia, primarily in the king s palace in susa, the capital of the persian empire. Esther told the king that mordecai was related to her, and from then on mordecai was allowed to enter the king s presence. King ahasuerus xerxes plays a prominent role in the book of esther. May 29, 2019 hi, please help clear up some confusion for me. In chapter 1 he gives a great banquet for his nobles and, after several days of eating and drinking, orders that the queen vashti appear at the banquet so the men there might see her great beauty. Did esther have sex with xerxes before they were married. The harem was a tradition with iranian persian dynasties and aristocracy as well. Although gods name is nowhere mentioned in this book, his providential hand is clearly. In esther 910 it tells us that the ahasuerus of esther still had 127 provinces in his th year of reign.
The book of esther, by king xerxes i, haman, and mordecai. In the narrative, ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, vashti, refuses to obey him, and esther is chosen for her beauty. Which meant that daniel, served under king nebuchadnezzar, his son balthazar, then the persian king darius, who, according to daniel 9 is the son of xerxes. Five things about esther that nobody talks about production. Go, gather all the jews to be found in susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. They are listed, at least as it seems, in chronological dating order. The events in the book of esther probably took place around 521495 bc. The other king who some historians believe to be the ahasuerus of the book of esther is the persian king xerxes. The book is unique in the hebrew canon for several reasons, not in. Esther told the king that mordecai was related to her, and from then on mordecai was allowed to enter the kings presence. Additionally, this paper will discuss the ethical issues within the book of esther and the outcomes of the ethical decisions made by esther, king xerxes i, haman, and mordecai. Moore archaeology at the albrigh institutet by phili, p j. Xerxes i the great, king of persia geni family tree. There is no record anywhere in the persian records of a queen esther, and historians say that king xerxes was married to queen.
Some learned such skills as horsemanship and archery. Esther is described in the book of esther as a jewish queen of the persian king ahasuerus. Ahasuerus is given as the name of a king, the husband of esther, in the book of esther. Jewish girl esther is chosen as the new queen consort to king xerxes of persia. Sep 30, 2019 the book of esther, which may be a work of fiction, is set in xerxes rule and was written about 400 bce. These factors distinguished him from his older halfbrother artabazanes, and merited xerxes being chosen to succeed darius. Apr, 2019 xerxes is also the king in the biblical book of esther, who has a beauty contest, which esther wins, to select a new queen. He was the son of the former persian king darius i he is traditionally considered to be the persian king ahasuerus referred to in the biblical story of esther. He is said to have ruled from india even unto ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces that is, over the achaemenid empire.
King xerxes of persia was the worlds most powerful monarch who ruled the persian empire around 486 b. At his accession in 486 bce, xerxes could not have been more than 36 years old since he was born after the accession of darius in 522 bce. Ethical dilemma in the book of esther 2454 words cram. The chronology of the book of esther is surprisingly detailed, sometimes down to the month, and its chronology dovetails amazingly well with the extrabiblical historical events that occur during the reign of king xerxes i of persia called ahasuerus in hebrew. When, several years later, nehemiah asked the persian king for permission to return to zion and rebuild jerusalem, the queen is sitting by him nehemiah 2. Xerxes was also the first son born to darius after darius became king. Highlights of life in a persian harem during the time of esther. Jan 02, 2020 king ahasuerus xerxes plays a prominent role in the book of esther. Mar 14, 2018 xerxes i ruled 486465 bce, also known as xerxes the great, was the king of the persian achaemenid empire. King xerxes of persia was the worlds most powerful monarch who ruled the.
Aug, 2012 the harem was a tradition with iranian persian dynasties and aristocracy as well. The book of esther deals only with one period of his reign. The man of the house was none other than the king of the greatest empire in the world of his day. It further tells us that this was the persian king who laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea. King xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores. Esther, or hadassah in hebrew, was a jewish slave living in exile. Five things about esther that nobody talks about jews for jesus. Xerxes fate is more certainhe was murdered by the commander of the immortals, artabanus. However, if you ever see arguments for artaxerxes as the king during the time of estherdont believe it. It further tells us that this was the persian king who laid. The book of esther begins with a similar flourish, with a grand description of king xerxes wealth and entertaining style.
Highlights of life in a persian harem during the time of. The book of esther was written during a time when the persian empire ruled the world and ahasuerus probably xerxes i was the king of persia. Then i will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if i perish, i perish. Archaeology and the book of esther andrews university. Jan 26, 2018 xerxes is more common in nonbiblical literature, but ahasuerus is the preferred hebrew rendering cf. Esther and mordecai under xerxes of persia amazing bible. How many children did queen esther and king xerxes have answers. Each book obviously worked toward the same ending and had many of the same characters. During this time the enemies of israel hired counselors to bring false accusations to the ears of the different persian kings. The only kings after xerxes ruling from india to ethiopia as mentioned in the book of esther are artaxerxes i and iii. In the book of esther, haman attempted to have esther killed, but the plot failed.
Will she be able to stop the evil lord hamans plot to exterminate the jews. If achashverosh is xerxes, is esther his wife amestris. The book is unique in the hebrew canon for several reasons, not in the least because. Mar 08, 2019 many scholars believe that king xerxes is the same as king ahasuerus who appears in the book of esther. Some royal and aristocratic women received an arduous education. In the narrative, ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, vashti. Nov 26, 2012 this rules out xerxes as the king ahasuerus of the book of esther. Xerxes is more common in nonbiblical literature, but ahasuerus is the preferred hebrew rendering cf. Kennedy archaeology and the book of esther carey a. Esther 2 describes king xerxes or ahasuerus search for a new queen of persia. Esther 2 niv bible later when king xerxes fury had. May 12, 2015 when, several years later, nehemiah asked the persian king for permission to return to zion and rebuild jerusalem, the queen is sitting by him nehemiah 2. This was during a time just before the wall of jerusalem was rebuilt. Mar 30, 2008 this is the theme of the book of esther.
Many scholars believe that king xerxes is the same as king ahasuerus who appears in the book of esther. And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are they not written in the book of the annals of. He ruled from 486 bc until his assassination in 465 bc at the hands of artabanus, the. Ernest wright early christians and the anchor, by charles a. Her ultimate fate is unknown and unrecorded by other sources.