What is the story of Esther in the Old Testament?
What is the story of Esther in the Old Testament?
Esther, the beautiful Jewish wife of the Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), and her cousin Mordecai persuade the king to retract an order for the general annihilation of Jews throughout the empire. The massacre had been plotted by the king’s chief minister, Haman, and the date decided by casting lots (purim).
Is the story of Esther historically accurate?
There is no reference to known historical events in the story; a general consensus, though this consensus has been challenged, has maintained that the narrative of Esther was invented in order to provide an aetiology for Purim, and the name Ahasuerus is usually understood to refer to a fictionalized Xerxes I, who ruled …
Who is Esther’s wife?
| Esther | |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Vashti |
| Born | Hadassah Achaemenid Empire |
| Spouse | Ahasuerus |
| Father | Abihail (biological) Mordecai (adoptive) |
Why was Esther written?
The well-known German Jewish historian Heinrich Graetz (1817-1891) for example, argued that the Book of Esther was written at the time of the Maccabean struggle (167-160 BCE) against Antiochus IV Epiphanes, in order to boost the spirit of the Jews at that critical time, and to show that god does not abandon its people.
Is the Book of Esther in the Old Testament?
Book of Esther, book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. It belongs to the third section of the Judaic canon, known as the Ketuvim, or “Writings.” In the Jewish Bible, Esther follows Ecclesiastes and Lamentations and is read on the festival of Purim, which commemorates the rescue…
What did Queen Esther do in the Book of Esther?
Key Takeaways: Book of Esther Queen Esther used her position as queen to rescue the Jewish people from destruction. The story of Esther forms the origin of the Jewish festival of Purim. Esther’s Hebrew name was Haddassah, which means “myrtle.”.
How old is the Book of Esther according to the Talmud?
Authorship and date. The Megillat Esther (Book of Esther) became the last of the 24 books of the Tanakh to be canonized by the Sages of the Great Assembly. According to the Talmud, it was a redaction by the Great Assembly of an original text by Mordecai. It is usually dated to the 4th century BC.
Who was Queen Esther’s cousin in the Bible?
To find his new queen, Xerxes hosted a royal beauty pageant and Esther was chosen for the throne. Her cousin Mordecai became a minor official in the Persian government of Susa. Soon Mordecai uncovered a plot to assassinate the king.