Block, SkipCaptcha, Upload, Automoderated users, edit, Moderators, protect
28,038
edits
Changes
no edit summary
The '''Book of Esther''' is an historical account of the Medo-Persian era of Jewry in the Bible, written in [[Hebrew]] (as all OT books are), containing 10 chapters and 167 verses.
The '''Book of Esther''' is an historical account of the Medo-Persian era of Jewry in the Bible, written in [[Hebrew]] (as all OT books are), containing 10 chapters and 167 verses.
It is one of the Five Megillot which is part of ''[[Ketuvim]]'''.<ref>The ''Ketuvim'' (Writtings) part of the Bible includes eleven books, and they are: [[Psalms]], [[Proverbs]], [[Job]], [[Song of Songs]], [[Ruth]], [[Lamentations]], [[Ecclesiastes]], [[Esther]], [[Daniel]], [[Ezra]] and Nehemiah, and ''Chronicles'' ([[I Chronicles]], [[II Chronicles]]).</ref>
Also known as ''The Megillah,''<ref>[https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/1473/jewish/The-Megillah.htm The Megillah (Book of Esther)]</ref> the Book of Esther describes the story of the rescue of the Jews who lived under the Persian rule of Ahasuerus, a story that later became known as the "Miracle of Purim". It describes how the resourcefulness and wisdom of "Mordechai the Jew" and Queen Esther were able to reverse the decree of Haman and lead to the salvation of the Jews.
It is read aloud at the Jewish celebration of Purim.<ref>[http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday9.htm Judaism 101 Purim <big>'''פּורים'''</big>]</ref>
It is read aloud at the Jewish celebration of Purim.<ref>[http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday9.htm Judaism 101 Purim <big>'''פּורים'''</big>]</ref>
The Hebrew Book of Esther is more purely historical than any other book of Scripture, except the books of [[Maccabee|1 and 2 Maccabees]] which were removed from the Protestant Bible; and in the shorter Hebrew version is unusual in never mentioning [[God]], and it has this remarkable peculiarity that the name of God does not occur in it from first to last in any form.;<ref name="e"/> instead, the book conveys insights on topics of "knowledge, wisdom, holiness, and love."<ref>[http://www.trivia-library.com/a/bible-numbers-and-statistics.htm Trivia Library. Bible Numbers and Statistics]</ref> It has, however, been well observed that, though the name of God be not in it, the original Hebrew version wonderfully exhibits the providential government of God, and the certain judgment that comes upon those who plot to destroy his people.<ref name="e"/>
The Hebrew Book of Esther is more purely historical than any other book of Scripture, except the books of [[Maccabee|1 and 2 Maccabees]] which were removed from the Protestant Bible; and in the shorter Hebrew version is unusual in never mentioning [[God]], and it has this remarkable peculiarity that the name of God does not occur in it from first to last in any form.;<ref name="e"/> instead, the book conveys insights on topics of "knowledge, wisdom, holiness, and love."<ref>[http://www.trivia-library.com/a/bible-numbers-and-statistics.htm Trivia Library. Bible Numbers and Statistics]</ref> It has, however, been well observed that, though the name of God be not in it, the original Hebrew version wonderfully exhibits the providential government of God, and the certain judgment that comes upon those who plot to destroy his people.<ref name="e"/>
The book says <ref>Esther, 9:29</ref> that Mordecai (who was also if the ''Great Assembly) and Esther wrote it.
The book says <ref>Esther, 9:29</ref> that Mordecai (who was also if the ''Great Assembly) and Esther wrote it.
Also, one of the last verses<ref>[https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt3310.htm Esther, 10:1]</ref> that say that Ahasuerus "laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea." seem clearly unrelated to the ''Megillah'', and prove that they were written as a flattery to the Persian government and were written before its fall. It was written in the year after the miracle, year.<ref>
Seder Olam, 29, year 3404 <small>(in the Jewish calendar)</small>.</ref>
===Speculation===
===Speculation===
Written in the third or second century B.C., the authorship of the Book of Esther is unknown.<ref name="e">{{Easton|Esther}}</ref> It was evidently written after the death of Ahasuerus (the [[Xerxes]] of the Greeks), which took place 465 B.C.<ref name="e"/> The minute and particular account also given of many historical details makes it probable that the writer was contemporary with [[Mordecai]] and [[Esther]].<ref name="e"/> Hence we may conclude that the book was written probably about 444-434 B.C., and that the author was one of the Jews of the dispersion.<ref name="e"/> The prayers of Mordecai and Esther which the Hebrew writer omitted were included by the rabbinical Greek translators of the Septuagint, which was the Bible of the Greek-speaking Jews of the Dispersion and the original scriptures read by the apostles.
Written in the third or second century B.C., the authorship of the Book of Esther is unknown.<ref name="e">{{Easton|Esther}}</ref> It was evidently written after the death of Ahasuerus (the [[Xerxes]] of the Greeks), which took place 465 B.C.<ref name="e"/> The minute and particular account also given of many historical details makes it probable that the writer was contemporary with [[Mordecai]] and [[Esther]].<ref name="e"/> Hence we may conclude that the book was written probably about 444-434 B.C., and that the author was one of the Jews of the dispersion.<ref name="e"/> The prayers of Mordecai and Esther which the Hebrew writer omitted were included by the rabbinical Greek translators of the Septuagint, which was the Bible of the Greek-speaking Jews of the Dispersion and the original scriptures read by the apostles.