Then i will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if i perish, i perish. The persian king traditionally identified as the husband of esther is xerxes the great, who succeeded darius and fought the second persian war. Kennedy archaeology and the book of esther carey a. He ruled from 486 bc until his assassination in 465 bc at the hands of artabanus, the. 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. 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. However, if you ever see arguments for artaxerxes as the king during the time of estherdont believe it. 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.
Secular history knows him better by his greek name, king xerxes i who ruled persia from 486 to 465 b. The jews called him ahasuerus, the hebrew form of his persian name. Many scholars believe that king xerxes is the same as king ahasuerus who appears in the book of esther. They are listed, at least as it seems, in chronological dating order. Will she be able to stop the evil lord hamans plot to exterminate the jews. The author is unknown, but it is evident from the details of the record that he was well acquainted with the persian. There is no reference to known historical events in the story. Moore archaeology at the albrigh institutet by phili, p j. The events in the book of esther probably took place around 521495 bc.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. If achashverosh is xerxes, is esther his wife amestris. May 29, 2019 hi, please help clear up some confusion for me. King domestic architecture and the new testament, by h. It was written after the death of king xerxes esth. King ahasuerus xerxes plays a prominent role in the book of esther.
The other king who some historians believe to be the ahasuerus of the book of esther is the persian king xerxes. These factors distinguished him from his older halfbrother artabazanes, and merited xerxes being chosen to succeed darius. 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. 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. He was a man who was used to controlling his own fate as well as the fate of others. In the narrative, ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, vashti, refuses to obey him, and esther is chosen for her beauty. The book is unique in the hebrew canon for several reasons, not in. The harem was a tradition with iranian persian dynasties and aristocracy as well. Esther told the king that mordecai was related to her, and from then on mordecai was allowed to enter the king s presence. Each book obviously worked toward the same ending and had many of the same characters. Jan 26, 2018 xerxes is more common in nonbiblical literature, but ahasuerus is the preferred hebrew rendering cf.
Ethical dilemma in the book of esther this paper will summarize the book of esther, chapters 110, from the life application study bible. 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. 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. 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. God already had a wife picked out for this heathen king. 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. 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. For example, if we were to compare the niv and the esv translations.
Xerxes fate is more certainhe was murdered by the commander of the immortals, artabanus. Xerxes was also the first son born to darius after darius became king. At the time, persia was in conflict with greecelargely because xerxes father and predecessor, darius i, had attempted to take athens by force and. 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. He is identified as the ahasuerus of persia in the biblical book of esther although his son, artaxerxes i, is also a. According to the bible, daniel was alive during the time of nebuchadnezzar, and esther was around the time of king xerxes. Mar 14, 2018 xerxes i ruled 486465 bce, also known as xerxes the great, was the king of the persian achaemenid empire. Ironically, despite being the namesake of the book, esthers a. Highlights of life in a persian harem during the time of esther. The period between the deposition of vashti and the selection of esther is the events of the pelleponesian war.
Jan 02, 2020 king ahasuerus xerxes plays a prominent role in the book of esther. Esther in the picture study bible the book of esther with. The queen described in the book of nehemiah is queen esther. Esther, or hadassah in hebrew, was a jewish slave living in exile. Five things about esther that nobody talks about production. The book of esther deals only with one period of his reign. Five things about esther that nobody talks about jews for jesus. 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. Most scholars today agree that the kjv ahasuerus was the xerxes who reigned 486 b. Xerxes is more common in nonbiblical literature, but ahasuerus is the preferred hebrew rendering cf. Some royal and aristocratic women received an arduous education. 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. King xerxes of persia was the worlds most powerful monarch who ruled the persian empire around 486 b.
The book of esther confirms that darius i is the most likely candidate for esthers king in another way as well. How many children did queen esther and king xerxes have. 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. King xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores. Jewish girl esther is chosen as the new queen consort to king xerxes of persia. The man of the house was none other than the king of the greatest empire in the world of his day. During this time the enemies of israel hired counselors to bring false accusations to the ears of the different persian kings.
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. Sep 27, 2011 today i want to start with the book of esther. Ethical dilemma in the book of esther 2454 words cram. The book of esther, which may be a work of fiction, is set in xerxes rule and was written about 400 bce. 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. With jen lilley, linda bisesti, john clement, kass connors. Ernest wright early christians and the anchor, by charles a.
The book of esther, by king xerxes i, haman, and mordecai. How many children did queen esther and king xerxes have answers. The book is unique in the hebrew canon for several reasons, not in the least because. A group of beautiful young virgins from the city of susa was selected verse 3. Nehemiahs major position within his court and his queen influencing him to order the resumption of the building of the jerusalem temple nehemiah 2. 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. 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. Highlights of life in a persian harem during the time of. The feast was for all the important men who had authority in the kingdom.
For such a time as this the story of ahasuerus and esther. Although gods name is nowhere mentioned in this book, his providential hand is clearly. In at least one of these films, the events of the book of esther are depicted as taking place upon xerxes return from greece. Esther and mordecai under xerxes of persia amazing bible. The ancient historian herodotus notes in his histories that xerxes first wife amestris also in the later years remained his first wife. Her story is recorded in the old testament book that bears her name.
Aug, 2012 the harem was a tradition with iranian persian dynasties and aristocracy as well. Royal beauty by angela hunt, esther the queen by h b. And when the king saw queen esther standing in the court, she. Xerxes i the great, king of persia geni family tree. 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. Did queen esthers beauty or bravery foil a massacre. Mar 30, 2008 this is the theme of the book of esther. The book of esther describes the jewish heroine esther, who saved the jewish people in persia from annihilation during the reign of king xerxes i ahasuerus. His powerful empire spread from india to ethiopia esth. She was the daughter of one of darius is fellows in arms with whom he conquered the empire. This was during a time just before the wall of jerusalem was rebuilt. Xerxes is also the king in the biblical book of esther, who has a beauty contest, which esther wins, to select a new queen.
Xerxes reigned over the persianmedian empire in 486465 bc. Esther and mordecai under xerxes of persia amazing bible timeline. King xerxes of persia was the worlds most powerful monarch who ruled the. In the narrative, ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, vashti. Archaeology and the book of esther andrews university. Some learned such skills as horsemanship and archery. Esther 2 niv bible later when king xerxes fury had. The book of esther does not record any children of queen esther. Among this group was esther, a jewess who kept her ethnic background hidden verse 8. Sometimes different bible translations can lead to interesting questions. Xerxes is portrayed by richard egan in the 1960 film esther and the king and by joel smallbone in the 20 film, the book of esther. Esther told the king that mordecai was related to her, and from then on mordecai was allowed to enter the kings presence.
Did esther have sex with xerxes before they were married. Esther in the picture study bible the book of esther. The only kings after xerxes ruling from india to ethiopia as mentioned in the book of esther are artaxerxes i and iii. Nov 26, 2012 this rules out xerxes as the king ahasuerus of the book of esther. In the book of esther, haman attempted to have esther killed, but the plot failed. It further tells us that this was the persian king who laid. There is no record anywhere in the persian records of a queen esther, and historians say that king xerxes was married to queen. The book of esther begins with a similar flourish, with a grand description of king xerxes wealth and entertaining style. In esther 910 it tells us that the ahasuerus of esther still had 127 provinces in his th year of reign. It further tells us that this was the persian king who laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.