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A Report on Esther Essay

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Introduction
Throughout time, people have attempted to destroy the nation of Israel, the “apple of God’s eye.” It was because from the Jews, came the covenants, promises, the law, and the messiah—the savior of the world. God’s chosen people are the enemy of Satan, the prince of this world, and the conflict started back in Genesis 3:15. While a remnant from Judah returned to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, other Jews remained in the cities of their captivity. Some were welcomed as valued members of their communities, but others were despised and hated. Some were even targeted for extermination. The book of Esther tells a story of an attempted extermination. It records a ten-year span during the 58-60 year interlude …show more content…

However, these also fall short because the syntax and grammar of their writings are different from what makes up Esther. Whoever the author was, the book of Esther was probably written shortly after the reign of Ahasuerus, no earlier than 465 B.C. The author writes of the rule of Ahasuerus and the deeds of Mordecai (10:2) in the past tense, indicating the book was not composed during Ahasuerus’ reign.
Historical Background The events of Esther span a decade during the reign of Ahasuerus, who succeeded his father Darius as ruler of the Persian Empire in 486 B.C. During his reign (486-465 B.C.), Ahasuerus continued his father’s campaign against Greece for its role in the Ionian revolt. After suffering defeat, he retired to Susa, one of the four capitals of the Persian Empire. Around 483 B.C. he held an extravagant feast in Susa to celebrate his achievements and ten years later, he executed Haman for his evil schemes (1:3; 7:9).
Historical Accuracy Some critical scholars question the historical accuracy of Esther on various accounts. One difficulty is that neither Vashti nor Esther is mentioned outside the Bible. However, historians do note that following his unsuccessful campaign against Greece (482-479 B.C.), Ahasuerus sought refuge in his harem. This coincides with the elevation of Esther (2:17). Furthermore, the word translated queen (1:9; 2:22) may refer merely to a principal wife rather than to a woman who ruled beside the King. Thus, the

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