Who was king xerxes in the book of esther

King xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores. The book of esther does not record any children of queen esther. The book of esther deals only with one period of his reign. Esther told the king that mordecai was related to her, and from then on mordecai was allowed to enter the king s presence. For example, if we were to compare the niv and the esv translations. Aug, 2012 the harem was a tradition with iranian persian dynasties and aristocracy as well. He is identified as the ahasuerus of persia in the biblical book of esther although his son, artaxerxes i, is also a. 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. Among this group was esther, a jewess who kept her ethnic background hidden verse 8. Ernest wright early christians and the anchor, by charles a. The events in the book of esther probably took place around 521495 bc. Jewish girl esther is chosen as the new queen consort to king xerxes of persia. Thus, ahasuerus and xerxes are the same individual by different names. They are listed, at least as it seems, in chronological dating order.

Sep 27, 2011 today i want to start with the book of esther. Five things about esther that nobody talks about production. Many scholars believe that king xerxes is the same as king ahasuerus who appears in the book of esther. Most scholars today agree that the kjv ahasuerus was the xerxes who reigned 486 b. The book of esther confirms that darius i is the most likely candidate for esthers king in another way as well. The book of esther, by king xerxes i, haman, and mordecai. He was a man who was used to controlling his own fate as well as the fate of others. The man of the house was none other than the king of the greatest empire in the world of his day. Esther lived in the persian empire during the reign of king xerxes i who reigned from 486465 bc.

How many children did queen esther and king xerxes have answers. Sometimes different bible translations can lead to interesting questions. 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. It was written after the death of king xerxes esth. King domestic architecture and the new testament, by h. For such a time as this the story of ahasuerus and 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. 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. Esther in the picture study bible the book of esther. Mar 30, 2008 this is the theme of the book of esther. His powerful empire spread from india to ethiopia esth. 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. In the book of esther, haman attempted to have esther killed, but the plot failed. 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.

Although gods name is nowhere mentioned in this book, his providential hand is clearly. God already had a wife picked out for this heathen 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. The feast was for all the important men who had authority in the kingdom. King ahasuerus xerxes plays a prominent role in the book of esther. Ironically, despite being the namesake of the book, esthers a. Will she be able to stop the evil lord hamans plot to exterminate the jews. Her story is recorded in the old testament book that bears her name. Royal beauty by angela hunt, esther the queen by h b. Esther 2 niv bible later when king xerxes fury had.

Esther and mordecai under xerxes of persia amazing bible. Xerxes reigned over the persianmedian empire in 486465 bc. 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. Highlights of life in a persian harem during the time of esther.

Esther, or hadassah in hebrew, was a jewish slave living in exile. She was the daughter of one of darius is fellows in arms with whom he conquered the empire. The queen described in the book of nehemiah is queen esther. 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. 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. The period between the deposition of vashti and the selection of esther is the events of the pelleponesian war. Highlights of life in a persian harem during the time of. Xerxes is also the king in the biblical book of esther, who has a beauty contest, which esther wins, to select a new queen. A group of beautiful young virgins from the city of susa was selected verse 3. Kennedy archaeology and the book of esther carey a. Five things about esther that nobody talks about jews for jesus. 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. The book of esther begins with a similar flourish, with a grand description of king xerxes wealth and entertaining style.

Jan 26, 2018 xerxes is more common in nonbiblical literature, but ahasuerus is the preferred hebrew rendering cf. King xerxes of persia was the worlds most powerful monarch who ruled the persian empire around 486 b. 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. The book of esther, which may be a work of fiction, is set in xerxes rule and was written about 400 bce. The other king who some historians believe to be the ahasuerus of the book of esther is the persian king xerxes. Moore archaeology at the albrigh institutet by phili, p j. 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. Ethical dilemma in the book of esther 2454 words cram. How many children did queen esther and king xerxes have.

Xerxes i the great, king of persia geni family tree. Nehemiahs major position within his court and his queen influencing him to order the resumption of the building of the jerusalem temple nehemiah 2. Ahasuerus is given as the name of a king, the husband of esther, in the book of esther. Esther and mordecai under xerxes of persia amazing bible timeline. Jan 02, 2020 king ahasuerus xerxes plays a prominent role in the book of esther. Each book obviously worked toward the same ending and had many of the same characters. Some learned such skills as horsemanship and archery. Then i will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if i perish, i perish. Esther in the picture study bible the book of esther with. However, if you ever see arguments for artaxerxes as the king during the time of estherdont believe it. There is no reference to known historical events in the story. The ancient historian herodotus notes in his histories that xerxes first wife amestris also in the later years remained his first wife. Mar 08, 2019 many scholars believe that king xerxes is the same as king ahasuerus who appears in the book of esther. Xerxes was also the first son born to darius after darius became king.

Some royal and aristocratic women received an arduous education. Xerxes is more common in nonbiblical literature, but ahasuerus is the preferred hebrew rendering cf. In at least one of these films, the events of the book of esther are depicted as taking place upon xerxes return from greece. May 29, 2019 hi, please help clear up some confusion for me. 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. Secular history knows him better by his greek name, king xerxes i who ruled persia from 486 to 465 b. The harem was a tradition with iranian persian dynasties and aristocracy as well. And when the king saw queen esther standing in the court, she. 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. There is no record anywhere in the persian records of a queen esther, and historians say that king xerxes was married to queen.

Nov 26, 2012 this rules out xerxes as the king ahasuerus of the book of esther. 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 book is unique in the hebrew canon for several reasons, not in the least because. 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. With jen lilley, linda bisesti, john clement, kass connors. 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. Xerxes fate is more certainhe was murdered by the commander of the immortals, artabanus. He ruled from 486 bc until his assassination in 465 bc at the hands of artabanus, the. The jews called him ahasuerus, the hebrew form of his persian name. During this time the enemies of israel hired counselors to bring false accusations to the ears of the different persian kings. The book is unique in the hebrew canon for several reasons, not in. Did esther have sex with xerxes before they were married. Archaeology and the book of esther andrews university. 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 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. Did queen esthers beauty or bravery foil a massacre. Esther told the king that mordecai was related to her, and from then on mordecai was allowed to enter the kings presence. 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. If achashverosh is xerxes, is esther his wife amestris. According to the bible, daniel was alive during the time of nebuchadnezzar, and esther was around the time of king xerxes. Ethical dilemma in the book of esther this paper will summarize the book of esther, chapters 110, from the life application study bible. King xerxes of persia was the worlds most powerful monarch who ruled the. These factors distinguished him from his older halfbrother artabazanes, and merited xerxes being chosen to succeed darius. In esther 910 it tells us that the ahasuerus of esther still had 127 provinces in his th year of reign. 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.

This was during a time just before the wall of jerusalem was rebuilt. The author is unknown, but it is evident from the details of the record that he was well acquainted with the persian. It further tells us that this was the persian king who laid. Mar 14, 2018 xerxes i ruled 486465 bce, also known as xerxes the great, was the king of the persian achaemenid empire. Esther is described in the book of esther as a jewish queen of the persian king ahasuerus. In the narrative, ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, vashti, refuses to obey him, and esther is chosen for her beauty. The persian king traditionally identified as the husband of esther is xerxes the great, who succeeded darius and fought the second persian war. The only kings after xerxes ruling from india to ethiopia as mentioned in the book of esther are artaxerxes i and iii. In the narrative, ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, vashti. It further tells us that this was the persian king who laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea. 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. 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. 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.