King ahasuerus in the book of esther

The massacre had been plotted by the kings chief minister, haman, and the date decided by casting lots purim. For such a time as this the story of ahasuerus and esther. Mar 30, 2008 god is accomplishing his purposes not in spite of ahasuerus but rather he is using ahasuerus to serve his own great purpose, that is, to protect the nation of israel. The book purports to explain how the feast of purim came to be celebrated by the jews. Modern commentators associate him with xerxes i who reigned from 486 bc until 465 bc. Esther was a jewish woman who was selected by the persian king ahasuerus to be his wife. Darius was the persian monarch who fixed the tributes of the subject nations. There, she was forced to prepare herself for her first night with the king by spending six months doused in oil of myrrh and another six in sweet odors ointments. 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.

Esther in the picture study bible the book of esther. Ahasuerus was the king of persia who according to the book of esther ruled from india to ethiopia. An orphan raised by her uncle, young esther was taken against her will as a beautiful virgin to persian king ahasueruss harem. Also, ahasuerus is supposedly based on or perhaps the same as the real, historical persian king xerxes i who makes a decidedly different kind of appearance in the hit movie, 300. In the book of esther, why is king ahasuerus so in love with esther.

Esther was taken as wife by ahasuerus, king of persia. That is when his aides suggested an allpersia beauty contest to. Xerxes is more common in nonbiblical literature, but ahasuerus is the preferred hebrew rendering cf. The name xerxes does not appear in the hebrew text of scripture. Other identifications have been made for cambyses ii or with bardiya greek smerdis who reigned perhaps as an imposter for seven months between cambyses ii and darius i. Astin was a queen of persia and the first wife of persian king ahasuerus in the book of esther, a book included in the tanakh hebrew bible and read on the jewish holiday of purim. Esther is described in the book of esther as a jewish queen of the persian king ahasuerus commonly identified as xerxes i, reigned 486465 bce. The ancient city of shushan also known as susa, is located on the edge of the modern iranian city of shush. Esther, the beautiful jewish wife of the persian king ahasuerus, and her cousin mordecai persuade the king to retract an order for the general annihilation of jews throughout the empire. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. Esther and mordecai under xerxes of persia amazing bible.

He was the son of the former persian king darius i. Among this group was esther, a jewess who kept her ethnic background hidden verse 8. In the narrative, ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, vashti, refuses to obey him, and esther is chosen for her beauty. Mordecai learned of a plot to kill the king and continue reading summary of the book of esther. The book of esther chapter 1 queen vashti dethroned by king ahasuerus bible audio movie esther movie 1999, nkjv audio bible, edited by rodney horrell, enjoy.

The other king who some historians believe to be the ahasuerus of the book of esther is the persian king xerxes. He had banished his former wife and chose esther through a contest. Esther 3 after these things king ahasuerus promoted. King xerxes of persia was the worlds most powerful monarch who ruled the persian empire around 486 b. 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. Ahasuerus is also given as the name of a king of persia in the book of ezra. Doc king ahasuerus of book of esther damien mackey. Queen esther uses her influence with the king to thwart the. Nov 26, 2012 king xerxes of persia was the worlds most powerful monarch who ruled the persian empire around 486 b. However, if you ever see arguments for artaxerxes as the king during the time of esther dont believe it.

Did esther have sex with xerxes before they were married. Ahasuerus is given as the name of the king of persia in the book of esther. And the king ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea. Esther rabba and the vulgate present ahasuerus as a different name for the king to artaxerxes rather than an equivalent in different languages, and the septuagint distinguished between the two names using a greek transliteration of ahasuerus for occurrences outside the book of esther. He is traditionally considered to be the persian king ahasuerus referred to in the. Shushan the citadel with bible in hand bible reading archeology. 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 of persia, who ruled from 486 to 465 bc. He doesnt seem to give it too much thought, but later, when he offers esther a boon, shes able to reverse the whole process. Xerxes i is most likely the persian king identified as ahasuerus hebrew hebrew pronunciation. From the book of esther ebook 9781490812243 by susan steele.

But either way, the king depicted in esther is fictional, and does not portray the attributes of man who. Apr 22, 20 an orphan raised by her uncle, young esther was taken against her will as a beautiful virgin to persian king ahasuerus s harem. That is when his aides suggested an allpersia beauty contest to find a queen for king ahasuerus. The king s chief advisor, haman, is offended by esther s cousin and guardian, mordecai, and gets permission from the king. In the first month, that is, the month nisan, in the twelfth year of king ahasuerus, they cast pur, that is, the lot, before haman from day to day, and from. He ruled over the kingdoms of persia, media, and babylonia, from india to ethiopia. In popular jewish imagination, ahasuerus is an illegitimate usurper king, and his royal wife, vashti, is a grotesque jewhating villain, who gets what she deserves. How to pronounce say ahasuerus by bible speak pronunciation.

The son of darius hystaspes, the king named in the book of esther. 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. A group of beautiful young virgins from the city of susa was selected verse 3. 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. Generally xerxes i was thought to be a just and worthy king. Xerxes i the great, king of persia geni family tree. Ahasuerus is a name that appears in the bible in association with at least three different persian kings.

Ahasuerus legendary figure britannica encyclopedia britannica. Perhaps this is why the biblical text actually gives no clear reason for the king s love for esther. King james version 1611 view 1611 bible scan in the first month, which is the month nisan, in the twelfth year of king ahasuerus, pur, that is the lot, was cast before haman from day to day and from month to month, until the twelfth month, that is the month adar. God is accomplishing his purposes not in spite of ahasuerus but rather he is using ahasuerus to serve his own great purpose, that is, to protect the nation of israel. Are cyrus the great of persia, and king ahasuerus, of the. Ahasuerus is better to known to history as king xerxes i, who presided over the empire of the medes and the persians when it was at its height. For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes. The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. Sep 20, 2018 shushan the citadel with bible in hand shushan the citadel or palace of the persian king ahasuerus features heavily in the bible book of esther. Esther 1 international standard version isv the wealth of king ahasuerus. Five things about esther that nobody talks about jews for jesus.

He is believed by 19th century commentators to be xerxes i of persia. The book of esther chapter 1 queen vashti dethroned by. Esther 3 after these things king ahasuerus promoted haman. Esther 1 isv the wealth of king ahasuerus bible gateway. Oct 11, 2014 the assyrian empire and the kingdom of israel in biblical context duration. Perhaps this is why the biblical text actually gives no clear reason for the kings love for esther.

Are king xerxes and king ahasuerus the same persons answers. The book of esther is set in susa, the capital of persia, which is ruled by one king ahasuerus, who has power of life and death over all the communities of jews who had settled in his territory. Jun 24, 2010 esther was taken as wife by ahasuerus, king of persia. The book of esther tells us that esther married the persian. All we have is the notice that the king loved esther more than all the other women. The same pattern plays out here, with the truly boss cyrus the great and the good king darius being succeeded by a pretty lousy and conscienceless king like ahasuerus. Esther 2 describes king xerxes or ahasuerus search for a new queen of persia. During this time the enemies of israel hired counselors to bring false accusations to the ears of the different persian kings. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. King ahasuerus agrees to help commit a genocide simply because his wicked counselor suggests doing so.

Neither of these portraits appears anywhere in the book of esther, however. On the other hand, the name xerxes is actually the appropriate greek derivation of the kings persian name, khsyay. However, it does appear throughout the book of esther in the niv and nasb. Shushan the citadel or palace of the persian king ahasuerus features heavily in the bible book of esther. Esther was the heroine and central figure in the biblical book of esther. Ahasuerus is the hebrew name for the persian emperor usually identified as xerxes i. The study of antiquity and the middle ages recommended for you. King ahasuerus, the son of darius hystaspes, the husband of queen esther and recorded in the book of esther.

She was banished for her refusal to appear at the kings banquet to show her beauty as the king wished, and esther was chosen to succeed her. The jews of the persian empire were threatened with destruction due to the machinations of haman, the chief minister to ahasuerus. Achashverosh, as his name transliterates from hebrew, was also mentioned in the books of ezra, daniel and tobit. Summary of the book of esther genuine leather bible.

The assyrian empire and the kingdom of israel in biblical context duration. Thus, ahasuerus and xerxes are the same individual by different names. Jehoiachins late exaltation by king evilmerodach, sonsuccessor of. Ahasuerus appears most prominently in the book of esther, and the intrigues of the king s court provide the biblical origin of the festival of purim. If it pleases the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the persians and the medes so that it may not be altered, that vashti is never again to come before king ahasuerus. The septuagint greek bible and josephus firstcentury historian, however, both refer to ahasuerus as artaxerxes i. Ahasuerus is a name used several times in the hebrew bible, as well as.

Five things about esther that nobody talks about jews. Jan 26, 2018 xerxes is more common in nonbiblical literature, but ahasuerus is the preferred hebrew rendering cf. The book of esther described part of the jewish diaspora that stayed behind in persia and did not return to jerusalem during the restoration. So when the kings order and edict had been proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in susa the citadel in custody of hegai, esther also was taken to the kings palace and put in custody of hegai, who had charge of the women. Shushan the citadel with bible in hand bible reading. However, if you ever see arguments for artaxerxes as the king during the time of estherdont believe it. Esther 2 living bible tlb 2 but after king ahasuerus anger had cooled, he began brooding over the loss of vashti, realizing that he would never see her again. Esther in the picture study bible the book of esther with. This is most likely due to his representation in the book of esther, and it surely didnt hurt that he had. Many books have been written about queen esther, extolling her excellent character, but who is king ahasuerus, or xerxes. After these things when the anger of king ahasuerus had subsided, he remembered vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her esth. This is most likely due to his representation in the book of esther, and it surely didnt hurt that he had destroyed the statue of marduk. There has been some recent debate over who ahasuerus really was and some historians believe him to be an emperor of a later time.

They are listed, at least as it seems, in chronological dating order. In the hebrew text, the kings name is ahasuerus preserved in the kjv and esv. Also, ahasuerus is supposedly based on or perhaps the same as the real, historical persian king xerxes i who makes a decidedly different kind of appearance in. Now esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. This was in all probability the xerxes of profane history, who succeeded his father darius b. Ahasuerus, the persian king of the book of esther, being identified by the rabbis with the one mentioned in dan. So far we have concluded, following jewish legend, that the conspiratorial haman of the book of esther was himself a jew, and that he was the captive king, jehoiachin coniah.