The author is anonymous. The events are set during the reign of Xerxes, 486-465 B.C. The author seems to be very familiar with Persian court life. The absence of any Greek vocabulary suggests a time before Alexander's conquest. The book seems to be read most simply as a historical narrative, though in recent history scholars have often considered the book a bit of prose historical fiction. The identity of Esther and Vashti is only possible by supposition, though Xerxes seems to have had many different wives who may not have been listed in detail. Yet it is unlikely that Xerxes would have married a Jew unless he did not know she was a Jew.
The author uses sophisticated literary device to refer back to former Jewish heroes, to make allusions to important events in Jewish history, and to use "irony, satire, and recurring motifs" (p. 194) in his narrative.
Clearly the author wishes to account for the origin of the feast of Purim. He does it against a backdrop of divine sovereignty in all things. He also points to the importance of resolving unfinished business. No doubt this points both to the importance of the resumption of Jewish life and culture in a faithful community after the Exile. It also points to the New Testament concept of Jesus as the one who has come to fulfill the Law and complete the redemptive will of God the Father.
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com
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