Hadassah (2:7), which means “myrtle.” It is interesting to note that only one other book in the Bible is named after a woman: Ruth One writer has made this comparison: “Ruth was a Gentile woman who married a Jew Esther was a Jewish woman who married a Gentile.”22 The story of Esther reveals a woman of very commendable character Among her traits were genuine piety, faith, courage, patriotism, compassion, maturity, and natural charm Your study of the book of Esther will show how such a woman was used of God in the interests of His chosen people, the Jews E HISTORICAL BACKGROUND History always originates in places, so it is helpful rst to visualize the geography of the book of Esther Refer to Map O and observe the location of Shushan (Gr., Susa) in Persia,23 where Esther lived and served as queen (This is the same city where Daniel had received a vision from God about eighty years earlier, Dan 8:2.) Some have estimated that between two and three million Jews were living in Persia and Babylon during the time of the book of Esther Read Esther 1:1 and note the extensive domain of Xerxes, king of Persia: 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia The story of Esther took place between the rst return of exiles under Zerubbabel (536 B.C.) and the second return under Ezra (458 B.C.) Chart 62 shows the major points of this historical setting Observe the following: The events of this book cover a period of more than ten years (483-473 B.C.) If one would see in 10:1 an indirect reference to the death of King Xerxes (d 464 B.C.), then it could be said that the book covers a span of about twenty years 2 Xerxes was the king of Persia during all of this period All of the book is dated between chapters and of Ezra The book opens with a feast (Xerxes) and closes with a feast (Purim) The former was to honor the king and his empire; the latter was to commemorate the Jews’ deliverance It is interesting to observe that around the time of the book of Esther, three great world battles were fought (Salamis, Thermopylae, and Marathon), and two great world leaders died (Confucius and Buddha) F PURPOSE OF THE BOOK The major purpose of the book of Esther is to show how a host of Jews living in exile were saved from being exterminated by the hand of a Gentile monarch Though no name for God appears in the book, the divine ... during the time of the book of Esther Read Esther 1:1 and note the extensive domain of Xerxes, king of Persia: 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia The story of Esther took place between the rst... fought (Salamis, Thermopylae, and Marathon), and two great world leaders died (Confucius and Buddha) F PURPOSE OF THE BOOK The major purpose of the book of Esther is to show how a host of Jews living... The former was to honor the king and his empire; the latter was to commemorate the Jews’ deliverance It is interesting to observe that around the time of the book of Esther, three great world