Most of the Athenians had abandoned the city and fled to the island of Salamis before Xerxes arrived. , The Inner Workings of a Genizah Midrash on the Symbolic Value of Orlah. According to the biblical 'Book of Esther,' Esther was a Hebrew woman from Persia who became the queen of Persian king Ahasuerus, generally identified as Xerxes I, the fifth king of kings of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. But that wasn't enough for him. Queen Esther uses her influence with the king to thwart the plot, however, and the Jews were instead given royal sanction to attack their enemies. "Vashti the Queen also made a feast for the women of the royal household of King Ahasuerus." (Esther 1:9) There are overt political overtones of Vashti's parallel party. According to Josephus, "after the death of Xerxes, the kingdom came to be transferred to his son, Cyrus, whom the Greeks called Artaxerxes." Josephus claims this king married a Jewish wife, who was responsible for saving the Jews. [citation needed] In the Age of Empires, Xerxes featured as a short swordsman. Can I knock myself prone? Haman now comes to the front as the chief adviser of Ahasuerus (iii. [31], Based on texts written by classical authors, it is often assumed that Xerxes enacted a brutal vengeance on Babylon following the two revolts. Is the United States Really Blessed by God? He is said to have ruled over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Nubia" that is, over the Achaemenid Empire. 6; Esther R. The only unnecessary change was the substitution of v for y (vau for yod) in the penultimate syllable.. Xerxes set out in the spring of 480BC from Sardis with a fleet and army which Herodotus estimated was roughly one million strong along with 10,000 elite warriors named the Immortals. The name seems impossible here, however, and may be the result of some accident in the literary transmission. Based on Vashti's descent from a king who was responsible for the destruction of the temple as well as on her unhappy fate, the Midrash presents Vashti as wicked and vain. xvii. )-language text, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2019, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0. In the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit, Ahasuerus is named as an associate of Nebuchadnezzar, with some scholars suggesting he might be Cyaxares I of Media. He consolidated his power by crushing revolts in Egypt and Babylon, and renewed his father's campaign to subjugate Greece and punish Athens and its allies for their interference in the Ionian Revolt. It is a transliteration of either Xerxes or Artaxerxes; both are names of multiple Achaemenid dynasty Persian kings. 1. However, we must remember that people in the Bible went by multiple names. One account relates that she suffered from leprosy, while another states that the angel Gabriel came and "fixed a tail on her." Haman - Wikipedia No other name resembling Ahasuerus, nor any name like Darius, is to be found in the list of Median kings. Xerxes I - World History Encyclopedia [17], While Darius was preparing for another war against Greece, a revolt began in Egypt in 486BC due to heavy taxes and the deportation of craftsmen to build the royal palaces at Susa and Persepolis. [citation needed], Hoschander proposed that it originated as a shortening of an unattested "vashtateira", which he also proposed as the origin of the name "Stateira". Xerxes is a central character of Aeschylus' play The Persians, first performed in Athens in 472 BC, only seven years after his invasion of Greece. The same applies to these kings. Cyrus, his successor, found them, and offered them to the Jews in order that they might rebuild the Temple therewith. This portrayal attracted controversy, especially in Iran. So what do we know about Dariuss father, since we know Darius as the man who put Daniel in the lions den (Daniel 6)? [27] Xerxes, therefore, had to raise another army for his expedition into Greece, which took another four years. [50], In August 465BC, Artabanus, the commander of the royal bodyguard and the most powerful official in the Persian court, assassinated Xerxes with the help of a eunuch, Aspamitres. As his name indicates, Haman was a descendant of Agag, the king of the Amalekites. This leads us to the final Ahasuerus, the one from the Book of Esther. In retaliation, Xerxes ordered the Hellespont (the strait itself) whipped three hundred times, and had fetters thrown into the water. In some versions of the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit, Ahasuerus is given as the name of an associate of Nebuchadnezzar, who, together with him, destroyed Nineveh just before Tobit's death. Healing Prayers to Heal the Body, Mind, and Soul. About 70 years pass between Daniel being taken into exile and the time of Ezra. But before he could get ready again, to march against them, he died, and his son Xerxes became King of Persia. It was later borrowed into Hebrew and Latin, traditionally used in English Bibles. [citation needed], Xerxes plays an important background role (never making an appearance) in two short works of alternate history taking place generations after his complete victory over Greece. 9. For Such a Time as This The Story of Ahasuerus and Esther "[14] Persian princes also learned the basics of the Zoroastrian religion, and were taught to be truthful, to be courageous, and to have self-restraint. i. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. [71][72][73], The historical novel Xerxes of de Hoogmoed (1919) by Dutch writer Louis Couperus describes the Persian wars from the perspective of Xerxes. What Was the Sin of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Bible? 1). 2 has four, counting also Solomon among them; see Meg. They had brutal prisoner-of-war tactics and also were enemies of Gods people. This article is part of our People of Christianity catalog that features the stories, meaning, and significance of well-known people from the Bible and history. Safe to drive back home with torn ball joint boot? It may have been because of the two great events that marked his reign (486 - 465 BC) made him a man of some ridicule: The book of Esther is more neutral about Xerxes's character simply painting him as overly trusting of the scheming Haman. Xerxes is the protagonist of the opera Serse by the German-English Baroque composer George Frideric Handel. The Life, And Story Of Ahasuerus With Esther- In The Bible Starting at the age of seven, they learned how to ride and hunt; after reaching the age of fourteen, they were each taught by four teachers from aristocratic backgrounds, who taught them how to be "wise, just, prudent, and brave. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. 71). An Aramaic inscription ("C. I. S." ii. how to give credit for a picture I modified from a scientific article? We must examine extrabiblical texts to get more information on this specific king. [33] It is doubtful if the statue was removed from Babylon at all[29] and some have even suggested that Xerxes did remove a statue from the city, but that this was the golden statue of a man rather than the statue of the god Marduk. Achashverosh, as his name transliterates from Hebrew, was also mentioned in the books of Ezra , Daniel and Tobit. Most scholars identify Ahasuerus with Xerxes I, based on several factors, including the Hebrew name's origin from Persian names for Xerxes I, historical records by Herodotus, and annals from Xerxes I's reign. King Ahasuerus's command for the appearance of Queen Vashti is interpreted by several midrashic sources as an order to appear unclothed for the attendees of the king's banquet. [10] The Ethiopic text calls him Areksis, usually the Ethiopic equivalent of Artaxerxes. Persian king, identical with Xerxes (486-465 B.C. He asks his advisers how Vashti should be punished for her disobedience. In like manner the reference to Ahasuerus in Ezra, iv. This force was defeated the following year at Plataea by the combined forces of the Greek city states, ending the Persian offensive on Greece for good. The Jews called him Ahasuerus, the Hebrew form of his Persian name. For instance, Daniels friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah went by the Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. [52] Participating in these intrigues was the general Megabyzus, whose decision to switch sides probably saved the Achaemenids from losing their control of the Persian throne. R. Papa quotes a popular proverb: "He between the old pumpkins, and she between the young ones"; i.e., a faithless husband makes a faithless wife. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. ). Vashti (Hebrew: .mw-parser-output .script-hebrew,.mw-parser-output .script-Hebr{font-family:"SBL Hebrew","SBL BibLit","Taamey Ashkenaz","Taamey Frank CLM","Frank Ruehl CLM","Ezra SIL","Ezra SIL SR","Keter Aram Tsova","Taamey David CLM","Keter YG","Shofar","David CLM","Hadasim CLM","Simple CLM","Nachlieli",Cardo,Alef,"Noto Serif Hebrew","Noto Sans Hebrew","David Libre",David,"Times New Roman",Gisha,Arial,FreeSerif,FreeSans}, romanized:Vat; Koin Greek: , romanized:Astn; Modern Persian: , romanized:Vti) was a queen of Persia and the first wife of Persian king Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther, a book included within the Tanakh and the Old Testament which is read on the Jewish holiday of Purim. The king in Ezra appears to halt the Jewish peoples building process based on rumors he hears, indicating he doesnt sympathize with their cause. At first glance, and if we dont consider the cultural context, we may assume Ahasuerus was the same person. Vashti was justly punished for enslaving young Jewish women and compelling them to work nude on the Sabbath (ib.). This seems to be a different Xerxes than the one mentioned in Esther. Ahasuerus - Jewish Virtual Library Persian King Xerxes thought to be Biblical Ahasuerus He oversaw the completion of the Gate of All Nations, the Apadana and the Tachara at Persepolis, and continued the construction of the Palace of Darius at Susa. She was a beautiful Jewish woman, the wife of the Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). Attempts to identify her as one of the Persian royal consorts mentioned in extra-biblical records remain speculative. Esther Esther [a] (originally Hadassah) is the eponymous heroine of the Book of Esther. Also, the kings conquests happen in very different places. Systems of Transliteration Citation of Proper Names. The punishment King Ahasuerus gives to Queen Vashti is recorded in Est. The prosthelic a was a necessity of Hebrew articulation. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. What was the law King Ahasuerus was following with regards to Queen Vashti? and his accession to royal power was not challenged by any person at court or in the Achaemenian family, or by any subject nation. Ahasuerus was "very wroth, and his anger burned in him" (Esth. The second situation has poetic justice (Haman installed the stakes himself to kill Esthers godfather Mordecai) but still shows this kings swift anger when he felt he had been crossed. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. I think you are correct. How was Darius the Great influential? The book of Esther begins with a description of King Xerxes (or Ahasuerus) of Persia celebrating with the leading men of his kingdom. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. He was wicked from the beginning to the end of his reign. Bloomsbury. [54] However, Ahura Mazda was also worshipped by adherents of the (Indo-)Iranian religious tradition. After the revolts, however, Xerxes dropped "King of Babylon" from his titulature and divided the previously large Babylonian satrapy (accounting for most of the Neo-Babylonian Empire's territory) into smaller sub-units. [49] He also maintained the Royal Road built by his father and completed the Susa Gate and built a palace in Susa. After Thermopylae, Athens was captured. great and small" were invited. We love their stories, their faith, and their faithfulness. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. [1] Upon the discovery of the equivalence of the names Ahasuerus and Xerxes, some Bible commentators began to identify Ahasuerus with Xerxes I and Vashti with the wife named Amestris mentioned by Herodotus.[8]. Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professors, theologians, and those interested in exegetical analysis of biblical texts. Married to King Ahasuerus after he divorced the former queen for disobedience, Esther would intercede on behalf of the Jewish people of the kingdom and prevent their . Generational names carry an important meaning. l.c.). Ahasuerus, the Persian king of the Book of Esther, being identified by the rabbis with the one mentioned in Dan. [27] It may have been due to tax increases. 11b). In his ambition Ahasuerus wanted to sit on King Solomon's wonderful throne, described in the Midrash and the Targum to Esther, but he could not. 2 And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Others die in clear circumstances (an assassination involving an inside job). On his return a second consort is found for him, and in the tenth month of the seventh year of his reign (ii. More than 1400 of her works have been featured in various publications. Starting the Prompt Design Site: A New Home in our Stack Exchange Neighborhood, Statement from SO: June 5, 2023 Moderator Action. Immediately preceding Artaxerxes I in the line of Persian kings, Ahasuerus is evidently to be identified with Xerxes. He thus occupies a place in a chronological . 1. Some of these kings die of mysterious circumstances. The Medes and Persians linked kingdoms and conquered Babylon together. 12b); according to another tradition which was handed down by Abba Gorion, he was so unstable that he sacrificed his wife to his friend, and his friend to his wife (Mid. Xerxes's second attempt to bridge the Hellespont was successful. When an investigation was made upon the issue, the incident was proved and those eunuchs got punished . What may seem like an unstoppable kingdom or entity today is at the mercy of Gods hand. Thanks for contributing an answer to Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange! This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ahasuerus, Gustave Dor: illustration of Esther and Ahasuerus, Gustave Dor: illustration of the Wandering Jew. These are: "Counting Potsherds" by Harry Turtledove in his anthology Departures and "The Craft of War" by Lois Tilton in Alternate Generals volume 1 (edited by Turtledove). Banish the Unofficial Luggage of Foster Care. [4][5][6] That being said, many Jews believe the story to be a true historical event, especially Persian Jews who have a close relationship to Esther. The Xerxes in Esther wouldnt have gone against the Jewish people (after Esther made her identity known to him).

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