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This Week's Reading: Esther

Come Follow Me Insight #1

Come Follow Me Insights This Week July 25

How old was Esther when she became queen?  

 

Esther was still single (and a virgin) and had not had a marriage arranged by her cousin Mordecai, meaning she was likely at a “young” marriageable age.  This means she could have been as young as 14-years-old when she became Queen of Persia.  (Source 1 and Source 2)

 

Just for fun, I discovered that ancient Rabbinic traditions place Esther’s age at anywhere from 40 to 80 years old (Source).

Come Follow Me Insight #2

Esther was an orphan (source), but at what age did she become one? 

 

Ancient commentary on the book of Esther found in the Midrash says that Esther’s father died while her mother was pregnant and that her mother died in childbirth (source).

Come Follow Me Insights This Week July 25

Come Follow Me Insight #3

Come Follow Me Insights This Week July 25

When did Esther die?

 

Heads up, this is a LOT of scholarly supposition.  We don’t have a record of Esther’s death, but we also don’t have a record of her life beyond saving the Jews.  Why is that?  It’s possible that Esther died shortly after saving her own people.  Why do we think this is possible? 

 

Scholars have identified Esther’s husband Ahasuerus as the king whom non-biblical records call Xerxes I (Source).  Xerxes I met a violent end when he was assassinated by his own minister and other members of the court, and his son from his first marriage was made king.  (Source)   If this was a total political takeover then it’s quite possible that the king’s wife, Esther, and her uncle “Mordecai the Jew [who] was next unto king Ahasuerus. . .” were killed as well.  (Source)  If our guess is correct that Esther was 14 when she was married this would mean that she was only 28 when she died.  (Source)  Again, this is a scholarly supposition but an interesting and sad explanation as to why we don’t have any further records from the life of Esther.

My Favorite Scriptures for the Week



    1. Esther 1:12
    2. Esther 1:22
    3. Esther 4:14
    4. Esther 4:16
    5. Esther 5:14; 7:10
    6. Esther 6:3
    7. Esther 8:16-17
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Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

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