Study Questions

1. What does the textbook indicate about the Greek “additions” to the Masoretic Text of Esther?
2. To what did Athanasius apply the celebration of Purim?
3. About how many royal inscriptions are preserved from the reign of Xerxes?
4. How can the absence of Esther and Mordecai in the Greek historical sources be addressed?
5. What is the relationship between Esther in terms of its literary quality and its historical trustworthiness?
6. Characterize Xerxes.

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