1. Esther 1:1–10:3 (ESV)
  2. Book intro

The naming of the book Esther

Esther 1:1–10:3 (ESV)

1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,

The Hebrew name of this short book is Megillat Ester, the scroll of Esther.” The rabbis called it simply hammegilla (the scroll) and that is how the book is generally called, partly because of its great popularity in Judaism. The earliest use of the title Esther occurs in the opening of the book in the old manuscripts of the Septuagint.1 In Christian circles the book is also called after the female protagonist "Esther.”2