The author of Esther clearly knows his story’s historical background, with references to the extent of Ahasuerus’ kingdom (Esther 1:1), the existence of seven state councils (Esther 1:14) and the postal system (Esther 3:13; Esther 8:10), how the king's minions were honoured (Esther 3:2), that those who had done the king a favour were rewarded (Esther 6:1–13), how it was forbidden to enter the palace complex in sackcloth (mourning clothes, Esther 4:2), the Persian belief in lucky and unlucky days (Esther 3:7) and customs like the cruel hanging of those sentenced to death (Esther 2:23; Esther 5:14; Esther 7:10). His descriptions of the royal palace, located in Susa, about 240 kilometres north of the Persian Gulf (Esther 1:3) are largely confirmed by archaeological data.
Esther's account takes place against the background of Greece's "golden age,” with Xerxes preoccupied with his war against the Greeks. The great festival mentioned in Esther 1:1–22 was probably given on the occasion of the Persian New Year and was held in the spring of 584 BC, and was probably also used to discuss a plan for a campaign against Greece. Herodotus describes Xerxes’ meeting with all the leading figures in his empire, in which Xerxes discussed with his princes and generals the expediency of a war against the Greeks, and decided to start preparing the campaign, taking four years to assemble a great army. These matters are not dealt with in Esther, with the author’s focus on Esther's immediate situation.
Whereas Ezra and Nehemiah show how Jews who had returned to Judah relied on Persian favour, Esther shows the history of the people who had not returned. It is possible that the Jews under Persian rule set themselves apart by their own laws and customs (see Esther 3:8), for which they could then be accused, rightly or wrongly, of not observing Persian laws.
Haman's edict could have wiped out all the work of Ezra, Nehemiah, and the returned exiles.
The author of Esther was familiar with the historical background of the story he relates. It is known that the kingdom of Ahasuerus extended from India to Nubia (Esther 1:1) and his reference to the state system formed by seven state councils (Esther 1:14) 1 and the postal system (Esther 3:13; Esther 8:10) –the famous and efficient horse express
– agrees with the data known to us today. 2 The description of the royal palace in various passages is largely confirmed by archaeological data. The palace was located in Susa, about 240 kilometres north of the Persian Gulf (Esther 1:3). Nehemiah later served here under Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 1:1). It is also known that the king's minions were honoured (Esther 3:2), that those who had done the king a favour were rewarded for it (Esther 6:1–13), and that it was forbidden to enter the palace complex in sackcloth (mourning clothes, Esther 4:2). Persian peculiarities are also known, such as the belief in lucky and unlucky days (Esther 3:7) and customs such as the cruel hanging of those sentenced to death, as noted in Esther (Esther 2:23; Esther 5:14; Esther 7:10).
Internationally, Esther's account takes place against the background of Greece's "golden age.” While Athens was reaching the height of cultural and intellectual development, Xerxes in Persia was preoccupied with his war against the Greeks. 3 In the year 485 BCE, Xerxes was occupied with suppressing a revolt in Egypt that had broken out shortly before the death of Darius. The great festival mentioned in Esther 1:1–22 was probably given on the occasion of the Persian New Year and was held in the spring of 584 BC, in the third year of Xerxes' reign. The Persian kings were inaugurated during the New Year festival. After the festival celebration, the fourth year of Xerxes' reign began. The festival was probably also used to discuss a plan for a campaign against Greece. With this, Xerxes could avenge the defeat that the Persians had suffered during the reign of his father Darius (in 490 BC at Marathon). Herodotus gives an extensive description of an extraordinary meeting that Xerxes convened with all the leading figures in his empire. 4 In this account Xerxes discussed with his princes and generals the expediency of a war against the Greeks. After much hesitation, the king decided to start preparing the campaign. These preparations took four years to assemble a great army. In 480 BC Xerxes marched against the Greek cities.
These aspects are not considered in the book of Esther, and the author focuses exclusively on Esther's immediate environment and situation.
Whereas the books of Ezra and Nehemiah show how Jews who had returned to their country were dependent on Persian provisions, the book of Esther shows the history of the people who had not returned. It is possible that the Jews, living under Persian rule, differentiated themselves by their own laws and customs (see Esther 3:8), on the basis of which they could then be accused—rightly or wrongly—of not observing Persian laws.
If Haman's edict would have been carried out, Ezra and Nehemiah would no longer have been alive and would never have gone from Babylon to Jerusalem. The annihilation would also have been carried out in the vicinity of Jerusalem, in the province of Judah (or Yehud).5
1 C'était du temps d'Assuérus, de cet Assuérus qui régnait depuis l'Inde jusqu'en Ethiopie sur cent vingt-sept provinces;