Additions to the book of Esther
Date of composition
Book classification
- Deuterocanonical (means "secondary or less sacred scripture") for Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and some Anglican, Lutheran, and Anabaptist churches.
- Apocrypha for most Protestant churches.
Length
- 7 double-spaced pages
- This is an unusual case. The writing consists of six passages added to Esther. The six passages are labeled A through F and are interspersed throughout Esther as found in the Catholic Bible.
- Listed below: The verses from the original Hebrew version are given in the standard chapter-and-verse format, whereas additions are given with the letters A through F (descriptions of A - F are given below):
- Prologue (A:1 – 17)
- Esther Becomes Queen (1:1 – 2:23)
- Haman's Plot Against the Jews (3:1 -13; B:1 – 7; 3:14 – 15)
- Esther and Mordecai Plead for Help (4:1 – 17; C:1 – D:16; 5:1 – 5)
- Haman's Downfall (5:6 – 8:2)
- The Jewish Victory and the Feast of Purim (8:3 – 12; E:1 – 24; 8:13 – 9:23)
- Epilogue: The Rise of Mordecai (9:24 – 10:3; F:1 – 11)
Summary
- A: Tells the backstory of why Haman hated Mordecai. Mordecai heard of a plot by two of the king's eunuchs to assassinate the king. Mordecai informed the king, and the king had them executed. The king promoted Mordecai to serve at the court. Oddly, this story is also told in Esther 2:21-23 but with several differences: Here, Mordecai is warned about the assassination attempt in a dream, but in 2:21-23, we are not told how Mordecai found out about the assassination plot; here, Mordecai himself informed the king of the assassination attempt, but in 2:21-23 Mordecai informed Esther; here, Mordecai is promoted immediately, but in 2:21-23 he is promoted later; here, Haman was angry at Mordecai because of the two eunuchs, but in 2:21-23 Haman was angry at Mordecai because he did not bow down to him.
- B: This is a copy of the letter mentioned in 2:13 announcing that the Jews are to be killed.
- C: Before Mordecai carries out Esther's command to have the Jews fast, Mordecai prays. His prayer is recorded here.
- D: Esther 5:1, 2 tells of Esther putting on her royal garments and approaching the king. "D" comes at the end of chapter 4 and adds many more details about Esther's fear of going before the king.
- E: Esther 8:11, 12 tells of a letter informing the Jews to defend themselves. After that comes section "E," which is a copy of that letter.
- F: This section is added at the end of Esther, where Mordecai relates how God ultimately saved the Jews.
Noteworthy from the book
- The book of Esther does not mention the name of God. The "Additions to the book of Esther" corrects this by mentioning God over 30 times, including different prayers to God.
- Circumcision is not mentioned in the book of Esther but is mentioned or alluded to in the "Additions."
- These additions were written in Greek. The original Esther was written in Hebrew but later translated into Greek for inclusion in the Septuagint. These additions were added to the Greek Septuagint version of Esther. This is why scholars believe the additions were written after 200 BC, after Jews began translating their Hebrew books into Greek.