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Writer's pictureDr. Dilday

Heidegger's Bible Handbook: Esther: Authorship

2. The Writer of the book; its authority.


That the writer of the book was either Ezra, or Joiakim the High Priest,[1] or the Great Assembly or Synagogue, some few think. But by a great consensus the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin Interpreters think its Author to be Mordecai, relying on Esther 9:20, where Mordecai is said to have written אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה, these things; where, nevertheless, it is not altogether evident whether all the things of this book are understood, or only certain words. But, whatever the case might be concerning the writer, that the book is truly θεόπνευστον/inspired, both the Hebrews, who put it on a level with the law of Moses and prefer it to Isaiah and Daniel, and the Christians agree: with some smatterers vainly doubting, because the name of God does not even once appear in it; which came to pass because this history in great part was taken from the Chronicles of the Kings of Persian for the use of the people. It was of concern for the fidelity of the narrative, that nothing be changed rashly.

[1] See Nehemiah 12:10, 12, 26.

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