The Septuagint and the Book of Esther
(Significant differences between the Masoretic and Septuagint versons of Esther exist. I have relied upon the Masoretic text for all of my previous writings. In this article I’ll compare the differnces and explain why my conclusions remain the same.)
The “Masoretic” text of the Book of Esther is in every modern Bible. Masoretes were Jewish scholars who attempted to write a Hebrew Bible from from Hebrew sources between about A.D. 500 and AD. 1100. The Hebrew language was problematic because it lacked vowel signifiers and thus the meaning was unclear without “oral” traditions. The Majorettes tried to address this problem and produced the “Masoretic text” upon which most modern Bibles are based.
The older version of the Scriptures was the Septuagint — in Greek. It predated the Incarnation.
I have relied up the Masoretic version — the standard for all English Bibles that I have used: New American Standard, New International Version, English Standard Version, and King James.
In the Septuagint version of the Book of Esther, Queen Esther prayed to God, and both Israel and Abram are referenced — neither of which occurs in the Masoretic text.
Does this change my interpretation of Esther?
No, it does not. Here is why: …