Esther Chapter 1:In The Jewish Study Bible (Oxford University Press. eds. Berlin and Brettler, 2004)Prof. Berlin notes that Ahasuerus is a fictional character, the names in the text are frequently meant to sound comical, numbers are exaggerated (as in Chap. 9, when it is claimed that the Jews killed 75,000 of their foes. Berlin says that these battles and claims are NOT to be taken literally (p. 1637). This text was likely written sometime bet 400-300 BCE, toward the end of the Persian Period. (539-322 BCE)
Berlin points out that it is highly unlikely that Esther could conceal her Jewishness, especially when it was known that she was acquainted with Mordecai.
See the number of similarities between the Esther narrative and the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. The language is VERY similar!
(לד) יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה פַרְעֹ֔ה וְיַפְקֵ֥ד
עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְחִמֵּשׁ֙ אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בְּשֶׁ֖בַע שְׁנֵ֥י הַשָּׂבָֽע׃ (לה) וְיִקְבְּצ֗וּ אֶת־כָּל־אֹ֙כֶל֙ הַשָּׁנִ֣ים הַטֹּבֹ֔ת הַבָּאֹ֖ת הָאֵ֑לֶּה וְיִצְבְּרוּ־בָ֞ר תַּ֧חַת יַד־פַּרְעֹ֛ה אֹ֥כֶל בֶּעָרִ֖ים וְשָׁמָֽרוּ׃ (לו) וְהָיָ֨ה הָאֹ֤כֶל לְפִקָּדוֹן֙ לָאָ֔רֶץ לְשֶׁ֙בַע֙ שְׁנֵ֣י הָרָעָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּהְיֶ֖יןָ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְלֹֽא־תִכָּרֵ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּרָעָֽב׃ (לז) וַיִּיטַ֥ב הַדָּבָ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֑ה וּבְעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־עֲבָדָֽיו׃
(3) and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the castle, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hegai the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their ointments be given them; (4) and let the maiden that pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti.’ And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
Important aspect of the story is that it is a DIASPORA story- written about diaspora (and prof. Berlin notes), likely BY diaspora Jewry. They talk about Jewish identity, solidarity in the Jewish community and a connection with Jewish tradition.
Berlin suggests that Esther is best read as a comedy. It has traits which are VERY unusual to a biblical text- mention of God is completely absent, and there is no mention of religious observance, prayer, dietary restrictions, modesty, or endogamous marriage. The fact that Esther is married to a non-Jew was addressed in rabbinic literature. The rabbis try to explain this by making excuses for Esther.