The book of Esther is a canonical book, and though placed after that of Nehemiah, comes chronologically between the sixth and seventh chapters of the book of Ezra. Various opinions have been held as to who was the writer of it. Augustin, Epiphanius, and Isidore sup posed the author to have been Ezra. Eueebins assigns a later date. Some writers have attributed it to the high-priest Joachim; others believe it to have been composed by the Jewish synagogue, to whom Esther and Mordecai wrote (ix. 20-29); but by tho greater number Mordecai himself is thought to be the author, and Elias Levita, in his 'Maas. Ilainutn,' asserts this to be a fact unquestionable. The origleal, according to Dr. Adam Clarke, was probably written in the language of ancient The most likely opinion, that of Horne, is that, with some explanations and adaptations, it was extracted from the Persian annals, possibly by Ezra, Nehemiah, or Mordecai, which would account for its peculiarities. SL Hieronymus and several other fathers regarded this book as wholly uncanonical, because the name of God or religion is not once mentioned or alluded to, and they have been followed by some modern writers, as Cajetan and De Lyra; but the Council of Trent pronounced it to be wholly canonical ; and while the Protestant churches admit into the canon only what is found in the Hebrew copies, that is, as far as to the end of the third verso of chapter x., the
Greek and Roman churches use as canonical the Greek version and Latin Vulgate, which contain each ten more verses of chapter x. and six additional chapters. By tho Jews the book has been always considered as one of the moat precious of their sacred scriptures, and as a perfectly authentic history of real events which took place about tie. 519. They call it ' BIegilah,' that is, The Volume,' and hold it in the highest estimation; believing that whatever destruction may happen to the other scriptures, Esther and the Pentateuch will always be preserved by a particular Providence. Copies exist in the Hebrew, Syria°, Chaldaic, Greek, and Latin; each of which widely differs from the and all, especially the Greek and Chaldaic, are greatly different from the Hebrew, The Chaldaio text contains five times more than the Hebrew, and a notice of the various readings would fill • large volume. Commentators differ much in determining to which of the Persian and Median kings belongs the name of Ahasuerus, whose kingdom extended from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces (1 1). Some suppose him to be Darius Llystaspes. Scallger and Jahn say Xerxes. By Capellua he is identified with Ochus, and by Arch bishop Usher with Darius the son of If yetaves. Dean Pridoaux and Dr. Adam Clarke with greater probability take him to be Artaxerxes, who received the cognomen of Longimanus, or Longhanded.
EdTIENNE. [Sterne:raj