Is King Xerxes the same as King Ahasuerus?

Ahasuerus, a royal Persian name occurring throughout the Old Testament. Immediately preceding Artaxerxes I in the line of Persian kings, Ahasuerus is evidently to be identified with Xerxes. No other name resembling Ahasuerus, nor any name like Darius, is to be found in the list of Median kings.

What is another name for King Xerxes?

Xerxes I (l. 519-465, r. 486-465 BCE), also known as Xerxes the Great, was the king of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. His official title was Shahanshah which, though usually translated as `emperor’, actually means `king of kings’.

Are artaxerxes and Xerxes the same person?

Answer and Explanation: Artaxerxes and Xerxes are not the same person. In fact, Artaxerxes is the son of Xerxes.

Is King Xerxes in the Bible?

Xerxes I is notable in Western history for his invasion of Greece in 480 BC. Xerxes is identified with the king Ahasuerus in the biblical Book of Esther, which some scholars consider to be historical romance.

Why was Vashti killed?

Another midrash explains that the negative effect of wine is like a snakebite, separating life and death. Thus Ahasuerus’ excessive drinking led to the death of Vashti (Lev. Rabbah 12:1). The midrash tells us that Ahasuerus acted improperly when he issued the decree (Esth.

How did Xerxes become a god?

After being blessed and wrapped in annointed bandages, Xerxes sets out on a journey through the desert. Xerxes finally reaches a cave and bathes in an otherworldly liquid, emerging as the “God-King”, with every bit of his humanity surrendered to give him the form he is now.

Why is King Ahasuerus called Xerxes?

It is agreed the Hebrew ‘Ahasuerus’ descended from the Persian names for Xerxes I. Historian Herodotus describes Xerxes I as being susceptible to women and in the habit of making extravagant offers to them, just as he did to Esther (“up to half my kingdom”).

Who was King Darius in the Bible?

Darius the Mede is mentioned in the Book of Daniel as king of Babylon between Belshazzar and Cyrus the Great, but he is not known to history, and no additional king can be placed between the known figures of Belshazzar and Cyrus.

What happened King Ahasuerus?

If we accept the scholarly consensus identifying Ahasuerus with Xerxes I, we know he came to the throne in 486 BCE and met an untimely and violent death in 465 BCE as a result of a court revolution.