the book of esther...? help!!?

Question

does anyone know WHY the book of Esther is part of the WISDOM books & not the historical ones?

i need this info for an essay & i cant find it anywhere.

if you could please list your sources too, thanks...

Answer 1

(What the Christians will tell you)

It shows how God protects his people. Although god isn't mentioned, he's "implied."

But, yeah. It was in because it was a good story. (And if it was really in because it shows how god protects his people, then its difficult to explain the slaughter of the innocents at the start of the NT, which doesn't show a lot of protection going on.)

Answer 2

There is no corroborating evidence for the book of Esther. Although it is a chronical, and a secular one at that..... Esther or any other personalities in the book are not found elsewhere in the available historical records of Persia, even though the text specifically mentioned that it was added to the chronicles of the kingdom. It may be that eventually historical corroboration is found. Until the 20th century, Esther the book, was held in disripute by Rabbinical authorities. There is no mention of God in the book and it reads more like a nationalistic saga of personal daring and courage than a religious story. God doesn't rescue the Jews, there is no miracle. It's just Esther with her willingness to stick her neck out. The rest is spy story and revenge. The observance of the Jewish Holiday of Purim is particularly secular in nature involving organized silliness, even drunkeness, which was held suspect. It is popular today as an alternative to Holloween, but has little religious significance.