Esther 6:6-11; 7:3-10; 9:1-2 Quick Facts: Esther – one of the historical books, post-exilic, written between around 400 B.C. Author unknown. The events of the book are from 486 to 465 B.C. during the reigns of the Persian king Xerxes I (Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther), son of Darius I. Xerxes was the father of Artaxerces. Persian king (486-465 BC), the son and successor of Darius I. He is best known for his massive invasion of Greece from across the Hellespont (480 BC), a ca

Quick Facts: Esther – one of the historical books, post-exilic, written between around 400 B.C. Author unknown. The events of the book are from 486 to 465 B.C. during the reigns of the Persian king Xerxes I (Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther), son of Darius I. Xerxes was the father of Artaxerces. Persian king (486-465 BC), the son and successor of Darius I. He is best known for his massive invasion of Greece from across the Hellespont (480 BC), a campaign marked by the battles

Authorship … While the Book itself offers no evidence of authorship, the early church fathers accepted James, the half-brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3) and leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13; Galatians 2:9), as the author of the book that bears his name. James did not initially believe in Jesus as the Messiah (John 7:2-10). He became a believer after witnessing the resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:7). He was present on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:14). Date … Mo

Authorship … While the Book itself offers no evidence of authorship, the early church fathers accepted James, the half-brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3) and leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13; Galatians 2:9), as the author of the book that bears his name. James did not initially believe in Jesus as the Messiah (John 7:2-10). He became a believer after witnessing the resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:7). He was present on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:14). Date … Mo

Ezra 4:1-7; 5:1-5; 6:13-22 Quick Facts: Ezra – one of the historical books written between 440 and 400 B.C. sometime after the exiles returned to Jerusalem from Babylon captivity. While the book bears Ezra’s name it is uncertain who actually authored the book. Ezra was a Levitical priest, and may have held a high office in Persia. The events of the book are from 538 to 438 B.C. during the reigns of the Persian kings Cyrus the Great, Darius I, Xerxes I, and Artaxerxes I. Ezra

Ezra 1:1-8; 3:1-13 Quick Facts: Ezra – one of the historical books written between 440 and 400 B.C. sometime after the exiles returned to Jerusalem from Babylon captivity. While the book bears Ezra’s name it is uncertain who actually authored the book. Ezra was a Levitical priest, and may have held a high office in Persia. The events of the book are from 538 to 438 B.C. during the reigns of the Persian kings Cyrus the Great, Darius I, Xerxes I, and Artaxerxes I. Ezra would ha