Esther in Hebrew and Greek

PURIM IS COMING: The Other Side of Esther. The Hebrew version we read doesn’t mention God, and avoids theology. But the ancient Greek versions of the story took a very different approach (A.J. Berkovitz, Tablet Magazine).

As in modern times, many diasporic Jews in the ancient world could barely read, let alone understand, Hebrew. Those living in places dominated by Hellenism—such as Alexandria in Egypt and the Greek isles—would gather in synagogues to read from sacred scripture translated into their Greek vernacular. The story of Esther that these communities heard on Purim vastly differs from the tale as told by our familiar Hebrew text.

Cross-file under Septuagint.

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