Esther In The Odyssey

In the Greek book, Esther is a symbolic object. She aids in the freedom of the Hebrews, but the author chose to follow Mordecai’s story as a prophet and standing against Haman. Instead of standing in behind the scenes in the Hebrew version, Mordecai uses Esther’s positions as the king’s favorite to persuade the king to accept any of her requests. Esther still asks the same desires as in the Hebrew book, but the author of the Greek book puts much more detail into it, changing the scenario and the perspective on Esther because of the addition of the Lord. In the Greek version for example, when Esther approaches the king and is prepared to propose her request, the author describes how terrifying he is and Esther faints from fear. The Lord fills …show more content…
In the Greek Book, he is a prophet and is much more of an important figure than made to be in the Hebrew book because of his communication with the Lord. In the Hebrew book, it is noted that Mordecai is Esther’s uncle and that he is a Jew who sticks to his laws. Throughout the story, Mordecai is helps Esther or advises her on what to ask King Ahasuerus. In the Greek book, the author focuses much more on Mordecai in regards to setting the Jews free, and makes him a prophet. Unlike the Hebrew version, Mordecai has a dream in the beginning of the Greek book of Esther; this dream portrays the Lord’s wrath and his destruction of those who held honor. It is this dream that inspires Mordecai to challenge Haman and to devise a plan to convince the king to let his people be relieved of their enemies. It is with the help of the Lord that Mordecai and the Jews are relieved form the hands of Haman and their people become even feared throughout the land. Haman is the enemy of Mordecai and the Jews in both the Hebrew and the Greek version. After the king has Haman hung and his decree to kill all the Jews are destroyed, the Hebrew version ends with this victory. Because the Lord interferes in the Greek version, Mordecai and the Jews end with the same victory as in the Hebrew version and conquer all of Haman’s people, additionally bringing the Jews a feared and honorable reputation throughout the kingdom. However, both Esther and Mordecai are working against Haman and his evil intentions, and both work at it the same way in both books. Because King Ahasuerus is harder to please and requires the Lord’s interference to tame him, he plays a larger part in the Greek book than the Hebrew book. In the Hebrew book, King Ahasuerus is very passive towards Haman, Esther and Mordecai. When Esther comes to the king with requests, he is always respectful and meets her