AB Archaeologia Baltica 1392-5520 1392-5520 KU 10_114-118_JACOBUS Article The date of Purim and calendars in the Book of Esther Jacobus Helen jacobus.helen@gmail.com ∗ University of Manchester Corresponding author. 10 114 118 20 12 2008 20 12 2008 25 01 2008 26 11 2008 2008 Klaipėda University

The paper suggests that The Book of Esther contains astronomical and chronological information associated with the reign of Artaxerxes II. It further investigates a play on dates concerning an intercalary 12th Hebrew month and the eve of Passover, and possible mathematical references to Ancient Near Eastern and Jewish calendars.

 Esther calendar astronomy Artaxerxes Bible Adar Jewish Babylonian