The date of Purim and calendars in the Book of Esther
Volume 10 (2008): Astronomy and Cosmology in Folk Traditions and Cultural Heritage, pp. 114–118
Pub. online: 20 December 2008
Type: Article
Open Access
Open Access
Received
25 January 2008
25 January 2008
Revised
26 November 2008
26 November 2008
Published
20 December 2008
20 December 2008
Abstract
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.