[Avodah] Identifying Achashverosh and Esther in Secular Sources

[Lisa Liel]

Meh.  The fact that Ahasuerus = Khshayarsha = Xerxes is very old news 
(http://www.aishdas.org/avodah/vol11/v11n022.shtml#06 for example).

Honestly.  He wrote an entire book arguing about how Chazal were totally 
wrong about the Persian period.  The fascinating thing is that his 
primary reason for holding this position is that Greek sources say they 
were.  But then in this article, he suggests numerous times that 
Herodotus was wrong about fairly major things.

He mentions that the Gemara disagrees with him: "The identification of 
Achashverosh with Xerxes does not fit with the view of the Talmud."  And 
he brings "sources" that support him against the Gemara.  Among them R' 
Avigdor Miller, who if he were alive today, would probably be furious at 
the misrepresentation.

Lisa


On 3/9/2012 7:37 AM, Prof. Levine wrote:
> From http://www.jidaily.com/MOVC1/e
>
>
>       *In this article, we will explain how scholars were finally able
>       to identify Achashverosh in secular sources. We will also show
>       that Esther can be identified.  Secular sources can be utilized
>       to shed light on the story of the Megillah (Scroll of Esther).*
>
> See the above URL for more.   YL
>
>
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