Megillat Esther intro

What was the Israel throne line?

David —> Shlomo —> Rechovam (s)/Yerovam (n)

What happened in c. 721 B.C.E?

Ashur starts a war and they win against Israel. All the northern tribes are exiled. Bavel then takes over Ashur/Israel and are a really scary nation.

What happened in c.597 B.C.E?

The southern Jews start acting out of and Hashem sends them warnings though Yermiyahu (a Navi). He says that if they don’t stop being bad then Hashem will punish you. The Jews threw him into jail bc they thought he was a bad influence. Hashem sends Bavel into the south to wage war. The king is Nebuchadnezzar. He exiles the elitists to a different Bavel.

What happened in c. 586 B.C.E?

Nebuchadnezzar came back and burned the beit Hamikdash

Who lived in the south of Israel?

Yehudah, Benyamin, .5 of Levi.

Who lived in north of Israel?

All tribes except Yehudah and Benyamin, other .5 of Levi.

What were the people who lived int he north of Israel called?

Yisroel

What were the people who lived in the south of Israel called?

Yehudah

Who wages war against the north of Israel?

Ashur (they win btw)

Who takes over Ashur?

Bavel

What did the Jews do to Yermiyahu?

They put him in jail bc they thought that he was a bad influence on them

Who was the king of Bavel?

Nebuchadnezzar

Who burnt the Beit hamikdash?

King Nebuchadnezzar

Who was the 1st king of Persia(paras)?

King Cyrus/Koresh (he was very nice)

What did Koresh say to the Jews?

If you’re Jewish and want to go black to Israel, you can go and it’ll be okay. If you don’t go back, help the Jews that are going back with money and setting up.

What was the percentage of Jews who stayed in Persia vs. who left?

14% went to Israel and 86% stayed.

When did the whole book of Esther take place?

C. 485-465 B.C.E

Who wrote Megillat Esther?

We don’t know for sure- either Mordechai did, or the Anshei Knesset did. But Mordechai was actually a part of the AKH. There was some assist from Esther.