- - , Algemeen, , Moshe Zauderer, Introduction to Megillat Esther, The Commentaries [2005]; Esther: A prophetess of
exceptional beauty, modesty and charm, Hadassah (Esther's Hebrew name) was
orphaned as an infant from both her parents, and was reared by Mordechai, her first
cousin. When King Achashverosh began his search for a replacement for Queen
Vashti, whom
he had executed, Esther hid from the king's officers for a period of four years,
after which she was discovered and taken to the palace. That year, when she was forty
years of age, she was crowned Queen of Persia. Mordechai instructed Esther to conceal her
Jewish identity, until the time when she needed to reveal it in order to intercede on
behalf of the Jewish people. In the year 3400 (361 BCE), Esther and Achashverosh's
son, Darius II, was born. As (Jewish-Persian) king, he permitted the resumption of the
reconstruction of the Second Temple in the year 3408 (353 BCE).
Josh Waxman , Parsha Blog, 9 Maart 2004, Dual Etymology and Esther's Name, as well as the Hidden Miracle As A Theme Present in the Megilla Itself,
A response to Naomi Chana's Purim Post