Xerxes

The Persian king in Esther — threw massive parties and made impulsive decisions

Old TestamentAcross 2 books — from daniel to esther

Also known as Xerxes

verifiedReal Person — History Confirms· Most scholars identify him as Xerxes I of Persia. His name appears in carved royal inscriptions at Persepolis, and the Greek historian Herodotus wrote about his reign.Wikipediaopen_in_new

Identified with Xerxes I of Persia (486-465 BC), attested in Persian royal inscriptions at Persepolis and by Herodotus (Histories, Book 7)

RoleHusband of Esther (and previously Vashti)

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Events3

Connections2

The king who deposed Queen Vashti for refusing to parade before his drunk guests, then held a beauty contest to find a new queen — enter Esther (Esther 1-2). He unknowingly approved Haman's genocide plot against the Jews, then reversed it when Esther revealed her identity. Generally portrayed as easily manipulated but capable of doing the right thing when confronted.

Key Moments

Esther Becomes QueenExile & Return

A Jewish orphan girl won a kingdom-wide beauty competition and became queen of Persia without anyone knowing she was Jewish

Esther Saves Her PeopleExile & Return

Esther risked her life walking into the king's court uninvited and completely reversed the genocide plot

Haman's Plot to Destroy the JewsExile & Return

One guy got so mad that Mordecai wouldn't bow to him that he tried to genocide an entire people group

Places

location_onSusa

Themes

Leadership Anger Rejection Justice Spiritual Warfare Integrity Identity Hope

Connected To

Family

Esther Vashti

Roles

King of Persia

Read Their Story

2 chapters across 2 books

daniel

The Rise and Fall of EmpiresDaniel 11:1-4

Xerxes is identified by scholars as the wealthy fourth Persian king described here — the one whose enormous riches funded a massive but ultimately disastrous military campaign against Greece.

esther

The Party That Ended a Queen

Xerxes I is identified as the probable historical figure behind the name Ahasuerus, grounding the narrative in verified ancient history and the fifth-century BCE Persian Empire.

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EstherThe Jewish queen who risked her life to save her people from genocide VashtiPersian queen who refused King Xerxes'' summons — replaced by Esther

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