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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Non-Canonical Books Mentioned in the Bible: Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia

The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia is a now lost secular Persian historical work mentioned three times in the book of Esther.

“And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.” Esther 2:23

“On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.” Esther 6:1

“And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?” Esther 10:2


Esther (the Persian name of the beautiful Jewish girl, Hadassah) was made the queen of King Xerxes I (Ahasuerus) who ruled Persia 486-465 BC/BCE.  The Medes were ethnic Iranians who were important in the Persian government.  They were descendants of the Median Empire (fl 726-549 BC/BCE). 

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