Esther 2 – The original Miss Universe competition (479BC)

Between chapters 1 & 2 of Esther. There are wider geo-political events playing out. With huge ramifications for the known world. In between these 2 chapters, Xerxes assembles a massive army & invades Greece, circa 480BC. The legendary short battle of Thermopylae occurs against the Spartan King Leonidas. But far more catastrophic for Xerxes, a massive storm, combined with expert Grecian navy manoeuvring, sees him lose many ships & men at sea. Ultimately his campaign to conquer Greece fails. & a significant portion, of his retreating army dies of starvation, exposure & disease, in a long retreat back to Persia. This failed military campaign is not mentioned in the Biblical narrative. Unsurprising, given the narrative appears to have been written at a time of Persian censorship. The writer of Esther chooses their words very carefully.

0:00 Introduction
1:14 Esther 2: 1
2:18 Esther 2: 2-4
3:30 Esther 2: 5-6
5:23 Esther 2: 7
7:19 Esther 2: 8
8:10 Esther 2: 9
9:36 Esther 2: 10-11
11:13 Esther 2: 12
12:03 Esther 2: 13-14
13:10 Esther 2: 15
14:15 Esther 2: 16-18
15:23 Esther 2: 19-20
16:36 Esther 2: 21-23
17:33 Conclusion