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King
Xerxes
King of Persia · Return from Exile / Persia · 486–465 BC
Esther before Ahasuerus — Artemisia Gentileschi
Summary
Also known as Ahasuerus, Xerxes is the Persian king in the book of Esther who deposed Queen Vashti, chose Esther as queen, authorized Haman's genocide plot against the Jews, and then had Haman executed and issued a second decree allowing Jews to defend themselves.
- Among the passages here, Xerxes is first named in Esther 1:1: “This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces…”
- The record places Xerxes in Return from Exile / Persia.
- 30 verses name Xerxes, in 3 books.
- 6 moments stand in order on this page, each with its verse.
On this page
Start here
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14→- 6 key events in order
- 30 verses name Xerxes, across 3 books
In Scripture
- Verses
- 30
- Books
- 3
Xerxes
- Role
- King of Persia
- Era
- Return from Exile / Persia
- Dates
- 486–465 BC
- Tribe
- Persia
- Father
- Darius the Great
- Spouse
- Vashti; Esther
The life in order
from the events the row records, with the first and last verse that names the person among the passages this page stands on
1Where the passages this page records open
2What the record holds, in its own order
- Deposed Queen VashtiEsther 1:10-22On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—
- Chose Esther as queenEsther 2:17And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all of the other virgins. So he placed the royal crown upon her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.
- Authorized Haman's genocide decreeEsther 3:10-11So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
- Esther's approach to the kingEsther 4:11“All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”
- Sleepless night and Mordecai's honorEsther 6:1-11That night sleep escaped the king; so he ordered the Book of Records, the Chronicles, to be brought in and read to him.
- Haman executed; second decree issuedEsther 7:9-10Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said: “There is a gallows fifty cubits high at Haman’s house. He had it built for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.” “Hang him on it!” declared the king.
3Where the passages this page records close
Biography
Xerxes I, the son of Darius the Great, is the Ahasuerus of the book of Esther. He inherited the Persian Empire and early in his reign made his famous unsuccessful invasion of Greece (Battle of Thermopylae, Salamis, 480 BC). The book of Esther opens with his lavish six-month banquet displaying his wealth. When Queen Vashti refused to be displayed before his drunken guests, he deposed her on his advisors' counsel.
After a kingdom-wide search, Esther the Jewish orphan was chosen as the new queen, concealing her nationality under her guardian Mordecai's instruction. When his chief minister Haman sought genocide against all Jews because Mordecai refused to bow to him, Xerxes casually authorized it — not knowing his own wife was Jewish.
Esther's courageous approach to the king uninvited (a capital offense), her banquets, Mordecai's exposure of a assassination plot, and the king's sleepless night reading chronicles all combined to reverse the decree. Haman was executed on the gallows he built for Mordecai, and a second decree was issued allowing Jews throughout the empire to defend themselves. The Jewish festival of Purim commemorates this deliverance.
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
What they got right, and what they got wrong
Strengths
Political power, capability for mercy when his emotions were properly engaged, ultimately protected the Jews
Weaknesses
Impulsiveness, easily manipulated by advisors, authorized genocide without inquiry, pride
Lessons
God's providence works through human decisions — even the decisions of pagan kings who do not know Him. The entire reversal of Esther depended on a king's impulsive anger, a sleepless night, a forgotten record book, and a timely banquet. God's protection of His people does not require the cooperation of the powerful.
Spiritual significance
The book of Esther is unique in Scripture for not mentioning God by name — yet his providential hand is visible in every coincidence, every reversal, every sleepless night. Xerxes is the unknowing instrument through which God protected the Jewish people whose line would produce the Messiah.
Xerxes in Scripture
Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, so some of these verses may speak of another person called Xerxes. The two marks are drawn from the chapters this page's own references stand in.
Old TestamentNew Testamentsegment width = share of mentions
Old Testament3 books · 30 mentions
Ezra1 mention
Esther28 mentions
- Esther 1:1This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.
- Esther 1:2In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
- Esther 1:3In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.
- Esther 1:9Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
- Esther 1:15“According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?”
23 further mentions in Esther, read them in the book.
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