Therefore the natural conclusion to this is Noah built an arc and all the earth's animals climbed aboard two by two into the wooden tub afloat.
Esther This article is about the heroine of the Book of Esther. For the book of Esther, see Book of Esther. For other uses, see Esther (disambiguation). Esther (/ˈɛstər/; Hebrew: אֶסְתֵּר, romanized: ʾEstēr), originally Hadassah (/həˈdɑːsə/; Hebrew: הֲדַסָּה, romanized: haˈdasa), is the eponymous heroine of the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible. According to the biblical narrative, which is set in the Achaemenid Empire, the Persian king Ahasuerus falls in love with Esther and marries her.[1] His grand vizier Haman is offended by Esther's cousin and guardian Mordecai because of his refusal to bow before him; bowing in front of another person was a prominent gesture of respect in Persian society, but deemed unacceptable by Mordecai, who believes that a Jew should only express submissiveness to God. Consequently, Haman plots to have all of Persia's Jews killed, and eventually convinces Ahasuerus to permit him to do so. However, Esther foils the plan by revealing and decrying Haman's plans to Ahasuerus, who then has Haman executed and grants permission to the Jews to take up arms against their enemies;[2] Esther is hailed for her courage and for working to save the Jewish nation from eradication. The Book of Esther's story provides the traditional explanation for Purim, a celebratory Jewish holiday that is observed on the Hebrew date on which Haman's order was to go into effect, which is the day that the Jews killed their enemies after Esther exposed Haman's intentions to her husband; scholars have taken a mixed view as to the Book of Esther's historicity, with debates over its genre and the origins of Purim.[3][a] Two related forms of the Book of Esther exist: a shorter Biblical Hebrew–sourced version found in Jewish and Protestant Bibles, and a longer Koine Greek–sourced version found in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles.[4] In the third year of the reign of King Ahasuerus of Persia the king banishes his queen, Vashti, and seeks a new queen. Beautiful maidens gather together at the harem in the citadel of Susa under the authority of the eunuch Hegai.[1] Esther, a cousin of Mordecai, was a member of the Jewish community in the Exilic Period who claimed as an ancestor Kish, a Benjamite who had been taken from Jerusalem into captivity. She was the orphaned daughter of Mordecai's uncle, Abihail, from the tribe of Gad. Upon the king's orders, Esther is taken to the palace where Hegai prepares her to meet the king. Even as she advances to the highest position of the harem, perfumed with gold and myrrh and allocated certain foods and servants, she is under strict instructions from Mordecai, who meets with her each day, to conceal her Jewish origins. The king falls in love with her and makes her his Queen.[1] Following Esther's coronation, Mordecai learns of an assassination plot by Bigthan and Teresh to kill King Ahasuerus. Mordecai tells Esther, who tells the king in the name of Mordecai, and he is saved. This act of great service to the king is recorded in the Annals of the Kingdom. After Mordecai saves the king's life, Haman the Agagite is made Ahasuerus' highest adviser, and orders that everyone bow down to him. When Mordecai (who had stationed himself in the street to advise Esther) refuses to bow to him, Haman pays King Ahasuerus 10,000 silver talents for the right to exterminate all of the Jews in Ahasuerus' kingdom. Haman casts lots, Purim, using supernatural means, and sees that the thirteenth day of the Month of Adar is a fortunate day for the genocide. Using the seal of the king, in the name of the king, Haman sends an order to the provinces of the kingdom to allow the extermination of the Jews on the thirteenth of Adar. When Mordecai learns of this, he tells Esther to reveal to the king that she is Jewish and ask that he repeal the order. Esther hesitates, saying that she could be put to death if she goes to the king without being summoned; nevertheless, Mordecai urges her to try. Esther asks that the entire Jewish community fast and pray for three days before she goes to see the king; Mordecai agrees. On the third day, Esther goes to the courtyard in front of the king's palace, and she is welcomed by the king, who stretches out his scepter for her to touch, and offers her anything she wants "up to half of the kingdom". Esther invites the king and Haman to a banquet she has prepared for the next day. She tells the king she will reveal her request at the banquet. During the banquet, the king repeats his offer again, whereupon Esther invites both the king and Haman to a banquet she is making on the following day as well. Seeing that he is in favor with the king and queen, Haman takes counsel from his wife and friends to build a gallows upon which to hang Mordecai; as he is in their good favors, he believes he will be granted his wish to hang Mordecai the very next day. After building the gallows, Haman goes to the palace in the middle of the night to wait for the earliest moment he can see the king. That evening, the king, unable to sleep, asks that the Annals of the Kingdom be read to him so that he will become drowsy. The book miraculously opens to the page telling of Mordecai's great service, and the king asks if he had already received a reward. When his attendants answer in the negative, Ahasuerus is suddenly distracted and demands to know who is standing in the palace courtyard in the middle of the night. The attendants answer that it is Haman. Ahasuerus invites Haman into his room. Haman, instead of requesting that Mordecai be hanged, is ordered to take Mordecai through the streets of the capital on the Royal Horse wearing the royal robes. Haman is also instructed to yell, "This is what shall be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!" After spending the entire day honoring Mordecai, Haman rushes to Esther's second banquet, where Ahasuerus is already waiting. Ahasuerus repeats his offer to Esther of anything "up to half of the kingdom". Esther tells Ahasuerus that while she appreciates the offer, she must put before him a more basic issue: she explains that there is a person plotting to kill her and her entire people, and that this person's intentions are to harm the king and the kingdom. When Ahasuerus asks who this person is, Esther points to Haman and names him. Upon hearing this, an enraged Ahasuerus goes out to the garden to calm down and consider the situation. While Ahasuerus is in the garden, Haman throws himself at Esther's feet asking for mercy. Upon returning from the garden, the king is further enraged. As it was the custom to eat on reclining couches, it appears to the king as if Haman is attacking Esther. He orders Haman to be removed from his sight. While Haman is being led out, Harvona, a civil servant, tells the king that Haman had built a gallows for Mordecai, "who had saved the king's life". In response, the king says "Hang him (Haman) on it". After Haman is put to death, Ahasuerus gives Haman's estate to Esther. Esther tells the king about Mordecai being her relative, and the king makes Mordecai his adviser. When Esther asks the king to revoke the order exterminating the Jews, the king is initially hesitant, saying that an order issued by the king cannot be repealed. Ahasuerus allows Esther and Mordecai to write another order, with the seal of the king and in the name of the king, to allow the Jewish people to defend themselves and fight with their oppressors on the thirteenth day of Adar. On the thirteenth day of Adar, the same day that Haman had set for them to be killed, the Jews defend themselves in all parts of the kingdom and rest on the fourteenth day of Adar. The fourteenth day of Adar is celebrated with the giving of charity, exchanging foodstuffs, and feasting. In Susa, the Jews of the capital were given another day to kill their oppressors; they rested and celebrated on the fifteenth day of Adar, again giving charity, exchanging foodstuffs, and feasting as well.[9] The Jews established an annual feast, the feast of Purim, in memory of their deliverance. Haman having set the date of the thirteenth of Adar to commence his campaign against the Jews, this determined the date of the festival of Purim.[10] Historicity Although the details of the setting are entirely plausible and the story may even have some basis in actual events, there is general agreement among scholars that the book of Esther is a work of fiction.[11] Persian kings did not marry outside of seven Persian noble families, making it unlikely that there was a Jewish queen Esther.[12][13][c] Further, the name Ahasuerus can be translated to Xerxes, as both derive from the Persian Khshayārsha.[14][15] Ahasuerus as described in the Book of Esther is usually identified in modern sources to refer to Xerxes I,[16][17] who ruled between 486 and 465 BCE,[14] as it is to this monarch that the events described in Esther are thought to fit the most closely.[15][18] However, Xerxes I's queen was Amestris, further highlighting the fictitious nature of the story.[12][4][c] Some scholars speculate that the story was created to justify the Jewish appropriation of an originally non-Jewish feast.[19] The festival which the book explains is Purim, which is explained as meaning "lot", from the Babylonian word puru. One popular theory says the festival has its origins in a historicized Babylonian myth or ritual in which Mordecai and Esther represent the Babylonian gods Marduk and Ishtar, while others trace the ritual to the Persian New Year, and scholars have surveyed other theories in their works.[20] Some scholars have defended the story as real history,[21] but the attempt to find a historical kernel to the narrative is considered "likely to be futile" in a study by Sara Raup Johnson.[20] Interpretations The Book of Esther begins by portraying Esther as beautiful and obedient, though a relatively passive figure. Throughout the story, she evolves into a character who takes a decisive role in her own future and that of her people.[22] According to Sidnie White Crawford, "Esther's position in a male court mirrors that of the Jews in a Gentile world, with the threat of danger ever present below the seemingly calm surface."[23] Esther is compared to Daniel in that both represent a "type" for Jews living in Diaspora, and hoping to live a successful life in an alien environment. According to Susan Zaeske, by virtue of the fact that Esther used only rhetoric to convince the king to save her people, the story of Esther is a "rhetoric of exile and empowerment that, for millennia, has notably shaped the discourse of marginalized peoples such as Jews, women, and African Americans", persuading those who have power over them.[24] Throughout history, many artists have created paintings depicting Esther. Notable early portrayals include the Heilspiegel Altarpiece by Konrad Witz[1] and Esther Before Ahasuerus by Tintoretto (1546–47, Royal Collection) which show Esther appearing before the king to beg mercy for the Jews, despite the punishment for appearing without being summoned being death. This scene became one of the most commonly depicted parts of the story. Esther was regarded in Catholic theology as a typological forerunner[29] of the Virgin Mary in her role as intercessor[30] Her regal election parallels Mary's Assumption and as she becomes queen of Persia, Mary becomes queen of heaven; Mary's epithet as 'stella maris' parallels Esther as a 'star' and both figure as sponsors of the humble before the powerful.[31] Contemporary viewers would likely have recognized a similarity between the faint and the common motif of the Swoon of the Virgin, seen in many depictions of the Crucifixion of Jesus.[32] Esther's fainting became a popular subject in the Baroque painting of the following century. A notable Baroque example is Esther Before Ahasuerus by Artemisia Gentileschi.[33] In Christianity Esther is commemorated as a matriarch in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod on May 24. Esther is recognized as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, commemorated on the Sunday before Christmas. The Septuagint edition of Esther contains six parts (totaling 107 verses) not found in the Hebrew Bible. Although these interpretations originally may have been composed in Hebrew, they survive only in Greek texts. Because the Hebrew Bible's version of Esther's story contains neither prayers nor even a single reference to God, Greek redactors apparently felt compelled to give the tale a more explicit religious orientation, alluding to "God" or the "Lord" fifty times."[34] These additions to Esther in the Apocrypha were added approximately in the second or first century BCE.[35] Notes "Xerxes could not have wed a Jewess because this was contrary to the practices of Persian monarchs who married only into one of the seven leading Persian families. History records that Xerxes was married to Amestris, not Vashti or Esther. There is no historical record of a personage known as Esther, or a queen called Vashti or a vizier Haman, or a high placed courtier Mordecai. Mordecai was said to have been among the exiles deported from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, but that deportation occurred 112 years before Xerxes became king." (Littman 1975:146) "Because of a lack of substantial relevant contemporaneous extrabiblical historical sources – Persian, Greek, Jewish or other – that could confirm or challenge the reliability of the story as it is presented in the Hebrew Bible, scholars are sharply divided in their opinions on this question. They run from complete acceptance of the book as a historical account, to complete negation of its historical trustworthiness, defining it as fiction." (Kalimi 2023:84) "Some continue to read Esther as a historical account that tells us about persons and events of the past, while others classify the book as a form of historical fiction in which an edifying story is given a realistic historical setting (i.e., as a "novella" or "court tale"). (Hahn & Mitch 2019:72) "Today there is general agreement that it is essentially a work of fiction, the purpose of which was to justify the Jewish appropriation of an originally non-Jewish holiday. What is not generally agreed upon is the identity or nature of that non-Jewish festival which came to be appropriated by the Jews as Purim, and whose motifs are recapitulated in disguised form in Esther." (Polish 1999) "The story is fictitious and written to provide an account of the origin of the feast of Purim; the book contains no references to the known historical events of the reign of Xerxes." (Browning 2009) "Although the details of its setting are entirely plausible and the story may even have some basis in actual events, in terms of literary genre the book is not history." (Tucker 2004)
The Heritage Foundation launched Project Esther in October 2024; it is named after the biblical figure Esther.[6] The project describes pro-Palestinian groups as part of a "Hamas Support Network".[7][8] The plan was drafted by Victoria Coates, Robert Greenway, and Daniel Flesch following the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.[6] The project aimed to dismantle the pro-Palestinian movement in the U.S., its support at schools and universities, progressive organizations, and in Congress by labeling them as "effectively a terrorist support network".[6][9] According to The New York Times, the plan built on efforts from summer 2024 to create a national strategy to "convince the public to perceive the pro-Palestinian movement in the United States as part of a global 'Hamas Support Network' that 'poses a threat not simply to American Jewry, but to America itself.'"
I honestly wonder about the bible and its authenticity. We all know the OT was handed down orally for thousands of years, before the catholic church canonized it with the teachings of Paul, then edited it over and over, and retranslated it many times. It appears to be a giant riddle, designed to get people like you to freak out about it, and simpletons like me to assume there are nuggets of wisdom hidden behind the giant intelligence test.....
Freaking out? I'll tell you a little story. I was raised Christian, walked away from it, then went back for many years as an adult. One of the tenets of christianity is belief and faith. The church (and gummint) wants its sheeple to have these characteristics as well as hope. If sheeple ever have the desire to really drill down they will discover an amazing secret. Christianity has its foundation in marketing, propoganda and sheer bullshit. Westerners have a reputation imo of gullibility. They want to believe their elders. Children learn early on that Santa Claus is a myth, because they are told he's a myth. Adults continue to believe in jesus because no one is game to expose the myth, adults are entrenched to believe the huge world organisation of synagogues and churches. Christianity is the only religion I'm aware of, where your whole life will been plagued year after year by fucking Jehovah Witnesses and Mormon types knocking on the fucking door trying to fucking convert to their bullshit. When I was in hospital with cancer a couple of years back, another christian missionary at my bedside trying to preach me fucking jesus bullshit. The constant stream of bullshit never ends with western religion. Christ almighty, I'm freaking out. Lmao
They never talk to me for some reason. When I tell them all 13 apostles kept the seventh day sabbath and holy days as instructed by Moses, and that their pope changed times and laws (exactly like predicted in the book of revelation) they go stone cold silent. Try this yourself if they ever harass you again.
Ancient Sea Monster Mystery Solved After 37 Years May 23, 2025 Marshall University https://scienceblog.com/ancient-sea-monster-mystery-solved-after-37-years/ Two Traskasaura sandrae individuals hunt the ammonite Pachydiscus in the northern Pacific during the Late Cretaceous. Officially named today in the Journal of Systematic Paleontology, Traskasaura sandrae was designated British Columbia’s Provincial Fossil in 2023. One of North America’s most famous fossil discoveries has finally been properly identified as a new species of giant marine reptile that hunted the prehistoric seas 85 million years ago. Traskasaura sandrae, a 12-meter-long elasmosaur with crushing teeth and a distinctive hunting style, represents a crucial piece in understanding how these ancient sea monsters evolved and spread across the world’s oceans. The fossils, first discovered in 1988 along Vancouver Island’s Puntledge River, became British Columbia’s official provincial fossil in 2023 before scientists could even determine what species they belonged to—a testament to both their fame and their puzzling nature. The Fossil That Defied Classification The story began when Michael and Heather Trask discovered the first specimen along the Puntledge River banks. Since then, two additional fossils have emerged: a well-preserved juvenile skeleton and an isolated arm bone, providing scientists with a complete picture of this marine predator. What made classification so difficult was Traskasaura’s unusual combination of features. “The scientific confusion concerning this taxon is understandable. It has a very odd mix of primitive and derived traits,” explained lead author Professor F. Robin O’Keefe from Marshall University. “The shoulder, in particular, is unlike any other plesiosaur I have ever seen, and I have seen a few.” The creature possessed heavy, robust teeth ideal for crushing—likely targeting the abundant ammonites (spiral-shelled marine animals) that shared its ancient Pacific habitat. These teeth were “round with prominent longitudinal striations around entire circumference,” a unique feature that helped distinguish it from other elasmosaurs. A Predator From Above What emerges from the detailed analysis is a picture of an innovative hunter. Traskasaura’s unique skeletal adaptations suggest it was among the first plesiosaurs to hunt prey from above, diving down on unsuspecting victims in the ancient seas. The creature’s shoulder joint faced downward and outward rather than straight to the side, enabling specialized swimming motions. Its limb bones showed pronounced “ventral camber”—more curved on the bottom than the top—suggesting an emphasis on powerful downward swimming strokes. The research reveals that Traskasaura had an unusually straight arm bone shaft, unlike the angled shafts typical of other marine reptiles of its era. This seemingly minor anatomical detail actually represents a fundamentally different approach to underwater locomotion. Key Distinguishing Features: 12-meter body length with at least 50 neck vertebrae Specialized shoulder joint angled for downward swimming Robust, striated teeth designed for crushing shells Straight limb bone shafts unlike other contemporary species Four bone elements in the flipper structure instead of the typical three Evolutionary Puzzle Pieces The detailed study reveals something particularly intriguing about marine reptile evolution. Traskasaura shared several features with a group called aristonectines—specialized filter-feeding elasmosaurs from the southern Pacific. However, the phylogenetic analysis showed these similarities evolved independently, representing convergent evolution rather than close relationship. This finding reshapes understanding of how marine reptiles adapted to different ecological niches. The research demonstrates that similar environmental pressures can produce similar anatomical solutions in completely unrelated lineages, even across vast ocean basins. The study also provides crucial insight into the biogeography of ancient marine ecosystems. While true aristonectines were restricted to the southern Pacific, northern hemisphere animals like Traskasaura developed similar adaptations independently, suggesting that certain ecological niches drove predictable evolutionary responses. Ancient Pacific Geography The fossils come from the Haslam Formation, deposited in a narrow ocean basin between 86.3 and 83.6 million years ago. At the time, Vancouver Island was much farther south—possibly near the latitude of modern-day Oregon or southern Japan. This ancient marine environment was rich with life. The rock layers contain “abundant trace fossils, foraminifera, diverse ammonoids, gastropods, decapod crustaceans and crinoids,” painting a picture of a thriving ecosystem that supported large marine predators like Traskasaura. The presence of abundant ammonoids in the same rock layers supports the hypothesis that these spiral-shelled creatures were Traskasaura’s preferred prey. The elasmosaur’s robust teeth would have been “ideal, possibly, for crushing ammonite shells,” according to Professor O’Keefe. The Naming Story The genus name honors Michael and Heather Trask, the discoverers of the original specimen. The species name “sandrae honours Sandra Lee O’Keefe (née Markey),” who was described as “a valiant warrior in the fight against breast cancer. In loving memory.” This personal touch reflects the human stories behind scientific discovery—both the amateur fossil hunters who make crucial finds and the researchers who dedicate their careers to understanding ancient life. The path from discovery to description took 37 years, highlighting the careful, methodical nature of paleontological research. As O’Keefe noted, “The fossil record is full of surprises. It is always gratifying to discover something unexpected.” Implications for Understanding Ancient Seas Traskasaura’s discovery adds another piece to the complex puzzle of Cretaceous marine ecosystems. The creature lived during a time of significant environmental change, when sea levels were high and marine reptiles had diversified into numerous specialized niches. The research suggests that early elasmosaurs were more diverse in their hunting strategies than previously recognized. While some evolved into filter-feeders with hundreds of tiny teeth, others like Traskasaura became precision predators with powerful crushing jaws. Understanding these ancient marine ecosystems becomes increasingly important as modern oceans face unprecedented changes. The fossil record provides crucial baselines for understanding how marine life responds to environmental pressures—lessons that may prove vital for conservation efforts today. As Professor O’Keefe concluded, “With the naming of Traskasaura sandrae, the Pacific Northwest finally has Mesozoic reptile to call its own. Fittingly, a region known for its rich marine life today was host to strange and wonderful marine reptiles in the Age of Dinosaurs.”
85 million years ago was before humans walked the earth. 85 million years ago is before the Adam and Eve nonsense era. 85 million years ago is before 'sin was invented' on earth. And the Traskasaura sandrae, a 12-meter-long elasmosaur with crushing teeth was killing other creatures to survive. Christians with their rose tinted glasses have a belief similar as found in the Jehovah Witness Watchtower cult magazine of heaven being a place where humans lounge around in forever picnics, lounging with lions and lambs together, not working, not hunting, not killing, where God feeds them forever with 'mana' from heaven. Keep up your lala land vision of forever perfection escapism religious claptrap invented by humans who claim it comes from 'God'.