Question

Esther tells the story of the protection and survival of the Jews who did not return to the promised land after the diaspora but remained dispersed throughout the Persian Empire.

a. The Babylonian Exile
b. The Diaspora
c. The Exodus
d. The Hellenistic Period

Answer 1

The Jewish diaspora refers to the scattering of Jewish people beyond Israel/Palestine, beginning notably with the Babylonian Exile. Even after being allowed to return to Judah by Cyrus the Great, many Jews chose to remain in the Persian Empire, maintaining their religious and cultural practices.

Step-by-step explanation:

The story Esther tells is of the protection and survival of the Jews during their diaspora, which describes the geographical dispersion of the Jewish people beyond their ancestral homeland of Israel/Palestine. This diaspora began notably with the Babylonian Exile in 586 BCE when the Neo-Babylonian Empire conquered Jerusalem and deported many Jews to Babylon. After the conquest of Babylon by the Persian Empire, Cyrus the Great allowed these deportees to return to Judah to rebuild the Temple. Nonetheless, many Jews chose to remain within the Persian Empire, marking the continuation of the Jewish diaspora. They were scattered but united by their shared culture and religion, and despite various rulers over time, they maintained their distinct cultural identity and religious practices.