Machshava:

Midrash 

Nach:

Esther 

Description

The Midrashim have varied approaches to describing Ahashverosh and two nearly opposite perspectives are presented here. A continuation of last week's introduction to the study of Midrashic literature is followed by a presentation of several Midrashim along with a curious addition to the Septuagint version of Esther and then these approaches are analyzed in light of the texts of Esther and related passages in Tanakh.