Why should a person studying Persian history read the book of Esther?

The Book of Esther tells the story of the salvation of Jewish community in Persia, and begins with Esther, the cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai the Jew, becoming Xerxes' new wife. Fundamental problems in the story call into question its reliability - for example, Mordecai is identified as having been sent into exile by Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled Babylon more than a century before Xerxes assumed power. Ancient Jewish sages actually argued against its inclusion in The Bible.

Significantly for the Reformation, Martin Luther opposed its inclusion in his Bible and said that he wished the book did not exist. This is partly because there is no mention of God anywhere in the story, which has no theological significance or moral value.