The Authorization of Purim: Having explained current practice (v. 19), the narrator turns his attention to the events that led to the establishment of Purim as a permanent, regularized institution. Though the festival legislation may be historically secondary to the Esther/Mordecai story, the book in its totality appears to follow deliberately the pattern found in Exodus. First, there is a story of threat and deliverance featuring a Jew with unlikely royal connections and a precedent-setting ritual (Exod. 1–12:42; Esth. 1–9:19). Formal legislation regarding perpetual festival observance follows (Exod 12:43–13:16; Esth. 9:20–32). Note that foreigners are included in each account as well (Exod. 12:48, 49; Esth. 8:17; 9:27).

9:20–32 Mordecai recorded these events, presumably for Persian record…