Thank you for the question on the historicity of Esther, “Why do some scholars say the Book of Esther is fiction?”
As a Christian, I do not believe that the Book of Esther is fiction. The primary reason for some scholars questioning the historicity of Esther is the reconciliation of history with the events stated in the Book of Esther. It is not my purpose here to attempt to show a reconciliation of the Book of Esther to historical events as we currently understand them. The question asks for the reasons why:
Here are the primary reasons why some scholars question the historicity of the Book of Esther:
- The identification of Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces from India to Cush.
- The lack of historical document for the identification of Mordecai and Esther.
- The lack of historical document for the identification of Haman and the princes and advisors cited in Esther.
- The discrepancy reconciliation of the timeline of Xerxes and Mordecai’s.
- The unlikelihood of the payment for the destruction of the Jews.
As one reads the Scriptures and history, there has been attempt to annihilate the Jews for their beliefs and their practices. It must be remembered that devoted Jews to YHWH refused to worship other gods/goddess. They refused to bow to anyone except to YHWH. This monotheistic religion became a thorn on the side of the polytheistic and pluralistic societies and even to our modern society.
Not all archaeological digging is completed, not all of our understanding of the Babylonian and Persian Empire is absolute and perhaps more discoveries may shed greater light into the history of the Bible. One must keep in mind that the writer of Esther wrote this book for the Jews, not for the Persians. Thus one would think that the names given by Babylonian and Persian kings would be different from their Jewish name as in Daniel and his three friends.
One must do his/her due diligence in researching and reading history as historians has interpreted or understood ancient history. Read pros and cons of both views in understanding the arguments for each view. One must be convinced in one’s own heart as one diligently study the Scriptures and history.
I only can say that one must be discerning in what one reads and who writes the interpretation for each writer writes from a certain perspective whether it is a biblical or scholar scholar.
SUMMARY: The Scriptures are God’s truth and not fantasy or fictional characters.
For more perspectives:
https://www.quora.com/Why-do-some-scholars-say-the-Book-of-Esther-is-fiction