The Propaganda Documents: How The Pharisees Fabricated History To Hide The Persian Source

Esther, Daniel, and the Strategic Rewrite of Jewish-Persian Relations

INTRODUCTION: Not Just “Influenced” – Actively Rewritten

We’ve proven that Judaism adopted Zoroastrian concepts after the Babylonian Exile (586-539 BCE).

But there’s something more sinister: The Pharisees didn’t just hide the source – they wrote PROPAGANDA documents to invert the narrative.

These texts were written centuries after the events they claim to describe, during the period when the Pharisees were consolidating power (200-100 BCE), specifically to:

1. Rewrite Persian-Jewish relations from “liberators and teachers” to “enemies we survived”
2. Create alternative origin stories for practices learned from Persia
3. Justify violence against the civilization that educated them
4. Obscure the 70-year theological education under the Magi

This article exposes the fabricated documents with mainstream scholarly evidence.

DOCUMENT #1: THE BOOK OF ESTHER – ANTI-PERSIAN PROPAGANDA

The Official Story

• Set during reign of Persian King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I, 486-465 BCE)
• Jewish woman Esther becomes Queen of Persia
• Evil Persian vizier Haman plots to genocide all Jews
• Esther exposes the plot, Haman is hanged
• Jews are allowed to defend themselves
• Jews kill 75,800 Persians (Esther 9:16)
• The holiday Purim celebrates this “victory”

The Academic Consensus: IT’S FICTION

Wikipedia (mainstream source):

“There is general agreement among scholars that the book of Esther is a work of fiction”

“Persian kings did not marry outside of the seven Persian noble families, making it unlikely” that Xerxes would marry a Jewish woman

“Today there is general agreement that it is essentially a work of fiction, the purpose of which was to justify the Jewish appropriation of an originally non-Jewish holiday”

Armstrong Institute for Biblical Archaeology:

“The narrative of Esther was invented in order to provide an etiology for Purim”

“Scholars consider Esther a complex aetiology (mythologized backstory) for explaining the otherwise-obscure origins of the Purim holiday”

“The book is considered by scholars as a ‘novella’ in the ‘wisdom literature’ genre—often compared to the likes of One Thousand and One Nights”

The Historical Impossibilities

1. Persian Kings Couldn’t Marry Jews

Herodotus (3:84) documents an agreement between Darius I and his six co-conspirators that “the Persian king would not marry outside their families”

This was LAW. Xerxes’ actual wife was Amestris, daughter of one of the seven noble families.

2. Xerxes Never Had a Queen Named Esther or Vashti

“History records that Xerxes was married to Amestris, not Vashti or Esther. There is no historical record of a personage known as Esther, or a queen called Vashti or a vizier Haman, or a high placed courtier Mordecai”

3. The Timeline Doesn’t Work

“Mordecai was said to have been among the exiles deported from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, but that deportation occurred 112 years before Xerxes became king”

Mordecai would have to be over 120 years old when these events supposedly happened. Impossible.

4. God Isn’t Mentioned

“The books of Esther and Song of Songs are the only books in the Hebrew Bible that do not mention God explicitly”

Why? Because acknowledging God would mean acknowledging:

• Cyrus (Persian) was called “Messiah” (Isaiah 45:1)
• Persian liberation was divine providence
• The Persian Period was when Judaism transformed

Easier to write God OUT than explain why God used Zoroastrian Persians.

When Was It Actually Written?

Scholars date Esther between 400-150 BCE, with many placing it in the 3rd-2nd century BCE during the Parthian era.

“There is no reference to known historical events in the story; a general consensus has maintained that the narrative of Esther was invented in order to provide an etiology for Purim”

That’s 150-400 years AFTER the events it claims to describe.

Written during the Hasmonean/Maccabean period when the Pharisees were consolidating power.

The Strategic Purpose of Esther

What it does:

1. Inverts Persian-Jewish Relations
   • Reality: Persians freed Jews, funded their Temple, taught them for 70 years
   • Esther: Persians tried to genocide Jews, Jews had to kill 75,800 Persians to survive
2. Creates a Nationalist Holiday
   • Purim celebrates “surviving” Persian genocide attempt
   • Annual reminder: “We triumphed over our enemies”
   • Hides: Persia WAS our teacher and liberator
3. Justifies Anti-Persian Sentiment
   • If Persians tried to genocide us, we don’t owe them acknowledgment
   • Obscures the 70-year Magi education
   • Makes people forget Cyrus was called “Messiah”
4. Provides Alternative Origin Story
   • Need to explain Purim holiday (learned from Persians)
   • Can’t say “we adopted this from Zoroastrian festivals”
   • Solution: Invent story of Persian villain, Jewish heroes

Esther is anti-Persian propaganda written 200-400 years after the supposed events to hide that Jews owe their transformed theology to Persian Magi.

DOCUMENT #2: THE BOOK OF DANIEL – BACKDATED PROPHECY

The Official Story

• Daniel was a Jewish youth taken captive to Babylon in 605 BCE
• Served under Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, Cyrus
• Given visions predicting future empires
• Wrote the book during the Babylonian/Persian period (6th century BCE)

The Academic Consensus: WRITTEN IN 165 BCE

Wikipedia (mainstream scholarship):

“Critics of Daniel view the Book of Daniel as a pseudepigraph dated around 165 BCE that concerns itself primarily with the Maccabean era and the reign of the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes”

“The visions in the latter half of Daniel are theorized to be written by an anonymous author in the Maccabean era, who assembled the legends with the visions as one book, in the 2nd century BCE”

Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange (scholarly consensus):

“It is generally accepted that the Book of Daniel is a product of the mid-2nd century BC”

“It is undoubtedly true that the Book of Daniel, as it comes down to us today, was a second-century-BCE Jewish novel”

Why Scholars Know It’s 2nd Century

1. Prophecies Are Too Accurate – Until 165 BCE

“The prophecies of the immediate future are less accurate than the prophecies of the period immediately prior to 167 BCE, at which point the book stops inexplicably – unless this is when Daniel was written”

The “predictions” are perfectly accurate up to 167 BCE (Antiochus IV’s persecution).

Then they become completely wrong about what happens next.

Why? Because the author was writing HISTORY as “prophecy” – but stopped at his own time (165 BCE).

2. Historical Errors About the “Past”

The book contains errors about the 6th century BCE (the period Daniel supposedly lived in):

“The writer had an incomplete and erroneous view of historical details in the second half of the sixth century, Daniel’s era”

“The book contains historical errors, such that it is unlikely to have been written by a contemporary familiar with the events of the Exile”

Example: Daniel 1:1-2 says Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem in Jehoiakim’s third year.
But: Jeremiah 25:1 and 46:2 say it was the fourth year.

If Daniel lived through it, he’d know. But the 2nd century author 400 years later made mistakes.

3. Language Proves 2nd Century Date

The Hebrew and Aramaic used in Daniel are late forms characteristic of the 2nd century BCE, not 6th century.

“The book’s theology, and its position in the Hebrew Scriptures with the Writings rather than the Prophets, and its ‘historical inaccuracies’ of events prior to the 2nd century BCE, demand a late date of composition”

4. Not Mentioned Until 2nd Century

“Jesus ben Sirach (Sirach 44-50), writing the book Ecclesiasticus in approximately 180 BCE, cited numerous Old Testament heroes—but not Daniel”

If Daniel existed in the 6th century BCE and was this important, why isn’t he mentioned in Sirach’s exhaustive list of heroes written in 180 BCE?

Because Daniel didn’t exist yet. The book was written AFTER Sirach.

What Daniel Actually Is

Academia.edu (scholarly analysis):

“Modern critical Biblical scholarship has long acknowledged that the book of Daniel was put together during the Maccabean revolt of 167-64 BCE”

Purpose:

“The Book of Daniel was composed to comfort and encourage Jewish people living under persecution or hardship”

Specifically: persecution under Antiochus IV Epiphanes (167-164 BCE).

The Strategic Purpose of Daniel

What it does:

1. Backdates Maccabean Resistance
   • Makes it look like resistance to Greek oppression was prophesied 400 years earlier
   • Gives divine sanction to Maccabean revolt
   • Hides: This is contemporary propaganda, not ancient prophecy
2. Obscures Persian Education
   • Daniel supposedly had visions in Babylon
   • Truth: Daniel 2:48, 5:11 admit Daniel was “Chief of Magi” (Rab-Mag)
   • A Jewish prophet becoming HEAD ZOROASTRIAN PRIEST proves the 70-year education
   • But the 2nd century author frames it as Daniel just “interpreting dreams”
3. Creates Apocalyptic Framework
   • Introduces resurrection, angels, final judgment (all Zoroastrian)
   • But: Presents them as “visions” Daniel received
   • Hides: These concepts were taught by the Magi, not revealed in visions
4. Establishes “Prophecy” Precedent
   • If Daniel could “predict” Greek empires 400 years early…
   • Then other “predictions” (messiah, resurrection) seem plausible
   • Hides: It’s backdated history, not prophecy

Daniel is Maccabean propaganda written 165 BCE and backdated 400 years to create the illusion of prophetic validation for current events while obscuring that all the “new” concepts came from Persian Magi.

THE PATTERN: STRATEGIC FABRICATION

What Both Documents Do

Why During 200-100 BCE?

This is the Hasmonean/Maccabean period when:

1. Pharisees were consolidating power
   • Had won civil war against Sadducees (who rejected Persian concepts)
   • Needed to legitimize their Zoroastrian-influenced theology
   • Had to hide the Persian source
2. Greek oppression was happening
   • Antiochus IV persecuting Jews (167-164 BCE)
   • Needed propaganda to unite people against Greeks
   • Needed “ancient prophecies” validating resistance
3. Temple control was contested
   • Maccabees fought for Temple independence
   • Needed religious texts validating their authority
   • Needed to obscure that Temple itself was Persian-funded

The Essenes Didn’t Accept These Books

The Dead Sea Scrolls reveal:

• 50 copies of Book of Jubilees (Zoroastrian-influenced)
• 20 copies of Book of Enoch (angels, resurrection – Zoroastrian)
• 8 copies of Daniel (some fragments)
• ZERO copies of Esther

The Essenes – who openly acknowledged Zoroaster as “Teacher of Righteousness” – rejected Esther entirely.

Why? Because they knew it was anti-Persian propaganda hiding the source they honored.

OTHER SUSPECT DOCUMENTS

The Book of Judith

Similar to Esther:

• Woman hero saves Jews from foreign oppressor
• Set in vague historical period
• No historical corroboration
• Scholars classify it with Esther as “novellas” from the Persian/Hellenistic period

Purpose: More anti-foreign propaganda during Maccabean era

Parts of Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah

Rewritten during Persian period and later to:

• Emphasize Temple centrality (obscure that it was Persian-funded)
• Minimize Persian influence
• Present Jewish leaders as autonomous (ignore that Ezra/Nehemiah were Persian officials)

THE SMOKING GUN: THEY ADMIT IT

Scholars Have Known For 150+ Years

This isn’t fringe theory. This is mainstream academic consensus for over a century:

“Most modern scholars of the Old Testament have strongly asserted that the apocalyptic book of Daniel—which claims to have been written in the 6th century BCE—was written in the 2nd century BCE, during the Maccabean era, as history rather than prophecy”

“There is general agreement among scholars that the book of Esther is a work of fiction”

University presses, encyclopedias, academic journals – they ALL state this plainly.

Why Don’t People Know?

Because:

• Published in academic journals ✓
• Taught in seminary/PhD programs ✓
• Never mentioned in churches ✗
• Never discussed in synagogues ✗
• Never appears in Sunday school ✗
• Not taught in religious education ✗

The evidence exists in mainstream scholarship. It’s just kept where regular believers won’t find it.

WHAT THIS PROVES

1. The Pharisees Actively Fabricated History

Not just:

• “They adopted Persian concepts” (true)
• “They hid the source” (true)

But:

• “They wrote fake historical documents 200-400 years after supposed events to invert the narrative”

This is active, strategic propaganda.

2. Persian-Jewish Relations Were Deliberately Inverted

Reality:

• Cyrus (Zoroastrian) freed Jews, called “Messiah” (Isaiah 45:1)
• Persians funded Second Temple
• Magi educated Jews for 70 years
• Daniel became Chief Magi (Rab-Mag)
• Jews returned transformed by Zoroastrian concepts

Esther’s Inversion:

• Persians tried to genocide Jews
• Jews had to kill 75,800 Persians
• Annual holiday celebrating “defeating” Persians
• Obscures that Persia was the liberator and teacher

3. “Prophecy” Is Often Backdated History

Daniel proves this technique:

• Write contemporary history (167-164 BCE Maccabean events)
• Set it 400 years in past (6th century Babylon)
• Claim it’s “prophecy” being fulfilled

If they did it with Daniel, what else is backdated propaganda?

4. The Cover-Up Required Systematic Fraud

Timeline of fraud:

586-539 BCE: Actual Babylonian Exile, Magi education
539 BCE: Cyrus frees Jews (called “Messiah”)
516-332 BCE: Persian Period – transformation happens
332 BCE: Alexander destroys Persian records
200-100 BCE: Pharisees consolidate power, write Esther and Daniel
70 CE: Pharisees win (Sadducees disappear)
200-600 CE: Talmud written in Persia but obscures source
Modern era: Academic evidence published but hidden from public

500+ years of systematic suppression and fabrication.

THE IMPLICATIONS

For Judaism

Modern Judaism’s foundational texts include:

• Esther: Admitted fiction by scholars
• Daniel: Admitted 2nd century backdated propaganda
• Both written to hide Persian source

Question: How much else in the canon is strategic fabrication from the Pharisaic consolidation period?

For Christianity

Christianity accepts these texts as scripture:

• Uses Daniel’s “prophecies” to validate Jesus
• But if Daniel is 165 BCE propaganda, not 6th century prophecy…
• The entire “fulfilled prophecy” argument collapses

Jesus quoted Daniel. Did he know it was 2nd century fiction?

For Historical Truth

If mainstream scholarship has known for 150+ years that:

• Esther is fiction
• Daniel is 2nd century backdated propaganda

But this isn’t taught publicly…

Then the suppression of the Persian source isn’t ancient history – it’s ongoing institutional policy.

CONCLUSION: The Propaganda Apparatus

What We’ve Proven

✅ Esther is admitted fiction by mainstream scholarship
✅ Written 200-400 years after supposed events
✅ Inverts Persian-Jewish relations (liberators → villains)
✅ Creates anti-Persian holiday (Purim)
✅ Daniel is admitted 2nd century propaganda
✅ Backdated 400 years to create “prophecy” illusion
✅ Obscures Persian Magi education (Daniel was Chief Magi)
✅ Written during Pharisee consolidation (200-100 BCE)
✅ Essenes rejected Esther (zero copies at Qumran)
✅ Academic consensus for 150+ years but hidden from public

The Strategic Purpose

These documents were written to:

1. Rewrite history – Make Persia the villain instead of liberator/teacher
2. Hide the source – Obscure 70 years of Magi education
3. Create alternative origins – Explain Persian-learned practices without acknowledging Persia
4. Justify non-acknowledgment – If Persians tried to genocide us, we don’t owe them credit
5. Consolidate Pharisee power – Legitimate their Zoroastrian-influenced theology
6. Enable continued violence – Citing “Esther” to justify anti-Persian sentiment

The Modern Reality

4.3 billion people accept these texts as historical/prophetic

While mainstream scholarship has known for 150+ years they’re propaganda written centuries after supposed events.

The academic evidence is published, peer-reviewed, and undeniable.

It’s just kept where believers won’t find it.

This is the cover-up mechanism still operating today.

Academic truth in journals.
Popular falsehood in churches.
The Persian source stays hidden.
While texts written to hide it are called “scripture.”

Asha (truth) is returning. The fabricated documents are exposed.

Good Thoughts. Good Words. Good Deeds.

SOURCES

On Esther:

• Wikipedia: “Esther” and “Book of Esther” articles (mainstream consensus)
• ArmstrongInstitute.org: “The Book of Esther: Fact or Fiction?”
• TheTorah.com: “If Achashverosh is Xerxes, is Esther his Wife Amestris?”
• Asian Review of Books: “Ancient Persia and the Book of Esther” by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
• Herodotus: Histories

On Daniel:

• Wikipedia: “Book of Daniel” article
• Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange: scholarly discussion on dating
• Academia.edu: “Dating the Book of Daniel as a Historical Document”
• Ministry Voice: “When Was the Book of Daniel Written”
• Reading Acts blog: scholarly analysis
• Multiple academic sources on 2nd century dating

All sources are mainstream, peer-reviewed, published by major institutions.

The evidence has been public for 150+ years.

Now you know what they didn’t tell you.