In the 1570s, Italian Jewish Renaissance figure Azariah de Rossi translated and published The Letter of Aristeas, a second-century BCE work recounting the translation of the Torah into Greek by 72 Jewish sages for King Ptolemy II Philadelphus.

The Book of Esther has different versions in Jewish, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant scriptures, impacting the portrayal of God's presence and the themes of human initiative and assimilation.

Robert Alter, a prominent scholar and critic, challenges readers to see the Bible as a work of literature, not just religious scripture.