purpose, while Esther is not. Closer to being “historicized wisdom tales” are two nonbiblical narrative compositions with the theme of the wise courtier in the foreign court that contain teachings or instructions: the Book of Aḥiqar and the Instruction of Onkhsheshonq. These compositions may be considered under the rubric of Wisdom Literature, as well as under the rubric of “wise courtier.” But the Book of Esther does not include the kind of sapiential teachings found in these two works, and, for