Esther is a nineweek study with an optional purim celebration at the end. The book is set during the period after the babylonian exile in which the nation of persia present day iran ruled judah. Esthers mother, he explains, died in childbirth, and her father died only two years later. In the hebrew bible, the book of esther is found in the third section of the canon, the writings. But while the characters might resemble a fairy tale, the book of esther depicts actual events that shaped jewish history and instituted the festival of purim. Xerxes this is the ahasuerus of the book of esther.
The book of esther, a book of the christian old testament, is set in the third year of xerxes, a king of persia also known as artaxerxes ii. She was a jewess named hadassah the myrtle, but when she entered the royal harem she received the name by which she henceforth became known esther 2. After reading the selected chapter, come back to this page and select the next file or section. The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esthera comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a part of his harem. The books of ezra and nehemiah were written during his reign. Ezra 7 begins in the seventh year of artaxerxes i longimanus i. The book of esther may remind you of a classic, once upon a time childrens story with a wealthy king, his beautiful queen, and an evil villain.
Gods word is not just for our information, it for our transformation. The book of esther in the bible is a dramatic account which can give us insight into gods special and purposeful plan for our lives. This unlikely contestant for a beauty pageant was crowned queen of persia and renamed esther, meaning star. From desiring god, having proven himself as a poet, john piper has written another masterpiece, retelling the story of esther. Please identify the section you wish to read, and then use your readers searchfind feature to navigate to it. Esther is a young and beautiful jewish girl, orphaned but cared for by her. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. This paper examines the book of esther, deriving important insights about a variety of approaches to leadership that can be applied to todays crisis in leadership. In the hebrew bible the book of esther is placed in the third main part, that is the writings hebr. In 1934 annie became a missionary in china with oms. Pdf new anatomy of the book of esther rick arons academia. It relates the story of a hebrew woman in persia, born as hadassah but known as esther, who becomes queen of. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible.
A story of the providence of god in a pagan land page 4 introduction to the book the book of esther is the only book in the bible that does not mention the name of god. Ntroduction i the main plot of esther begins in chapter 3, with the description of hamans decree and the developments that follow. The following are five of the most helpful commentaries on. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles. Since ezra returned to jerusalem in about 475 bc, the book probably spans a period of ten years hughes 2001. Fulfilling lifes mission we flounder without a mission leaders guide part 1 identify the issue note to leader. Paton, critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther icc 22. Neither mordecai, esther, nor the feast of purim is mentioned. In the book of esther god used mordecai an ungodly man to rebuke esther into obedience. Scripture says mordecai recorded certain events in order to relate them to jews throughout the kingdom see esth.
Although his name is never mentioned, we see his providence in each page of this wonderful little book. Clark, 1908 186, was one of the first to regard vv. Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esthera comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a. Levensons book consists of two parts an introductory essay of 35 pages, followed by a linebyline commentary on the text of esther. The book of esther can be divided into three main sections. This paper examines the book of esther, deriving important insights about a variety of approaches to. True, when the church took over the bible of the jews as part of its canon, it did embrace the book of esther. To begin, when you click on chapter 1 or any chaptersection, a pdf will be opened which you can read, change type size, or even save to your computer for viewing later. He did not always interpret scripture l iterally and so was amillennial he interpreted revelation as a historicist which led. This study guide on the book of esther was written by thomas klock of harvest christian fellowship. Adam clarke commentary on esther 17601832 clarke was methodist, wesleyan, arminian, e. Inductive study of esther historical background chronologically, esther falls in the middle of ezra, probably between chapters six and seven, around 485 bc during the early years of the reign of king ahasuerus creelman 1917, 291. We might even think that he does not care about us. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete.
It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. On the second page you will see an outline of this commentary. Please help me to understand and apply what i have read. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so in the days of persecution. But the megillahs mandate differs from the torahs in one crucial respect. Moore, the author of the anchor bible commentary on esther asserts. Download this free ebook in pdf format, esther by john piper. Esther is the last of the historical books of the bible, so its main character is named esther that is, venus, the morning star, which sheds its light after all the other stars have ceased to shine, and while the sun still delays rising. Provide each person with the participants guide, included at the end of this study. Esther, the beautiful jewish wife of the persian king ahasuerus, and her cousin mordecai persuade the king to retract an order for the general annihilation of jews throughout the empire.
The book of esther provides us with the greatest illustrations of the providence of god. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. Its one of the most beautiful books in the bible and so full of great takeaways for the modern christian woman today. The book of esther has great historical value because it falls in a period of history where some of the decisive events that would determine the future destiny of western civilization. The book belongs to the socalled five scrolls hebr. Opus non gratum in the christian canon, bulletin for biblical research 8 1998. Esther serves as the title without variation through the ages. Artaxerxes this man was son of xerxes and stepson of esther. The book of esther serves as the authorizing document for purim, a holiday that is not mentioned in the torah. Today we are beginning a new studya new expository sermon serieson the book of esther.
Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. It is a syroarabian modification of the persian word satarah, which means a star. Berlin begins with a lengthy introduction, discussing esther as comedy and as diaspora literature. The canonicity of the book was questioned by some in ancient judaism and early christianity. Part two fastforwards to esther looking back and explaining how she became queen to her son, and what gods providential purposes were in saving the jews. Queen esther came to the throne for just such a time 4. The pulpit commentary introduces the book of esther with the following. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. The book of esther, also known in hebrew as the scroll megillah, is a book in the third.
This book and the book of ruth are the only old testament books named after women. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. The book takes its name from the beautiful, orphaned jewess who became the queen of the persian king ahasuerus. For thomas mcrie esthers success reads as an implicit manual on the im perial. Jan 01, 2001 this informative commentary part of jpss bible commentary series dissects the book of esther and, by extension, the jewish holiday of purim. David guzik commentary on esther 2 describes how esther is chosen as the new queen to king ahasuerus, and mordecai saves the kings life. Hence it belongs to the bestknown ot books with the jews and it is also the book, which has the oldest copies. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Although less common, the impact of esther is still discernible into the. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage. This book is also the reason why the jewish people created the jewish festivity of purim, which is celebrated annually amongst all jewish people in the world. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
During world war ii she spent 21 months in a japanese concentration camp as a prisoner. Clines observes,9 hermanns 1986 catalogue of antisemitic sentiments that have been voiced under the guise of interpretation of esther makes depressing reading indeed. The book of esther is read every year to the assembled congregations of the jewish people in their synagogues to the present day. It is careful not to say that god commanded the observance of purim. Book of prophecy that reveals gods magnificent plan of salvation through the person and work of jesus christ. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. A quote from my bible commentary that i wrote in my study guide. Apr 30, 2020 esthers mother, he explains, died in childbirth, and her father died only two years later. Early jewish and christian traditions suggest that among the people named in the book, mordecai, esther s cousin and guardian, was in the best position to record the events.
P dear lord, please help me to be a epaprasto tell others about you and then leave the results in your loving hands. The writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control. Overview of the book of esther third millennium ministries. Like song of solomon, obadiah, and nahum, the new testament does not quote or allude to esther. The book of esther is renowned for its literary artistry, which functions as the principal vehicle for the book s. The book of esther, also known in hebrew as the scroll megillah, is a book in the third section ketuvim, writings of the jewish tanakh the hebrew bible and in the christian old testament. Illuminations year one the book of esther family study guide illuminations year one the book of esther from the old testament family study guide by maggie hogan weeks 1 and 2 preparation and supplies you will need the following to get the most out of this family study guide. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. This comprehensive history, the first to appear in english, gives a vivid portrayal of the book of esther s role in the intellectual and cultural life of jews in the middle ages. Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The book of esther was written during the 3 rd year of the reign of ahasuerus 485 465 bc. The writer of esther clearly intended the book to explain the origin of the celebration of purim, to institutionalize it as a commemoration of the great deliverance of the jews during the persian period see note on esther 9. It is believed to have been written between 464330 bc.
See all of our coronavirus resources here toggle navigation. The introductory essay provides a good overview of the book of esther a summary of the plot, an analysis of the book s structure and themes, and a discussion of the historicity and origins of the various. Mordecais question to esther encapsulates the great lesson of this book. Bush fuller theological seminary the book of esther tends to be an unaccepted book in christendom. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. Indeed, martin luther expressed contempt for esther, claiming that it is spoiled by too much pagan impropriety. Mordecai is brought into prominence at the right time 6. Book of esther download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. In the book of jonah, he used a storm to convince the fleeing prophet, jonah 1.
On the mystical level king achashverosh alludes to gd, the king of the world. The book of esther is one of the most exciting books in all the old testament and is nearly unique in employing a woman as its leading character. This would place the story a few decades before the events in the book of. The events in the book of esther occurred from 483. The manner in which these young women were introduced to the king, and how those were disposed of who were not called again to the kings bed, esther 2. It is the last of the five scrolls ruth, song of songs, ecclesiastes, lamentations, and esther, and is read at the feast of purim. The book of esther a survey of the content of the book of esther theme. But while the characters might resemble a fairy tale, the book of esther depicts actual events that shaped jewish history and. Though unseen, he is on the scene accomplishing his purposes in this world. Esther pleases the king, and is set above all the women. The book takes its name from the beautiful, orphaned jewess. He eventually chose esther as his queen, and by her influence the jews were saved from destruction.
Sleep is taken from ahasuerus at precisely the right time 6. Classical sources such as josephus, the jewish commentary esther rabbah and the christian theologian barhebraeus. Yet archaeological and historical evidence demonstrates that this book is historical and accurate, and. Esther, jewish diaspora, mordecai, haman, purim it is an unfortunate fact that in the christian world at large the book of esther has not found acceptance. Another biblical theme in the book of esther is divine providence follows people god that use to serve his purposes, jonah 1. The massacre had been plotted by the kings chief minister, haman, and the date decided by casting lots. The book is named for the star of the story, a young jewish girl named hadassah who was taken from her guardian, mordecai, and forced to compete for the affection of the king. Esther a2 classic bible study guide 2 introduction the book of esther is a graphic narrative, which relates how gods people were preserved from ruin during the fifth century b. Even though you may not see god in your daily circumstances, trust him and follow his plan.