Mar 06, 2019 the book of esther is a vivid tale of political intrigue and racial prejudice that illustrates the theme of gods protection of his people and the punishment of their opponents. Introductory comments we know that the book of esther is rarely preached and rarely taught. Christopher ash on teaching esther the gospel coalition. Adele berlin, jps bible commentary jpstc, jewish publication society, 2001, 110 pp. An early karaite commentary on the book of esther jstor.
This book and the book of ruth are the only old testament books named after women. Nov 07, 2019 the book of esther presents us, as teachers, with an incredible opportunity to tell a dramatic and captivating story. 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. Discover purims exciting origins in the book of esther. Yet the book of esther s real story is not found in. Esther 12 resources multiple sermons and commentaries. Rabbi soloveitchiks view of esther israel drazin the blogs. Vernon mcgee, in his introduction to this book writes. The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so.
The commentary is accessible to laymen, but should be useful to. Esther commentary john gills exposition of the bible. Levensons book consists of two parts an introductory essay of 35 pages, followed by a linebyline commentary on the text of esther. During world war ii she spent 21 months in a japanese concentration camp as a prisoner. He overcame the jews and he took many jews to babylon. She rose to the top of political power without any of the advantages of aristocratic birth, wellplaced friends, inherited wealth, or social prestige. Within the ketuvim, the book of esther is one of the five megillot the five scrolls. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. Yet the book of esthers real story is not found in political intrigue or superior.
Book of esther a free daily devotional bible study. These illuminating essays, on a broad range of topics organized around selected themes, offer commentary on the book of esther and interpretations americans have brought to the story. Watch our overview video on the book of esther, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. And it came to pass when nebuchadnezzar died, that his son, evilmerodach, claimed the kingdom. The events of the book of esther occurred during the reign of king ahasuerus.
Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. For example, when esther asks the jews to fast, we can assume this included prayer est. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward esther. The spurgeon library providence as seen in the book of esther. The megillat esther book of esther became the last of the 24 books of the tanakh to be canonized by the sages of the great assembly. 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. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. It includes essays entitled when and where was the book of esther written. But the people refused to anoint him as ruler, and they said to him. And when it was her turn to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what hegai, the kings trusted official in charge of the harem, had advised. Queen esther faced and helped avert the potential genocide of her people. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. 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. 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.
The events that the first chapter of the book of esther describes happened about 483 bc before christ. Feb 25, 2020 there are ten banquets in the book of esther, and they are the settings for significant plot developments in the story. Even though the name of god is not mentioned in it, no book of the bible teaches his providence more forcefully. Best esther commentaries updated for 2021 best bible. Rabbi soloveitchiks view of esther israel drazin the. Not much is revealed about her character, but she is described as beautiful 2. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. As queen, esther hides her religious identity and maintains her jewish practices keeping kosher and observing the laws of shabbat and family purity in secret. When the story of esther happened, most jews were still living in the country called persia. Best commentaries and books on esther logos bible software. The unknown author of the book of esther was most likely a jew very familiar with the. Jobes volume is best for those seeking a biblicaltheological commentary on the book of esther. As we begin our study of chapter 4, i want to ask you to make a commitment. The book of esther begins with king ahasuerus known to history outside the bible.
It gives us a glimpse of the jews who remained outside their homeland after the exile, particularly the jews living in the persian empire. Join beth in a very personal examination of this great story of threat and deliverance as she peels back the layers of history and shows how very contemporary and applicable. Ahasuerus gets rid of his first wife out of jealous rage. Set in the persian diaspora, the book of esther depicts the struggle for jews to. It has been well said that the book of esther is a record of wonders without a miracle, and therefore, though equally revealing the glory of the lord, it sets it forth in another fashion from that which is displayed in the overthrow of pharaoh by. You can find the best commentary on esther for you using the tools on the right side. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. Enduring word bible commentary esther chapter 1 esther 1 a queen is deposed 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. Prayer is not mentioned it wouldnt be, since god is omitted. Pierce suggests that god is not mentioned to highlight the secular nature of the people of god in the ancient diaspora, distanced from the holy land. Tracing the history of the book of esther and jewish festival purim. We tend to want to make judgments and draw conclusions about the motives and morality of the characters. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. On the surface, the characters in the book of esther act on their own initiative, being saved not by divine intervention, but through their own efforts.
The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance. Feb 16, 2014 in this esther 3 sermon were going to see the two protagonists in this story esther and mordecai live by faith in the unseen god. On the mystical level king achashverosh alludes to gd, the king of the world. Sleep is taken from ahasuerus at precisely the right time 6. This commentary approaches the book of esther from a fresh literary point of view. But in the opinion of the present writer, the hebrew text underwent considerable. This is my favorite commentary on any book of holy scripture. In the hebrew bible, the book of esther is found in the third section of the. It offers hope for israels future and is the most widely read book of the bible among jews today. Like song of solomon, obadiah, and nahum, the new testament does not quote or allude to esther. Because of these perplexing realities, scholars for centuries have questioned the inspiration of the book of esther. Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the jews.
Yet there are more manuscripts of the book of esther than any other old testament book. The book of esther in one sense is the most remarkable in the bible, and that is because the name of god is not mentioned in this book at all. In 28 essays written by a company of gifted scholars and commentators, esther in america traces the storys interpretation in and impact on the united states. The book belongs to the socalled five scrolls hebr. The book of esther is never quoted in the new testament.
But esther and mordecai, along with many other jews, had chosen not to. From our point of view, she is caught in an oppressive, sexist system and is soon to lose her virginity at the hands of a selfish tyrant. For rabbi stuart halperns commentary on the enduring story of esther in america, click here the year is 1853, the place is a womens rights convention in new york city, and the. Feb 25, 2018 the book, megillat esther mesorat harav, which can be translated as the scroll of esther according to the traditions of the rabbi, contains such commentaries on the biblical book esther. Adele berlins commentary in the jps series is better suited for a critical look at the hebrew text. Esther risks approaching the king unbidden, yet receives his favor es.
Rossow, literary artistry in the book of esther and its theological significance, concordia journal. As scripture reveals, esther is a jewish woman living in persia and reared by her cousin mordecai. Presented here is a verse by verse exposition of the new testament. Providence as seen in the book of esther though it was turned to the contrary, that the jews had rule over them that hated them. May 09, 2017 the book of esther reflects this idea, by referring to vashti as queen vashti 1. The fate of gods chosen people is at the very center of the story, but god seems to remain in the shadows.
Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who. Even as mordecai had commanded her she manifests traits of loyalty and submission to authority obedience. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. Sex and spies, rabbinic interpretation, and many others. Working within a fallen system esther bible commentary. This book particularly teaches us the invisible care of god for those of his people who preferred to stay in the land of exile although they could have returned to palestine since the days of king cyrus of persia see book of ezra. The power of the message of esther is that god is not absent even in the moments where he seems hes absent. There have been chronological difficulties with king ahasuerus, even though some researchers have claimed that he was in fact the persian king. She employs a clever scheme to butter him up over the course of two banquets es. According to the talmud, it was a redaction by the great assembly of an original text by mordecai. An exposition, with practical observations, of the book of esther chapter 1. Queen esther came to the throne for just such a time 4.
Its tough being a woman by beth moore provides a personal study experience five days a week plus viewer guides for the group video sessions of this indepth womens bible study of esther a profile in courage. Over 100 years earlier, nebuchadnezzar the king of babylon had attacked jerusalem. Behold, once before was thy father removed from the vicinity of human beings and compelled to eat herbs and grass like the beasts of the field for seven years. The fate of gods chosen people is at the very center of the story, but god seems to. Understanding the perilous situation of the jews is crucial in interpreting esther 4. The book of esther shows how the hand of god can move in a supernaturallynatural way.
Feb 01, 2021 the book of esther is unusual gods name is not mentioned once, yet gods hand is clearly present and active throughout the book, to the extent that many see the book of esther as a veritable treatise on the doctrine of divine providence see separate study. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible and later became part of the christian greek old testament. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. For esther and the jews, the story has a happy ending. And esther found favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her. 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.
Esther sent clothes for mordecai but he refused them. The first lesson we did an overview of the entire book. In some respects the book of esther may well be the most unusual book in the old. Yet of all the books in the bible, esther is the only one to get the title, in judaism, of the scroll see section 12. The book of esther commentary by robert jamieson chapter 1 es 1. The scroll of esther, popularly known as the megillah, or purim story, is at once a saga of humanitys finest and basest elements, and the story of a holocaust that almost happened, yet, unlike its contemporary counterpart, ended in the miraculous salvation of the jewish people. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more.
The esther story is found among the writings in the hebrew bible. The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so in the days of persecution. Esther the niv application commentary kindle edition by. Jun 03, 2004 sadly, many who read and study esther including bible scholars who write commentaries on the book fill in the blanks, rather than leaving them blank and learning from the silence of the author. This king ahasuerus is well known to history, though more commonly under the name xerxes. The five books included in the megillot are song of songs, ruth, lamentations, ecclesiastes, and esther. Esther 3 sermon bible study guide explaining the book. Almost 70 years after that, the king of persia defeated. Consider this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. But the superstition of the heathen is mentioned, and lucky days, and well be introduced into a pagan, heathen court of a great world monarch who ruled over the thenknown world.
There are exegetical commentaries, scholarly and technical commentaries, as well as commentaries that are easy to understand. Prayer is not mentionedit wouldnt be, since god is omitted. Haman responds by plotting to kill not only mordecai, but the whole jewish. Top 5 commentaries on the book of esther ligonier ministries. In 1934 annie became a missionary in china with oms. In the hebrew bible the book of esther is placed in the third main part, that is the writings hebr. Mordecai is brought into prominence at the right time 6. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use.
Esther, purim and why it all still matters jews for jesus. A selection of the best commentaries and bible study resources on the book of. This list of commentaries is intended to help the reader understand and apply the authors message in the book of esther. Yet most people today have never heard of john gill. Esther summary paul tripps the gospel one chapter at a. A classic story of good versus evil, the book of esther is a unique account in the bible. There is not even a divine title or pronoun that refers to god. Esther introduction old testament matthew henry st. A halfdrunken xerxes deposes his queen vashti amestris xerxes makes preparations to invade greece now it came to pass in the days of ahashuerus this is ahashuerus who reigned from india even unto ethiopia, over a hundred and twenty and seven provinces, that in those days when the king ahashuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in shushan. As seen in the book of esther the spurgeon library. In esther s story, gods involvement is implicit rather than explicit. It was there that we noticed that god leads his people providentially.
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