Although his name is never mentioned, we see his providence in each page of this wonderful little book. Top 5 commentaries on the book of esther ligonier ministries. Now it came to pass in the days of ahasuerus he was the ahasuerus who reigned from hodu to. Its not long, and you will need the whole story to preach this text. 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. 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. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. Discover purims exciting origins in the book of esther. 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. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more.
The main character is hadassah, a beautiful young jewish woman who caught the eye of persian king xerxes ahasuerus and gave up her ordinary life to become queen. Sleep is taken from ahasuerus at precisely the right time 6. The book of esther begins with king ahasuerus known to history outside the bible as xerxes throwing a lavish. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. What spiritual lessons can we learn from this book. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of esther in easy english. Watch our overview video on the book of esther, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. This commentary approaches the book of esther from a fresh literary point of view. While the primary purpose of the book of esther was to relate the dramatic origins of the feast of purim, a greater theme shines through the story. Best commentaries and books on esther logos bible software. The book of esther and god hidden and revealed lutheran forum. If you havent ever read the book of esther, read it now. It gives us a fuller understanding of what life was like in the persian court.
Another highranking persian government officer, artabanus, eventually assassinated him. It is clear that the author was a jew, both from his emphasis on the origin of a jewish festival and from the jewish nationalism that permeates the story. For example, when esther asks the jews to fast, we can assume this included prayer est. 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. Queen esther came to the throne for just such a time 4. Book of prophecy that reveals gods magnificent plan of salvation through the person and work of jesus christ the book of esther is read every year to the assembled congregations of the jewish people in their synagogues to the present day. From proclaim my word, in partnership with am 1160 the quest your atlanta catholic radio, this sixsession bible study will help each of us to live, like esther, for such a time as this.
There is a striking contrast between the books of ruth and esther. Esther, book of the seventeenth book of the ot in the traditional english order. It gives us a glimpse of the jews who remained outside their homeland after the exile, particularly the jews living in the persian empire. Addition is a loaded word here, assuming that the lxx comes. Mordecai is brought into prominence at the right time 6. The authors use of irony is an effective literary device in this narrative. Esther is one of the worlds greatest examples of a dramatic narrative.
Commentary on esther 1 by matthew henry blue letter bible. We are shown a persian emperor, ahasuerus loosely based on xerxes, 485464 b. Introduction to the book the book of esther is the only book in the bible that does not mention the name of god. 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. Esther 1 now in the days of ahasuerus, the ahasuerus who. The book of esther with a commentary hardcover skip to the beginning of the images gallery. And it came to pass when nebuchadnezzar died, that his son, evilmerodach, claimed the kingdom. The seventeenth book of the ot in the traditional english order. David guzik commentary on esther 4, where mordecai asks esther to make an appeal before the king, and esther decides to go before ahasuerus. The dead sea scrolls contain fragments of each old testament book, with the exception of esther.
A classic story of good versus evil, the book of esther is a unique account in the bible. While the author of the book of esther is uncertain, some have suggested that it may have been written by mordecai a character we will become acquainted with later in the book somewhere around 465 bc. There are exegetical commentaries, scholarly and technical commentaries, as well as commentaries that are easy to understand. 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. With scripture memory, daily study, and group discussion questions, this resource is ideal for both individual and group study. The beautiful esther, who also has the hebrew name hadassah which means myrtle esther 2. Karen jobes esther niv application commentary, 1999. According to the talmud, it was a redaction by the great assembly of an original text by mordecai. 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. As with most of the ot writings the author of the book of esther esther meaning star is not mentioned. Although we do not know who wrote the book of esther, from internal evidence it is possible to make some inferences about the author and the date of composition.
God directs this material universe in which we live today by his providence. 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. Esther 1 the pulpit commentaries bible commentaries. The advancement of esther to be queen instead of vashti. The events mentioned in esther therefore happened between ezra chapter 6 and chapter 7. The book of esther tells a story of the deliverance of the jewish people. But the people refused to anoint him as ruler, and they said to him. Esther commentary, sermon, illustration, devotional. I dont think i have maligned this mans name for, as we saw in chapter 3 and in the coming chapters he does a very good job of. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Consider this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. Jun 03, 2004 in the book of esther, what is not said is vitally important. This informative commentary part of jpss bible commentary series dissects the book of esther and, by extension, the jewish holiday of purim. A bible study podcast series based on the book of esther have you ever wondered who god created you to be.
Five figures move before usahasuerus, the persian monarch. Paton, a critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther, p54. Jobes volume is best for those seeking a biblicaltheological commentary on the book of esther. It is a literary masterpiecea historical novel filled with action and suspense. In the hebrew bible the book of esther is placed in the third main part, that is. Well, i can now tell you that i have found you the particularly nasty villain you have been desperate for. Christian reflections on the song of songs, ruth, lamentations, ecclesiastes and esther books of esther. The fate of gods chosen people is at the very center of the story, but god seems to. When i wrote my study on the book of ruth 1, i started by saying that it was a fantastic book that had it all well, apart from a nasty villain, but we cant ask for everything. In this sixweek study, explore the subject of gods providence, walking verse by verse through the book of esther. God masterfully orchestrates and weaves together every detail of our lives in jawdropping ways. Over 100 years earlier, nebuchadnezzar the king of babylon had attacked jerusalem. Best esther commentaries updated for 2021 best bible.
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. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. The book belongs to the socalled five scrolls hebr. About the book of esther the events that the first chapter of the book of esther describes happened about 483 bc before christ. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. When mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. Working within a fallen system esther bible commentary. Esther 2 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. In the last study we were introduced to a rather unlovely character by the name of haman. 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. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. Classical sources such as josephus, the jewish commentary esther rabbah and the christian theologian barhebraeus, as well as the gre. After these things did king ahasuerus promote haman the son of hammedatha the agagite, and.
Feb 01, 2021 number 1 rated commentary esther an introduction and commentary tyndale old testament commentaries joyce g. The earlier relates to lowly persons and to rural life. 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. Each week covers approximately one chapter of esther. The author of esther, however, gives no such commentary because that isnt his concern. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. On the mystical level king achashverosh alludes to gd, the king of the world. It includes essays entitled when and where was the book of esther written. According to the ryrie study bible the events of this book cover a 10 year period 483473 bc during the reign of xerxes i 486465 bc. This is my favorite commentary on any book of holy scripture. Sex and spies, rabbinic interpretation, and many others. It is included among the historical books in protestant bibles but, in the hebrew bible, esther is included in the ketuvim, the writings, which include poetic and wisdom literature. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage. The unknown author of the book of esther was most likely a jew very familiar with the royal persian court.
Book of esther a free daily devotional bible study. The book of esther is a wellwritten, cleverly constructed piece of literature. Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Matthew henry commentary on esther 1 book of esther chapter 1. He reigned over the persian empire from486 to464 b. Joyce baldwin esther tyndale old testament commentaries, 1984. In esther s story, gods involvement is implicit rather than explicit. Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. This is the first release of brownbacks flourish bible study series. The book of esther is unusual gods name is not mentioned once, yet gods hand is.
Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Back in deuteronomy, before god brought the israelites into the promised land, he outlined their history for them. Barclays bible study the book of esther part 4 youtube. Baldwin rosscup is a bit less enamored with karen jobes commentary writing jobes will not be clear to some in her view that a biblical book can have legitimate errors in historical matters for the sake of poetic license, without. How the providence of god watched over the jews that had returned out of captivity to their own land, and what great and kind things were done for them, we. The hidden hand of god is a wellwritten, thoughtprovoking study of the book of esther. Here was a little known jew who was surprisingly elevated to a. The sovereignty and faithfulness of god permeate each scene. The book is set during the period after the babylonian exile in which the nation of persia present day iran ruled judah. Harem politics, antisemitism, and an audacious jewish heroine combine to make this story from the later persian period early 4th cent. Adele berlins commentary in the jps series is better suited for a critical look at the hebrew text. This 10week study takes a deep look into the book of esther. Neither mordecai, esther, nor the feast of purim is mentioned elsewhere in scripture.
Now esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. On the surface, it appears to be a story about survival, prejudice, and politics. The story of esther reads like a movie plot, with a beautiful queen risking her life to prevent genocide. Nothing is truly coincidental, the book of esther says to us.
This is why many presume that the book was written in the second half of the fifth century bc. Scripture that same day king xerxes gave queen esther the estate of read more the book of esther bible study. The book of esther provides us with the greatest illustrations of the providence of god. Moore the anchor yale bible commentaries moore, carey a. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. Esther is a young and beautiful jewish girl, orphaned but cared for by her. The book of esther also known in hebrew as the scroll megillah, is a book in the third. During world war ii she spent 21 months in a japanese concentration camp as a prisoner. But for those who know the larger story of the bible, gods hidden hand can be discerned in these events, working to protect and preserve israel. In 1934 annie became a missionary in china with oms. Chapter one chapter two chapter three chapter four chapter five chapter six chapter seven s. The book takes its name from the beautiful, orphaned jewess who became the queen of the persian king ahasuerus. In the hebrew bible the book of esther is placed in the third main part, that is the writings hebr.
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