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. It was one shared amongst all the jews everywhere throughout the empire. But the jewish rabbis called it also the volume of esther, or simply the volume megillah to distinguish it from the other four volumes megilloth, written on separate rolls, which were read in the synagogues on certain feast days. Esther is written during the period of the captivity. Mordecai is brought into prominence at the right time 6. Esther was the queen of ahasuerus xerxes and the daughter of abihail, a benjamite. Neither mordecai, esther, nor the feast of purim is mentioned. The book of esther explained pastor jonathan shelley.
Esther, at length, surprises the king with a petition, not for wealth or honour, or the preferment of some of her friends to some high post, which the king expected, but for the preservation of herself and her countrymen from death and destruction, esther 7. Apr 19, 2020 the book of esther explained pastor jonathan shelley stedfast baptist church. Poetic justice happens in literature when good wins andor evil is punished. Summary of the book of esther genuine leather bible. 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. Esther is book number 17 in the old testament of the bible. He may not always do it in the way we think he should, but the book of esther. According to most scholars, the name esther is derived from the mesopotamian goddess ishtar andor the persian word stara, star the book of daniel provides accounts of jews in exile being assigned names relating to babylonian gods and mordecai is understood to mean servant of marduk, a babylonian god. Well be studying the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters today. Jun 24, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of esther, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
The book of esther relates an amazing chain of events that first threatened, and then safeguarded and established, the welfare of gods people in the mighty. 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. In 2012, a graphic adaptation of the book of esther was illustrated by j. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. The book of esther opens with a description of an enormous 180day party thrown by king achashverosh in his 3rd year as king of the persian empire, ruling over 127 provinces. Esther is a young and beautiful jewish girl, orphaned but cared for by her. Although we do not know who wrote the book of esther, from internal evidence it is possible to make some inferences about the author. Esther then ask the jews to fast about this for three days and three nights esther 4. In the story of esther, youll meet a beautiful, young queen who risked her life to serve. Jun 29, 2017 the book of esther tells of hamans plot against the jews of the ancient persian empire, and how the beautiful queen esther and her uncle mordecai defeated his purpose. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more.
Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. In the story of esther, youll meet a beautiful, young queen who risked her life to serve god and save her people. 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 of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. Yet there is much to be understood by analyzing the story in terms of. Watch our overview video on the book of esther, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book of esther tells of hamans plot against the jews of the ancient persian empire, and how the beautiful queen esther and her uncle mordecai defeated his purpose.
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. In esther, god providentially uses two exiled israelites to rescue his. 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. The book purports to explain how the feast of purim came to be celebrated by the jews. The book of esther, also known in hebrew as the scroll megillah, is a book in the third. It belongs to the third section of the judaic canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings, and also appears in the protestant canon and in the. It relates the story of a hebrew woman in persia, born as hadassah but known as esther, who becomes queen of persia and thwarts a genocide. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. 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. The lesson here is that gods timing is always immaculate and the book of esther reminds the reader of this and esthers place on the throne at this exact time would save the jews from extermination. Hence it belongs to the bestknown otbooks with the jews and it is also the book, which has the oldest copies.
The book is set during the period after the babylonian exile in which the nation of persia present day iran ruled judah. The book of esther is a 20 movie starring jen lilley as queen esther and joel smallbone as king xerxes. The key personalities are esther, mordecai, king ahasuerus or xerxes, and haman. But the jewish rabbis called it also the volume of esther, or simply the volume megillah to. Esther chapter 7 verse by verse bible commentary matthew. He may not always do it in the way we think he should, but the book of esther shows that he is in control even when we dont see him. Yet there is much to be understood by analyzing the story in terms of political. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete.
According to most scholars, the name esther is derived from the mesopotamian goddess ishtar andor the persian word stara, star the book of daniel provides accounts of jews in exile. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. This book and the book of ruth are the only old testament books named after women. Esther, at length, surprises the king with a petition, not for wealth or honour, or the preferment of some of her friends to some high post, which the king expected, but for the preservation of herself and her. Like song of solomon, obadiah, and nahum, the new testament does not quote or allude to esther. Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. The book of esther is one of only two books in the bible named for women. 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. Esther serves as the title without variation through the ages.
The writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage. Esther, the beautiful jewish wife of the persian king ahasuerus xerxes. It belongs to the third section of the judaic canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings, and also appears in the protestant canon and in the roman catholic canon. Jun 18, 2019 the book of esther is one of only two books in the bible named for women. Information and translations of book of esther in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Information and translations of book of esther in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions. In the hebrew bible and the septuagint the book of esther bears only the word esther as title. Mordecai learned of a plot to kill the king and made it known to esther who passed the news to the king. Verse 3 then tells us that this wasnt the reaction of mordecais only. The genre of the book of esther is narrative history. According to some sources, it is a historical novella, written to explain the origin of the jewish holiday of purim. We might even think that he does not care about us. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries.
The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. Mar 03, 20 the book of esther, which is read on purim and to which that holiday is dedicated, has been interpreted many ways. As the days of feasting draw to a close, he summons his wife, vashti, to show off her beauty by appearing wearing only her crown. Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esther a comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a. The jewish historian josephus names mordecai as author of the book. The book of esther, which is read on purim and to which that holiday is dedicated, has been interpreted many ways. Ill give this message the title gods providential poetic justice. 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. In the book of esther this information is casually presented as unimportant, but comes up later in the story. Book of esther, in the hebrew bible and the christian old testament. Sleep is taken from ahasuerus at precisely the right time 6.
The book is set during the period after the babylonian. It purports to explain how the feast of purim came to be celebrated by the jews. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. The book of esther explained pastor jonathan shelley stedfast baptist church. The book of esther was likely written between 467 and 350 b. This unlikely contestant for a beauty pageant was crowned queen of persia and renamed esther, meaning star. The events in the book of esther occurred from 483. Esther appears in the bible as a woman of deep piety, faith, courage, patriotism and caution. Waldman and appeared in volume one of the graphic canon, edited by russ kick and published by seven stories press. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p.
It is a short story similar to the book of ruth, starting in the palace of shushan susa, one out of the three capitals of the persian empire. Esther bible story summary what christians want to know. The megillah of esther megillah means scroll in hebrew is one of the five megillahs that are included in the biblical canon. In fact, god is not directly mentioned by name in the book of esther. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. Its one of the most beautiful books in the bible and so full of great takeaways for the modern christian woman today. The lesson here is that gods timing is always immaculate and the book of esther reminds the reader of this and.
This commentary has been through advanced theological checking. Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. T he story of esther reads like a novel and is full of great spiritual lessons. This summary of the book of esther provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of esther. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israel.
As with most of the ot writings the author of the book of esther esther meaning star is not mentioned. Lets open our bibles to the 5th chapter in the book of esther for this esther 5 sermon. It is a short story similar to the book of ruth, starting in the palace of shushan susa, one out. Queen esther came to the throne for just such a time 4. The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so in the days of persecution. The story of esther reads like a movie plot, with a beautiful queen risking her life to prevent genocide. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. 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. 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. What spiritual lessons can we learn from this book.
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