We come now to the last in our series on the book of esther. Simply put, pious bias is the presumption that all the people we find in the bible were pious. Without ever mentioning god directly, the hand of god is all over the story of esther, displaying the providence and faithfulness of god even in the face of eradication. Esther 1, new living translation nlt the bible app. 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 of esther shows how the hand of god can move in a supernaturallynatural way. In megillat esther the book of esther, where we find the purim story, the. Esthers uncle, mordecai, appears first as an adoptive father, whose solicitude for esther leads him to the kings gate, where he foils a plot to assassinate the king. The book of esther never mentions god by name, there is never the word prayer uttered, and the only spiritual discipline that is mentioned is fasting but that never says anything about prayer and fasting. In the hebrew bible, the book of esther is found in the third section of the canon, the writings.
Many christians suffer from what i have come to call a pious bias. Karen jobes has written the most engaging, interesting, and helpful commentary on the book of esther presently available. And an exciting little story it has been so far dont you think. The following are five of the most helpful commentaries on. The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so in the days of persecution. In 2012, a graphic adaptation of the book of esther was illustrated by j. This prince, on coming to the throne, had powerful opponents and competitors in the children of artabanus, uncle to xerxes, and in his. Public calamities, that oppress the church of god, should affect our hearts more than any private affliction, and it is peculiarly distressing to occasion sufferings to. Christian women faith articles, encouragement, growth.
Commentaries for the book of esther esther chosen queen. In the book of esther this information is casually presented as unimportant, but comes up later in the story. 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. At the end of the book, he says that the official records included the story about esther. The bible does not mention the book of esther anywhere else. The book of esther is part of the canon of the hebrew bibleold. It is a good opportunity to refresh students minds who the jewish people are, gods covenant with his people and why the jews are living.
A 10day bible study on the book of esther by ibelieve contributors. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. The book of esther begins with king ahasuerus known to history outside the bible as xerxes. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. An integrated digital bible study library including complete notes from the niv study bible and the nkjv macarthur study bible is just a step away.
The book of esther, like much of the bible, tells the story of gods involvement with. Megillat esther, the book of esther in the form that we have it in the hebrew bible, provides the story of the origin of purim, the blueprint for its celebration, and the authorization for its observance in perpetuity. Book of esther bible study chapter 6 the sleepless king and the providence of god book of esther bible study chapter 7 the downfall of haman the wicked. As scripture reveals, esther is a jewish woman living in persia and reared by her cousin mordecai. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. Esther pleases the king, and is set above all the women. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the 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 begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. This little gem, tucked away in an obscure corner of the old testament, is a very rich book, and it is historical. On the day that the enemies of the jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the jews themselves overpowered those who. The book of esther makes a unique contribution to our understanding of. The book of esther begins with king ahasuerus known to history outside the bible as xerxes throwing a lavish party to display his glory es. She instructs him to assemble all the jews who live in susa and to have them fast for her. John calvin never preached from the book and did not write a commentary on the book martin luther renounced the book, along with other apocryphal books saying, i am so great an enemy to the second book of the maccabees, and to esther, that i wish they had not come to us at all, for they have too many heathen unnaturalities. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more.
The books of ezra and nehemiah were written during his reign. The book of esther provides us with the greatest illustrations of the providence of god. Number 1 rated commentary esther an introduction and commentary tyndale old testament commentaries joyce g. Bible commentary produced by tow project working within a fallen system esther back to table of contents back to table of contents. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading esther the niv application commentary. 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. The book takes its name from the beautiful, orphaned jewess who became the queen of the persian king ahasuerus. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. In this section, robert manages to illuminate aspects of the text which are very clear but completely missed, as we traditionally read the book of esther with our eyes wide shut. Chapter one chapter two chapter three chapter four chapter five chapter six the book of esther bible study. Now that she has taken orders from mordecai, she begins to give orders.
She was taken to the king of the persian empire to become a part of his harembut because there was something special about esther, he made her queen. Bickerman in his preface, the author is interested in the books of the bible which were written in the age of greek intellectual dominance. But the writer wants us to know that the story is true. Esther the niv application commentary kindle edition by. Chapter one chapter two chapter three chapter four chapter five chapter six chapter seven s. Esther commentary john gills exposition of the bible. Kiel points out in his commentary on esther, we have only sparse. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. Jul 14, 2011 martin luther did deliberately translate the book of esther in a biased fashion, into german, as well as add inappropriate commentary.
The book of esther is a 20 movie starring jen lilley as queen esther and joel smallbone as king xerxes. The story itself is implausible as history and, as many scholars now agree, it is. Have you ever wondered if god is really involved in the circumstances of your life. Although there are unfortunately those today who suggest that some of the stories in the old testament are legends, there is substantial evidence that the events of esther actually occurred. Megillat esther with commentary from the talmud, midrash, classic rabbinic commentators, and the chabad rebbes. The son and successor of the famous persian king xerxes was artaxerxes, surnamed longimanus, or, in persian, ardsheer diraz dest, the longhanded ardshur.
The book of esther intrigues positively, too, one reason being its containing rationale for the celebration of the feast of purim, the popularity of which can be accounted for in part by the fact that it constitutes the only worldly holiday in the jewish calendar for the expression of the lighthearted side of life harrison 10951096. None of them is to eat or drink for three days, night or day. Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the kings command and his decree to be executed. Fulfilling lifes mission introduction why read this book. Xerxes this is the ahasuerus of the book of esther. 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. Ntroduction i the main plot of esther begins in chapter 3, with the description of hamans decree and the developments that follow. Yet most people today have never heard of john gill. At the start of the book, he says when it happened. When he learns of the edict against the jews, he encourages esther to confront the king. We might even think that he does not care about us. Esther and ruth reformed expository commentary, 2005.
Neither mordecai, esther, nor the feast of purim is mentioned. In his translation of the book, he introduced antisemitic undertones, depicting esther as the typical despicable jew, eager to shed gentile blood. 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 the book of esther describes the jewish heroine esther, who saved the jewish people in persia from annihilation during the reign of king xerxes i. 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 one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. I pray that god will give us open minds and hearts to look at this book in a different light, to understand it better, and to see its application to our own lives. On the mystical level king achashverosh alludes to gd, the king of the world. Read esther commentary using john gills exposition of the bible. The book of esther is a story that is truly relatable drama that just about everyone can find relatable.
You can find the best commentary on esther for you using the tools on the right side. Subsequent chapters offer a textual commentary of the book of esther. Scripture that same day king xerxes gave queen esther the estate of. It is the last of the five scrolls ruth, song of songs, ecclesiastes, lamentations, and esther, and is read at the feast of purim. In 1934 annie became a missionary in china with oms. The book ends with mordecai as the kings chief minister. The following lesson is the beginning of a new series teaching through the book of esther. 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.
When a secular company eliminates bias in promotions and pay scales, is god at work there. There is hardly a book in the bible, upon the trustworthiness of which there has been made so determined an attack, as the book of esther. It is a deeply profound and moving narrative of historical events that displayed the providence of god. Scripture says mordecai recorded certain events in order to relate them to jews throughout the kingdom see esth. Esther s uncle, mordecai, appears first as an adoptive father, whose solicitude for esther leads him to the kings gate, where he foils a plot to assassinate the king. The book of esther, also known in hebrew as the scroll megillah, is a book in the third. Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esther a comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a part of his harem. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history.
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. H ere are 5 important lessons that i learned from the book of esther silence doesnt mean its not there. The whole history of this book in its connected order, with the occurrences in the persian empire at that time, will be found in the introduction. Best esther commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. We are therefore reluctant to see jonah as the scoundrel he is. Joyce baldwin esther tyndale old testament commentaries, 1984. 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. His name is not written in the book, but his fingerprints, as we say, are all over it. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press.
Karen jobes esther niv application commentary, 1999. Hence it belongs to the bestknown otbooks with the jews and it is also the book, which has the oldest copies. How an interfaith wedding couple made me think about queen. The focus of this lesson is an overview of esther introducing students to the main characters, places and themes. Today we begin our study of the book of esther, in earnest. The book of esther is read every year to the assembled congregations of the jewish people in their synagogues to the present day. Bible study from the book of esther looking at the victory of the jews in the book of esther. Despite the shortcomings in life, esther was able to find a greater scope and save a nation. The following are five of the most helpful commentaries on this book of scripture. Artaxerxes this man was son of xerxes and stepson of esther. The book of judiths canonical history is also complicated, even though.
The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so. This is unfortunate, since his works contain priceless gems of information that are found nowhere except in the ancient writings of the jews. Scripture 7 so the king and haman went to queen esther s banquet, 2 and as they were. Classical sources such as josephus, the jewish commentary esther rabbah and the christian theologian barhebraeus, as well as the greek. Af, which most scholars regard as later additions to the book. Bible study from the book of esther looking at the victory of the jews in the book of esther chapter 9 and 10. Esther the niv application commentary kindle edition by jobes, karen h download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Esther gives in, sending word to mordecai that she will intercede with the king for her people. The deliverance of the jews in the book of esther is not due to mans piety, but solely to gods grace, in spite of israels sins.
The book of esther may not directly mention god, yet it clearly reveals god at work. Waldman and appeared in volume one of the graphic canon, edited by russ kick and published by seven stories press. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. Matthew henry commentary on esther 1 book of esther chapter 1. 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. The coincidences, the amazing reversals, and the poetic justice that led to the deliverance of the jews in persia all proclaim the presence of god. In the book of esther, what is not said is vitally important. During world war ii she spent 21 months in a japanese concentration camp as a prisoner. Presented here is a verse by verse exposition of the new testament. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. Although his name is never mentioned, we see his providence in each page of this wonderful little book.
Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. 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. Book of prophecy that reveals gods magnificent plan of salvation through the person and work of jesus christ. Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esthera comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a. Mordecai learned of a plot to kill the king and made it known to esther who passed the news to the king. The book of esther and martin luther baptist christian forums. The book of esther describes the jewish heroine esther and is the source of the festival purim. Vashti is sent for by the king, but refuses to come, esther 1. 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. You will also find options for commentaries on esther that help pastors, teachers, and readers with application of the bible, commentaries that approach the scripture versebyverse, classic christian commentaries, and much more.
He eventually chose esther as his queen, and by her influence the jews were saved from destruction. Summary of the book of esther genuine leather bible. The writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. Esther was originally written in hebrew, which is represented by ch.
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