And king ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea. In esther nivac, karen jobes is our guide for an insightful and unexpected look at the book of esthera book brimming with practical lessons, but seemingly without a theology. Exegesis on book of esther essays i have always liked reading the book of esther, because she was beautiful, intelligent, and delivers the jews of persia from destruction. Esther is a young and beautiful jewish girl, orphaned but cared for by her. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Here is the story of esther through a summary of each of the 10 chapters.
The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Best esther commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of esther in easy english. The book of esther tells a compelling story, dramatic and exciting, with clearly defined heroes and villains. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israel. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Working within a fallen system esther bible commentary. Book of esther chapter 1 king assuerus maketh a great feast. Esther overview spurgeons verse expositions of the bible. Artaxerxes this man was son of xerxes and stepson of esther. 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. In the hebrew bible, the book of esther is found in the third section of the canon, the writings.
The detailed descriptions of court life and traditions. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. Esthers mother, he explains, died in childbirth, and her father died only two years later.
An interpretation of the dream that relates its features to the plot of the book is given in f. Working preacher is a ministry brought to you by luther seminary. Early jewish and christian traditions suggest that among the people named in the book, mordecai, esthers cousin and guardian, was in the best position to record the events. We are shown a persian emperor, ahasuerus loosely based on xerxes, 485464 b. It also reveals deep and abiding spiritual truths about gods power to deliver us from danger and oppression, even when despotic rulers plan to do evil to gods people. Best commentaries and books on esther logos bible software.
This is my favorite commentary on any book of holy scripture. You can find the best commentary on esther for you using the tools on the right side. The working preacher team believes that god uses good biblical preaching to change lives. Although we do not know who wrote the book of esther, from internal evidence it is possible to make some inferences about the author. Study guide on the book of esther, on line bible commentary for book of esther, niv commentary esther, free esther commentary, best commentaries on esther. 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. Berlin begins with a lengthy introduction, discussing esther as comedy and as diaspora literature. The book is set during the period after the babylonian exile in which the nation of persia present day iran ruled judah. Having consumed ample amounts of wine, ahasuerus commanded his servants to bring queen vashti before him in order that he might show her off to the other partygoers es. Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, than this banquet of wine, with all the noise and tumult that must have attended it. The most popular traditions are mordecai a major character in the book of esther, ezra, and nehemiah who would have been familiar with persian customs. Yet, the books theological message is powerful and shines through the daily faithfulness of esther as she faithfully obeys the god of israel and saves her people. The copy read must not be printed, but written on vellum in the form of a roll.
The book of esther has been preserved in ancient texts that diverge greatly from each other. Place of esther in the old testament a critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther canonicity canonical status word biblical commentary, volume 9. King ahasuerus, ruler of the persian empire, holds a lavish 180day banquet, initially for his court and dignitaries and. Adele berlins commentary in the jps series is better suited for a critical look at the hebrew text.
The unknown author of the book of esther was most likely a jew very familiar with the royal persian court. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. The heroine of the book named for her, esther is a young jewish woman living in exile in the persian lit. We have enlisted hundreds of friends biblical scholars, theologians, homileticians and pastors dedicated to the craft of biblical preaching to provide you timely, compelling and trustworthy content. Esther tyndale old testament commentary by joyce g. David guzik commentary on esther 1, where queen vashti refuses to display her. Mordecai is brought into prominence at the right time 6. Esther introduction united states conference of catholic bishops. Jobes volume is best for those seeking a biblicaltheological commentary on the book of esther. Frederic bush, word biblical commentary wbc, thomas nelson, 1996, 528 pp. Esther 2 chapter 1 several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. Book of esther, in the hebrew bible and the christian old testament. The purpose of the book of esther is to display the providence of god, especially in regard to his chosen people, israel.
Scripture says mordecai recorded certain events in order to relate them to jews throughout the kingdom see esth. Esther commentary john gills exposition of the bible. 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. Engage the challenging books of ruth and esther utilizing the dynamic. Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. God will keep those that are exposed to evil by the tenderness of their consciences.
Date the international standard bible encyclopedia, revised. 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. 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. And bring a horse that the king has ridden, with a royal crown on itshead. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. A critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther by paton, lewis bayles, 18641932. Ahasuerus makes royal feasts for his nobles and people, esther 1. She was in fact, one of my biblical heroes as i was growing up and i just admired her so much. Read esther commentary using john gills exposition of the bible. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. 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. 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. In fact, god is not directly mentioned by name in the book of esther.
From the new oxford annotated bible, the shortest summary introduction. The book of esther shows how the hand of god can move in a supernaturally natural way. The book of esther tells a story of the deliverance of the jewish people. A critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther. 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 others. The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so in the days of persecution. Esther 9 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. 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. 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. We might even think that he does not care about us.
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 writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control. The book of esther records the institution of the feast of purim and the obligation of its perpetual observation. The book of esther offers free, online access to study passages, for biblical studies, contained in the words, text and verses of the roman catholic scripture of.
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. On both days of the feast, the modern jews read over the megillah or book of esther in their synagogues. Queen esther came to the throne for just such a time 4. If esther fails to act, and both she and mordecai perish, then her family will be wiped out.
This unlikely contestant for a beauty pageant was crowned queen of persia and renamed esther, meaning star. The book of esther was likely written between 460 and 350 b. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. The events in the book of esther occurred from 483. Book of esther, the book of esther bible study, commentary. The story itself is implausible as history and, as many scholars now agree, it is.
Vashti is sent for by the king, but refuses to come, esther 1. The book of esther does not specifically name its author. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. 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. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. The first lesson we did an overview of the entire book. Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. Esther is the last of the historical books of the bible, so its main character is. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. Esther bible story summary what christians want to know. 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. It is a deeply profound and moving narrative of historical events that displayed the providence of god. Jon levenson capably guides readers through both versions, demonstrating their coherence and their differences.
Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. It belongs to the third section of the judaic canon, known as the ketuvim. 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.
T he story of esther reads like a novel and is full of great spiritual lessons. Publication date 1908 topics bible publisher new york. King ahasuerus, ruler of the persian empire, holds a lavish 180 day banquet, initially for his court and dignitaries and. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. The old testament library provides fresh and authoritative treatments.
Age of the book a critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther. Hence it belongs to the bestknown otbooks with the jews and it is also the book, which has the oldest copies. 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. The book of esther is a 20 movie starring jen lilley as queen esther and joel smallbone as king xerxes. Sleep is taken from ahasuerus at precisely the right time 6. Waldman and appeared in volume one of the graphic canon, edited by russ kick and published by seven stories press.
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