Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. Esthers name means i will be hidden, just as her identity was obscure even after becoming the wife of ahasuerus. The book of esther excels at violence75,000 people get killed in the provinces and. The story itself is implausible as history and, as many scholars now agree, it is. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. Esther commentary, sermon, illustration, devotional. Mordecai learned of a plot to kill the king and made it known to esther who passed the news to the king. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. 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. Esther isnt too graphic, but any book that prominently features a massacre in this case, both a failed one and a successful one is obviously going to be something more than pg rated. 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. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of esther in easy english. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use.
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. By dr peter pett queen vashti offends king ahasuerus xerxes esther, the ward of mordecai, chosen as queen haman purposes to destroy the jews and casts pur haman impaled and replaced by mordecai the jew the establishment of purim. His son, artaxerxes figures in the later chapters of ezra and in nehemiah. You can find the best commentary on esther for you using the tools on the right side. There are also signs that this book has a deeply comic undercurrent to it. This commentary shows how esther is perfect guidance for us when we find ourselves in a situation where right and wrong are not so clearly defined and every choice we. David guzik commentary on esther 1, where queen vashti refuses to display her beauty at king ahasuerus feast, and is therefore banished. Esther in her joys, smiled upon by the king and honoured with his company at her banquet of wine, esther 5. 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 described part of the jewish diaspora that stayed behind in persia and did not return to jerusalem during the restoration. The book of esther is a hodgepodge of different genres. A critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther. The events that the first chapter of the book of esther describes happened about 483 bc before christ. In the book of esther this information is casually presented as.
The events of the book of esther occurred during the reign of king ahasuerus, xerxes i. 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. What are the most commonly asked questions about the book of esther. A critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther by paton, lewis bayles, 18641932.
Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. Publication date 1908 topics bible publisher new york. Though it never mentions god by name, the book deals exclusively with. Add to that a flavor of steampunk youve likely never tried before, blend it all up but keep it kosher. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage.
If the king does this, that persons life will be saved. May you discover his character as you investigate the pages of his letter to you. 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. 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. He overcame the jews and he took many jews to babylon. When he learns of the edict against the jews, he encourages esther to confront the king. Her knowledge of the text is extensive, and her insights into current application are valuable.
Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible. The book ends with mordecai as the kings chief minister. This chapter presents an exegetical analysis of the book of esther, focusing on the characteristics and actions of esther and mordecai as they related to navigating the crisis of possible jewish. 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 ahasuerus of persia, who ruled from 486 to 465 bc. Our last news of queen esther left her in tears, fasting and praying. The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible. The book of esther is unusual gods name is not mentioned once, yet gods hand is.
Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. 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. 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 book of esther, also known in hebrew as the scroll megillah, is a book in the third. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. Home content index books of the bible esther questions about esther. The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so. Commentary on esther 1 by matthew henry blue letter bible. Such a reading would, however, limit the resources of god, who brought this about, and transplant the emphasis from gods work to esthers work. It is entirely possible that the writer of the book of esther is playing with the idea of theomachy war between gods, a racy theme for a late biblical book. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old.
The commentary is accessible to laymen, but should be useful to pastors and scholars as well. Classical sources such as josephus, the jewish commentary esther rabbah and the christian theologian barhebraeus, as well as the greek. 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. Weibe suggests that this translation fits the context of the book of esther much better than the traditional rendering. His predecessor was king darius 522485 bc who is mentioned in ezra 4. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. 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.
The king has one law for any man or woman who goes to the king without being called. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. Esther 5 paragraph divisions of modern translations. That person must be put to death unless the king holds out his gold scepter to them. The book of esther does not specifically name its author. Esther 5 commentary matthew henrys complete commentary. Book of esther bible survey why doesnt the book of esther mention god.
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. Esther bible story summary what christians want to know. 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. The niv application commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in todays context. Intro to esther biblica the international bible society. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. Mordecai, who was finally exalted as ruler in persia, is at least a faint type of christ when eventually exalted among the nations. Over 100 years earlier, nebuchadnezzar the king of babylon had attacked jerusalem. The last news we had of haman left him in his cups, esther 3. Summary of the book of esther genuine leather bible. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. T he story of esther reads like a novel and is full of great spiritual lessons.
Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. It is clear that the author was a jew, both from his emphasis on the origin of a jewish festival and. He is the persian king who invaded greece and was so badly defeated, 480479 b. This short overview and outline of esther will hopefully enhance your study of gods word. The sovereignty of god in the book of esther introduction.
Karen jobes has written the most engaging, interesting, and helpful commentary on the book of esther presently available. Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esthera comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a. The recurrent theme in nehemiah was trust and act on the word of god. He was a jew, dwelling in shushan, and upright and intelligent man. Read and study esther, including book summary, with the versebyverse bible commentary. The book of esther is a beautiful story about the jews in the time of the diaspora. Karen jobes esther niv application commentary, 1999. Top 5 commentaries on the book of esther ligonier ministries. Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. In the hebrew bible, the book of esther is found in the third section of the canon. Hence it belongs to the bestknown otbooks with the jews and it is also the book, which has the oldest copies.
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