The greek septuagint remedied this situation by adding six passages which include the name of god. The book of esther has been preserved in ancient texts that diverge greatly from each other. He overcame the jews and he took many jews to babylon. Stephanie dalley made a draft of her forthcoming monograph on the assyrian. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. Keith mathison agrees with the other experts when he says, karen jobes has written the most engaging, interesting, and helpful commentary on the book of esther presently available. It is possible that esther was hadassahs throne name, but this is unsubstantiated.
Account of mordecai and his cousin esther, esther 2. Many instances of the grandeur of ahasuerus might have been given. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the jews will arise from another place, but you and your fathers family will perish. Taken as a whole, the book of esther addresses several key themes through the story of her life as part of a religious minority living within the dominant persian culture, and ultimately even in the heart of power, the persian court at susa. It is the last of the five scrolls ruth, song of songs, ecclesiastes, lamentations, and esther, and is read at the feast of purim. 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. 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. Esther 1, new living translation nlt the bible app. Her knowledge of the text is extensive, and her insights into current application are valuable. Esther is the only book of the hebrew bible not represented among the dead sea scrolls.
Queen esther came to the throne for just such a time 4. Esther wisdom commentary series kindle edition by stephen. The book of esther in hebrew is secular in nature, in that the name of god, the temple, and prayer are not mentioned. Bobdeffinbaugh graduated from dallas theological seminary with his th. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage. We are shown a persian emperor, ahasuerus loosely based on xerxes, 485464 b. This unlikely contestant for a beauty pageant was crowned queen of persia and renamed esther, meaning star.
The book of esther is a very realistic commentary on life, and it is possible that its author wanted to make his readers ponder carefully gods involvement in it. Opposition to the book of esther is not a modern phenomenon. Af, which most scholars regard as later additions to the book. He eventually chose esther as his queen, and by her influence the jews were saved from destruction.
Do not think that because you are in the kings house you alone of all the jews will escape. 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 book of esther in the bible is a dramatic account which can give us insight into gods special and purposeful plan for our lives. Paton, critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther icc 22. Over 100 years earlier, nebuchadnezzar the king of babylon had attacked jerusalem. The working preacher team believes that god uses good biblical preaching to change lives. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. Clark, 1908 186, was one of the first to regard vv. The book of esther, also known in hebrew as the scroll megillah, is a book in the third.
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. Sleep is taken from ahasuerus at precisely the right time 6. Overview of the book of esther third millennium ministries. Pdf from a postcolonial perspective, the jews in the book of esther not only resist against and. Hence it belongs to the bestknown otbooks with the jews and it is also the book, which has the oldest copies. 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. Jews throughout the world, after 2,500 years, still celebrate this feast. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, than this banquet of wine, with all the noise and tumult that must have attended it. Esther 2 chapter 1 several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. A critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther. Publication date 1908 topics bible publisher new york. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch.
Working within a fallen system esther bible commentary. On the mystical level king achashverosh alludes to gd, the king of the world. Book of prophecy that reveals gods magnificent plan of salvation through the person and work of jesus christ. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. Interest in the book of esther has been both negative and positive. The old testament library provides fresh and authoritative treatments. Xerxes this is the ahasuerus of the book of esther. The events that the first chapter of the book of esther describes happened about 483 bc before christ. Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. 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. 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. 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. Although we do not know who wrote the book of esther, from internal evidence it is possible to make some inferences about the author.
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. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. As you read the book of esther, you will see two stories. Mordecai is brought into prominence at the right time 6. The book of esther is the only one not found in the dead sea scrolls. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. Esther this is a hebrew name from the term myrtle bdb 2, from the targums, cf. Bob is a pastorteacher and elder at community bible chapel in richardson, texas, and has contributed many of his bible study series for use by the foundation. The book of esther tells a story of the deliverance of the jewish people. Intertextual ripples of the book of esther vu research portal. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading esther the niv application commentary. Artaxerxes this man was son of xerxes and stepson of esther.
In the english bible esther appears adjacent to ezra nehemiah. Esther was originally written in hebrew, which is represented by ch. The counsellors advise that a selection of virgins should be made throughout the empire, out of whom the king should choose one to be queen in place of vashti, esther 2. Paton, a critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther, p. 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. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. The events in the book of esther occurred from 483.
You can find the best commentary on esther for you using the tools on the right side. Levensons book consists of two parts an introductory essay of 35 pages, followed by a linebyline commentary on the text of esther. Most striking is the prediction by hamans wife that he would surely come to ruin because mordecai was a jew esther 6. Esther wisdom commentary series kindle edition by stephen davey. 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. The book of esther reflects this idea, by referring to vashti as queen vashti 1. The introductory essay provides a good overview of the book of esther a summary of the plot, an analysis of the books structure and themes, and a discussion of the historicity and origins of the various.
In the hebrew bible, the book of esther is found in the third section of the canon, the writings. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. The prayers of esther and mordecai are especially noteworthy. 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 5 commentary matthew henrys complete commentary. The original text of the megillah book of esther with a running commentary culled from the talmud and midrash, the great torah commentators and the chassidic masters. The literary technique of foreshadowing is also employed in the book of esther.
It is a deeply profound and moving narrative of historical events that displayed the providence of god. All other books of the bible make it obvious who and what is influencing the actions of the characters, namely. The books happy ending is the cause of the establishment of the feast of purim, which celebrates the jews deliverance from destruction. God is always active in esther, even though it is behind the scenes. Literary representations of queen esther in early modern england. Interestingly enough, in the new testament no allusions to esther exist gordis 361. Working preacher is a ministry brought to you by luther seminary.
Edward oliver and nick munns and released as a concept album with stephanie lawrence and denis quilley. In the celebration, jews read aloud the megillah, a scroll containing the. Esther the niv application commentary kindle edition. Most likely, the book of esther doesnt have the name of god because it shows how god works behind the scenes. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Please enter your name, your email and your question regarding the product in the fields below, and well answer you in the next 2448 hours.
Jon levenson capably guides readers through both versions, demonstrating their coherence and their differences. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Want to know our editors picks for the best books of the month. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. The book of esther is read every year to the assembled congregations of the jewish people in. She is chosen among the young women, and is placed under the care of hegai, the kings chamberlain, to go through a years purification, esther 2. Commentaries for the book of esther esther chosen queen. A critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther by paton, lewis bayles, 18641932. Megillah with indepth commentaryside by side version.