But i have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. Explanatory notes and critical chapters upon the poem and its source. Despite such questions the book of esther sits comfortably in the hebrew. The jewish community, and its areas of residence, outside erez israel. Chapters 3 to 8 contain the nine scenes that form the complication in the book. Perhaps the most radical recent jewish commentary on the book comes from the. The commentary approaches the book of esther from a fresh literary pointofview. Shushan, a legendary account of how the familys ancestor mordechai gained power in court, and of the source of the familys wealth and authority.
It is often pointed out the book of esther never mentions god or prayer insinuating that the jews were not close to god. The book of esther is a wellwritten, cleverly constructed piece of literature. It also opened the way for the establishment of later holidays that, like purim, could be instituted without divine command if they commemorated an important event or served an important function in the life of the jewish people. Esther 6 bible commentary wesleys explanatory notes. Scripture that same day king xerxes gave queen esther the estate of read more the book of esther bible study. Megillah with indepth commentaryside by side version.
Esthers story is retold by josephus in book 11, chapter 6 of the jewish antiquities. The book of esther is best described as historical fiction. The events that the first chapter of the book of esther describes happened about 483 bc before christ. It includes essays entitled when and where was the book of esther written. Bullinger points out that some hebrew scholars have found. And every day mordecai paced in front of the court of the womens quarters, to learn of esthers welfare and what was happening to her. Esther 9 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. The decree of xerxes 10 mordecai wrote in the name of king xerxes and sealed it with the royal signet ring. Just as he saved esther and the jewish people, gave them an inheritance of hamans estate, and gave them authority over their enemies, god does the same for us. In this 3part series, i provide commentary on the book of esther. Our last news of queen esther left her in tears, fasting and praying. The book of esther is designed to show gods providential care of his people. And every day mordecai paced in front of the court of the womens quarters, to learn of esther s welfare and what was happening to her.
Susa is all the way at the bottom right of the map. Esther 2 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. In their commentary on the book of esther, the rabbis expand upon and add. It is possible that esther was hadassahs throne name, but this is. And of that which they had seen the first letter to which this second refers, must be that sent by mordecai himself. Recipient of the prize of the minister of science, culture, and sport of the state of israel for classical literature for the year 5762 2001. 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 author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. Esther 8 is the eighth chapter of the book of esther in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible, the author of the book is unknown and modern scholars have established that the final stage of the hebrew text would have been formed by the second century bce. The jewish community, and its areas of residence, outside ere z israel. Since purim is not a holiday ordained by moses in the first five books of the bible, scholars have wondered if jews of ancient time indeed observed it annually. He did not always interpret scripture l iterally and so was amillennial he interpreted revelation as a historicist which led. And the king said again unto esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, what is thy petition, queen esther.
Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Esther 2 commentary john gills exposition on the whole. Set in the ancient persian empire, it tells the story of esther, a jewish girl who. The jewish historian josephus names mordecai as author of the book. Esther in her joys, smiled upon by the king and honoured with his company at her banquet of wine, esther 5.
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. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. Deinon related that artaxerxes ii was also called oarses which is also. The jewish study bible esther introduction oxford biblical. Book of esther, book of the hebrew bible and the christian old testament. Esther 2 is the second chapter of the book of esther in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. 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. Esther this is a hebrew name from the term myrtle bdb 2, from the targums, cf. Adam clarke commentary on esther 17601832 clarke was methodist, wesleyan, arminian, e. The hero of the book of daniel in the ketuvim section of the bible is one of the jews exiled in babylonia, a soothsayer at the babylonian court under nebuchadnezzar who died in 562 b. Commentary on the book of esther matthew henrys bible commentary.
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. The last news we had of haman left him in his cups, esther 3. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. Esther 9 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. Other sources ascribe the book of esther to ezra or nehemiah. In prophetic symbolism the myrtle would replace the briars and thorns of the desert, so depicting the lords forgiveness and acceptance of his people. Bible study from the book of esther looking at the two eternal laws through the type in esther chapter 8. Lets open our bibles to the 5th chapter in the book of esther for this esther 5 sermon. Paton, critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther icc 22. If esther fails to act, and both she and mordecai perish, then her family will be wiped out. With these additions, the book of esther becomes a religious tale whose characters adhere to jewish traditions, such as praying to god, following the. 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.
While it is always important to understand the context of a particular scripture text, it is especially critical with this one. Esther had not revealed her people or family, for mordecai had charged her not to reveal it. They seemed to believe that god would protect his jewish people esther. The book of esther is a story, and these brief passages from chapters 7 and 9 deal only with the climax and the ending. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles. Though the name of god is not mentioned, the hand of god, ruling and overruling the events for the preservation of his people, can be seen throughout. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. Classical sources such as josephus, the jewish commentary esther rabbah and. Chapter one chapter two chapter three chapter four chapter five chapter six chapter seven s. Because she would force jewish girls to undress, and work on the sabbath, it was decreed that she should be stripped naked on the sabbath. 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. Perhaps inevitably the final chapter notes that the king imposes a new tax.
Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. The heroine of the book named for her, esther is a young jewish woman living in exile in the persian lit. This holiday, based on the biblical book of esther, is an appointed time to remember the victory of the jewish people in persia over the wicked haman during the babylonian captivity. This map is taken, with some small modifications, from page 7 of martin gilberts jewish history atlas, published in london in 1969 by weidenfeld and nicholson. He overcame the jews and he took many jews to babylon. All of these old testiment jewish practices used to appeal to the god of israel for help. Haman upon the fret, because he had not mordecais cap and knee, and with great indignation setting up a gallows for him, esther 5. Now if you start thinking that you dont really care too much for this man, it is also worth remembering that he is a type of the flesh that sinful nature that lurks within you and sometimes.
Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. In the jewish bible, esther follows ecclesiastes and lamentations and is read on the festival of purim, which commemorates the rescue of the jews from hamans plottings. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. Thus it is that providence sometimes frowns on the cause of his church and people, by not only exposing them to imminent danger, but by shutting up all the ordinary avenues of escape, so that there appears no evasion for them. The author of the book is unknown and modern scholars have established that the final stage of the hebrew text would have been formed by the second century bce. The book of esther consists of an introduction or exposition in chapters 1. Sep 30, 2018 it is both puzzling and unfortunate that the lectionary leaves out verses 78, because in these verses the extent of the kings incompetence comes to light.
It is often noted that the author does not refer to god or to any jewish religious practices. Additions to esther chapter 11 kjv king james version 1 in the fourth year of the reign of ptolemeus and cleopatra, dositheus, who said he was a priest and levite, and ptolemeus his son, brought this epistle of phurim, which they said was the same, and that lysimachus the son of ptolemeus, that was in jerusalem, had interpreted it 2 in the second year of the reign of. As with most of the ot writings the author of the book of esther esther meaning star is not mentioned. Mar 28, 2006 shalom mishpochah family, esther, the hidden one. On both days of the feast, the modern jews read over the megillah or book of esther in their synagogues. Ii addition b hamans edict, written in the kings name. According to jewish law, this beating had to be stopped after 40 lashes deut 25. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. The book of esther tells a story of the deliverance of the jewish people.
That might be because purim is one of the few occasions for revelry in the jewish calendar year a day of carnivals, feasting and festive commotion. Bible study commentary in the book of esther esther chapter 4. This verse refers to the third month of the jewish calendar, called sivan. Over 100 years earlier, nebuchadnezzar the king of babylon had attacked jerusalem. Esther, purim and why it all still matters jews for jesus.
The book of esther reflects this idea, by referring to vashti as queen vashti 1. Yet the issue of hamans law to annihilate the jews still remained. In fact, the book of esther, more than anything else, is responsible for the continued celebration of purim. The best explanation for their absence, especially the absence of gods name. Esther chapter 5 verse by verse bible commentary matthew. Additions to esther chapter 11 kjv king james version 1 in the fourth year of the reign of ptolemeus and cleopatra, dositheus, who said he was a priest and levite, and ptolemeus his son, brought this epistle of phurim, which they said was the same, and that lysimachus the son of ptolemeus, that was in jerusalem, had interpreted it. Esther s story is retold by josephus in book 11, chapter 6 of the jewish antiquities. The copy read must not be printed, but written on vellum in the form of a roll. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
We will celebrate the feast of purim on march 14, 2006. The events that the first chapter of the book of esther describes happened about. After these things, when the wrath of king ahasuerus was appeasedon recovering from the violent excitement of his revelry and rage, the king was pierced with poignant regret for the unmerited treatment he had given to his beautiful and dignified queen. But, according to the law, which made the word of a persian. Poetic justice happens in literature when good wins andor evil is punished. According to schellekens interpretation, the book of esther is a fanciful family history of a rich and powerful jewish family in 4th century b. Ill give this message the title gods providential poetic justice. The romans had no such law though, and may or may not have exceeded this limit. As queen, esther hides her religious identity and maintains her jewish practices keeping kosher and observing the laws of shabbat and family purity in secret. Haman early in the morning, because his malice would not suffer him to sleep.
It belongs to the third section of the judaic canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. Throughout megillat esther, the hebrew months are referred to by both number and name. Well be studying the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters today. Esther a story of bravery, palace intrigue, and, of course, the origins of purim has always held a special place in the hearts of the jewish people. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. He saved us through christ, and we may inherit eternal life. By the advice of the ministers of king ahasuerus, fair virgins were sought for throughout his dominions, and brought to his chamberlain, the keeper of the women, among whom was esther, a jewish virgin, esther 2. Feb 25, 2020 plus, ill refer to josephuss account of esthers story which is recorded in book 11, chapter 6 in his antiquities of the jews. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage. Why is this feast never mentioned in the new testament. Bible studies in the book of esther esther chapter 8. Esther wrote with all authority esther and mordecai had the kings license so to do.