The story of esther in the bible happened in shushan esther 1. The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. Esther is the name of a book in the tanakh the hebrew bible and the old testament, and also its title heroine. Although the book of esther was questioned by some early christians, even st. Designed for both jewish and nonjewish readers alike, the israel bible offers a unique commentary that seeks to explain gods focus on the land of israel alongside the original hebrew text, transliteration of select hebrew verses, and the new jewish publication society translation. 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. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage.
In 1934 annie became a missionary in china with oms. We have already read something about king xerxes and king artaxerxes in the book of ezra ezra 4. Esther the niv application commentary kindle edition by. Xerxes, the persian king, rejected his wife queen vashti, and fell in love with esther at a beauty contest. The book of esther has been preserved in ancient texts that diverge greatly from each other.
The book of esther in hebrew is secular in nature, in that the name of god, the temple, and prayer are not mentioned. The key personalities are esther, mordecai, king ahasuerus or xerxes, and haman. The books of ezra and nehemiah were written during his reign. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The first holy temple, built by king solomon, was destroyed by the babylonians, and the jews were taken into exile into babylonia. But while the characters might resemble a fairy tale, the book of esther depicts actual events that shaped jewish history and. What spiritual lessons can we learn from this book. It is at once a sweeping story of geopolitical intrigue and a highly personal account of two people caught up in. Esther 2, english standard version 2016 esv the bible app. This unlikely contestant for a beauty pageant was crowned queen of persia and renamed esther, meaning star. Mervin breneman ezra, nehemiah, esther new american commentary, 1993.
Jon levenson capably guides readers through both versions, demonstrating their coherence and their differences. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. The persian kings had a palace there, which they used during the winter. In 2012, a graphic adaptation of the book of esther was illustrated by j. 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. The book of esther is a hodgepodge of different genres. 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.
An explanatory commentary on esther 1888 college press. Read esther 1 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. The book of esther, according to the original text, and original chapter and verse system, explained in modern terms. It is a short story similar to the book of ruth, starting in the palace of shushan susa, one out of the three capitals of the persian empire. Some of the jews had gone, but many of them still lived in persia. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. Esther 7 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. Holman old testament commentary ezra, nehemiah, esther. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. Lectures, expository and practical on the book of esther 1859 j r dummelow, ed.
The story itself is implausible as history and, as many scholars now agree, it is. Book of esther simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The canonicity of the book was questioned by some in ancient judaism and early christianity. Study esther 1 using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. The pulpit commentary introduces the book of esther with the following. The book of esther page 2languages the literal, physical heart in literature is a reference to the thinking portion of a persons soul.
Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. Esther is written during the period of the captivity. The book of esther tells a story of conspiracy and genocide that was eventually thwarted by a jewish queen of persia. Esther commentary scroll down to page 273 for 3 page commentary on esther includes maps seems to be well done. He overcame the jews and he took many jews to babylon. The book of esther has great historical value because it falls in a period of history where some of the decisive events that would determine the future destiny of western civilization. Verses 15 the rules of king darius and king xerxes have finished and artaxerxes is the king of persia. For more details, see my capsule history of the children of israel. Waldman and appeared in volume one of the graphic canon, edited by russ kick and published by seven stories press. The book of esther provides us with the greatest illustrations of the providence of god. God had brought many of his people, the jews, back to judah. Esther 10 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole.
Matthew henry commentary women and their teaching role in the church titus 2. The book of esther is one of only two books in the bible named for women. Esther was a jewish woman who was selected by the king to replace his queen. Esther 1 easy english bible easy 1 this happened when king xerxes ruled over 127 parts of the kingdom of persia. Instead of a translation, i have rendered the meaning of the verses, in clear and modern english. Jerome, the whole book, including the greek additions, was included in the canon of scripture by the council of trent. During world war ii she spent 21 months in a japanese concentration camp as a prisoner. Please identify the section you wish to read, and then use your readers searchfind feature to navigate to it. The greek septuagint remedied this situation by adding six passages which include the name of god. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. The book belongs to the socalled five scrolls hebr.
Study the bible online using commentary on esther 5 and more. Book of esther, book of the hebrew bible and the christian old testament. The book of esther is about a jewish girl adopted by her uncle, mordecai, after her parents died. In the story of esther, youll meet a beautiful, young queen who risked her life to serve god and save her people. Watch our overview video on the book of esther, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. This informative commentary part of jpss bible commentary series dissects the book of esther and, by extension, the jewish holiday of purim. Xerxes this is the ahasuerus of the book of esther. He eventually chose esther as his queen, and by her influence the jews were saved from destruction. The means taken by esther to avert this great calamity from her people and her kindred are fully related in the book of esther. The feast was for all the important men who had authority in the kingdom. Its one of the most beautiful books in the bible and so full of great takeaways for the modern christian woman today. 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. Over 100 years earlier, nebuchadnezzar the king of babylon had attacked jerusalem.
The writer of esther clearly intended the book to explain the origin of the celebration of purim, to institutionalize it as a commemoration of the great deliverance of the jews during the persian period see note on esther 9. Overview of the book of esther third millennium ministries. 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. The book of esther is unusual gods name is not mentioned once, yet gods hand is. One in a series of twenty old testament versebyverse commentary books. In these three verses we have only some short hints, i. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. 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. 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. The book of esther relates an amazing chain of events that first threatened, and then safeguarded and established, the welfare of gods people in the mighty persian empire. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of esther in easy english. Artaxerxes this man was son of xerxes and stepson of esther.
Although his name is never mentioned, we see his providence in each page of this wonderful little book. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. The events in the book of esther took place during the exile from babylon. God saves the jews esther the book of esther easyenglish bible god is in control esther a commentary by robert bryce short outline of esther. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press.
On the mystical level king achashverosh alludes to gd, the king of the world. 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. The book of esther is counted as an historical book in our english bibles, but in the jewish scriptures it is among the writings. Concerning ahasuerus in the throne, what a mighty prince he was v. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. The book was originally written in hebrew, but the ancient greek translation known as the septuagint abbreviated lxx is also a very important witness to the text. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use.
There are like 40 different amazing truths from the blessed book of esther. And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to esther, what is. Esther pleases the king, and is set above all the women. 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. Add to that a flavor of steampunk youve likely never tried before, blend it all up but keep it kosher.
The events that the first chapter of the book of esther describes happened about 483 bc before christ. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. We might even think that he does not care about us. Best esther commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. In other languages, the heart may be the emotional arena of the soul, and, in still others, heart may refer to the emotional part of the soul in reference to love. The jews still commemorate this deliverance in the yearly festival purim, on the 14th and 15th of adar february, march. You can find the best commentary on esther for you using the tools on the right side. Esther commentary book of esther commentary lifeway. This book is also the reason why the jewish people created the jewish festivity of purim, which is celebrated. Esther 1, english standard version 2016 esv the bible app. Scripture says mordecai recorded certain events in order to relate them to jews throughout the kingdom see esth. In the present translation, the greek additions are indicated by the. The pride of ahasueruss heart rising with the grandeur of his kingdom, he made an extravagant feast.
If you have any comments or questions regarding any of our video. Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esthera comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a. 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 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. There are a number of other helpful commentaries on the book of esther. The events in the book of esther occurred from 483. Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. So the king and haman went to dine with queen esther. Mar 08, 2016 please enjoy this purim teaching as daniel joseph takes a deep look at 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. In the hebrew bible the book of esther is placed in the third main part, that is the writings hebr. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch.
Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. She sent clothes for mordecai to put on instead of the sackcloth, but he would not accept them. Esther dwelt on his contemplated atrocity, in a variety of expressions, which both evinced the.
She was brave and good the noble esther even risked her own death when she defended israel against haman. The greek book of esther, included in the septuagint, is a retelling of the events of the hebrew book of esther rather than a translation and. So king xerxes spoke with the wise men who understood the laws. The writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control. Each verse has been translated into an english sentence that means what the original hebrew verse means. Vashti is sent for by the king, but refuses to come, esther 1. The book of esther is renowned for its literary artistry, which functions as the principal vehicle for the book s. The book of esther is the only one not found in the dead sea scrolls.
So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles. The book of esther is a 20 movie starring jen lilley as queen esther and joel smallbone as king xerxes. 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. On the second page you will see an outline of this commentary. 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. 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. The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so in the days of persecution. I have already mentioned brenemans commentary in my post on the top five ezranehemiah commentaries.
Berlin begins with a lengthy introduction, discussing esther as comedy and as diaspora literature. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. History is wholly silent about both vashti and esther. The jews didnt all stay there in babylonia during this exile period. The prayers of esther and mordecai are especially noteworthy.
The book of esther was likely written between 467 and 350 b. The book of esther, also known in hebrew as the scroll megillah, is a book in the third. 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. Classical sources such as josephus, the jewish commentary esther rabbah and the. Christian praise and worship in songs, sermons, and audio books 12,495 views. The story of esther reads like a movie plot, with a beautiful queen risking her life to prevent genocide. We can also read more about king xerxes in the book of esther in the bible. It belongs to the third section of the judaic canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading esther the niv application commentary. The genre of the book of esther is narrative history.