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, or writings, and also appears in the protestant canon and in the roman catholic canon. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. This informative commentary part of jpss bible commentary series dissects the book of esther and, by extension, the jewish holiday of purim.
Summary of the book of esther genuine leather bible. The book of esther is one of the latest of the canonical books of scripture, having been written late in the reign of xerxes, or early in that of his son artaxerxes longimanus b. His name is not written in the book, but his fingerprints, as we say, are all over it. Although his name is never mentioned, we see his providence in each page of this wonderful little book. On several counts, esther is the strangest book in the bible. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. The coincidences, the amazing reversals, and the poetic justice that led to the deliverance of the jews in persia all proclaim the presence of god. The book of esther was likely written between 460 and 350 b.
The following lesson is the beginning of a new series teaching through the book of esther. This paper examines the book of esther, deriving important insights about a variety of approaches to leadership that can be applied to todays crisis in leadership. The bible study book of esther, by jenn peppers and tara miller, flow, llc. Not one commentary was written on the book of esther in the first seven centuries of the church. The bible study of esther is the third one ive read in mr. In the hebrew bible the book of esther is placed in the third main part, that is the writings hebr. The book of esther in hebrew is secular in nature, in that the name of god, the temple, and prayer are not mentioned. An easyenglish bibleversion and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of esther. Mid size czuker edition hebrew mikraos gedolos megillas esther. The book of esther is the only one not found in the dead sea scrolls. We are shown a persian emperor, ahasuerus loosely based on xerxes, 485464 b. Commentaries for the book of esther the royal feast of ahasuerus.
Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so in the days of persecution. God is always active in esther, even though it is behind the scenes. Book of esther, in the hebrew bible and the christian old testament. Best commentaries and books on esther logos bible software. 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. Hence it belongs to the bestknown otbooks with the jews and it is also the book, which has the oldest copies. Engage the challenging books of ruth and esther utilizing the dynamic. 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 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 book of esther says mordechai was exiled from judah with king jeconiah. In the book of esther this information is casually presented as unimportant, but comes up later in the story.
Martin luther renounced the book, along with other apocryphal books saying, i am so great an enemy to the second book of the maccabees, and to esther, that i. The jewish historian josephus names mordecai as author of the book. I really like the life applications he has in his books. Fulfilling lifes mission we flounder without a mission leaders guide we flounder without a mission scripture.
The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. Frederic bush, word biblical commentary wbc, thomas nelson, 1996, 528 pp. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. 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. John calvin never preached from the book and did not write a commentary on the book. Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. This summary of the book of esther will help with many different forms of bible study. Best esther commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. 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. In fact, god is not directly mentioned by name in the book of esther. Esther introduction united states conference of catholic bishops. The book of esther may not directly mention god, yet it clearly reveals god at work. The purpose of the book of esther is to display the providence of god, especially in regard to his chosen people, israel.
Esther 2 chapter 1 several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. Chapter one chapter two chapter three chapter four chapter five chapter six chapter seven s. 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. The book of esther tells a story of the deliverance of the jewish people. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. The focus of this lesson is an overview of esther introducing students to the main characters, places and themes.
Esther 1, new living translation nlt the bible app. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. This unlikely contestant for a beauty pageant was crowned queen of persia and renamed esther, meaning star. In this sixweek study, explore the subject of gods providence, walking verse by verse through the book of esther. 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. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Bible commentaries spurgeons verse expositions of the bible esther. Commentary on the book of esther, new york, i908, pp. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. As with most of the ot writings the author of the book of esther esther meaning star is not mentioned. Neither mordecai, esther, nor the feast of purim is mentioned.
A bible commentary for teaching and preaching carol m. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. With scripture memory, daily study, and group discussion questions, this resource is ideal for both individual and group study.
The greek septuagint remedied this situation by adding six passages which include the name of god. It is a good opportunity to refresh students minds who the jewish people are, gods covenant with his people and why the jews are living. Now in shushan the palace there was a certain jew, whose name was mordechai who had been carried away from jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with jeconiah king of judah, whom nebuchadnezzar the king of babylon had carried away esther 2. The book belongs to the socalled five scrolls hebr.
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. Mordecai learned of a plot to kill the king and made it known to esther who passed the news to the king. Baldwin rosscup is a bit less enamored with karen jobes commentary writing jobes will not be clear to some in her view that a biblical book can have legitimate errors in historical matters for the sake of poetic license, without. 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. 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.
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. It purports to explain how the feast of purim came to be celebrated by the jews. Scripture that same day king xerxes gave queen esther the estate of read more the book of esther bible study. In christian bibles the book of esther follows ezra and nehemiah because all three. The prayers of esther and mordecai are especially noteworthy. The events in the book of esther occurred from 483. Students will gain an understanding of how over the ensuing centuries the.
The book of esther records the institution of the feast of purim and the obligation of its perpetual observation. 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. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of esther in easy english. Kal mapboxaos kal eacotp faarxtaaca airryaav avrot s kao. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible.
Number 1 rated commentary esther an introduction and commentary tyndale old testament commentaries joyce g. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. Esther bible story summary what christians want to know. The book of esther provides us with the greatest illustrations of the providence of god.
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