The book of esther in hebrew is secular in nature, in that the name of god, the temple, and prayer are not mentioned. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. The book of esther tells a compelling story, dramatic and exciting, with clearly defined heroes and villains. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage. Christian women faith articles, encouragement, growth. 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.
On the one hand, the book of esther provides the strongest canonical warrant in the whole old testament for the religious significance of the jewish people in an ethnic sense. The book of esther has a james bondish, tickingtimebomb plot. Bible studies in the book of esther esther chapter 1. Understanding the bible commentary series 9780801045462 by leslie c. Esther bible study chapter 1 the invitation of the king. There is not even a divine title or pronoun that refers to god. It is not possible to learn everything about it in thirty 7. The story forms the core of the jewish festival of purim, during which it is read aloud twice. The book of esther, also known in hebrew as the scroll, is a book in the third section of the christian old testament. Prayer is not mentionedit wouldnt be, since god is omitted.
The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. Your children will be in spellbound by this harrowing story of how one person can. The prayers of esther and mordecai are especially noteworthy. Queen vashti refused to obey her husband and didnt come when he beckoned. Yet, though this is true in one sense, there is more to it than that. This video presents the heroic story of queen esther, while bringing to life the bible book named after her. The book is set during the period after the babylonian exile in which the nation of persia present day iran ruled judah. The bible is an enormous book covering much information and many subjects. Ezra, nehemiah, esther understanding the bible commentary.
Esther poetical job psalms proverbs ecclesiastes song of solomon prophetical isaiah jeremiah lamentations. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. 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. Esther 2, new american standard bible nasb the bible app. This is one book of the bible you could easily read while marinating in a bubble bath, without feeling particularly. The book of esther, also known in hebrew as the scroll, is a book in the third section of the jewish tanakh and in the christian old testament. It is clear that the author was a jew, both from his emphasis on the origin of a jewish festival and from the jewish nationalism that permeates the story. Esther is the only book in the bible not to mention the name of god. Well, i can now tell you that i have found you the particularly nasty villain you have been. Neither mordecai, esther, nor the feast of purim is mentioned. The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. The king had become drunk on wine and commanded that his wife, queen vashti come, at once, to show everyone how beautiful she was. Watch our overview video on the book of esther, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. How the book of esther can help give us insight into the modern nations of israel and iran you will discover that the book of esther is an indispensable part of gods word, today and forever.
The book of esther records the institution of the feast of purim and the obligation of its perpetual observation. The greek septuagint remedied this situation by adding six passages which include the name of god. Even though god was never mention in the book of esther, it is clear throughout every word that esther felt his presence and often leaned on that existence for a deeper understanding of her duties. Bible studies in the book of esther esther chapter 5. Esther is a young and beautiful jewish girl, orphaned but cared for by her. His presence permeates much of the story, as though he were behind the scenes coordinating coincidences and circumstances to make his will happen. 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. The book of esther is the only one not found in the dead sea scrolls. Esther challenge a 10 day challenge to read the book of. The book of esther is one of the most exciting books in all the old testament and is nearly unique in employing a woman as its leading character. Esther is one of the five scrolls in the hebrew bible. It narrates the account of a hebrew woman in persia, born as hadassah but identified as esther, who becomes queen of persia and prevents a massacre of her people. When i wrote my study on the book of ruth 1, i started by saying that it was a fantastic book that had it all well, apart from a nasty villain, but we cant ask for everything.
Before you attempt to answer the questions below you should read these chapters in the bible and answer the questions at the end of each chapter found at the website answer the questions below and then click ok to send your answers. It purports to explain how the feast of purim came to be celebrated by the jews. Esther is about the minority jewish community in the dependent state of diaspora, navigating a precarious existence in two worlds, and it is about the triumph of right over wrong, of gods people over their enemies. Book of esther, in the hebrew bible and the christian old testament. 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 of her people. However, at several points in the narrative, the author alludes to gods hand in the events. The story of esther opens with a lavish banquet at the palace of king ahasuerus, also known as king xerxes. 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. We saw in the last study that queen esther had, after some initial resistance, obeyed mordecai and made the decision to go to the king without being summoned. In the story of esther, youll meet a beautiful, young queen who risked her life to serve god and save her people. Some have even questioned the books place in the bible because of it. Esther will challenge your understanding of humility, pride, favour, obedience, and loyalty.
The book of esther would also encourage them to worship the god of israel, though he is not mentioned by name in it ibid. Childs notes the typology which the writer uses in identifying haman and mordecai through genealogies when he writes, haman, the enemy of the jews, is portrayed as the son of hammedatha, the agagite 3. The book of esther was read at the feast of purim to commemorate the great deliverance of the jewish nation brought about by god through esther. 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. Now, in truly understanding the biblical book of esther, the orthodox church teaches that the israel of god the church was about to be wiped out throughout the persian empire, which would have exterminated the race from which the messiah was to come, the lord jesus christ, the yahweh of the old testament. Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esthera comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a part of his harem. The book of esther in one sense is the most remarkable in the bible, and that is because the name of god is not mentioned in this book at all.
For example, mordecais contention that deliverance would come from another place est 4. Herbert lockyer describes her as the woman who saved her nation from genocide. It is in this passage in the book of esther that we see a father grieving for his daughter and a daughter, selflessly giving herself for the sake of her people. Without ever mentioning god directly, the hand of god is all over the story of esther, displaying the providence and. The genre of the book of esther is narrative history. Esther bible study chapter 5 prayer and the power of the. Its also heavy on action, drama, and game of thronesstyle intrigue, while being notably lacking in legal codes, commandments, theologyall that kind of thing. The book of esther is one of only two books in the bible named for women. Ezra, nehemiah, esther understanding the bible commentary series paperback september 1, 1995 by leslie c.