Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. 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. In this sixweek study, explore the subject of gods providence, walking verse by verse through the book of esther. The book of esther fits between the 6th and 7th chapters of ezra, utilizing 10 of the 58 years during that gap, and somewhere in the 81 year period between the return led by ezra and the one led by zerubbabel.
Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. We might even think that he does not care about us. We also can see parallels in the story of esther to the relationship of. Introduction to the book of esther during the seventy years the jews suffered their babylonian exile, god raised up. Bible study guide for esther, old testament david padfield. The significance of the book of esther is that it testifies to the secret watch care of jehovah over dispersed israel. As you read the book of esther, you will see two stories. Most of the book consists of short blocks of sayings on a variety of topics. It is found, however, in the septuagint, the greek translation of the hebrew scriptures made 200 years before christ. When he learns of the edict against the jews, he encourages esther to confront the king.
The book ends with mordecai as the kings chief minister. If the love of life causes earnest pleadings with those that can only kill the body, how fervent should our prayers be to him, who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell. Esther is more than an amazing story of a young jewish girl who saved her people. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. God masterfully orchestrates and weaves together every detail of our lives in jawdropping ways. Best esther commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. 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 events recorded in this book took place in the reign of ahasuerus, otherwise called. The book of esther, like much of the bible, tells the story of gods involvement with. Today marks the 82nd week i have spent obsessing over the book of esther. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esthera comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a.
Without ever mentioning god directly, the hand of god is all over the story of esther, displaying the providence and faithfulness of god even in the face of eradication. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. Esther was a queen of persia approximately 2,500 years ago. This would place the story a few decades before the events in the book. The greek septuagint remedied this situation by adding six passages which include the name of god. Ezra 7 begins in the seventh year of artaxerxes i longimanus i. Interesting facts about esther barnes bible charts. 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. This study was adapted from a study written by the chi alpha. She is a young woman, chosen by the king for her beauty.
Please identify the section you wish to read, and then use your readers searchfind feature to navigate to it. Sirach is not only the longest book in the apocrypha, but it is also the only book named for its author, jesus ben which means son of sira. It follows that this commentary, like all commentaries, was written by an uninspired, fallible human. Commentary on the book of acts bible study lessons. 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 esther is primarily theological history, at least one writer observed similarities with wisdom literature. This study guide on the book of esther was written by thomas klock of harvest christian fellowship in 2005. The book of esther is one of only two books in the bible named for women. Esther is a young and beautiful jewish girl, orphaned but cared for by her. During world war ii she spent 21 months in a japanese concentration camp as a prisoner.
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 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. A good question to ask, when beginning the study of a book in the bible, is what the content of the book adds to the understanding of gods revelation of himself. Scope the events of the book of esther took place during the persian period of. The reader is left to discover gods hand for himself. On the second page you will see an outline of this commentary. A critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther by. The story itself is implausible as history and, as many scholars now agree, it is. 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. Although a bit too technical for most readers, it will be of benefit to seminary students and others doing indepth study of the text.
Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Levenson has studied the recent scholarly commentary on esther, and a great deal of his commentary seemed to be citations of or, in some cases, reaction to other peoples thoughts. 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. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. The book of esther is a magnificent allegory that describes the endtime bride of christ. There are like 40 different amazing truths from the blessed book of esther. Attempts to resolve this by discovering the tetragrammaton yhwh encoded in the hebrew text e. Pdf this paper examines the book of esther, deriving important insights about a variety of. Book of esther bible study chapter 6 the sleepless king and the providence of god book of esther bible study chapter 7 the downfall of haman the wicked. The book of esther, like much of the bible, tells the story of gods involvement with his people. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. In the story of esther, youll meet a beautiful, young queen who risked her life to serve god and save her people.
The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so in the days of persecution. Esther introduction scofield reference bible commentary. On the mystical level king achashverosh alludes to gd, the king of the world. Part two fastforwards to esther looking back and explaining how she became queen to her son, and what gods providential purposes were in saving the jews.
The commentary, which accompanies the hebrew biblical text and the jps translation, approaches the book of esther from a fresh literary point of view. In this eleventh searching the scriptures study on esther, well explore the value of intentional reflection. Read esther 2 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her.
Introduction to the book of esther during the seventy years the jews suffered their babylonian exile, god raised up several people to faithfully. For those seeking a more extensive commentary on the book of esther, frederic bushs work in the wbc series is a good place to start. Pdf new anatomy of the book of esther rick arons academia. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible. Have you ever wondered if god is really involved in the circumstances of your life. The preservation of the jews church of christ zion. Esthers mother, he explains, died in childbirth, and her father died only two years later. I have a few things id like to leave you before i reluctantly turn the last page of a cherished chapter in my life. The writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. This is true of the hebrew text, and all translations from it. Entire book with notes on pdf esther 1 commentary esther 2 commentary esther 3 commentary esther 4 commentary.
Esther and the bride of christ a picture of the endtime bride 1. The pulpit commentary introduces the book of esther with the following. It includes pdf essays entitled when and where was the book of esther written. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. Megillah with indepth commentaryside by side version. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. He very helpfully explores the important theological themes within the book.
The name of god does not once occur, but in no other book of the bible is his providence more conspicuous. Number 1 rated commentary esther an introduction and commentary tyndale old testament commentaries joyce g. Scripture says mordecai recorded certain events in order to relate them to jews throughout the kingdom see esth. Hence it belongs to the bestknown ot books with the jews and it is also the book, which has the oldest copies. Our protagonists, mordecai and esther, are very real the book of esther 6.
Susa, where the story of the book of esther takes place, was. 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. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. Esthers uncle, mordecai, appears first as an adoptive father, whose solicitude for esther leads him to the kings gate, where he foils a plot to assassinate the king. Ashley the book of numbers the new international commentary on the old testament, 1993. Bible it is one of five short books the socalled megillot that appear toward the. A critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther. This book reveals the mighty call that the lord has granted to his end. Bush fuller theological seminary the book of esther tends to be an unaccepted book in christendom. Megillah with indepth commentary side by side version. Hence it belongs to the bestknown otbooks with the jews and it is also the book, which has the oldest copies. The book of esther is a 20 movie starring jen lilley as queen esther and joel smallbone as king xerxes.
Fulfilling lifes mission introduction why read this book. 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. It has been observed that the name of god does not once occur in this book. Constable taught at dallas theological seminary for 45 years, and served as the chairman of its bible exposition department for years. This would place the story a few decades before the events in the book of. Mervin breneman ezra, nehemiah, esther new american commentary, 1993. 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. 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 is set during the period after the babylonian exile in which the nation of persia present day iran ruled judah. This chapter presents an exegetical analysis of the book of esther, focusing on the characteristics and actions of esther and mordecai as they related to navigating the crisis of possible jewish. Waldman and appeared in volume one of the graphic canon, edited by russ kick and. Early jewish and christian traditions suggest that among the people named in the book, mordecai, esther s 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. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time.
The problem with esther was the absence of any direct mention of god. Constable, provide commentary on all 66 books of the bible and contain over 12,000 pages of material in pdf format. The book of esther is not mentioned elsewhere in the old testament, nor anywhere in the new testament, and is the only book that has no trace in the dead sea scrolls. Esther 2 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. The prayers of esther and mordecai are especially noteworthy. 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. Some questioned whether a book that did not mention god could be considered sacred scripture.
This commentary shows how esther is perfect guidance for us when we find ourselves in a situation where right and wrong are not. 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. Id give anything to embark on this journey with you, but my journey as research assistant ends where yours begins. For those seeking a more thorough evangelical commentary on numbers than the tyndale format will allow, ashleys work is a great place to turn. Its one of the most beautiful books in the bible and so full of great takeaways for the modern christian woman today. This book teaches us much about the sovereignty of god despite mankinds evil intentions. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. The niv application commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in todays context. Weve created a 10day study guide for you, each day working through a chapter of the exciting story of. The book of esther in hebrew is secular in nature, in that the name of god, the temple, and prayer are not mentioned. It did not add much to the introduction although it did elucidate some of the themes in more detail. In 2012, a graphic adaptation of the book of esther was illustrated by j.
Mordechai and haman who are referred to in the book of esther as. Indeed, martin luther expressed contempt for esther, claiming that it is spoiled by too much pagan impropriety. His persian name, spelled in english letters, reads thus. Study the bible online using commentary on esther 2 and more. Esther a2 classic bible study guide 2 introduction the book of esther is a graphic narrative, which relates how gods people were preserved from ruin during the fifth century b. This unlikely contestant for a beauty pageant was crowned queen of persia and renamed esther, meaning star.
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