Commentary on book of esther

The book of esther is designed to show gods providential care of his people. This commentary approaches the book of esther from a fresh literary point of view. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The fate of gods chosen people is at the very center of the story, but god seems to. An exposition, with practical observations, of the book of esther chapter 1. The king urged esther, a third time, to tell him what her request was, for he longed to know, and repeated his promise that it should be granted, esther 7. Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. 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 free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. Esther 2 chapter 1 several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. Esther bible study chapter 5 prayer and the power of the. It is a deeply profound and moving narrative of historical events that displayed the providence of god. We might even think that he does not care about us. The books of ezra and nehemiah were written during his reign. This informative commentary part of jpss bible commentary series dissects the book of esther and, by extension, the jewish holiday of purim. This is my favorite commentary on any book of holy scripture. Esther commentary book of esther commentary lifeway. What is the status of the chronological debate for the megillah. You can work through this bible study on your own or with your small group, and you can go through this in ten days, or over a tenweek or semester long schedule.

Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading esther the niv application commentary. Sent by couriers on horses, riding on steeds sired by. A queen under control when esthers words were reported to mordecai, he sent back this answer. Studying the book of esther is well worth your time. Jobes volume is best for those seeking a biblicaltheological commentary on the book of esther. 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. A critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther. But the megillahs mandate differs from the torahs in one crucial respect. Its one of the most beautiful books in the bible and so full of great takeaways for the modern christian woman today. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. I used frederic bushs word bible commentary on esther for places. An integrated digital bible study library including complete notes from the niv study bible and the nkjv macarthur study bible is just a step away. The book of esther serves as the authorizing document for purim, a holiday that is not mentioned in the torah.

The son and successor of the famous persian king xerxes was artaxerxes, surnamed longimanus, or, in persian, ardsheer diraz dest, the longhanded ardshur. Though the name of god is not mentioned, the hand of god, ruling. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the jews will arise from another place, but you and your fathers family will perish. The book of esther was likely written between 460 and 350 b. 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 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. The story of esther reads like a movie plot, with a beautiful queen risking her life to prevent genocide. Sleep is taken from ahasuerus at precisely the right time 6. One in an ongoing series of esteemed and popular bible commentary volumes.

Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible. 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. Scripture that same day king xerxes gave queen esther the estate of read more the book of esther bible study. David guzik commentary on esther 1, where queen vashti refuses to display her. We are shown a persian emperor, ahasuerus loosely based on xerxes, 485464 b. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Esther commentary scroll down to page 273 for 3 page commentary on esther includes maps seems to be well done alexander d davidson lectures, expository and practical on the book of esther 1859. The genre of the book of esther is narrative history. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and 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. Megillah with indepth commentaryside by side version. Summary of the book of esther genuine leather bible. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries.

Esther chapter 2 verse by verse bible commentary matthew. 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. The events in the book of esther occurred from 483. 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. Sadly, many who read and study esther including bible scholars who write commentaries on the book fill in the blanks, rather than leaving them blank and learning from the silence of the author. Neither mordecai, esther, nor the feast of purim is mentioned. This book is also the reason why the jewish people created the jewish festivity of purim, which is celebrated annually amongst all jewish people in. Xerxes this is the ahasuerus of the book of esther. 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. Mordecai is brought into prominence at the right time 6. Esther commentary, sermon, illustration esther commentaries. In the hebrew bible, the book of esther is found in the third section of the canon, the writings. If the king had now forgotten that esther had an errand to him, and had not again asked what it was, she could scarcely have known how to renew it herself. Esther may seem like a strange book to preach through, particularly for.

The book belongs to the socalled five scrolls hebr. Esther the niv application commentary kindle edition. It is the last of the five scrolls ruth, song of songs, ecclesiastes, lamentations, and esther, and is read at the feast of purim. In esther s story, gods involvement is implicit rather than explicit. You can find the best commentary on esther for you using the tools on the right side. Best commentaries and books on esther logos bible software. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. It includes essays entitled when and where was the book of esther written. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. Chapter one chapter two chapter three chapter four chapter five chapter six chapter seven s.

The book of esther tells a story of the deliverance of the jewish people. In the book of esther this information is casually presented as unimportant, but comes up later in the story. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. Ahasuerus makes royal feasts for his nobles and people, esther 1. Esther is the last of the historical books of the bible, so its main character is. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. Artaxerxes this man was son of xerxes and stepson of esther. This commentary is based on the premise that the book of esther is written with the intention of presenting factual history, something supported by the fact that it was as a factual history that it was received into the jewish canon, even though it. Commentary on esther 1 by matthew henry blue letter bible. Vashti is sent for by the king, but refuses to come, esther 1. What spiritual lessons can we learn from this book. 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. Sex and spies, rabbinic interpretation, and many others.

Adele berlins commentary in the jps series is better suited for a critical look at the hebrew text. God is always active in esther, even though it is behind the scenes. 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. Queen esther came to the throne for just such a time 4. This prince, on coming to the throne, had powerful opponents and competitors in the children of artabanus, uncle to xerxes, and in his. Matthew henry commentary on esther 1 book of esther chapter 1. 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. Number 1 rated commentary esther an introduction and commentary tyndale old testament commentaries joyce g. It is careful not to say that god commanded the observance of purim. This unlikely contestant for a beauty pageant was crowned queen of persia and renamed esther, meaning star. 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. In this sixweek study, explore the subject of gods providence, walking verse by verse through the book of esther.

We find in this book that even those jews who were scattered in the provinces of the heathen were taken care of. The book of esther does not specifically name its author. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of esther in easy english. In the hebrew bible the book of esther is placed in the third main part, that is the writings hebr. It belongs to the third section of the judaic canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings.

This little gem, tucked away in an obscure corner of the old testament, is a very rich book, and it is historical. The writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control. Berlin begins with a lengthy introduction, discussing esther as comedy and as diaspora literature. He eventually chose esther as his queen, and by her influence the jews were saved from destruction. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible.

With scripture memory, daily study, and group discussion questions, this resource is ideal for both individual and group study. Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, than this banquet of wine, with all the noise and tumult that must have attended it. Esther chapter 7 verse by verse bible commentary matthew. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israel. Frederic bush, word biblical commentary wbc, thomas nelson, 1996, 528 pp. 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. 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.

Engage the challenging books of ruth and esther utilizing the dynamic. In the book of esther, what is not said is vitally important. The key personalities are esther, mordecai, king ahasuerus or xerxes, and haman. Book of esther, book of the hebrew bible and the christian old testament. For example, when esther asks the jews to fast, we can assume this included prayer est. 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. Read and study esther, including book summary, with the versebyverse bible commentary. A critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther by paton, lewis bayles, 18641932. Bible studies in the book of esther esther chapter 5. Do not think that because you are in the kings house you alone of all the jews will escape. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible. Weve created a 10day study guide for you, each day working through a chapter of the exciting story of esther. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai.

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. Most likely, the book of esther doesnt have the name of god because it shows how god works behind the scenes. 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. Publication date 1908 topics bible publisher new york. 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. Mordecai learned of a plot to kill the king and made it known to esther who passed the news to the king.