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Esther
Overview
Unique Place in the Canon
Authorhship
Date
Background and Theme
The Expulsion of Vashti Decreed
The Elevation of Esther Accomplished
The Extermination of the Jews Planned
The Extermination of the Jews Thwarted
The Exaltation of Mordecai

Overview
Esther


Unique Place in the Canon

  • "A Soviet Jew was recently asked by a Westerner what he thought would be the outcome if the USSR stepped up its anti-Semitic policies. 'Oh, probably a feast!' Asked for an explanation, the Jewish man said, 'Pharaoh tried to wipe out the Hebrews and the result was Passover; Haman tried to exterminate our people and the result was Purim; Antiochus Epiphanes tried to do us in, and the result was Hanukkah!" (Believer's Bible Commentary)
  • "Esther explains the origin of the Feast of Purim, a colorful Jewish holiday that today features noisemakers sounding off every time Haman's name occurs in the annual public reading of the book." (Believer's Bible Commentary)
  • "Esther is unique in several ways. It tells the story of non-observant Jews who preferred prosperity in Persia to the rigors of the small remnant that returned to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel (Ezra 2). All reference to religion other than fasting is lacking in Esther." (Believer's Bible Commentary)
  • Another very interesting feature of Esther is that the name of God is not found in it. It is the only book in the Bible that does not mention the name of God, and this fact has caused some to question Esther's right to a place in Scripture. In addition to containg no explicit mention of God, there is also no explicit mention of worship, prayer, or sacrifice. Esther can be viewed as a very secular book.
  • Even though God's name is not explicitly found, His presence and power are clearly manifested as He provides deliverance for His people. How does God work in Esther? Through a series of "coincidences." Even though the characters in this book are Jews who did not return to Jerusalem, God's protection is seen on them. They were still His people, and he would protect them from the anti-Semitism which sought to exterminate them.
  • "Esther is not quoted in the New Testament, and so far no fragment has been found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. For these and other reasons, some (even a few Jews) have questioned the canonicity of Esther. However, the book has wonderful lessons on the faithfullness of God even when His people are disobedient." (Believer's Bible Commentary)

Authorhship

  • The writer of Esther was undoubtedly a Jew who knew Persian customs and the details of the palace. Some have suggested taht Ezra or Nehemiah is the author. Jewish tradition points to Mordecai as author. We really don't know who wrote Esther.
  • We know the author was a Jew, both because of his emphasis on the origin of a Jewish festival and from the Jewish nationalism that permeates the story.
  • Some people view Esther as a historical novel or short story, similar to Jesus' parables. Others insist on the historical truth of every detail, pointing to Esther 10:2, e.g.

Date

  • The events of Esther take place during the reign of King Xerxes of Persia. This would be between chapters six and seven of Ezra.

Background and Theme

  • The book is concerned with the Jews who did not return to Jersualem with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2) and instead chose to remain in Persia.
  • The author's central purpose was to record the institution of the annual festival of Purim and to keep alive for later generations the memory of the great deliverance of the Jewish people during the reign of Xerxes.
  • Feasting is a prominent theme in Esther. Banquets provide the setting for important plot developments. There are ten banquets - make note of them as we study the book.
  • Esther overwhelmingly points to the theme of justice.


Last update: July 6, 2003

© 2003 Greg Cohoon
greg@cohoon.name

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