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. Did you know that esther is mentioned more times in the bible than any other woman. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. Esther bible study chapter 6 the sleepless king and the.
It includes essays entitled when and where was the book of esther written. The book of esther begins with queen vashti being publically disrespectful to her husband, causing king xerxes to remove her as queen. With scripture memory, daily study, and group discussion questions, this resource is ideal for both individual and group study. Esther commentary john gills exposition of the bible. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. The name of god does not once occur, but in no other book of the bible is his providence more conspicuous. 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. The book was written no earlier than 470 bc and probably no later than 424 bc, during the reign of xerxes son artaxerxes. Esther chapter 7 verse by verse bible commentary matthew. Bible studies in the book of esther esther chapter 6. There is hardly a book in the bible, upon the trustworthiness of which there has been made so determined an attack, as the book of esther. Weve created a 10day study guide for you, each day working through a chapter of the exciting story of esther. The book of esther is never quoted in the new testament, and esther is not in a genealogy or even a casual reference.
The book belongs to the socalled five scrolls hebr. She plainly tells the king that haman is the man who designed her ruin and the ruin of all her friends, esther 7. An exposition, with practical observations, of the book of esther chapter 1. Neither mordecai, esther, nor the feast of purim is mentioned.
Best commentaries and books on esther logos bible software. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Read esther commentary using john gills exposition of the bible. The book of esther provides many biblical lessons that can be applied towards life today. At that time king xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of susa, and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his. The events mentioned in esther therefore happened between ezra chapter 6 and chapter 7. Engage the challenging books of ruth and esther utilizing the dynamic. The blue letter bible ministry and the blb institute hold to the historical, conservative christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of scripture. David guzik commentary on esther 1, where queen vashti refuses to display her. Esther overview, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary was written by frederick brotherton meyer, a contemporary and friend of d.
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. Esther chapter 2 verse by verse bible commentary matthew. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. After these things, when the wrath of king ahasuerus subsided, he remembered vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. Did you know that the book bearing her name in the old testament does. His eyes behold, his eyelids test the children of men. Esther dwelt on his contemplated atrocity, in a variety of expressions, which both evinced the depth of her own emotions, and were.
It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. We are shown a persian emperor, ahasuerus loosely based on xerxes, 485464 b. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. 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.
Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of media and persia. Book introduction esther the significance of the book of esther is that it testifies to the secret watch care of jehovah over dispersed israel. Mordecai, the cousin of esther, is a jewish official in the royal court of persia at shushan 2. This is my favorite commentary on any book of holy scripture. Public calamities, that oppress the church of god, should affect our hearts more than any private affliction, and it is peculiarly distressing to occasion sufferings to others. Jobes volume is best for those seeking a biblicaltheological commentary on the book of esther. Study esther using john gills exposition of the bible to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. 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. 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. Esther presents her petition to the king for her life and the life of her people, esther 7. We saw in the last study that everything is reaching an exciting climax and before the day is out.
Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. In this sixweek study, explore the subject of gods providence, walking verse by verse through the book of esther. The genre of the book of esther is narrative history. And king ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea. The key personalities are esther, mordecai, king ahasuerus or xerxes, and haman. In the hebrew bible the book of esther is placed in the third main part, that is the writings hebr. The close of the last study in esther chapter 6 saw the events drawing to a dramatic conclusion. Vashti is sent for by the king, but refuses to come, esther 1. The story itself is implausible as history and, as many scholars now agree, it is. 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.
We have detailed a brief summary of the book of esther for bible study or sunday school lessons. Frederic bush, word biblical commentary wbc, thomas nelson, 1996, 528 pp. Although no meaning is attached to his name in strongs concordance due to its nonhebrew origin, willmingtons complete guide to bible knowledge states it means dedicated to mars. The book of esther was likely written between 460 and 350 b. Since the text and audio content provided by blb represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not. Esther is the last of the historical books of the bible, so its main character is.
Esther is the only book in the bible not to mention the name of god. In the book of esther, what is not said is vitally important. The author of the book is unknown and modern scholars have established that the final stage of the hebrew text would have been formed by the second century bce. 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. The main purpose of a summary is as a simplification highlighting the major points from the original and much longer version of the subject. This is why many presume that the book was written in the second half of the fifth century bc. Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Commentary on the book of esther matthew henrys bible commentary. T he story of esther reads like a novel and is full of great spiritual lessons. The book of esther tells a story of the deliverance of the jewish people. Read and study esther, including book summary, with the versebyverse bible commentary. Esther 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. We are now to attend the second banquet to which the king and haman were invited.
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. Queen vashti deposed this is what happened during the time of xerxes, the xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from india to cush. Esther 1 is the first chapter of the book of esther in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. Best esther commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. Most likely, the book of esther doesnt have the name of god because it shows how god works behind the scenes. Bob is a pastorteacher and elder at community bible chapel in richardson, texas, and has contributed many of his bible study series for use by the foundation. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. 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. 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. We might even think that he does not care about us. The book of esther does not specifically name its author. Esther 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on.
Esther overview, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, filling six volumes, provides an exhaustive look at every verse in the bible. Adele berlins commentary in the jps series is better suited for a critical look at the hebrew text. It is a deeply profound and moving narrative of historical events that displayed the providence of god. The commentary, which accompanies the hebrew biblical text and the jps translation, approaches the book of esther from a fresh literary pointofview. Esther the book of esther easyenglish bible god is in control esther a commentary by robert bryce. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. Woven into gods plans are the most minute details of human history. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. Esther bible study chapter 5 prayer and the power of the. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of esther in easy english. God is always active in esther, even though it is behind the scenes.
Studying the book of esther is well worth your time. Commentary on esther 1 by matthew henry blue letter bible. 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. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more.
All of these teachings are powerful and depict true courage and devotion. 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. Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. 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. Bible studies in the book of esther esther chapter 5. In the hebrew bible, the book of esther is found in the third section of the canon, the writings.
Ahasuerus makes royal feasts for his nobles and people, esther 1. Outside of the book of esther there is never any mention of esther or hadassah, esther 2. Berlin begins with a lengthy introduction, discussing esther as comedy and as diaspora literature. Esther commentary, sermon, illustration esther commentaries. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. Free, online access to study passages and verses contained in the chapters and verses of the book of esther for bible study or sunday school lessons. Esther, bible illustrations 19312009, published by sweet media. It is the last of the five scrolls ruth, song of songs, ecclesiastes, lamentations, and esther, and is read at the feast of purim. This section of the catholic bible contains the complete content of the book of esther with numbers, chapters and text of individual verses from the douay rheims version of the catholic bible. Bible study from the book of esther looking at the fall of haman the book of esther chapter 7.
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