The king has one law for any man or woman who goes to the king without being called. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. The story itself is implausible as history and, as many scholars now agree, it is. The book of esther is counted as an historical book in our english bibles, but in the jewish scriptures it is among the writings. See all of our coronavirus resources here toggle navigation. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. This little gem, tucked away in an obscure corner of the old testament, is a very rich book, and it is historical. Although there are unfortunately those today who suggest that some of the stories in the old testament are legends, there is substantial evidence that the events of esther actually occurred.
Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esthera comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a. The book of esther is read every year to the assembled congregations of the jewish people in their synagogues to the present day. Artaxerxes this man was son of xerxes and stepson of esther. 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. Esther pleases the king, and is set above all the women. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of proverbs. It is up to mordecais niece esther to win the affection of the king, unmask hamans treachery and save the jewish people. 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. Instead of a translation, i have rendered the meaning of the verses, in clear and modern english. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press.
The story of esther takes place in the persian empire during the reign of ahasuerus, known more familiarly to us by the greek form of his name, xerxes i. Xerxes, the persian king, rejected his wife queen vashti, and fell in love with esther at a beauty contest. Medes and persian empire xerxes king of the medes and persians, appointing a beautiful jewish woman, esther, as queen. The book of esther has been preserved in ancient texts that diverge greatly from each other. Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The book of esther is a 20 movie starring jen lilley as queen esther and joel smallbone as king xerxes. Book of esther simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. The book of esther, according to the original text, and original chapter and verse system, explained in modern terms. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. Upper corner of page 910 and page 203204 torn off numbers on pages before and after visible in place. The greek title for this book is esther latin hester. 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.
He eventually chose esther as his queen, and by her influence the jews were saved from destruction. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. He thinks that god might not be mentioned in esther the masoretic version by name because of some issue between god and what was happening. 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. The book of esther, also known in hebrew as the scroll megillah, is a book in the third. Although the book of esther was questioned by some early christians, even st. Waldman and appeared in volume one of the graphic canon, edited by russ kick and published by seven stories press. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. This would place the story a few decades before the events in the book of.
Overview of the book of esther third millennium ministries. Vashti is sent for by the king, but refuses to come, esther 1. But in the lxx there are additions to the book of esther which give it and the festival associated with it a religious tone previously lacking. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. Add to that a flavor of steampunk youve likely never tried before, blend it all up but keep it kosher. A critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther. Lectures, expository and practical on the book of esther 1859 j r dummelow, ed. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Whether the basic texts of indigenous chinese religion should be called. Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. The book is set during the period after the babylonian exile in which the nation of persia present day iran ruled judah.
Harem politics, antisemitism, and an audacious jewish heroine combine to make this story from the later persian period early 4th cent. The reversal of fortunes which esther secured, attributed to her beauty and her daring in the book, are ascribed, in the additions, to her piety. Jon levenson capably guides readers through both versions, demonstrating their coherence and their differences. The greek septuagint remedied this situation by adding six passages which include the name of god. We are shown a persian emperor, ahasuerus loosely based on xerxes, 485464 b. We might even think that he does not care about us. An explanatory commentary on esther 1888 college press. So the king and haman went to dine with queen esther.
For the full text of the book of esther in hebrew and english, click here. And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to esther, what is. It is a deeply profound and moving narrative of historical events that displayed the providence of god. In 2012, a graphic adaptation of the book of esther was illustrated by j. In 1934 annie became a missionary in china with oms. 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. The book was originally written in hebrew, but the ancient greek translation known as the septuagint abbreviated lxx is also a very important witness to the text. The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so in the days of persecution. The book of esther is the only one not found in the dead sea scrolls.
He took esther as the new persian queen, not knowing she was an israelite. Esther 2 bible commentary wesleys explanatory notes. She sent clothes for mordecai to put on instead of the sackcloth, but he would not accept them. Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of vashti. Classical sources such as josephus, the jewish commentary esther rabbah and the christian theologian barhebraeus, as well as the greek septuagint translation of esther, instead identify ahasuerus as either artaxerxes i. The book of esther is renowned for its literary artistry, which functions as the principal vehicle for the books. Some have wondered if, in that atmosphere, it would be too easy to profane the. Megillah with indepth commentaryside by side version.
That person must be put to death unless the king holds out his gold scepter to them. Keith mathison agrees with the other experts when he says, karen jobes has written the most engaging, interesting, and helpful commentary on the book of esther presently available. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. In the hebrew bible, the book of esther is found in the third section of the canon, the writings. And in fact, the whole story of esther is a bit like a game of hide and seek first of all, you may have noticed that god himself is hiding in the book of esther he is not mentioned at all. Esther is a young and beautiful jewish girl, orphaned but cared for by her. The feast was for all the important men who had authority in the kingdom.
The book of esther is unusual gods name is not mentioned once, yet gods hand is clearly present and. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading esther the niv application commentary. In the greek versions of esther, which deemphasize purim, the comic elements are. Such a reading would, however, limit the resources of god, who brought this about, and transplant the. So esther answered, if it pleases the king, let the king and haman come today to the banquet that i have prepared for him. 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 is the name of a book in the tanakh the hebrew bible and the old testament, and also its title heroine. Weibe suggests that this translation fits the context of the book of esther much better than the traditional rendering. 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 prayers of esther and mordecai are especially noteworthy.
This unlikely contestant for a beauty pageant was crowned queen of persia and renamed esther, meaning star. It relates the story of a hebrew woman in persia, born as hadassah but known as esther, who becomes queen of. Information and translations of book of esther in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew 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. Smith professor in biblical studies at the university of maryland. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. A scholar of biblical and ancient near eastern literature, berlin has written six books, including three commentaries on zephaniah, esther and lamentations. The book of esther is renowned for its literary artistry, which functions as the principal vehicle for the book s.
The beautiful esther, who also has the hebrew name hadassah which means myrtle esther 2. The book of esther in hebrew is secular in nature, in that the name of god, the temple, and prayer are not mentioned. Hence it belongs to the bestknown ot books with the jews and it is also the book, which has the oldest copies. Esther commentary scroll down to page 273 for 3 page commentary on esther includes maps seems to be well done. Berlin begins with a lengthy introduction, discussing esther as comedy and as diaspora literature. The book of esther is a hodgepodge of different genres.
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. Orthodoxy and the book of esther and purim christian forums. Commentary on esther 1 by matthew henry blue letter bible. Book of prophecy that reveals gods magnificent plan of salvation through the person and work of jesus christ.
Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. If the king does this, that persons life will be saved. The writer of esther clearly intended the book to explain the origin of the celebration of purim, to institutionalize it as a commemoration of the great deliverance of the jews during the persian period see note on esther 9. This commentary has been through advanced checking words in boxes are from the bible. He says that esther was not in the russian orthodox calendars until 1977, but mentions a 1901 book with a complete list of monthly services that does mention her. Xerxes this is the ahasuerus of the book of esther. On the seventh day here we have luxuriosi convivii luctuosum exitum, a sad end of a luxurious. You can find the best commentary on esther for you using the tools on the right side. This informative commentary part of jpss bible commentary series dissects the book of esther and, by extension, the jewish holiday of purim. Based upon the book of esther, this delightful retelling emphasizes the value of courage, faith and obedience. At this point esther has committed herself in faith to her plan of action, and as yet she does not know if the king will. It is the only book in the bible where god is hidden like this, but he is there.
David guzik commentary on esther 2 describes how esther is chosen as the new. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of 1 kings. I always appreciate it when there is clear consensus on the best commentary on any given book of the bible. The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. In the present translation, the greek additions are indicated by the. The manner in which these young women were introduced to the king, and how those were disposed of who were not called again to the kings bed, esther 2. It took place in the days of israels captivity when. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of 1 kings in easy english. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of ezra. The writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control. Esther 1, new living translation nlt the bible app. It is the last of the five scrolls ruth, song of songs, ecclesiastes, lamentations, and esther, and is read at the feast of purim. The seventeenth book of the ot in the traditional english order. Book of esther, in the hebrew bible and the christian old testament.
Following tradition, the books explanation of purim as a historical event to be. The events in the book of esther occurred from 483. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. The book of esther tells a story of the deliverance of the jewish people. The jews have already weathered some pretty tough and crazy babylonian kings, but have endured long enough to see. Each verse has been translated into an english sentence that means what the original hebrew verse means. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles. A critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther by paton, lewis bayles, 18641932. The books of ezra and nehemiah were written during his reign. Esther the niv application commentary kindle edition by. The book of esther is about a jewish girl adopted by her uncle, mordecai, after her parents died. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old.