Esther 1 new international version niv queen vashti deposed. Esther is the last of the historical books of the bible, so its main character is. The book of esther is unusual gods name is not mentioned once, yet gods hand is. Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. We find in this book that even those jews who were scattered in the provinces of the heathen were taken care of. 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. The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible.
Waldman and appeared in volume one of the graphic canon, edited by russ kick and published by seven stories press. As scripture reveals, esther is a jewish woman living in persia and reared by her cousin mordecai. Read and study esther, including book summary, with the versebyverse bible commentary. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old.
Frederic bush, word biblical commentary wbc, thomas nelson, 1996, 528 pp. 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. When he learns of the edict against the jews, he encourages esther to confront the king. Commentaries on esther the best esther commentaries are listed below. A search for a new queen results in esther cousin of the torah sage mordechai being taken to the palace, but not sharing her jewish identity. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. An exposition, with practical observations, of the book of esther chapter 1. Neither mordecai, esther, nor the feast of purim is mentioned. 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. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The book belongs to the socalled five scrolls hebr. Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the kings palace any more than all the other jews. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. Joyce baldwin esther tyndale old testament commentaries, 1984. Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esthera comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a. His presence permeates much of the story, as though he were behind the scenes coordinating coincidences and circumstances to make his will happen. So the king and haman went to dine with queen esther. The books of ezra and nehemiah were written during his reign. See all of our coronavirus resources here toggle navigation.
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. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. Vashti is sent for by the king, but refuses to come, esther 1. King achashveirosh of persia holds two giant parties, and he has his wife, vashti, executed. Read esther 2 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. 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 book of esther, also known in hebrew as the scroll megillah, is a book in the third. He overcame the jews and he took many jews to babylon.
The whole history of this book in its connected order, with the occurrences in the persian empire at that time, will be found. In 1934 annie became a missionary in china with oms. Esther said, i myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days meaning she had not seen her husband for an entire month. Her knowledge of the text is extensive, and her insights into current application are valuable. The detailed descriptions of court life and traditions. Esther, living in the isolation of the palace, had not yet been made aware of this decree. Study the bible online using commentary on esther 2 and more. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. Sleep how vain are all the contrivances of foolish man against the wise and omnipotent god, who hath the hearts and hands of kings and all men perfectly at his disposal, and can by such trivial accidents as they are accounted change their minds, and produce such terrible effects. Best commentaries and books on esther logos bible software. We might even think that he does not care about us. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of esther in easy english. The story of esther reads like a movie plot, with a beautiful queen risking her life to prevent genocide. 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.
Adam clarke commentary on esther 17601832 clarke was methodist, wesleyan, arminian, e. Hence it belongs to the bestknown otbooks with the jews and it is also the book, which has the oldest copies. 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. In 2012, a graphic adaptation of the book of esther was illustrated by j. 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. He eventually chose esther as his queen, and by her influence the jews were saved from destruction. Read esther commentary using john gills exposition of the bible. The heroine of the book named for her, esther is a young jewish woman living in exile in the persian lit. Megillah with indepth commentaryside by side version. Classical sources such as josephus, the jewish commentary esther rabbah and the christian theologian barhebraeus, as well as the greek. Esther is the only book in the bible not to mention the name of god. The book ends with mordecai as the kings chief minister. The pride of ahasueruss heart rising with the grandeur of his kingdom, he made an extravagant feast.
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. Sleep how vain are all the contrivances of foolish man against the wise and omnipotent god, who hath the hearts and hands of kings and all men perfectly at his disposal, and can by such trivial accidents as they are accounted change their minds, and produce such terrible effects were read his mind being troubled he knew not how, nor why, he chuses this for a diversion, god putting. Jon levenson capably guides readers through both versions, demonstrating their coherence and their differences. Esther 2 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. 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. The commentary is accessible to laymen, but should be useful to pastors and scholars as well. Esther commentary, sermon, illustration, devotional.
Commentaries on esther esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. The story itself is implausible as history and, as many scholars now agree, it is. What spiritual lessons can we learn from this book. 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. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible. And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to esther, what is your petition, queen esther. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. During world war ii she spent 21 months in a japanese concentration camp as a prisoner.
He did not always interpret scripture l iterally and so was amillennial he interpreted revelation as a historicist which led him to interpret the. Study esther 1 using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. 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. Levensons book consists of two parts an introductory essay of 35 pages, followed by a linebyline commentary on the text of esther. Artaxerxes this man was son of xerxes and stepson of esther.
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. The writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control. The book of esther has been preserved in ancient texts that diverge greatly from each other. On that night could not the king sleep how vain are all the contrivances of foolish man against the wise and omnipotent god, who hath the hearts and hands of kings and all men perfectly at his disposal, and can by such trivial accidents as they are accounted change their minds, and produce such terrible effects. Engage the challenging books of ruth and esther utilizing the dynamic. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. This is a highly unusual commentary on the book of esther. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her.
Esther commentary john gills exposition of the bible. Esther 1 niv queen vashti deposed this is what bible. David guzik commentary on esther 1, where queen vashti refuses to display her. 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 of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so in the days of persecution. In the hebrew bible the book of esther is placed in the third main part, that is the writings hebr.
Xerxes this is the ahasuerus of the book of esther. Esther 6 bible commentary wesleys explanatory notes. The old testament library provides fresh and authoritative treatments. Karen jobes has written the most engaging, interesting, and helpful commentary on the book of esther presently available. Over 100 years earlier, nebuchadnezzar the king of babylon had attacked jerusalem. The introductory essay provides a good overview of the book of esther a summary of the plot, an analysis of the book s structure and themes, and a discussion of the historicity and origins of the various. 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 events that the first chapter of the book of esther describes happened about 483 bc before christ. The jewish community, and its areas of residence, outside erez israel. The unknown author of the book of esther was most likely a jew very familiar with the royal persian court. You can find the best commentary on esther for you using the tools on the right side. He commanded to bring the book of records his mind being. Before she understood the decree, she could not understand why her cousin mordecai made such a spectacle of himself. She was taken to the king of the persian empire to become a part of his harembut because there was something special about esther, he made her queen.
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