The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. We find in this book that even those jews who were scattered in the provinces of the heathen were taken care of. Artaxerxes this man was son of xerxes and stepson of esther. This prince, on coming to the throne, had powerful opponents and competitors in the children of artabanus, uncle to xerxes, and in his. Weibe suggests that this translation fits the context of the book of esther much better than the traditional rendering. 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 events that the first chapter of the book of esther describes happened about 483 bc before christ. After these things, when the wrath of king ahasuerus subsided, he remembered vashti. The detailed descriptions of court life and traditions. In 2012, a graphic adaptation of the book of esther was illustrated by j. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. During world war ii she spent 21 months in a japanese concentration camp as a prisoner. The book of esther is unusual gods name is not mentioned once, yet gods hand is. Thus esther was the only hope for their deliverance.
Commentaries on esther esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. An exposition, with practical observations, of the book of esther chapter 1. Karen jobes esther niv application commentary, 1999. This is a highly unusual commentary on the book 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. He did not always interpret scripture l iterally and so was amillennial he interpreted revelation as a historicist which led. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. Best esther commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. Commentary on esther 1 by matthew henry blue letter bible. This book and the book of ruth are the only ot books named after women. 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. The book of esther tells a compelling story, dramatic and exciting, with clearly defined heroes and villains. In 1934 annie became a missionary in china with oms.
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. This little gem, tucked away in an obscure corner of the old testament, is a very rich book, and it is historical. Read esther 1 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. 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. Commentaries for the book of esther haman seeks to destroy the jews. The story of esther reads like a movie plot, with a beautiful queen risking her life to prevent genocide. 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. He eventually chose esther as his queen, and by her influence the jews were saved from destruction. The pride of ahasueruss heart rising with the grandeur of his kingdom, he made an extravagant feast.
The book of esther is a 20 movie starring jen lilley as queen esther and joel smallbone as king xerxes. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage, divine timing. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. Esther is the last of the historical books of the bible, so its main character is. This book particularly teaches us the invisible care of god for those of his people who preferred to stay in the land of exile although they could have returned to palestine since the days of king cyrus of persia see book of ezra. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of esther in easy english. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. 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 book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. The bible book of esther is a dramatic account which can give us insight into gods special and purposeful plan for our lives. Over 100 years earlier, nebuchadnezzar the king of babylon had attacked jerusalem. Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
The unknown author of the book of esther was most likely a jew very familiar with the royal persian court. 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. See all of our coronavirus resources here toggle navigation. The book ends with mordecai as the kings chief minister.
The books of ezra and nehemiah were written during his reign. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. Xerxes this is the ahasuerus of the book of esther. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. This commentary shows how esther is perfect guidance for us when we find ourselves in a situation where right and wrong are not so. Frederic bush, word biblical commentary wbc, thomas nelson, 1996, 528 pp. Esther and ruth reformed expository commentary, 2005.
Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esthera comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a. The son and successor of the famous persian king xerxes was artaxerxes, surnamed longimanus, or, in persian, ardsheer diraz dest, the longhanded ardshur. Joyce baldwin esther tyndale old testament commentaries, 1984. Waldman and appeared in volume one of the graphic canon, edited by russ kick and published by seven stories press. What spiritual lessons can we learn from this book. The gathering together of a harem for king ahasuerus. Megillah with indepth commentaryside by side version. It also reveals deep and abiding spiritual truths about gods power to deliver us from danger and oppression, even when despotic rulers plan to do evil to gods people. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. Read and study esther, including book summary, with the versebyverse bible commentary. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. When he learns of the edict against the jews, he encourages esther to confront the king. Esther commentary, sermon, illustration, devotional. He overcame the jews and he took many jews to babylon.
The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so in the days of persecution. David guzik commentary on esther 1, where queen vashti refuses to display her. Such a reading would, however, limit the resources of god, who brought this about, and transplant the. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. In the hebrew bible the book of esther is placed in the third main part, that is the writings hebr. Engage the challenging books of ruth and esther utilizing the dynamic. Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the kings palace any more than all the other jews. Adam clarke commentary on esther 17601832 clarke was methodist, wesleyan, arminian, e. Although there are unfortunately those today who suggest that some of the stories in the old testament are legends, there is substantial. 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. The book belongs to the socalled five scrolls hebr.