The old testament book of esther megilath esther in hebrew tells the story of esther, a jewish queen of persia, who saved the jews from a plot by a malefactor, haman, in the reign of king ahasuerus. Because it is a patriotic rather than a religious story, some people question its inclusion with the other books in the old testament. The old testament abbreviated ot is the first part of the christian biblical canon, which is based primarily upon the twentyfour books of the hebrew bible or tanakh, a collection of ancient religious hebrew writings by the israelites believed by most christians and religious jews to be the sacred word of god. He has married a young jewish girl named esther, a captive taken from the city of jerusalem. The message of esther the bible speaks today series. This book is aimed at parents who like to read to their young ones and are looking for something positive and faith affirming. In the story of esther, youll meet a beautiful, young queen who risked her life to serve god and save her people.
Watch our overview video on the book of esther, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The second part of christian bibles is the new testament, written in. Esther, book ofcommentaries, commentaries old testament. Esther follows the books of ezra, nehemiah, tobias tobit, and judith in the greek septuagint, and is followed by the wisdom literature such as the psalms in the christian old testament of the. Mordecai said esther would be killed because she was a jew. As a wellknown christian broadcaster, simon has the ideal voice for those of all ages who want to listen to the bible in full, unabridg. Just click any books name, and get a highlevel idea of what its about. Esther is the name of a book in the tanakh the hebrew bible and the old testament, and also its title heroine. Book of esther, book of the hebrew bible and the christian old testament. Having consumed ample amounts of wine, ahasuerus commanded his servants to bring queen vashti before him in order that he might show her off to the other partygoers es. She persuaded the xerxes i of persia to ignore his grand vizier haman, who advocated their extermination. The book of esther is the last historical narrative in the old testament. Exodus enslavement, moses, ten plagues, passover, leave egypt, red sea crossing, mt. The story took place during a time when many jews were in persia approximately 460430.
The book of esther read by simon peterson by simon peterson available from rakuten kobo. Jun 18, 2019 the book of esther is one of only two books in the bible named for women. In esther, god providentially uses two exiled israelites to rescue his. Esther did not write the book of esther, but her entire story is found in the book. Jun 24, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of esther, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The old testament book of esther is about the life history of esther, her encounters with religious leaders amongst other interactions. This was during a time just before the wall of jerusalem was rebuilt. The three books of ezra, nehemiah, and esther close the section of the old testament that we have called the history books. Given the language used, certain factual discrepancies, and the opening verse of the book that looks back in time, the book was probably written sometime between 400 and 150 b. This makes the book of esther one of the latest writings of the old testament, close in time to two intertestamental books about women. Esther introduction united states conference of catholic bishops. It belongs to the third section of the judaic canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings. The book of esther describes how this crisis was averted through the bravery of esther, the wisdom of mordecai and the unity of the jewish people.
Dec 03, 2012 introduction to the old testament hebrew bible rlst 145 with christine hayes in this lecture, two final books of the bible are examined and their attitudes towards foreign nations compared. Neither mordecai, esther, nor the feast of purim is mentioned. This little gem, tucked away in an obscure corner of the old testament, is a very rich book, and it is historical. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook free. It is set during the reign of xerxes i ahasuerus, son of darius, of persia. Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esthera comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a part of his harem. The book of esther, old testament seminary student study guide 2002, 12628 the story of a jewish heroine esther did not write the book of esther, but her entire story is found in the book. The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her.
Tracing the history of the book of esther and jewish festival purim. Old testament of the bible cliffsnotes study guides book. It is here, nestled at the end of the ketuvim, that we see chronicles wrap up the hebrew canon. The name of god is never mentioned in this book of scripture, but his fingerprint is all over it. This summary of the book of esther provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of esther. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. The book of esther was written during a time when the persian empire ruled the world and ahasuerus probably xerxes i was the king of persia. Sep 02, 2014 the book of esther comes from one of these specific points in history.
The book of esther records the institution of the feast of purim and the obligation of its perpetual observation. 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. The book of esther was originally included in the writings of hebrew scripture, and was incorporated into the historical books of the greek septuagint. Book of esther read, study bible verses online bible study tools. We should not be surprised that a king can have more than one name as seen from israeljudah kings in kingschronicles. The story of esther thus far concerns a king who is called here ahasuerus, known also in history as astyages, the grandfather of cyrus the great. 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. 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. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. Chris hulshof teaches that every book in the old testament testament is quoted somewhere in the new testament besides the book of esther. The old testament has 39 books total, which consist of.
In esther, god providentially uses two exiled israelites to. Aug 07, 2016 here you can find quick, 3minute guides to every book of the old testament. Oct 04, 2007 this provides an important link to the historical nature of the book of esther if nothing else. Esther in the picture study bible the book of esther. Old testament book of esther research paper example topics. For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their. Esther 1 niv queen vashti deposed this is what bible gateway. For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be.
The jewish feast of purim celebrates hamans overthrow. Here you can find quick, 3minute guides to every book of the old testament. The book of esther was likely written between 460 and 350 b. The book of esther tells a story of the deliverance of the jewish people. Esther is placed in the writings section of the hebrew old testament, the five rolls megillath including song of solomon, ruth, lamentations, ecclesiastes and esther, and the other books are also read on various jewish holidays. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. The message of esther the bible speaks today series david g. The book of esther belongs to ketuvim writings, which is the third division of the tanakh the hebrew bible. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. His name is not written in the book, but his fingerprints, as we say, are all over it. The coincidences, the amazing reversals, and the poetic justice that led to the deliverance of the jews in persia all proclaim the presence of god.
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. Introduction to the old testament hebrew bible rlst 145 with christine hayes in this lecture, two final books of the bible are examined and their attitudes towards foreign nations compared. The book of esther tells the the story of a young jewish woman named hadassah myrtle, but known by the persian name esther star, who becomes queen of the persian empire. Although we do not know who wrote the book of esther, from internal evidence it is possible to make some inferences about the author. Esther is the seventeenth book of the old testament of the bible, closing the historical books. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. Book of esther, in the hebrew bible and the christian old testament. Old testament book of esther research paper example. The book of esther is one of only two books in the bible named for women. British narrator simon peterson reads the book of esther in this wonderful audiobook collection of the old testament.
Esther tyndale old testament commentaries book debra reid. Her cousin, mordecai, became a judge in the city gates in susa, the capital of mediapersia. The following scripture is from the authorized king james version of the holy bible, now in the public domain. It belongs to the third section of the judaic canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings, and. Theyre listed in the order they show up in protestant bibles. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. Genesis creation, the fall, the flood, the spread of the nations, abraham, isaac, jacob, and joseph. In the jewish bible, esther follows ecclesiastes and lamentations and is read on the festival of purim, which commemorates the rescue of the jews from hamans plottings.
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. K etuvim means writings, and this subcollection includes the rest of the old testament, everything from daniel to esther, from proverbs to job, and more. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Esther old testament book narrating how the legendary queen esther averted the killing of her people, the jews, by the persians in babylon. 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. The book of esther, old testament seminary student study guide 2002, 12628. The book of esther begins with king ahasuerus known to history outside the bible as xerxes throwing a lavish party to display his glory es. Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible. A fun rhyme retelling of the biblical book of esther. This provides an important link to the historical nature of the book of esther if nothing else. Like a piece of a puzzle, esther fits perfectly in a specific place, at a specific time, for a specific purpose.
The book of esther may not directly mention god, yet it clearly reveals god at work. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. And forbidden from the bible section one lost scriptures of the old testament enoch jubilees jasher section two apocalyptic. The story of esther, unlike the stories of jonah and ruth, illustrates the spirit of jewish nationalism. A list of books with brief descriptions of contents. Debra reids approachable commentary helps us see even more clearly in the book of esther the god who quietly and sometimes unexpectedly works behind the scenes to order the events of our lives. As a wellknown christian broadcaster, simon has the ideal voice for those of all ages. Esther in the picture study bible the book of esther with. The book of esther the book of esther is in the outline of a brief tale, making it resemble the outline of the book of ruth. The purpose of the book of esther is to display the providence of god, especially in regard to his chosen people, israel.
Although there are unfortunately those today who suggest that some of the stories in the old testament are legends, there is substantial. The events in the book of esther probably took place around 521495 bc. Mar 27, 20 for those troubled with the book of esther, there seem to be a number of evidences that ahasuerus of esther is artaxerxes of ezra chp. These three books cover the last 100 years of old testament jewish history. British narrator simon peterson reads the book of esther in this wonderful audiobook. Old testament book of esther name institutional affiliation date old testament book of esther thesis introduction the writer of the old testament book of esther is studentshare our website is a unique platform where students can share their papers in a matter of giving an example of the work to be done.