The book of esther tells a story of the deliverance of the jewish people. 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. Esther article about esther by the free dictionary. The book of esther is the only one not found in the dead sea scrolls.
Esther 2 chapter 1 several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. We have enlisted hundreds of friends biblical scholars, theologians, homileticians and pastors dedicated to the craft of biblical preaching to provide you timely, compelling and trustworthy content. He, upon a malicious suggestion, obtains an order from the king to have the all massacred upon a certain day, esther 3. The author probably lived in a persian city, because he knew persian customs well, and does not say. The prayers of esther and mordecai are especially noteworthy. The story itself is implausible as history and, as many scholars now agree, it is. The book of esther is about a jewish girl adopted by her uncle, mordecai, after her parents died. Harem politics, antisemitism, and an audacious jewish heroine combine to make this story from the later persian period early 4th cent. Xerxes this is the ahasuerus of the book of esther. A queen under control when esthers words were reported to mordecai, he sent back this answer. Esther commentary scroll down to page 273 for 3 page commentary on esther includes maps seems to be well done. Vashti is sent for by the king, but refuses to come, esther 1.
How the providence of god watched over the jews that had returned out of captivity to their own land, and what great and kind things were done for them, we. The greek version is somewhat more antigentile in sentiment than the hebrew. The counsellors advise that a selection of virgins should be made throughout the empire, out of whom the king should choose one to be queen in place of vashti, esther 2. 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. Although it is never said who wrote the book of esther, from inside evidence it is possible to make some guesses about the author and when it was written.
Hence it belongs to the bestknown ot books with the jews and it is also the book, which has the oldest copies. Her knowledge of the text is extensive, and her insights into current application are valuable. In the hebrew bible, the book of esther is found in the third section of the canon, the writings. It was a simple gesture, but it meant esthers life, for by it the king excused her from the offense she had just committed. This is my favorite commentary on any book of holy scripture. The working preacher team believes that god uses good biblical preaching to change lives. Download this new edition and read the verses daily on your phone. Do not think that because you are in the kings house you alone of all the jews will escape. Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible.
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. We offer you the bible in basic english to download on your phone or tablet. The book of esther is a 20 movie starring jen lilley as queen esther and joel smallbone as king xerxes. The book of esther provides us with the greatest illustrations of the providence of god. The gathering together of a harem for king ahasuerus. The author was a jew, because he where the jewish festival came from and from the jewish inside the story. This free app will help you have the holy christian bible at your fingertips. It was, at that time, part of the empire of persia and media. After these things, when the wrath of king ahasuerus subsided, he remembered vashti. Af, which most scholars regard as later additions to the book.
The events detailed in the book of esther took place primarily in shushan, the capital of king ahasueraus empire. But while seeking the explanation how mordecai could have discovered. If the king does this, that persons life will be saved. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. The clause, then, is really causal in meaning, and it is clearer in the english to. The short version, known to even the most casual readers of the hebrew bible, is this. The book of esther page 2languages the literal, physical heart in literature is a reference to the thinking portion of a persons soul. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. Working within a fallen system esther bible commentary. Esther 1 easy english bible easy 1 this happened when king xerxes ruled over 127 parts of the kingdom of persia.
An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of ezra. The books of ezra and nehemiah were written during his reign. That person must be put to death unless the king holds out his gold scepter to them. Xerxes, the persian king, rejected his wife queen vashti, and fell in love with esther at a beauty contest. The seventeenth book of the ot in the traditional english order. 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. In these three verses we have only some short hints, i. Christian commentaries on the book began to emerge in the later medieval period. The literary technique of foreshadowing is also employed in the book of esther. Esther commentary, sermon, illustration esther commentaries.
Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. Mordecai refuses to give him the honour he demands, esther 3. The book of esther has been preserved in ancient texts that diverge greatly from each other. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. The greek septuagint remedied this situation by adding six passages which include the name of god. Artaxerxes this man was son of xerxes and stepson of esther. Concerning ahasuerus in the throne, what a mighty prince he was v. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading esther the niv application commentary. Add to that a flavor of steampunk youve likely never tried before, blend it all up but keep it kosher. But now he was brought before the king, introduced, as we say, to kiss his hand. The book was originally written in hebrew, but the ancient greek translation known as the septuagint abbreviated lxx is also a. Esther pleases the king, and is set above all the women. Waldman and appeared in volume one of the graphic canon, edited by russ kick and published by seven stories press. The hebrew version of the book, unlike the greek, contains no mention of god.
Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, than this banquet of wine, with all the noise and tumult that must have attended it. Account of mordecai and his cousin esther, esther 2. Jon levenson capably guides readers through both versions, demonstrating their coherence and their differences. Lectures, expository and practical on the book of esther 1859 j r dummelow, ed.
In other words, kanners esther flies in the face of everything. Apr 04, 2019 download this easy to read and understand bible on your phone. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Mordecai, sitting at the kings gate, discovers a conspiracy formed against the kings life by two of his chamberlains. Violence and the survival of israel in the book of esther. It is a deeply profound and moving narrative of historical events that displayed the providence of god. The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. In 2012, a graphic adaptation of the book of esther was illustrated by j. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. Free downloading audio of the entire bible offline. Esther the book of esther easyenglish bible god is in control esther a commentary by robert bryce.
This version of the holy book was created to make the bible easier to read. On the mystical level king achashverosh alludes to gd, the king of the world. We might even think that he does not care about us. We are shown a persian emperor, ahasuerus loosely based on xerxes, 485464 b. Although his name is never mentioned, we see his providence in each page of this wonderful little book. The book of esther shows how the hand of god can move in a supernaturallynatural way. The beautiful esther, who also has the hebrew name hadassah which means myrtle esther 2. Working preacher is a ministry brought to you by luther seminary. Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole.
Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. Adele berlins commentary in the jps series is better suited for a critical look at the hebrew text. Esther the niv application commentary kindle edition by. She is chosen among the young women, and is placed under the care of hegai, the kings chamberlain, to go through a years. Esther 1, new living translation nlt the bible app. You can find the best commentary on esther for you using the tools on the right side. Overview of the book of esther third millennium ministries. Download this easy to read and understand bible on your phone. Jobes volume is best for those seeking a biblicaltheological commentary on the book of esther.
If you are looking for a textual commentary on the original languages, this is not the best option available. 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. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. This commentary has been through advanced checking words in boxes are from the bible. Enjoy an amazing bible version in basic english that will help you to read this excellent book in any place you want. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. He took esther as the new persian queen, not knowing she was an israelite. 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. We see to what absurd practices those came, who were destitute of divine revelation, and what need there was of the gospel of christ, to purify men from the lusts of the flesh, and to bring them back to the. She sent clothes for mordecai to put on instead of the sackcloth, but he would not accept them.
Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, than this banquet of wine, with. These additions were collected at the end of the book by jerome for his edition of the latin bible the vulgate. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. It has been well said that the book of esther is a record of wonders without a miracle, and therefore, though equally revealing the glory of the lord, it sets it forth in another fashion from that which is displayed in the overthrow of pharaoh by. The king has one law for any man or woman who goes to the king without being called. The feast was for all the important men who had authority in the kingdom. Esther 3 commentary matthew henrys complete commentary on. The book of esther is counted as an historical book in our english bibles, but in the jewish scriptures it is among the writings. It relates the story of a hebrew woman in persia, born as hadassah but known as esther, who becomes queen of. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of esther in easy english. We offer an easy to read bible to download for free on your phone. The old testament library provides fresh and authoritative. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles. In other languages, the heart may be the emotional arena of the soul, and, in still others, heart may refer to the emotional part of the soul in reference to love. 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. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. Ahasuerus makes royal feasts for his nobles and people, esther 1. This order is dispersed through the kingdom, esther 3. Esther easyenglish documents easy english bible with. Most striking is the prediction by hamans wife that he would surely come to ruin because mordecai was a jew esther 6. He eventually chose esther as his queen, and by her influence the jews were saved from destruction. The book of esther in hebrew is secular in nature, in that the name of god, the temple, and prayer are not mentioned. Book of esther simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so in the days of persecution.
Esther 8 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. Esther was originally written in hebrew, which is represented by ch. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of nehemiah. Queen esther came to the throne for just such a time 4. The writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control.
The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the jews will arise from another place, but you and your fathers family will perish. 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. Mordecai is brought into prominence at the right time 6. Susa was in the area known as eilam, in what is now iran. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. 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. Haman, for his sake, vows to be revenged upon all the jews, esther 3. An explanatory commentary on esther 1888 college press. It is the last of the five scrolls ruth, song of songs, ecclesiastes, lamentations, and esther, and is read at the feast of purim.
Sleep is taken from ahasuerus at precisely the right time 6. Esthers repeated receiving of and desire for favor esther 2. Esther 10 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. 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. This commentary has been through advanced checking. Esther the niv application commentary kindle edition.