The book of esther in hebrew is secular in nature, in that the name of god, the temple, and prayer are not. At the end of the book, he says that the official records included the story about esther. Watch our overview video on the book of esther, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Did you know that the book bearing her name in the old testament does. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible. He commanded to bring the book of records his mind being. Berlin begins with a lengthy introduction, discussing esther as comedy and as diaspora literature.
This is the only book in the bible without an explicit mention of god or even a mention of the law and worship. An integrated digital bible study library including complete notes from the niv study bible and the nkjv macarthur study bible is just a step away. His predecessor was king darius 522485 bc who is mentioned in ezra 4. Commentary on esther 1 by matthew henry blue letter bible. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. 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. An exposition, with practical observations, of the book of esther chapter 1. The book ends with mordecai as the kings chief minister. Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. Adam clarke commentary on esther 17601832 clarke was methodist, wesleyan, arminian, e. Esther 2 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written.
A bible commentary for teaching and preaching is a distinctive resource for those who interpret the bible in the church. Read the book of esther from the bible with full chapters, highlighted popular verses, and helpful bible commentary for studying scripture. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. The gathering together of a harem for king ahasuerus. Planned and written specifically for teaching and preaching needs, this critically acclaimed biblical commentary is a major contribution to scholarship and ministry. Study esther 4 using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. Esther chapter 5 verse by verse bible commentary matthew. The book belongs to the socalled five scrolls hebr. The israel bible is the worlds first tanakh bible centered around the land of israel, the people of israel, and the dynamic relationship between them. Bob is a pastorteacher and elder at community bible chapel in richardson, texas, and has contributed many of his bible study series for use by the foundation.
The book of esther does not mention the name of god. The book of esther provides this choice opportunity to search for evidences of the hand of god in everyday life. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. In the book of esther, what is not said is vitally important. Esther 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. Further artificialities are clear in the way characters are paired e. The purpose of this short study is to offer information regarding this fascinating part of scripture. This informative commentary part of jpss bible commentary series dissects the book of esther and, by extension, the jewish holiday of purim.
After these things, when the wrath of king ahasuerus subsided, he remembered vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. Discover purims exciting origins in the book of esther. Esther chapter 2 verse by verse bible commentary matthew. A 10day bible study on the book of esther ibelieve contributors without ever mentioning god directly, the hand of god is all over the story of esther, displaying the providence and faithfulness of god even in the face of eradication. The book of esther is one of the more controversial books of the old testament. The bible does not mention the book of esther anywhere else. David guzik commentary on esther 1, where queen vashti refuses to display her. Esther the book of esther easyenglish bible god is in control esther a commentary by robert bryce. How can we have a book in the bible that never mentions gods name in any form or fashion. 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 is set during the period after the babylonian exile in which the nation of persia present day iran ruled judah. He did not always interpret scripture l iterally and so was amillennial he interpreted revelation as a historicist which led him to interpret the. However, we do not feel this is the best method for using the blue letter bible. Now esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
In esther, god providentially uses two exiled israelites to rescue his. The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. There is hardly a book in the bible, upon the trustworthiness of which there has been made so determined an attack, as the book of esther. Esther is the only book in the bible not to mention the name of god.
This commentary shows how esther is perfect guidance for us when we find ourselves in a situation where right and wrong are not so clearly defined and every. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. Esther, living in the isolation of the palace, had not yet been made aware of this decree. Constable, provide commentary on all 66 books of the bible and contain over 12,000 pages of material in pdf format.
The events of the book of esther occurred during the reign of king ahasuerus, xerxes i. 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 bible. Yet, though this is true in one sense, there is more to it than that. Esther bible book with full chapters new international. Constable taught at dallas theological seminary for 45 years, and served as the chairman of its bible exposition department for years. The niv application commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in todays context. Ladies bible study on esther introduction 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.
Esther 1 new international version niv queen vashti deposed. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. Herbert lockyer describes her as the woman who saved her nation from genocide. This page provides a method to go directly to a commentary by a specific author. 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. Did you know that esther is mentioned more times in the bible than any other woman. It contains all your classic storybook ingredients. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries.
The heroine of the book named for her, esther is a young jewish woman living in exile in the persian lit. The jewish community, and its areas of residence, outside erez israel. Esther then is the one book in the bible where we must, through the illuminating power of the holy spirit, interpret the events primarily as an observer of life. We have provided this method as a convenience to our users. 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. Sadly, many who read and study esther including bible scholars who write commentaries on the book fill in the blanks, rather than leaving them blank and learning from the silence of the author. Scripture that same day king xerxes gave queen esther the estate of. Our last news of queen esther left her in tears, fasting and praying. Esther is the last of the historical books of the bible, so its main character is. But the writer wants us to know that the story is true. And king ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea.
Esther bible study will give you a threepart look at the book of the bible that bears her name, and at its title character. This is why many presume that the book was written in the second half of the fifth century bc. The book of esther in hebrew is secular in nature, in that the name of god, the temple, and prayer are not mentioned. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esthera comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a.
The bible book of esther with full chapters, footnotes and bible commentary to aid your bible search, reading, and study. 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 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible. Chances are you were taught very little or almost nothing about esther, the woman who is one of only two the other is ruth females who have a book of the bible named after them. Esther in her joys, smiled upon by the king and honoured with his company at her banquet of wine, esther 5. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. The book takes its name from the beautiful, orphaned jewess who became the queen of the persian king ahasuerus. Study guide on the book of esther, on line bible commentary for book of esther, niv commentary esther, free esther commentary, best commentaries on esther.
The book of esther is the only one not found in the dead sea scrolls. In the hebrew bible the book of esther is placed in the third main part, that is the writings hebr. God masterfully orchestrates and weaves together every detail of our lives in jawdropping ways. Before she understood the decree, she could not understand why her cousin mordecai made such a spectacle of himself. The greek septuagint remedied this situation by adding six passages which include the name of god. Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. Study guide for esther 4 by david guzik blue letter bible. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. But the most likely opinion, and that which is approved by josephus, the septuagint, and the apocryphal additions to the book of esther, is, that this ahasuerus of the scripture was artaxerxes longimanus, as he is called by the heathen writers.
Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of media and persia. When he learns of the edict against the jews, he encourages esther to confront the king. Esther a2 classic bible study guide 2 introduction the book of esther is a graphic narrative, which relates how gods people were preserved from ruin during the fifth century b. Commentary on the book of esther matthew henrys bible commentary. Commentary on the book of esther matthew henrys bible. We might even think that he does not care about us. Designed for both jewish and nonjewish readers alike, the israel bible offers a unique commentary that seeks to explain gods focus on the land of israel alongside the original hebrew text, transliteration of select hebrew verses, and the. The writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control. The events mentioned in esther therefore happened between ezra chapter 6 and chapter 7.
Best esther commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. Bobdeffinbaugh graduated from dallas theological seminary with his th. Esther 1 niv queen vashti deposed this is what bible. Esther, bible illustrations 19312009, published by sweet media. Read and study esther, including book summary, with the versebyverse bible commentary. The last news we had of haman left him in his cups, esther 3. The prayers of esther and mordecai are especially noteworthy. Chapter one chapter two chapter three chapter four chapter five chapter six chapter seven s. At the start of the book, he says when it happened. Esther s 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. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of esther in easy english. 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. In this sixweek study, explore the subject of gods providence, walking verse by verse through the book of esther. The king was very angry at this and his rage grew hot.