Christian commentary on the book of esther

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. Number 1 rated commentary esther an introduction and commentary tyndale old testament commentaries joyce g. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. The book of esther provides many biblical lessons that can be applied towards life today. Esther then ask the jews to fast about this for three days and three nights esther 4. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. The commentary, which accompanies the hebrew biblical text and the jps translation, approaches the book of esther from a fresh literary pointofview.

Esther is read during the purim feast on 14th and 15th adar februarymarch. Xerxes this is the ahasuerus of the book of esther. Commentaries for the book of esther haman seeks to destroy the jews. Esther overview john calvins commentaries on the bible. He overcame the jews and he took many jews to babylon.

Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. It belongs to the third section of the judaic canon, known as the ketuvim, or writings. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage. Her knowledge of the text is extensive, and her insights into current application are valuable. The book of esther tells a story of the deliverance of the jewish people. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. Esther 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on. In the story of esther, youll meet a beautiful, young queen who risked her life to serve god and save her people. Sadly, many who read and study esther including bible scholars who write commentaries on the book fill in the blanks, rather than.

In this commentary, day addresses both perennial and contemporary concerns pertinent to the book of esther. You have redemption taught in the book of exodus, and the love side of redemption taught in the book of ruth. Esther commentary john gills exposition of the bible. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. The book of esther shows how the hand of god can move in a supernaturallynatural way. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. Christian women faith articles, encouragement, growth. Esther bible story summary what christians want to know. A favoured representative of the chosen people read the whole book of esther many of the scarlet threads we find in scripture are represented by men. The book of esther is one of the latest of the canonical books of scripture, having been written late in the. Its no secret that haman plans to exterminate the jews. Over 100 years earlier, nebuchadnezzar the king of.

So the great doctrines of our christian faith are taught in certain books of the old testament. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. Can esther convince her husband to spare her peopleeven though she may be putting her own life at risk. Akin, and tony merida, this new commentary series, projected to be 48 volumes, takes a christcentered approach to expositing each book of the bible. The writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control.

I really like the life applications he has in his books. Study esther using john gills exposition of the bible to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. David guzik commentary on esther 1, where queen vashti refuses to display her beauty at. It is the only book in the bible where god is hidden like this, but he is there. Ezra, nehemiah, esther cornerstone biblical commentary, book. I used frederic bushs word bible commentary on esther for places where i wanted. Book of prophecy that reveals gods magnificent plan of salvation through the person and work of jesus christ the book of esther is read every year to the assembled congregations of the jewish people in their synagogues to the present day. We are shown a persian emperor, ahasuerus loosely based on xerxes, 485464 b. 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. Although we do not know who wrote the book of esther, from internal evidence it is possible to make some inferences about the author.

The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so in the days of persecution. That in those days, when the king ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in shushan the palace,in the third year of his reign. It is a deeply profound and moving narrative of historical events that displayed the providence of god. Attention is given to literary, linguistic, and thematic features of the biblical text.

Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. In fact, god is not directly mentioned by name in the book of esther. All of these teachings are powerful and depict true courage and devotion. Book of esther, book of the hebrew bible and the christian old testament. T he story of esther reads like a novel and is full of great spiritual lessons. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israel. Engage the challenging books of ruth and esther utilizing the dynamic. He eventually chose esther as his queen, and by her influence the jews were saved from destruction. Over 100 years earlier, nebuchadnezzar the king of babylon had attacked jerusalem. Best esther commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. It relates the story of a hebrew woman in persia, born as hadassah but known as esther. Esther bible study with free printable bible study guide. 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.

Early jewish and christian traditions suggest that among the people named in the book, mordecai, esther s cousin and guardian, was in the best. Best commentaries and books on esther logos bible software. 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. In one of the most poetic biblical passages, mordecai speaks of gods purposeful timing. Adam clarke commentary on esther 17601832 clarke was methodist, wesleyan, arminian, e. Without ever mentioning god directly, the hand of god is all over the story of esther. 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. Ive always enjoyed reading the book of esther, god used a.

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. It is the last of the five scrolls ruth, song of songs, ecclesiastes, lamentations, and esther, and is read at the feast of purim. Each volume is designed to equip pastors and christian leaders with exegetical and theological knowledge to better understand and apply gods word by presenting the message of each download books education ezra, nehemiah, esther cornerstone biblical commentary, book 5. On the one hand, the book of esther provides the strongest canonical warrant in the whole old testament for the religious significance of the jewish people in an ethnic sense. At that time king xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of susa, and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his. We might even think that he does not care about us. Read esther commentary using john gills exposition of the bible.

In the book of esther, what is not said is vitally important. 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. Esther, along with the old testament books song of solomon, ruth, lamentations, and ecclesiastes, are five scrolls that are read on various jewish holidays. Exalting jesus in esther is part of the christcentered exposition commentary series. Although the book of esther contains no direct references to god, his fingerprints can be found all over it. Some christian commentaries conclude that it is esther who, as the advocate for her people, is the deliverer of salvation to her people and therefore portrays jesus christ. Exalting jesus in esther christcentered exposition. 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. We find in this book that even those jews who were scattered in the provinces of the heathen were taken care of, as well as those who were gathered in the land. Esther 1 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. The lesson here is that gods timing is always immaculate and the book of esther reminds the reader of this and esther.

Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. 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. Barkhuizen helps us trace the unseen hand of god throughout the esther narrative, while pointing out how the book is still relevant today. The book of esther was originally included in the writings of hebrew scripture, and was incorporated into the historical books of the greek septuagint. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. More fundamentally and splendidly, it is the story of gods desire to glorify himself and make his son beautiful in the lives of alienated, weak exiles from covenant faithfulnesslike us. 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 story of esther reads like a movie plot, with a beautiful queen risking her life to prevent genocide. Its one of the most beautiful books in the bible and so full of great takeaways for the modern christian woman today. When esther becomes king xerxess queen, her cousin mordecai and the despicable haman engage in a dangerous game of intrigue. It is careful not to say that god commanded the observance of purim. What spiritual lessons can we learn from this book.

It includes essays entitled when and where was the book of esther written. But the megillahs mandate differs from the torahs in one crucial respect. The bible study of esther is the third one ive read in mr. This book has its name from the person who is the principal subject of it. Artaxerxes this man was son of xerxes and stepson of esther. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. Esther is the last of the historical books of the bible, so its main character is. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. The events that the first chapter of the book of esther describes happened about 483 bc before christ. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. The book of esther serves as the authorizing document for purim, a holiday that is not mentioned in the torah. The book is named for the star of the story, a young jewish girl named hadassah who was taken from her guardian, mordecai, and forced to compete for the affection of the king. Makes accessible early christian commentary on 12 kings, 12 chronicles, ezra, nehemiah, esther covers the period from clement of rome second century to john of damascus mideighth century illuminates scripture in the light of classic and consensual christian faith.

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. He may not always do it in the way we think he should, but the book of esther shows that he is in control even when we dont see him. This unlikely contestant for a beauty pageant was crowned queen of persia and renamed esther, meaning star. Day considers the book of esther with an eye to concerns of gender and ethnicity, as well as the theological concerns raised by divine absence in the. Mar 22, 2019 the book of esther is not simply a morality tale about a few faithful jewish people who stand up for god in the midst of a pagan land. An exposition, with practical observations, of the book of esther chapter 1.

Esther may seem like a strange book to preach through, particularly for those who are keen to preach christ from the old testament. Queen vashti deposed this is what happened during the time of xerxes, the xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from india to cush. And in fact, the whole story of esther is a bit like a game of hide and seek first of all, you may have noticed that god himself is hiding in the book of esther he is not mentioned at all. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Lets look at the six main characters in the order of their appearance. Jps bible commentary christian books, bibles, gifts. Esther commentary, sermon, illustration esther commentaries. Frederic bush, word biblical commentary wbc, thomas nelson, 1996, 528 pp. Hence it belongs to the bestknown otbooks with the jews and it is also the book, which has the oldest copies. Baldwin rosscup is a bit less enamored with karen jobes commentary writing jobes will not be clear to some in her view that a biblical book. Esther 1 now it came to pass in the days of ahasuerus, this is ahasuerus which reigned, from india even unto ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces. Why are christians so inclined to embrace esther and mordecai as model saints. Jun 18, 2019 the book of esther is one of only two books in the bible named for women.

This summary of the book of esther will help with many different forms of bible study. 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. A 10day bible study on the book of esther by ibelieve contributors. Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, than this banquet of wine, with all the noise and tumult that must have attended it. Who knows but that you have come to a royal position. 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. There are like 40 different amazing truths from the blessed book of esther. The events in the book of esther occurred from 483.