S0ft commentary on the 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. God gave jacob the name israel when he promised to make jacob s descendants god s special people. This little gem, tucked away in an obscure corner of the old testament, is a very rich book, and it is historical. A survey of the content of the book of esther theme. 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. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Ahasuerus makes royal feasts for his nobles and people, esther 1. The book of esther in hebrew is secular in nature, in that the name of god, the temple, and prayer are not mentioned. 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. Esther 1, new living translation nlt the bible app. The writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control. The book of esther is a 20 movie starring jen lilley as queen esther and joel smallbone as king xerxes.

Add to that a flavor of steampunk youve likely never tried before, blend it all up but keep it kosher. The niv application commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in todays context. Esther commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Esther introduction easy english bible easy the book of esther was written after the king of babylon had taken the jews away from their own country. In the hebrew bible, the book of esther is found in the third section of the canon, the writings. 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. The events that the first chapter of the book of esther describes happened about 483 bc before christ.

Today we are beginning a new studya new expository sermon serieson the book of esther. In the bible text, words in are part of the bible text. Berlin begins with a lengthy introduction, discussing esther as comedy and as diaspora literature. An interpretation of the dream that relates its features to the plot of the book is given in f. At first glance, the story seems to be one of royal intrigue, power, wealth and politics.

The book of esther is about a jewish girl adopted by her uncle, mordecai, after her parents died. You can find the best commentary on esther for you using the tools on the right side. 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. The book of esther is a very realistic commentary on life, and it is possible that its author wanted to make his readers ponder carefully gods involvement in it. Sleep is taken from ahasuerus at precisely the right time 6.

Vashti is sent for by the king, but refuses to come, esther 1. If the king does this, that persons life will be saved. The author was a jew, because he where the jewish festival came from and from the jewish inside the story. It was, at that time, part of the empire of persia and media. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. Esther 2 chapter 1 several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. He took esther as the new persian queen, not knowing she was an israelite. Mordecai, sitting at the kings gate, discovers a conspiracy formed against the kings life by two of his chamberlains. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries.

Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. It is a bible study of the book of esther from the old testament of the bible. Verses 15 the rules of king darius and king xerxes have finished and artaxerxes is the king 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. Mordecai is brought into prominence at the right time 6. 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. Christian commentaries on the book began to emerge in the later medieval period.

The book of esther is renowned for its literary artistry, which functions as the principal vehicle for the book s. Queen esther came to the throne for just such a time 4. Book of esther simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. I think we are going to find that esther is a book rich in content for us about god and his plan. Study the bible online using commentary on esther 4 and more. Look at the quiet faith expressed in the simple statement of where mordecai could be found. 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 book of esther is a hodgepodge of different genres.

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. This commentary has been through advanced checking. The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. Place of esther in the old testament a critical and exegetical commentary on the book of esther canonicity canonical status word biblical commentary, volume 9. Esther ebd the queen of ahasuerus, and heroine of the book that bears her name. 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. Esther easyenglish documents easy english bible with. Megilla, scroll, is related to the word ligalot, which means to reveal. Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. The feast was for all the important men who had authority in the kingdom. It relates the story of a hebrew woman in persia, born as hadassah but known as esther, who becomes queen of.

We have already read something about king xerxes and king artaxerxes in the book of ezra ezra 4. Rollins kelli giddish races to rescue a girl being held captive by her father guest star ray mckinnon. This unlikely contestant for a beauty pageant was crowned queen of persia and renamed esther, meaning star. We might even think that he does not care about us. As with most of the ot writings the author of the book of esther esther meaning star is not mentioned. The events in the book of esther occurred from 483. Waldman and appeared in volume one of the graphic canon, edited by russ kick and published by seven stories press. By the time of nehemiah, only the people in judah remained, but they were still god s special people. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. He overcame the jews and he took many jews to babylon. The prayers of esther and mordecai are especially noteworthy. Jobes volume is best for those seeking a biblicaltheological commentary on the book of esther. The writer of esther clearly intended the book to explain the origin of the celebration of purim, to institutionalize it as a commemoration of the great deliverance of the jews during the persian period see note on esther 9. Overview of the book of esther third millennium ministries.

The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage. Susa was in the area known as eilam, in what is now iran. Best commentaries and books on esther logos bible software. God had brought many of his people, the jews, back to judah. The author probably lived in a persian city, because he knew persian customs well, and does not say. 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. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. 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 story itself is implausible as history and, as many scholars now agree, it is. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of esther in easy english. The book of esther page 2languages the literal, physical heart in literature is a reference to the thinking portion of a persons soul. We can also read more about king xerxes in the book of esther in the bible. This is my favorite commentary on any book of holy scripture. She went in peril of her life, but would think herself safe, and would be easy. Esther pleases the king, and is set above all the women. However, sometimes nehemiah calls them the people of israel. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. A selection of the best commentaries and bible study resources on the book of esther. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible.

Esther commentary, sermon, illustration esther commentaries. Account of mordecai and his cousin esther, esther 2. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. 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. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. Her knowledge of the text is extensive, and her insights into current application are valuable. She sent clothes for mordecai to put on instead of the sackcloth, but he would not accept them. This informative commentary part of jpss bible commentary series dissects the book of esther and, by extension, the jewish holiday of purim. 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. We are shown a persian emperor, ahasuerus loosely based on xerxes, 485464 b.

The challenge of reading megillat esther is to reveal the hidden messages veiled within the exciting plot. She is chosen among the young women, and is placed under the care of hegai, the kings chamberlain, to go through a years. 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. On the mystical level king achashverosh alludes to gd, the king of the world. That person must be put to death unless the king holds out his gold scepter to them. It took place in the days of israels captivity when. He that will lose his life for god, shall save it, or find it in a better life. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai.

Jan 01, 2001 this is a highly unusual commentary on the book of esther. A queen under control when esthers words were reported to mordecai, he sent back this answer. It is the last of the five scrolls ruth, song of songs, ecclesiastes, lamentations, and esther, and is read at the feast of purim. In 2012, a graphic adaptation of the book of esther was illustrated by j. The book of esther tells a story of the deliverance of the jewish people. It is a deeply profound and moving narrative of historical events that displayed the providence of god. Violence and the survival of israel in the book of esther. All other books of the bible make it obvious who and what is influencing the actions of the characters, namely.

The book of esther is the only one not found in the dead sea scrolls. The greek septuagint remedied this situation by adding six passages which include the name of god. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. 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.

Do not think that because you are in the kings house you alone of all the jews will escape. The book of esther is renowned for its literary artistry, which functions as the principal vehicle for the books. It is a syroarabian modification of the persian word satarah, which means a star. How does their work affect english translations of the bible. Even though you may not see god in your daily circumstances, trust him and follow his plan. The book was originally written in hebrew, but the ancient greek translation known as the septuagint abbreviated lxx is also a. Organized for easy reference, word biblical commentaries make an ideal bible study. Xerxes, the persian king, rejected his wife queen vashti, and fell in love with esther at a beauty contest. Over 100 years earlier, nebuchadnezzar the king of babylon had attacked jerusalem. May 09, 2018 rollins kelli giddish races to rescue a girl being held captive by her father guest star ray mckinnon.

The book of esther is counted as an historical book in our english bibles, but in the jewish scriptures it is among the writings. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. 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 choice we have seems to be a troubling mixture of good and bad. She was a jewess named hadassah the myrtle, but when she entered the royal harem she received the name by which she henceforth became known. 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. 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. 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. Addition a has mordecai inform the king directly, whereas in 2. Deborah breaks the book of esther down into easytoread segments. 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. The jewish historian josephus names mordecai as author of the book.

Watch our overview video on the book of esther, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The king has one law for any man or woman who goes to the king without being called. Esther the book of esther easyenglish bible god is in control esther a commentary by robert bryce. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of 1 kings.