The book of ester is a very special book in the bible, so here are 11 important bible verses from the book of esther. Esther bible story summary what christians want to know. The theme of the book of esther is gods protection of israel. The lesson here is that gods timing is always immaculate and the book of esther reminds the reader of this and esthers place on the throne at this exact time would save the jews from extermination. It is the one book in the bible that does not mention the name of god. The least likely was chosen by god to step up in order to save.
Its funny, because god is not even mentioned explicitly, or at least not often, in esther. Neither mordecai, esther, nor the feast of purim is mentioned. He reigns over all, and nothing takes him by surprise. Interestingly enough, in the new testament no allusions to esther exist gordis 361. The book of esther is the story of gods covenant faithfulness to a people who had long been in captivy because they were covenant breakers. We see gods interaction with mans will, his hatred of racial prejudice, his power to give wisdom and help in times of danger. The genre of the book of esther is narrative history. A sense of confinement permeates plaths novel, even as represented by the bell jar that forms the title of the book. Feasting is another prominent theme in esther, as shown in the outline below. Hes like the honorary president of haterz r us ooo, cold. Opposition to the book of esther is not a modern phenomenon. Let me share a brief background with you on the book of esther.
Weve created a 10day study guide for you, each day working through a chapter of the exciting story of esther. Most striking is the prediction by hamans wife that he would surely come to ruin because mordecai was a jew esther 6. Esthers repeated receiving of and desire for favor esther 2. Esther, theology of bakers evangelical dictionary of. He tries to show queen vashti off to his subjects like a shiny.
Here we see that the author chose a fascinating literary choice never once is god mentioned in. Although god is actually not mentioned in the book, he clearly saves his people from the scheme of haman. 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. The chronological companion of those two records is the book of esther. Intro to esther biblica the international bible society. Gods name is not mentioned in this book but the pages are full of god who hides himself behind every word. Greenwood buddy willard main ideas themes motifs symbols key facts quotes important quotations explained further study. The book of esther does not specifically name its author. The king had become drunk on wine and commanded that his wife, queen vashti come, at once, to show everyone how beautiful she was. The book of esther begins with a bunk marriagethe marriage between king ahasuerus and queen vashtiand later involves a different one, when esther becomes the new queen. 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.
Christine hayes contrasts the book of esther with apocalyptic writings, the book of daniel in particular. While the primary purpose of the book of esther was to relate the dramatic origins of the feast of purim, a greater theme shines through the story. The book is never alluded to in the new testament or dead sea scrolls, and even comments about it by the church fathers are rare. The following is an excellent synopsis of the entire book of esther.
But if you look at it, all these things happen to fall into place for the survival of the jews. The book is subdivided by ten references to feasts. The sovereignty and faithfulness of god permeate each scene. Discussion of themes and motifs in jean toomers esther.
In the book of esther this information is casually presented as. Ahasuerus, ruler of a massive persian empire, holds a lavish party, initially for his. There are also signs that this book has a deeply comic undercurrent to it. Gods sovereignty the hand of god is at work in the lives of his people. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. 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.
It also reveals deep and abiding spiritual truths about gods power to deliver us from danger and oppression, even when despotic rulers plan to do evil to god s people. Childs notes the typology which the writer uses in identifying haman and mordecai through genealogies when he writes, haman, the enemy of the jews, is portrayed as the son of hammedatha, the agagite 3. Esther isnt too graphic, but any book that prominently features a massacre in this case, both a failed one and a successful one is obviously going to be something more than pg rated. The literary technique of foreshadowing is also employed in the book of esther. It was written to memorialize, to commemorate the gods deliverance that formed the basis of the feast of purim. Part 2 of this focus on esther will further develop the theme and theology of esther and will also offer answers to some perturbing questions raised by this book. What, after, all is the nature of the union between esther and ahasuerus. Esther s obedience saved gods people from genocide.
The book of esther excels at violence75,000 people get killed in the provinces and. The book of esther tells a compelling story, dramatic and exciting, with clearly defined heroes and villains. While god isnt mentioned by name in the book of estherthere arent even references to worship, prayer, or sacrificegods all power is the. Studying the book of esther is well worth your time. The book of esther is a profound saga of war, technology, mysticism, power, and faith.
She acted in obedience and by doing so she saved a. This column has already addressed esther, but that was over thirteen. Summary of the book of esther genuine leather bible. A classic story of good versus evil, the book of esther is a unique account in the bible. Discover purims exciting origins in the book of esther. Layton talbert teaches theology and apologetics at bob jones seminary, greenville, sc and is a frontline contributing editor. The story of esther opens with a lavish banquet at the palace of king ahasuerus, also known as king xerxes. He took esther as the new persian queen, not knowing she was an israelite.
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. T he story of esther reads like a novel and is full of great spiritual lessons. Throughout history, the jewish people have been treated unjustly, and the story of esther tells of one of those occurrences. This lifechanging truth is a major theme of the book of esther. Easter become queen of persia 485425bc at a time when persia comprised half the known world. This novelsimultaneously a steampunk joan of arc and a genrebending tale of a counterfactual jewish state by a writer who invents worlds out of calvino or borges the new yorkeris a. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. The book of esther is about a jewish girl adopted by her uncle, mordecai, after her parents died.
For many christians, the book of esther is the basis for a jewish festival that found no counterpart in the christian calendar. Xerxes, the persian king, rejected his wife queen vashti, and fell in love with esther at a beauty contest. Also, theres king ahasuerusa pretty bad example of a family man until esther arrives on the scene. The bell jar tells the story of a young womans comingofage, but it does not follow the usual trajectory of adolescent development into adulthood. Esther was the daughter of abihail, and her guardianmentor was mordecai. You can work through this bible study on your own or with your small group, and you can go through this in ten days, or over a tenweek or semester long schedule. Instead of undergoing a progressive education in the ways of the world, culminating in an entrance into adulthood, esther. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the jews from another place, but you and your fathers house will perish. Interest in the book of esther has been both negative and positive. The bell jar chapters 34 chapters 1516 chapters 1718 chapters 1920 characters character list esther greenwood mrs. 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. Esther, an orphaned girl, became queen of persia and delivered her people from ruin. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this.
The purpose of the book of esther is to display the providence of god, especially in regard to his chosen people, israel. Esther then ask the jews to fast about this for three days and three nights esther 4. It gives us a glimpse of the jews who remained outside their homeland after the exile, particularly the jews living in the persian empire. This book is placed between chapters 6 and 7 of ezra. The reality is that esther didnt know what would happen when she approached the king. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. It is entirely possible that the writer of the book of esther is playing with the idea of theomachy war between gods, a racy theme for a late biblical book. Mordecai learned of a plot to kill the king and made it known to esther who passed the news to the king.
Nothing is truly coincidental, the book of esther says to us. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew 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. The book of esther would also encourage them to worship the god of israel, though he is not mentioned by name in it ibid. He used the circumstances in esthers life, as he uses the. The author of esther patterned much of his material on the events of the joseph story see notes on 2. Esther is the only book of the hebrew bible not represented among the dead sea scrolls. The book of esther is a unified narrative with three sections. Overview of the book of esther third millennium ministries. 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. 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. Esther and mordecai are a good example of thisthey aid one another and their kin. The bell jar symbolizes esthers suffocation, for the jar intends to preserve its ornamental contents but instead traps them in stale air. Summary doctoral dissertation theological themes in the book of esther ganea vasile romulus introduction compared with the other canonical books of the old testament, the book of esther, in the hebrew version, has a peculiar theological profile, which involves the.