Esther 1 kjv now it came to pass in the days of bible gateway. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. The heroine of the book named for her, esther is a young jewish woman living in exile in the persian lit. This is what happened during the time of xerxes, the xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from india to cush. Megillah with indepth commentaryside by side version. Queen vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown. This spurs a number of classical jewish exegetes to add a detail not present in the text. Vashti is sent for by the king, but refuses to come, esther 1. We will celebrate the feast of purim on march 14, 2006. 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. The best explanation for their absence, especially the absence of gods name. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history 3. The book of esther serves as the authorizing document for purim, a holiday that is not mentioned in the torah. Megillat esther, the book of esther in the form that we have it in the hebrew bible.
The full text of esther new revised standard version side by side with the commentary. 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 gives us six powerful lessons about courage. For the jews in diaspora the book of esther has a lot to say, and i will note just a few takeaways here. Mar 19, 2020 esther seems to enter the contest without a fight. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai. Sep 30, 2018 it is both puzzling and unfortunate that the lectionary leaves out verses 78, because in these verses the extent of the kings incompetence comes to light. According to schellekens interpretation, the book of esther is a fanciful family history of a rich and powerful jewish family in 4th century b. The book of esther reflects this idea, by referring to vashti as queen vashti 1.
He dishonoured himself as a husband, who ought to protect, but by no means expose, the modesty of his wife, who ought to be to her a covering of the eyes gen. On the mystical level king achashverosh alludes to g. The jewish publication societys highly acclaimed bible commentary series provides a linebyline commentary of the original hebrew bible text, complete with vocalization and cantillation marks, alongside the jps english translation this commentary approaches the book of esther from a fresh literary pointofview. Classical sources such as josephus, the jewish commentary esther rabbah and the christian theologian barhebraeus, as well as. For instance, a signer of nehemiahs covenant in 444 b. Dec 22, 2017 adele berlin, the jps bible commentary. He did not always interpret scripture l iterally and so was amillennial he interpreted revelation as a historicist which led. The voyeurism of ch 1 drunken nobles hoping to ogle the queenis made. Seasons of peculiar festivity often end in vexation. The book of esther is a story, and these brief passages from chapters 7 and 9 deal only with the climax and the ending. In ancient times, it was always written on a separate roll, which was read entirely at the feast of purim. Esther, purim and why it all still matters jews for jesus. Esther in ancient jewish thought, aaron koller, 2014.
The commentary approaches the book of esther from a fresh literary pointofview. The author of the book is unknown and modern scholars have established that the final stage of the hebrew text would have been formed by the second century bce. Book of daniel chapters 16 and the apocryphal books of judith and tobit. As with most of the ot writings the author of the book of esther esther meaning star is not mentioned. The biblical book of esther is set in the third year of.
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 as a jewish diaspora response to the challenges. Shushan, a legendary account of how the familys ancestor mordechai gained power in court, and of the source of the familys wealth and authority. A megillah is one of the five scrolls of the bible ruth, song of solomon, lamentations, ecclesiastes, and esther. And it came to pass in the days of achashverosh esther 1. In jewish tradition, the book of esther, megillat ester, the scroll of. The original text of the megillah book of esther with a running commentary culled from the talmud and midrash, the great torah commentators and the chassidic masters. But haman wanted the king to hang mordecai esther 6. It is careful not to say that god commanded the observance of purim.
A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of esther in easy english. After these things, when the wrath of king ahasuerus subsided, he remembered vashti. The challenge of reading megillat esther is to reveal the hidden messages veiled within the exciting plot. The book of esther records the origin of the holiday called purim. Recipient of the prize of the minister of science, culture, and sport of the state of israel for classical literature for the year 5762 2001. Dec 09, 2017 the book of esther, chapter 1, is taken from jimmy swaggarts, the expositors study bible. Esther 1 niv bible this is what happened during the. May 09, 2017 the book of esther reflects this idea, by referring to vashti as queen vashti 1. Devotional commentary on the book of esther chapter by chapter recommended. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. Esther 1 commentary commentary critical and explanatory.
Adam clarke commentary on esther 17601832 clarke was methodist, wesleyan, arminian, e. Solving eleven mysteries of the jewish holidays and liturgy, mitchell first, 2015. As queen, esther hides her religious identity and maintains her jewish practices keeping kosher and observing the laws of shabbat and family purity in secret. The jews position out of the land but under gods hand shown in esther the book of esther shews us the position of israel, or, to speak more accurately, the position of the jews, out of their own land, and looked at as under the hand of god, and as the object of his care. Esther 1 the warehouse bible commentary by chapter. The jews position out of the land but under gods hand shown in esther the book of esther shews us the position of israel, or, to speak more accurately, the position of the jews, out of their own land, and looked at as under the hand of god, and as the object of. The gathering together of a harem for king ahasuerus. The events that the first chapter of the book of esther describes happened about 483 bc before christ.
In their commentary on the book of esther, the rabbis expand upon and add details to. Jewish bible commentaries merrimack valley havurah. Queen esther, the central character in the biblical book named after her. Character and ideology in the book of esther, michael v. Apr 16, 2020 the book of esther is short, so it makes sense to read the whole book to get a sense of whats going on. While it is always important to understand the context of a particular scripture text, it is especially critical with this one. For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. Its full text is read aloud twice during the celebration, in the evening and again the following morning. Esther was taken under duress, kicking and screaming. For further treatment of violence in esther, read the 2009 commentary on esther at by brent strawn. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. It has subdivisions of ahasuerus makes a royal feast, queen vashti refuses to obey the king, and. They seemed to believe that god would protect his jewish people esther 6.
This holiday, based on the biblical book of esther, is an appointed time to remember the victory of the jewish people in persia over the wicked haman during the babylonian captivity. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. The book of esther is one of the books of the ketuvim writings of the tanakh the hebrew bible and of the historical books of the old testament. The events of the book of esther occurred during the reign of king ahasuerus, xerxes i. Following tradition, the books explanation of purim as a historical event to be. The jewish study bible esther introduction oxford biblical. During this holiday, the jews remember how god saved them from their enemies esther 9. At that time king xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of susa. In other words, esther acts reluctantly, and in large measure, in selfinterest. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. The book of esther or the megillah is the basis for the jewish celebration of purim.
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. The book of esther is entitled by the jews, the volume of esther, or simply the volume. Persons named daniel god has judged are mentioned in babylonian records and in the bible elsewhere. Almost 70 years after that, the king of persia defeated. Esther 1 king james version kjv 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. It is both puzzling and unfortunate that the lectionary leaves out verses 78, because in these verses the extent of the kings incompetence comes to light. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. At first glance, the story seems to be one of royal intrigue, power, wealth and politics. 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 new jewish publication society translation. Better is a dinner of herbs with quietness, than this banquet of wine, with all the noise and tumult that must have attended it. Esther 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. This chapter records the royal banquets of the persian.
David guzik commentary on esther 1, where queen vashti refuses to display her. His predecessor was king darius 522485 bc who is mentioned in ezra 4. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. Esther 1 niv bible this is what happened during the time. Over 100 years earlier, nebuchadnezzar the king of babylon had attacked jerusalem. The book of esther is short, so it makes sense to read the whole book to get a sense of whats going on. After these things, when the wrath of king ahasuerus subsided, he remembered vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. It includes essays entitled when and where was the book of esther written. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
The jewish historian josephus names mordecai as author of the book. The greek translators retained only esther, which thus became the ordinary title among christians. Megilla, scroll, is related to the word ligalot, which means to reveal. Esther 1 is the first chapter of the book of esther in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. The jewish community, and its areas of residence, outside erez israel. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. Enduring word bible commentary esther chapter 1 esther 1 a queen is deposed 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. The book of esther, chapter 1, is taken from jimmy swaggarts, the expositors study bible. But mordecais law allowed the jews to defend themselves on that day. But the megillahs mandate differs from the torahs in one crucial respect. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. He overcame the jews and he took many jews to babylon. Despite such questions the book of esther sits comfortably in the hebrew.
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