Best esther commentaries updated for 2020 best bible. The events mentioned in esther therefore happened between ezra chapter 6 and chapter 7. Esther overview, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. Most likely, the book of esther doesnt have the name of god because it shows how god works behind the scenes. 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 writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control. We are shown a persian emperor, ahasuerus loosely based on xerxes, 485464 b. Did you know that the book bearing her name in the old testament does. God saves the jews esther the book of esther easyenglish bible god is in control esther a commentary by robert bryce short outline of esther.
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 commentary john gills exposition of the bible. 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. Esther may seem like a strange book to preach through, particularly for. Berlin begins with a lengthy introduction, discussing esther as comedy and as diaspora literature. The bible does not mention the book of esther anywhere else. We might even think that he does not care about us.
Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. This informative commentary part of jpss bible commentary series dissects the book of esther and, by extension, the jewish holiday of purim. 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. In the hebrew bible the book of esther is placed in the third main part, that is the writings hebr. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. Best commentaries and books on esther logos bible software.
Read and study esther, including book summary, with the versebyverse bible commentary. The book of esther is never quoted in the new testament, and esther is not in a genealogy or even a casual reference. 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. 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. In the hebrew bible, the book of esther is found in the third section of the canon, the writings. Our last news of queen esther left her in tears, fasting and praying. Study esther using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. Esther easyenglish documents easy english bible with. The last news we had of haman left him in his cups, esther 3. Listen to this description in the five megilloth, a jewish commentary published by the soncino press. Neither mordecai, esther, nor the feast of purim is mentioned.
But esther was clear that in this particular situation, a heavenly response was needed for an earthly situation. Commentary on esther 1 by matthew henry blue letter bible. The book of esther is the only one not found in the dead sea scrolls. Study scripture verses with commentary, concordances, and use highlighting, underlining, take notes in the bible.
The story itself is implausible as history and, as many scholars now agree, it is. He did not always interpret scripture l iterally and so was amillennial he interpreted revelation as a historicist which led him to interpret the. Adam clarke commentary on esther 17601832 clarke was methodist, wesleyan, arminian, e. Esther chapter 5 verse by verse bible commentary matthew. The book of esther has served the jewish people as support of their national hope and especially so in the days of persecution. An introduction to the book of esther an argument of the book of esther selected bibliography of the book of esther j.
The book of esther was likely written between 460 and 350 b. Read esther commentary using john gills exposition of the bible. The key personalities are esther, mordecai, king ahasuerus or xerxes, and haman. An exposition, with practical observations, of the book of esther chapter 1. The historical books a good introduction to and overview of the historical books of the old testament joshua, judgesruth, 1 and 2 samuel, 1 and 2 kings, 1 and 2 chronicles. Public calamities, that oppress the church of god, should affect our hearts more than any private affliction, and it is peculiarly distressing to occasion sufferings to others. The book was written no earlier than 470 bc and probably no later than 424 bc, during the reign of xerxes son artaxerxes. I used frederic bushs word bible commentary on esther for places. The author of the book of esther is unknown, though some attribute the work to mordecai.
Esther 1 is the first chapter of the book of esther in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. The book of esther, a book of the christian old testament, is set in the third year of xerxes, a king of persia also known as artaxerxes ii. God is not mentioned in the book of esther even once. Esther is, among the generality of jews, the best known of all the books of the bible p. The book of esther can be divided into three main sections. Outside of the book of esther there is never any mention of esther or hadassah, esther 2. 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. Ahasuerus makes royal feasts for his nobles and people, esther 1. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible.
At the end of the book, he says that the official records included the story about esther. Esther is the last of the historical books of the bible, so its main character is. Esther the book of esther easyenglish bible god is in control esther a commentary by robert bryce. Not only is it a great story with all the drama and. The greek septuagint remedied this situation by adding six passages which include the name of god. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of esther in easy english.
But the writer wants us to know that the story is true. Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the word of god in order to refocus one. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. This chapter records the royal banquets of the persian king. 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.
Blue letter bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on christ and the gospel of his peace and righteousness. Study the bible online using commentary on esther and more. Book of esther matthew henrys bible commentary concise. 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 most popular traditions are mordecai a major character in the book of esther, ezra, and nehemiah who would have been familiar with persian customs.
Watch our overview video on the book of esther, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. God is always active in esther, even though it is behind the scenes. Read esther commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. In the hebrew bible the book of esther is placed in the third main part, that is. This is why many presume that the book was written in the second half of the fifth century bc. It is a deeply profound and moving narrative of historical events that displayed the providence of god. The genre of the book of esther is narrative history. This is my favorite commentary on any book of holy scripture. This book particularly teaches us the invisible care of god for those of his people who preferred to stay in the land of exile although they could have returned to palestine since the days of king cyrus of persia see book of ezra. 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 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Vashti is sent for by the king, but refuses to come, esther 1. Esther is the only book in the bible not to mention the name of god. Esther in her joys, smiled upon by the king and honoured with his company at her banquet of wine, esther 5. The book of esther does not specifically name its author. Thus, the deeds of queen esther cast a ray of light forward into israels history from a dark time. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. Esther commentary, sermon, illustration esther commentaries.
Did you know that esther is mentioned more times in the bible than any other woman. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. 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. It is the last of the five scrolls ruth, song of songs, ecclesiastes, lamentations, and esther, and is read at the feast of purim. The book of esther in hebrew is secular in nature, in that the name of god, the temple, and prayer are not mentioned. Esther chapter 2 verse by verse bible commentary matthew. Engage the challenging books of ruth and esther utilizing the dynamic. Adele berlins commentary in the jps series is better suited for a critical look at the hebrew text. Queen vashti deposed this is what happened during the time of xerxes, the xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from india to cush. Frederic bush, word biblical commentary wbc, thomas nelson, 1996, 528 pp.
It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. The prayers of esther and mordecai are especially noteworthy. Jobes volume is best for those seeking a biblicaltheological commentary on the book of esther. At the start of the book, he says when it happened. 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. David guzik commentary on esther 1, where queen vashti refuses to display her. 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. Book of esther overview insight for living ministries. The book of esther tells a story of the deliverance of the jewish people. Esther free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.