Esther Introduction

Introduction

Esther lived between 500 and 400 BC., about the time of Ezra. Her Hebrew name was Hadassah, which means "Myrtle". Her Persian name was 'ester which was derived from the Persian word for "star". The Latin title is Hester but the Greek title, which we use, is Esther.

Now as to the author; there is no indication as to who the author is in the book. We can see from the book that the author had knowledge of Persian etiquette and customs, and lived in Persia during the reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes 486-465 BC.) He also had knowledge of Jewish customs which suggest that he was probably Jewish. Some scholars suggest that it was written by Mordecai, a cousin and foster father of Esther. This is unlikely but certainly Mordecai's records were used. Ezra and Nehemiah have been suggested by some but the vocabulary and style is so dissimilar to either of these authors that this suggestion is unlikely. The best guess is that it was written by a young contemporary of Mordecai.

Now, what about the book? There are varied and conflicting opinions about the book of Esther, primarily because of the following characteristics:

1. The book is more patriotic than religious.
2. There is no prayer mentioned in the book
3. God's help is mentioned only in "veiled Language" in the book.
4. Even Esther was guilty of racial intolerance, which was the cause for which this book was written.
5. Many believe that it is fiction not history.
6. Martin Luther said of this book, "I am so hostile toward this book that I wish it did not exist for it Judaizes to much and has to much 'heather haughtiness'".
7. The purpose of the book seems to be, to make legal, according to Jewish religious law, the Feast of Purim which was a Persian Festival celebrated by the Jews during their captivity in Babylon. There is no origin for the feast in the Old Testament. The book was written to promote in Jerusalem and elsewhere in Judah, a celebration that had been kept by "scattered Israelites".
8. The book was so unsatisfactory that an "apocryphal addendum" of 108 verses (6 chapters) was written and added to the Greek version for the purpose of adding a religious motive to the book. We do not have that addition in our Bible.
9. The book is out of step with the teachings of the prophets. It bristles with hatred and revenge. There is no preparation for the Gospel. Jesus never quoted from it and nowhere is it mentioned in the New Testament.
10. The chief characters are Mesopotamian in origin. Esther (Ishtar) was a Babylonian goddess. Mordecai (Marduk) was a Babylonian god. Voshti was an Elamite goddess.

Esther was a Jew, she was a cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai. She became Queen to Zerxes while he was King of Persia. She had exceptional physical beauty, personal charm and a courageous character.

There was a vicious anti-semitic feeling in Babylon. Haman, the Prime Minister for King Xerxes, plotted to kill all the Jews. Esther discovered the plot and had him hung on the gallows that had been set up for Mordecai. Mordecai was then promoted to Prime Minister. To commemorate this event, the feast of Purim was established. It is interesting to note that no where in the history of Xerxes as King of Persia is there mention of a Queen named Esther.

Now, we believe that God inspired those who put together the Bible to include the book of Esther, therefore, there must be a purpose to this book that compliments the rest of the Old Testament. The compilers of the Open Bible believe:

1. The book shows that even in exile, God was concerned about his people, even though His name does not appear in the book.
2. Esther is like Christ in that she offered her life to save her people. She became their "advocate".
3. The book reveals another plot by Satan to destroy the Messianic line. God used Ester to preserve that line by being instrumental in keeping Haman from killing all the Jews thus allowing them to go back to Jerusalem.

A BRIEF TIMETABLE:

1. The Persians conquered Babylon in 539 BC. and Cyrus II issued his decree allowing the Jews to go back to Jerusalem 1 year later.
2. Eight years later, Cambyses II replaced Cyrus II as King of Persia.
3. Eight years later, Darius I replaced Cambyses II. During his reign Zerubbabel was appointed Governor of Judea and the Temple was finished.
4. Thirty Six years later, 486 BC., Xerxes I replaced Darius I as King of Persia.
5. Seven years later, Esther comes upon the scene.

Most historians believe that the Persian Empire was the greatest empire that ever existed. At the time of Esther it ranged from Ethiopia to India, some 127 Providences. The capitol was at Susa (Greek), Shushan, (Persian). It was a city about 150 miles north of the Persian Gulf, a city known to have been occupied from 4,000 BC. Today it is known as "Shush".

A LIST OF CHARACTERS:

1. Esther, a Jewish woman with exceptional beauty, charm and courage.
2. Mordecai, Esther's cousin, who, it appears, along with his wife, Abihail, adopted Esther. He was a Jew who had become a Porter (gate keeper) for the king and later was promoted to a position second only to the king.
3. Haman, an Amalekite, a descendant of Esau, who found favor with the king and was promoted to Prime Minister.
4. Vasheta, King Xerxes' wife whom he later divorces.
5. King Xerxes (Ahasuerus), believed by some to be King Artaxerxes but this does not fit into the timetable.
6. Hegai, one of the King's Eunuchs, who was put in charge of the king's harem.

Matthew Henry, in his commentary, says, "If the name of God is not here, His finger is." Allen Stringfellow, in his study, Through the Bible in One Year, suggests that the reason that God is not directly mentioned is recorded in Deut. 31:18, "I will surly hide my face in that day on account of all the evil which they (the Israelites) have done fore they have turned to other gods."

We will divide the book into two parts:

1. The Anti-Semitic Crisis. Chapters 1 thru 5
2. The Providential Overruling of the Crisis. Chapters 6 thru 10

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