Introduction to book of Esther
Esther • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Feast and Festivals
Feast/Festivals in the Torah (Lev 23)
Leviticus 23:1–2 (ESV)
1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.
Sabbath, Passover, Feast of First-fruits, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and feast of Booths.
Other feast or celebrations
Hanukkah
Started in Israel during the intertestamental period.
“The eight-day Feast of Dedication or Feast of Lights celebrating the reconsecration of the temple in Jerusalem (165 or 164 BC). Hanukkah is the only major Jewish festival that does not originate in the Hebrew Bible. It commemorates an event described outside the Bible, but outlined extensively in 1 and 2 Maccabees.” (Barry, John D. et al., eds. “Hanukkah.” The Lexham Bible Dictionary 2016: n. pag. Print.)
Purim
“The word Purim is derived from the Persian word pur (“lot”) and recalls how Haman, the enemy of the Jews, cast lots to determine the best day to carry out his plan to exterminate them (3:7). Of all the Jewish festivals, Purim is the most secular in flavor, and one of the most joyful. These days it is normally celebrated on only one day, the fourteenth of Adar (in February/March), preceded by a day of fasting. Children are given gragers (rattles) so that, when the story of Esther is read, they can make a loud noise to drown out the name of the wicked Haman whenever it occurs. Other festivities include exchanging presents, giving food parcels to the poor, performing Purim plays, and wearing costumes. In Israel, a Purim carnival is held. It has become a celebration, not just of the deliverance experienced in the days of Esther and Mordecai, but of the amazing survival of the Jewish people for thousands of years in spite of persecution and hardship.” (Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008. Print.)
Some have called Purim the Jewish Halloween because of the dressing up in costumes and celebrations.
You could go on YouTube and watch some of the Parades from Purim 2022 in Israel.
We will be starting a Study in the book of Esther and the Celebration of Purim originates from the events written about in this book of the Bible. As we start our Study lets get Some introductory information.
Textual Background
Textual Background
When we study a new book of the Bible, there are basic questions we should be asking of the text to give us a basis for understanding.
Who is the Author?
The author is unknown.
“The only hints of its origin are the references it contains to some of the key events of the story being committed to writing in either official court records (2:23; 6:1) or edicts issued by the king or his representatives (3:12–15; 8:8–14). It is possible that the author was someone like Mordecai, who had access to such material and a keen interest in Jewish affairs. His familiarity with Persian customs of the time suggests that he lived not long after the events described.” (Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008. Print.)
Mordecai or other person in Persian court
Esther 9:20–23 (ESV)
20 And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, 22 as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor. 23 So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.
Looks as though Mordecai wrote at lease some if not all the book of Esther for the remembrance and establishment of the celebration on the 14th of Adar. (Purim)
(My personal conviction) Mordecai make scenes to me because of his closeness to the events, serving in the kings court, Esther becoming queen, his writing to start celebration of purim, and his love and commitment to God and Jews.
When was it Written?
Early date 460 BC
"The earliest possible date for the book’s first appearance is the reign of Ahasuerus, and since this is spoken of in 1:1 as though it had already become past history, it is most natural to suppose that Esther was written somewhat later in the Persian period, perhaps during the reign of the next king, Artaxerxes I (464–423 BC).“ (Baldwin, Joyce G. Esther: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 12. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1984. Print. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries.)
Esther 1:1 (ESV)
1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,
Late date 350 BC
The LXX was Greek translation of the OT. It had all 39 books of the OT with all the Apocrypha writing. The book of Esther in the LXX is a 3rd longer than the version we have in our bible. In my research thus far it is because they translated the Apocryphal writings as well and the extra 6 chapters in Esther are Apocryphal.
Some lean to this later writing as the original writing by an ambiguous author.
Who is the intended Audience?
Jewish people to Show God’s protection of the Jews from the attack of Hamman. It is also to show the reason and origin of the celebration of Purim.
Esther 9:20–21 (ESV)
20 And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year,
Where was it Written or where does the events take place?
The Events written about in the book took place in Susa the Persian capital.
The exact location of writing is not known. However, the events of the biblical story took place in Susa, the Persian capital. If Mordecai was the author with the early dates of writing it would make sense that the writing was in Susa as well.
What is the time period of the events written about?
During the reign of King Ahasuerus, better known by his Greek name, Xerxes I (486–464 B.C.).
I will look at a more specific timing of the events in my next point.
Historical Context
Historical Context
Persian Empire
Babylonian became the world power around 612 BC when they conquered the Assyrians.
Under Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonians conquered Judah and Jerusalem and carried away the Israelites into Exile.
The Babylonian empire was conquered by the Persians under the reign of Cyrus around 539 BC. The Persian empire was the world power until Alexander the Great conquered Persia around 331 BC.
Persia was in control of the area of Israel right up through Nehemiah. God used His people in strategic positions to accomplish his will. (Daniel, Ezekiel, Esther, Mordecai, Zerubabbel, Ezra, Nehemiah)
King Ahasuerus
Son of Darius I, who was King of the Persian Empire 522-486 BC.
King Ahasuerus succeeded his father as king in 486 BC and reigned for 22 years.
Reign of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I)
Early in His reign
Egypt rebels and is reconquered (486-484 BC)
Babylon rebels and is conquered (482 BC)
Celebration and Esther’s Story (483-473 BC)
Mid and late reign
Battle and defeat against Greece (480-466 BC)
He was succeeded by his son Artaxerxes I in 465 BC.
Jewish History
Jews were brought into Exile 586 BC.
The first wave of Jews to return to Israel was under the reign of Cyrus and lead by Zerubbabel in 535 BC. They started rebuilding the temple in 536 BC and completed it in 516 BC.
The second wave of Jews returned in in 460 BC under the leading of Ezra.
The third wave of Jews to return was under the leading of Nehemiah in 445 BC
The events of Esther are from 483-473 BC. This is before the second wave under Ezra. The events of Esther is considered post-exilic because it happened between the 1st and 2nd wave of Jews returning to Israel.
Literary Style
Literary Style
Genre
Historical Narrative. It’s main writing style is telling a story.
“The book of Esther is a story par excellence. It has virtually all the ingredients that people through the ages have most loved in a story—a beautiful and courageous heroine, a romantic love thread, a dire threat to the good characters, a thoroughly evil villain, suspense, dramatic irony, evocative descriptions of exotic places, sudden reversal of action, poetic justice, and a happy ending. The specific type of story represented by the book of Esther is hero story, as the action is constructed around the engaging central figure of a heroine whose Persian name Esther means “star.” But the story is also a patriotic story of national history—a rescue story in which a whole nation is delivered from destruction. The U-shaped descent into potential tragedy and ascent to a happy ending is a plot pattern known as comedy.” (Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008. Print.)
Literary Emphasis
Feasts
10 feast addressed in the book of Esther.
Some have divides the book of Esther around the 3 main feast. (Feast of Ahasuerus, Feast of Esther, Feast of Purim.)
Unexpected reversals
Haman expected all to bow before him, but Mordecai would not. (Esther 3:1-2)
Haman expecting to be Honored by the King, but ends up honoring Mordecai. (Esther 6)
Haman building the Gallows to kill Mordecai, but ends up dying of them himself. (Esther 5 & 7)
Jews destroyed in one day, but they are saved and many of their enemies die in one day. (Esther 9)
5 Main Characters (one not even mentioned)
King Ahasuerus, Haman, Esther, Mordecai, and God
Although God does not even show up in the writing of the text, it is the intent of the author to show that God is working in the background even when we do not know it.
Lessons from the Book of Esther
Lessons from the Book of Esther
Living faithful in the culture we are in.
We see through the writings of Ezekiel, Daniel, Esther, Ezra, and Nehemiah, How the Jews remained faithful to the Lord in a country/government/culture completely contrary to their values/religious conviction/culture.
We are seeing that our country is be-lining towards a culture that is valuing what is contrary to our values and religious conviction.
Living obedient to God with potential consequences.
Esther knew that going before the king with out being called was a death sentence.
Esther 4:15–16 (ESV)
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
As we find ourselves in a country that is increasingly valuing what is contrary to our biblical convictions, are we willing to be faithful knowing that their might be bad consequences for our convictions.
God is working to protect and save His people.
Although God is not mentioned in the book of Esther, the author makes it very clear that God was working in the situation to protect and save His people, even when they did not see or know it at the time.
One of the important biblical truths and encouragement we see in Esther and all scripture, is that God is on the side of those who humbly trust in Him and He is faithful to save them.
As we see our world going farther away from God, we can remain confident that God is at work to protect and save His people.