The Book of
ESTHER
Author: Unknown
Date: Shortly After 465 B.C.
Theme: Teamwork That Shaped a Nation
Key Words: Humility, Interdependence, The Fear of God
Author. While the name of the author is unknown, the book was written by a Jew, who was familiar with Persian customs and words. Mordecai or Ezra may have been the writer.
Background and Date. The Book of Esther is a graphic narrative, which relates how God’s people were preserved from ruin during the fifth century B.C.
The book takes its name from the beautiful, orphaned Jewess who became the queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus. He is generally believed to have been King Xerxes I who succeeded Darius I in 485 B.C. and ruled for twenty years over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. He lived in the Persian capital of Shushan. At this time a number of Jews were still in Babylon under Persian rule, even though they had been free to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1; 2) for over fifty years. The story takes place over a period of four years, starting in the third year of Xerxes’ reign.
Content. Esther is a study in the survival of God’s people amidst hostility. Haman, the king’s second in command, wants the Jews destroyed. He manipulates the king to call for their execution. Esther is brought on the scene and is used by God to save her people. Haman is hanged; and Mordecai, a leader to the Jews in the Persian Empire, becomes prime minister. The Feast of Purim is then instituted to mark their deliverance.
A unique feature of Esther is that the name of God is not mentioned. However, the imprint of God and His ways are obvious throughout, especially in the lives of Esther and Mordecai.
From a human perspective, Esther and Mordecai were two of the most unlikely people to be chosen to play major roles in shaping a nation. He was a Jewish Benjamite exile; she was his adopted, orphaned cousin (2:7). Esther’s spiritual maturity is seen in her knowing to wait for God’s timing to make her request to save her people and to denounce Haman (5:6–8; 7:3–6). Mordecai also demonstrates a maturity to seek God for timing and direction. As a result, he knew the right time for Esther to disclose her identity as a Jew (2:10). These obviously divinely controlled restraints proved to be crucial (6:1–14; 7:9, 10) and testify to the book’s spiritual base.
Finally, both Esther and Mordecai feared God, not men. Regardless of the consequences, Mordecai refused to pay homage to Haman. Esther risked her life for the sake of her people by going to the king without being summoned. Their mission was always to save the life that the enemy planned to destroy (2:21–23; 4:1–17; 7:1–6; 8:3–6). As a result, they led a nation into freedom, were honored by the king and given greater authority, privileges, and responsibilities.
Personal Application. One of the main purposes of the Book of Esther is to show us from the lives of Esther and Mordecai a classic example of successful teamwork. Their relationship vividly portrays the unity that the Lord Jesus prayed for His disciples to experience (John 17). The success of their individual roles, even their very survival, depended entirely upon their unity. Esther also shows how God destroys those who try to harm His people. From this we are reminded that He is faithful to destroy Satan and that His sovereign purposes ultimately prevail.
Christ Revealed. Queen Esther is similar to Jesus in several ways. She lived in submission, dependence, and obedience to her God-given authorities Mordecai and King Ahasuerus even as the Lord Jesus, during His earthly ministry, lived in total submission, dependence, and obedience to His Father God.
Esther also fully identified herself with her people and fasted for three days as she interceded to God on their behalf (4:16). Hebrews 2:17 tells us that “in all things He (Jesus) had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest.” As such, He both fasted and prayed for His own (Matt. 4:2; John 17:20).
Third, Esther gave up her right to live in order to save the nation from certain death. For this she was exalted by the king. In like fashion Jesus gave up His life that a world of sinners might be saved from eternal death and was highly exalted by God (Phil. 2:5–11).
The Holy Spirit at Work. Although the Holy Spirit is not mentioned directly, it is His work that produced in both Esther and Mordecai the deep level of humility, leading to their mutual love and loyalty (see Rom. 5:5).
The Holy Spirit also directed and energized Esther to fast for her nation and to call her people to do the same (see Rom. 8:26, 27).
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible
ESTHER
Author: Unknown
Date: Shortly After 465 B.C.
Theme: Teamwork That Shaped a Nation
Key Words: Humility, Interdependence, The Fear of God
Author. While the name of the author is unknown, the book was written by a Jew, who was familiar with Persian customs and words. Mordecai or Ezra may have been the writer.
Background and Date. The Book of Esther is a graphic narrative, which relates how God’s people were preserved from ruin during the fifth century B.C.
The book takes its name from the beautiful, orphaned Jewess who became the queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus. He is generally believed to have been King Xerxes I who succeeded Darius I in 485 B.C. and ruled for twenty years over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. He lived in the Persian capital of Shushan. At this time a number of Jews were still in Babylon under Persian rule, even though they had been free to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1; 2) for over fifty years. The story takes place over a period of four years, starting in the third year of Xerxes’ reign.
Content. Esther is a study in the survival of God’s people amidst hostility. Haman, the king’s second in command, wants the Jews destroyed. He manipulates the king to call for their execution. Esther is brought on the scene and is used by God to save her people. Haman is hanged; and Mordecai, a leader to the Jews in the Persian Empire, becomes prime minister. The Feast of Purim is then instituted to mark their deliverance.
A unique feature of Esther is that the name of God is not mentioned. However, the imprint of God and His ways are obvious throughout, especially in the lives of Esther and Mordecai.
From a human perspective, Esther and Mordecai were two of the most unlikely people to be chosen to play major roles in shaping a nation. He was a Jewish Benjamite exile; she was his adopted, orphaned cousin (2:7). Esther’s spiritual maturity is seen in her knowing to wait for God’s timing to make her request to save her people and to denounce Haman (5:6–8; 7:3–6). Mordecai also demonstrates a maturity to seek God for timing and direction. As a result, he knew the right time for Esther to disclose her identity as a Jew (2:10). These obviously divinely controlled restraints proved to be crucial (6:1–14; 7:9, 10) and testify to the book’s spiritual base.
Finally, both Esther and Mordecai feared God, not men. Regardless of the consequences, Mordecai refused to pay homage to Haman. Esther risked her life for the sake of her people by going to the king without being summoned. Their mission was always to save the life that the enemy planned to destroy (2:21–23; 4:1–17; 7:1–6; 8:3–6). As a result, they led a nation into freedom, were honored by the king and given greater authority, privileges, and responsibilities.
Personal Application. One of the main purposes of the Book of Esther is to show us from the lives of Esther and Mordecai a classic example of successful teamwork. Their relationship vividly portrays the unity that the Lord Jesus prayed for His disciples to experience (John 17). The success of their individual roles, even their very survival, depended entirely upon their unity. Esther also shows how God destroys those who try to harm His people. From this we are reminded that He is faithful to destroy Satan and that His sovereign purposes ultimately prevail.
Christ Revealed. Queen Esther is similar to Jesus in several ways. She lived in submission, dependence, and obedience to her God-given authorities Mordecai and King Ahasuerus even as the Lord Jesus, during His earthly ministry, lived in total submission, dependence, and obedience to His Father God.
Esther also fully identified herself with her people and fasted for three days as she interceded to God on their behalf (4:16). Hebrews 2:17 tells us that “in all things He (Jesus) had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest.” As such, He both fasted and prayed for His own (Matt. 4:2; John 17:20).
Third, Esther gave up her right to live in order to save the nation from certain death. For this she was exalted by the king. In like fashion Jesus gave up His life that a world of sinners might be saved from eternal death and was highly exalted by God (Phil. 2:5–11).
The Holy Spirit at Work. Although the Holy Spirit is not mentioned directly, it is His work that produced in both Esther and Mordecai the deep level of humility, leading to their mutual love and loyalty (see Rom. 5:5).
The Holy Spirit also directed and energized Esther to fast for her nation and to call her people to do the same (see Rom. 8:26, 27).
Jack W. Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Study Bible
