ESTHER
Title:
The name “Esther” comes from a Persian word meaning “star”.
Author:
Unknown to men. See the introduction to Judges concerning the authorship of the books of the Bible.
Date:
Probably sometime between 465 and 400 BC.
Themes:
The danger that came to the Jewish exiles in Persia; the deliverance God gave through Mordecai and Esther; the destruction of those who plotted to destroy the Jews. A remarkable fact about this book is that there is no mention of God anywhere in it. However, it is clear that the author recognized God behind events working out His purposes. For example, see Esther 4:12-17. The rise and fall of Haman is a striking illustration of how God sometimes deals on earth with the wicked enemies of His people. See Deut 32:35; Ps 7:15-17; 9:16; 18:25-27; 37:34-36.
Contents:
The fall of Queen Vashti 1:1-22
The search for a new bride for the king 2:1-18
Mordecai 2:5-11
Esther becomes the new queen 2:5-18
Mordecai discovers a plot against the king 2:19-23
Haman and his plot to kill all Jews 3:1-15
Mordecai persuades Esther to help defeat Haman 4:1-17
Esther’s appeals to the king 5:1—9:17
The first request 5:1-6
The second request 5:7-8
Haman’s joy, anger, boasts, and plans
to kill Mordecai 5:9-14
The king honors Mordecai 6:1-14
Esther’s third request to the king 7:1-6
God takes vengeance on Haman 7:7-10
The king gives Mordecai the highest place 8:1-2
Esther pleads with the king 8:3-6
The king’s decree for the Jews 8:7-17
The victory of the Jews 9:1-17
Esther’s last request to the king 9:13
Mordecai’s greatness 10:1-3