Esther 2 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. The events mentioned in esther therefore happened between ezra chapter 6 and chapter 7. Over 100 years earlier, nebuchadnezzar the king of babylon had attacked jerusalem. This plea paralleled gods message through moses to pharaoh, let my people go, almost 1,000 years earlier. He did not always interpret scripture l iterally and so was amillennial he interpreted revelation as a historicist which led. The writer of the book of esther probably wanted his readers to realise that god is always in control. Chapter one chapter two chapter three chapter four chapter five chapter six chapter seven s. The close of the last study in esther chapter 6 saw the events drawing to a dramatic conclusion. She plainly tells the king that haman is the man who designed her ruin and the ruin of all her friends v. Lets open our bibles to the 5th chapter in the book of esther for this esther 5 sermon. It is a deeply profound and moving narrative of historical events that displayed the providence of god. The first lesson we did an overview of the entire book.
Ahasuerusit is now generally agreed among learned men that the ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the xerxes who figures in grecian history. The events that the first chapter of the book of esther describes happened about 483 bc before christ. The book of esther is a story, and these brief passages from chapters 7 and 9 deal only with the climax and the ending. The book of esther does not mention the name of god. The book of esther begins with the queen of king ahasuerusvashtisnubbing the kings request to meet with her. No matter how many times you rehearse it in your mind, it doesnt get any easier. The reproach is covert, but clearly contained in the words. Esther presents her petition to the king for her life and the life of her people. She plainly tells the king that haman is the man who designed her ruin and the ruin of all her friends. And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to esther, what is. Janie, the king mentioned in the book of esther is king ahasuerus, a persian king.
Well be studying the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters today. Now he needs to pick a new queen and eventually manages to select esthera comely, young secretly jewish woman who is a part of his harem. Commentary on the book of esther by matthew henry old. Haman has paid our price, has given ten thousand talents for us, and you, o king, have sold us to him. It relates the story of a hebrew woman in persia, born as hadassah but known as esther, who becomes queen of. Several things in this chapter itself are very instructive and of great use. Some of her mission has been accomplished, but in esther 7, she completes another part, facing down haman, the kings right hand man, while at the same time, not implicating the king in hamans crimes. For the jews in diaspora the book of esther has a lot to say, and i will note just a few takeaways here. God is always active in esther, even though it is behind the scenes. Property of a traitor by persian custom returned to the king. If we had merely been sold as slaves, i could remain quiet, for that would be too trivial a matter to warrant disturbing the king. Bible studies in the book of esther esther chapter 6. An exposition, with practical observations, of the book of esther chapter 1.
We might even think that he does not care about us. You can find the best commentary on esther for you using the tools on the right side. Ill give this message the title gods providential poetic justice. The prospect of speaking to the king must have weighed on esther as she prepared for the second banquet. Then haman was afraid before the king and the queen. Esther dwelt on his contemplated atrocity, in a variety of expressions, which both evinced the depth of her own emotions, and were intended to awaken similar feelings in the kings breast. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The book of esther is a 20 movie starring jen lilley as queen esther and joel smallbone as king xerxes. And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to esther, what is your petition, queen esther. Esther with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. It was there that we noticed that god leads his people providentially. The hatred haman had for mordecai had only intensified as he saw the king exalt mordecai and not himself before the adoring crowds. The sleepless king and the providence of god by i gordon. Esther 5 commentary matthew henrys complete commentary.
Esther 5 commentary matthew henrys complete commentary on. There is a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time for peace and a time for war. Waldman and appeared in volume one of the graphic canon, edited by russ kick and published by seven stories press. In 2012, a graphic adaptation of the book of esther was illustrated by j.
In the hebrew bible, the book of esther is found in the third section of the canon, the writings. Esther presents her petition to the king for her life and the life of her people v. Esther 7 new international version niv haman impaled. He overcame the jews and he took many jews to babylon. 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. In the hebrew bible the book of esther is placed in the third main part, that is the writings hebr.
The book of esther comes fifth because it is read at the final festival of the year, the days of purim see on chs. Esther 7 haman impaled so the king and haman bible gateway. Perhaps also the book of esther does not contain the name of god because it was written under persian rule, and for distribution in the persian empire. Most likely, the book of esther doesnt have the name of god because it shows how god works behind the scenes. For further treatment of violence in esther, read the 2009 commentary on esther at by brent strawn. Scholars sometimes speculate why the book of esther was not named the book of mordecai. Esther 7 bible commentary john gills exposition of the. Esther 7, new living translation nlt the bible app. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. So they did according to the invitation the queen had given them esther 5.
The advancement of esther to be queen instead of vashti. Esther 7 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. This is why many presume that the book was written in the second half of the fifth century bc. Two things are recorded in this chapter, which were working towards the deliverance of the jews from hamans conspiracy.
The jewish historian josephus names mordecai as author of the book. It is one of the five scrolls megillot in the hebrew bible. Esther 8, new international version niv the bible app. We are now to attend the second banquet to which the king and haman were invited. So the king and haman went to dine with queen esther. It seems to have been this annual cycle of readings that determined the location of esther in the hebrew canon. Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden. The book of esther in the bible is a dramatic account which can give us insight into gods special and purposeful plan for our lives. Adam clarke commentary on esther 17601832 clarke was methodist, wesleyan, arminian, e. While it is always important to understand the context of a particular scripture text, it is especially critical with this one. The story gives us six powerful lessons about courage. Esther 7 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. Esther dwelt on his contemplated atrocity, in a variety of expressions, which both evinced the depth of her own.
It is the last of the five scrolls ruth, song of songs, ecclesiastes, lamentations, and esther, and is read at the feast of purim. Esther 1 commentary old testament matthew henry st. She plainly tells the king that haman is the man who designed her ruin and the ruin of all her friends, esther 7. Bible studies in the book of esther jesus plus nothing. Esther, being solicited by the king to tell him her petition, asks for her life and the lives of her people, who were sold to be destroyed, esther 7. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance.
We saw in the last study that everything is reaching an exciting climax and before the day is out, someone will be a goner. Esther 7 haman impaled so the king and haman bible. Esther 5 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, filling six volumes, provides an exhaustive look at every verse in the bible. Poetic justice happens in literature when good wins andor evil is punished. The net note writes that the expression is a metaphor for lavish feasting which explains some of the other translations came in to feast hcsb, went in to feast esv, went to dine niv. As with most of the ot writings the author of the book of esther esther meaning star is not mentioned. Naturally, being a rather unstable fellow, ahasuerus firesslashdivorces her. Book of esther bible study chapter 5 prayer and the power of the third day book of esther bible study chapter 6 the sleepless king and the providence of god book of esther bible study chapter 7 the downfall of haman the wicked. Esther 7 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. Esther questions and answers all chapters new king james.
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