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The Book of Esther Is a Book in the OT Which Relates the Story of a Jewish Girl Who Becomes Queen of Persia

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The Book of Esther Is a Book in the OT Which Relates the Story of a Jewish Girl Who Becomes Queen of Persia The Book of Esther is a book in the OT which relates the story of a Jewish girl who becomes queen of Persia. INTRODUCTION The story forms the core of the Jewish festival of Purim, during which it is read aloud twice: once in the evening and again the following morning. 1 Besides the Book of Ruth, Esther is the only other book in the Bible named after a female. Interestingly both books are “rags to riches” stories. The poor widow Ruth, who has to rely on the generosity of others for food, wins the favour of a wealthy man Boaz who marries her. She then becomes the ancestor of the Messiah. Esther, an orphan and foreigner, becomes the queen and delivers her people from the destruction of a planned genocide. 1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Esther INTRODUCTION The book of Esther is also unique in that it is the only book in the Bible (with the possible exception of Song of Solomon 2) that doesn’t directly mention God’s name! But despite that, God’s signature is seen in the book: a) In the events which take place in this book we repeatedly see the working of God acting in providence on behalf of his people. b) We find some very interesting types and shadows of New Testament truths. c) Esther calls for a fast regarding the plight of the Jews. Although not explicitly stated, fasting was always associated with prayer. 1 The NASB renders Song of Solomon 8:6 as “… Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the LORD.” while the NIV renders it “…It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.” ACROSTICS d) God’s name appears in the acrostics. In many acrostics found in OT Poetry, each line or stanza begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in order. Acrostics occur in Ps 111 & 112, where each letter begins a line; in Ps 25, 34 & 145, where each letter begins a half-verse; in Ps 37, Prov 31:10-31, and Lam 1, 2 & 4, where each letter begins a whole verse; and in Lam 3, where each letter begins 3 verses. Ps 119 is the most elaborate demonstration of the acrostic method where, in each section of 8 verses, the same opening letter is used, and the 22 sections of the psalm move through the Hebrew alphabet, letter after letter. 1 1 J.A. Motyer, “Acrostic” in The New International Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1987), pg. 12. ACROSTICS An acrostic is a form of writing in which the first letter of each word in the text might also spell out a hidden message. An acrostic poem Can be about anything, Really. Of course, some people like to Start each line as a sentence Though I prefer weaving words into a Creation that is more freeform. The name of God appears 5 times in the acrostics of the text of Esther. 4 times it appears as an acrostic for ‘YHWH’ (Yahweh) and once as ‘EHYH’ (I AM). 1 1 In at least 3 three ancient manuscripts the letters forming the acrostics are written larger than the others so that they stand out boldly and prominently. SETTING Xerxes I (ruled 486-465 BC) was the king of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. He is identified by many as the Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther. 1 1 The Hebrew Ahasuerus (ʔaḥašwērōš) is most likely derived from Persian Xšayārša, the origin of the Greek Xerxes. However Artaxerxes I and II are also possibilities for Ahasuerus. The Septuagint version of Esther translates Ahasuerus as Artaxerxes (a Greek name derived from the Persian Artaxšaϑra). Josephus too relates that this was the name by which he was known to the Greeks, and the Midrashic text, Esther Rabba also makes the identification. Josephus identifies Rock relief of Xerxes at Ahasuerus as Artaxerxes I (r. 465-424 BC) while his tomb in Naqsh-e other see him as Artaxerxes II (r. 405–359 BC). Rustam SETTING According to Herodotus, Xerxes I had a wife called Amestris, 1 who some have identified with Esther. 2 She was the mother of king Artaxerxes I. Here is an approximate chronology based on this line of reasoning. BC City BC King (Persia) BC King (Babylonia) Kish 615- Jerusalem 634-562 Nebuchadnezzar Cyrus the Great 600-530 Shimei 590- Babylon Cambyses II -522 Jair 565- Bardiya -522 Abihail 555- Darius I 550-486 Mordecai 540- Babylon 520 Susa Esther 510- Xerxes I 521-475 -483 Artaxerxes I 485-424 -425 Darius II 454-405 1 The Greek Amēstris matches linguistically with the Babylonian phrase Ammi- Ištar. 2 “Queen Esther wife of Xerxes: Chronological, Historical and Archaeological Evidence” by Gerard Gertoux SETTING Authorship of the Book of Esther is uncertain, but the Talmud claims it was a redaction by the Great Assembly of an original text by Mordecai. 1 Josephus also attributes the authorship to Mordecai. 2 See NOTE 2 The story is set in Suza where many Jews live in forced exile from Israel. Susa (also known as Shushan) was the main capital of the Persian Achaemenid empire, the same city from where Daniel saw one of his visions (Daniel 8) and where Nehemiah began his public life (Neh 1:1-11). 1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Esther 2 Antiquities 11.6.13 Est 1:1-2 (ESV) Now in the days of Ahasuerus… who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel… The NIV renders Ahasuerus as Xerxes: Est 1:1-2 (NIV) This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush: At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa… See NOTE 2 1:3-4 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendour and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. See 1:5-6 And when NOTE 2 these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones. THE ROYAL RICHES The official title of Xerxes was “Shahanshah” which means ‘king of kings’. Paul writes of God: 1 Tim 6:15 (NIV) … God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords… In Esther, the earthly king of kings decides to give two banquets. No expense was spared. Clearly the first event wasn’t just a small humble affair – the guest list included the king’s officials, servants, the army, the nobles and governors of the provinces – and it lasted half a year. 1 1 If Ahasuerus is indeed Xerxes we know that he conducted a campaign against the Greeks early in his reign. The feasts may have been a ploy to entice the various kings in his empire to join him on this military expedition to Greece or may have been the battle planning phase. Xerxes is the great Persian king, of whom Daniel had prophesied, “Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.” (Daniel 11:2). THE ROYAL RICHES The king clearly wanted to impress all by displaying the “riches of his royal glory and the splendour and pomp of his greatness”. The final banquet was more modest, being a mere 7 day event, for everyone in the citadel of Suza (a citadel is the core fortified area of a town or city). Our heavenly king of kings has also displayed “riches of his royal glory” to the Gentiles. God’s riches of grace are displayed in what he has done through Jesus. Eph 2:7 (NIV) … in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. THE ROYAL RICHES Col 2:2-3 (NIV) … so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. But in contrast to the earthly king Ahasuerus, the riches of God glory are demonstrated in his grace and kindness towards us. Rom 2:4 (NIV) … the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience… Eph 1:7-8 (NIV) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. THE ROYAL RICHES The riches of God’s glory are further revealed by what he does in our lives through the indwelling of Jesus. Col 1:27 (NIV) To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
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