![]() ![]() Make up the plot and issue in deliverance for the Jews. However, it appears that theĪuthor has deliberately refrained from mentioning God or any religious activityĪs a literary device to heighten the fact that it is God who controls and directsĪll the seemingly insignificant coincidences (see, e.g., note on 6:1) that Judged the book to be of little religious value. This "secularity" has produced many detractors who have There are two lists of the king's servants ( 1:10,14), two reports that EstherĬoncealed her identity ( 2:10,20), two gatherings of women ( 2:8,19), two fasts ( 4:3,16), two consultations of Haman with his wife and friends (5:14 6:13), two unscheduled appearances of Esther before the king ( 5:2 8:3), two investitures for Mordecai ( 6:10-11 8:15), two coverings of Haman's face ( 6:12 7:8), two royal edicts ( 3:12-15 8:1-14), two references to the subsiding of the king's anger ( 2:1 7:10), two references to the irrevocability of the Persian laws ( 1:19 8:8), two days for the Jews to take vengeance ( 9:5-12,13-15) and two letters instituting the commemoration of Purim ( 9:20-28,29-32).Īn outstanding feature of this book - one that has given rise to considerableĭiscussion - is the complete absence of any explicit reference to God, worship, In addition to the three groups of banquets that come in pairs Recording duplications appears to be one of the favorite compositional techniques Two banquets given by Xerxes, the two prepared by Esther and the double celebration The beginning, middle and end of the story are particularly prominent: the On 2:3-4,9,21-23 3:4 4:14 6:1,8,14 8:6), in which the remnant motif isĪlso central to the narrative (see Ge 45:7 and note).įeasting is another prominent theme in Esther, as shown in the outline below.īanquets provide the setting for important plot developments. Patterned much of his material on the events of the Joseph story (see notes ![]() Were jeopardized by Haman's edict to destroy the Jews. The futureĮxistence of God's chosen people, and ultimately the appearance of the Redeemer-Messiah, Threatened the continuity of God's purposes in redemptive history. (natural disasters, disease, warfare or other calamities threaten God's people The author also draws upon the remnant motif that recurs throughout the Bible With Haman's defeat the JewsĮnjoy rest from their enemies ( 9:16,22). Is promised to the people of God (see Dt 25:19). Has been released from captivity, Haman's edict is the final major effort inĬlosely associated with the conflict with the Amalekites is the rest that The author of Esther views them - as the epitome of all the powers of the worldĪrrayed against God's people (see Nu 24:20 1Sa 15:2-3 28:18). As the first toĪttack Israel after their deliverance from Egypt, the Amalekites were viewed - and Israel's history ( 1Sa 15 1Ch 4:43 and, of course, Esther). That began during the exodus ( Ex 17:8-16 Dt 25:17-19) and continued through Throughout much of the story the author calls to mind the ongoing conflictīetween Israel and the Amalekites (see notes on 2:5 3:1-6 9:5-10), a conflict Its perpetual commemoration (see 3:7 9:26-32 see also chart, pp. The bookĪccounts for both the initiation of that observance and the obligation for Great deliverance of the Jewish people during the reign of Xerxes. The author's central purpose was to record the institution of the annualįestival of Purim and to keep alive for later generations the memory of the However, suggest that the book must have been written before the Persian empireįell to Greece in 331. the absence of Greek words and the style of the author's Hebrew dialect, Several scholars have dated the book later than 330ī.c. Time prior to the actual writing of the book ( 9:19) and that Xerxes had alreadyĭied (see 10:2 and note). InternalĮvidence also suggests that the festival of Purim had been observed for some (before Ezra's return to Jerusalem see note on 8:12). TheĮarliest date for the book would be shortly after the events narrated, i.e.,Ĭ. In the land of Judah suggest that he was a resident of a Persian city. The author's knowledge of Persian customs, the setting of the story in theĬity of Susa and the absence of any reference to conditions or circumstances Of a Jewish festival and from the Jewish nationalism that permeates the story. It is clear that the author was a Jew, both from his emphasis on the origin It is possible to make some inferences about the author and the date of composition. Author and DateĪlthough we do not know who wrote the book of Esther, from internal evidence Theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Esther. This summary of the book of Esther provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, ![]()
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