OT Survey II

Esther
 Background on Esther
The book of Esther takes place between the
first and second returns to the Promised
Land, from approximately 483-473 B.C.
Persia was the dominant world empire, and
their royal leaders are prominent characters
in the book.
Esther is a Jewish exile brought up by her
cousin Mordecai in the capital city of Susa.
 Key Characters
Ahasuerus (aka Xerxes) Persian King
who ruled from 486 to 465 B.C.
Haman an Agagite and Ahasuerus
chief officer.
Mordecai an exiled Jew living in Susa.
Esther a beautiful Jewish maiden who
was raised by Mordecai and who
becomes Queen in the Persian Empire.
Timeline for Esther
Geography of Esther
Outline of Esther
 Major Themes
The Providence of God
Emphasized by the structure of the book.
Implied in 4:14: For if you remain silent at this time,
relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from
another place and you and your father's house will
perish. And who knows whether you have not attained
royalty for such a time as this?
Extends to the bedroom of the worlds greatest ruler (cf.
Prov 21:1 The king's heart is like channels of water in
the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes).
But the real turning point of the story wasa
combination of providential coincidences: the king just
happened to ask for the royal records to be read; the
section read happened to be about Mordecais good
deed; Haman happened to be in the palace the next
day; Haman happened to misread the kings intentions;;
etc. The authors moral: the security of Gods people is
ultimately in the hands of God himself (David A.
Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament , p.
164).
 Major Themes
The Hiddenness of God
Though not explicitly recognized (or even mentioned), God
is still at work.
The Jews and their enemies
The fear of the Jews (cf. 8:17; 9:2) can only be
explained by the fact that their enemies
acknowledged that their was a supernatural
hedge about them, a God who intervened on their
behalf and who could enable them to prevail no
matter the odds against them (Eugene Merrill, A
Biblical Theology of the Old Testament , p. 207).
Reversal
 Reversal
3:1-2 King Ahasuerus promoted
Haman son of Hammedatha,
the Agagite. He advanced him
in rank and gave him
precedence over all his other
nobles. And all the kings
officials at court bowed down
and did obeisance to Haman,
for so the king had
commanded.
3:10 Then the king took his
signet ring from his hand and
gave it to Haman son of
Hammedatha, the enemy of
the Jews.
4:1 Mordecai...tore his clothes,
put on sackcloth and ashes,
went out into the city, and
raised a loud and bitter cry.
9:3-4 [Mordecai] had come to
occupy a position of great power
in the palace, while his fame was
spreading through all the
provincesMordecai was growing
more and more powerful.
10:3 Mordecai the Jew was
second in rank only to King
Ahasuerus himself and was
preeminent
8:2a Then theamong the Jews.
king took off his
signet ring which he had taken
from Haman and gave it to
Mordecai.
8:15a Then Mordecai went out
from the king clad in a royal robe
of violet and white, wearing a
large gold turban and a purple
cloak of fine linen.
 Major Themes
The Jews and their enemies
Reversal
The Feast of Purim a celebration of
Gods protection of Israel from her
enemies.
 Purpose Statement for Esther
Even when the Jews were not faithful
to Yahweh and were out of the land,
He providentially cared for them and
saved them from annihilation,
because of His covenant
commitments to Abraham and his
descendants.
Next Week: Introduction
to the Wisdom Literature
and
the Book of Job