05/05/2021 – Day 353 – Esther 1-5// “The Jews’ Deliverance From Extermination”
There have been a handful of Esther movies of over the years. We saw what could have been the last one titled: “One Night WIth the King”. I am guessing 2015 was the release date., or at least thereabouts.
I am going to quote from Halley’s Bible Handbook to give us some insight into this book:
“The name of God is not mentioned in the book, probably because it may been copied from Persian records. Yet God’s Providential Care of his people is nowhere more evident. ” (pg 238)
(and back from the top):
“The Jews Returned from Babylon to Jerusalem 536 B.C. / The Temple was Rebuilt 536 – 516 B.C. /Esther , a Jewess, became Queen of Persia 478 B.C. / Esther saved the Jews from Massacre 473 B.C. / Ezra Went from Babylon to Jerusalem 457 B.C. / Nehemiah Rebuilt the Wall of Jerusalem 444 B.C.
Thus Esther appeared about 40 years after the Temple was Rebuilt, and about 30 years Before the Wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt.
Chronologically, though this book comes after the book of Nehemiah, yet its events antedate Nehemiah by about 30 years. Esther, it seems made possible the work of Nehemiah. Her marriage to the King must ahve been given Jews great prestige. It is impossible to guess what may have happened to the Hebrew nation had there been no Esther. Except for her, Jerusalem might never have been rebuilt, and there might have been a different story to tell all future ages.
This book of Esther is about a Very Important Historical Event, not just a story to point a moral: The Hebrew Nation’s Deliverance from Annilation in the days following the Babylonian Captivity. If the Hebrew Nation had been entirely wiped out of existence 500 years before it brought Christ into the world, that might have made soem difference in the destiny of mankind; no Hebrew nation, no Messiah: no Messiah, a lost world. The beautiful Jewish girl of the long ago though she herself may not have known it, yet played her part in paving the was for the coming of the world’s Saviour.
“Ahasuerus” was another name for Xerxes, who ruled Persia 485 – 465 B.C., one of the most illustrious monarchs of the ancient world. The great feast described in this chapter , it has been learned from Persian inscriptions, was held in preparation for this famous expedition against Greece, in which he fought battles of Thermopylae and Salamis, 480 B.C. It seems that he deposed Vashti (482 B.C.) before he left, and married Esther (478 B.C.), after he returned from his expedition against Greece.(1:3; 2:16).
Archaelogical Note: Shushan the Palace (2).
Sushan , or Susa, 200 miles east of Babylon, ws the winter residence of Persian kings. Its site was identified by Loftus (1852), who found an inscription of Artaxerxes II (405 – 338 B.C.): “My ancestor Darius built this palace in former times. In the reign of my grandfather (Artaxerxes 1) it was burned. I have restored it.
The palace was residence of Darius, who authorized rebuilding of the Temple of Xerxes, Esther’s husband; and Artaxerxes I, who authorized Nehmiah to rebuild Jerusalem.
A Frenchman named Dieulafoy, continued excavations (1884 – 86); and definitely located in the ruins, the “king’s gate” (4:2), the “inner court (5:1); the outer court (6:4); the “palace garden” (7:7), and even found the dice. “Pur” (3:7).
Chapter 2. Esther Becomes Queen
Aharasuerus died 13 years later. Esther , no doubt lived far into the reign of her stepson Artaxerxes, and as queen-mother may have been a person of influence in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Chapers 3,4,5,6,7 Haman’s Decree
To kill all the Jews in all the provinces (3:12, 13). This was in the king’s 12th year (3:7), after Esther had been Queen 5 years. When Esther went in to intercede with the king on behalf of her people, his cordiality (5:3), showed that, even though she had been his wife for 5 years, he still adored her.
We’ll finish the Book of Esther next Wednesday.
Soli Deo Gloria!