A look at Bible Book of Esther

Book of Esther

Author

Anonymous and unknown

- Some have thought it could be Mordecai but it cannot be known.

Date

Not sure but likely written around 450 B.C.

- Records and events that took place in Persia during the reign of King Xerxes (Ahasuerus)

- 486-465 B.C.

Summary of the Plot

In the book of Lamentation, Jeremiah states that at certain times Israel's enemies oppress them while in exile. Esther describes one such incident.

The decree of Cyrus in 538 B.C. allowed the Israelites to return to Judah. Many however stayed in Persia due to various reasons.

While the Jews were rebuilding their homeland under Zerubbable, King Ahasuerus (better known as King Xerxes) ruled the 127 provinces of Persia. He was a man who loved battles, women and parties. At one point he rejects his wife, Queen Vashti and marries a Jewish girl named Esther.

In the providential care of God, Esther is able to use her position as queen to save her Jewish country-man when Haman (a Persian official who hates Jews) tries to carry out a plot to exterminate them.

Esther may have been raised by her cousin Mordecai and he is the one that alerts her to the plight of the Jews because of Haman. In the end, Hamam is executed on the gallows that he has built for Mordecai. Mordecai is elevated to second in command.

The feast of Purim is established as a celebration to remember the saving of the Jews in Persia.

Major Characters

Esther, Mordecai, King Ahasuens (Xerxes), Haman, Queen Vashti

Message and purpose

1. Esther gives and example of the oppression that the Jews experienced in exile at certain times.

2. Esther shows how under God's Sovereign hand, His people in exile are protected from extermination.