Exploring the Book of Esther: Themes and Historical Context
Esther: The last of the Books of History
Esther 4:14
For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Author:
- The author is unknown but was written by a Jew familiar with Persian customs.
- Possibly written by Mordecai or Ezra.
Date:
- Shortly after 465 B.C.
- At this time a number of Jews were still in Babylon under Persian rule.
- They had been freed to return to Jerusalem for over fifty years.
Theme:
- God’s favor toward His people as they face opposition
Purpose:
- Although the name of God is not mentioned in the book of Esther, this book demonstrates God’s sovereignty and loving care for His people.
- No matter what the plan of the enemy is God’s plan is greater and always ensures His people victory.
Content:
- Esther made Queen: Esther 1:1-2:23
- Esther 2:4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. This thing pleased the king, and he did so.
- Esther 2:17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
- Esther 2:4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. This thing pleased the king, and he did so.
- Haman’s Plot to Destroy the Jews: Esther 3:1-5:14
- Esther 3:2 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?”
- Esther 3:5-6 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
- Esther 3:8-10 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.” So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
- Esther 5:14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.
- Victory for the Jews: Esther 6:1-10:3
- Esther 6:13 “Haman” …told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!”
- Esther 7:3-6 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.” King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?” Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
- Esther 7:10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecal. Then the king’s wrath subsided.
- Esther 9:1 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king’s command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them.
- Esther 9:20-22 And Mordecal wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.
- Esther 10:3 For Mordecal the Jew as second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.
Christ in the Book of Esther
- Esther as a type of Christ
- Willing to risk her life for the lives of her people
- Interceding for the Jewish people
- Esther as a type of the Church
- Esther 2:17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her made her queen instead of Vashti.
- Ephesians 5:22 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
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