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Through Christ, Who taught us the way to Love: David Buffaloe, Didaskalos Ministries

1. Esther is the last of the historical books in the Old Testament.
2. The title of the Book, Esther, means "star".
3. The author of the Book is traditionally believed to be Mordecai, the uncle of Esther. This tradition started with the great historian Josephus. The actual author is, quite frankly, unknown.
4. Historical setting of the Book:
1. The Book starts with the third year of the reign of Ahazuaras, a prominent king who ruled over 127 provinces from Ethiopia to India.
2. His other given name, Xerces, reigned from 485 to 465 BC.
3. The Book was written approximately 483 BC, during the time in which Israel was being restored to the Promised Land under Cyrus the King of Babylon.
1. The Book was written 33 years after the rebuilding of the Temple.
2. 25 Years after the story in Esther the second expedition of exiles mentioned in Ezra 7 occurs.
3. The Book of Esther chronologically fits in the center of the Book of Ezra.
4. Esther tells the story of the displaced Jews in Persia.
1. The dispersed Israelites who returned from Persia are historically depicted in Ezra.
2. The dispersed Israelites who remained in Persia are historically depicted in Esther.
5. Opposition to the Book of Esther:
1. The Book has been challenged as uninspired by both liberals (Phifer, who stated that the Book was entirely fictional) and conservative Reformers (Martin Luther said he wished the Book had never been written). The Book was disputed as canonical because:
1. The name of God never occurs in the Book. God never speaks, nor is He ever addressed.
2. There is no reference to the Law of Moses nor to the feasts/ sacrifices of Israel.
3. The Book is never quoted in the New Testament, and none of the people listed in the Book are ever mentioned in the Bible outside of Esther,
4. There is no prayer uttered in the Book.
5. There are no supernatural occurances (miracles, signs from God) in the Book.
6. There is no historical support for the Book in extra-Biblical accounts. Heroditus, the foremost extra-Biblical historian, never mentions anyone in the Book, nor does he even mention the Book.
2. The best explanation for all these problems is that Israel dispersed to Persia was apostate, separated from both God and the Temple. Esther is a historical account of an apostate people who are saved by God in spite of themselves.
6. Theme of the Book: Israel in apostasy.
1. These people worshipped money more than God. God wanted them to return to the Promised Land, but greed made them stay where the money was.
1. Esther is a disobedient Jewess who stayed in Persia.
2. Mordecai was also disobedient to God, and was unfaithful to the Covenant agreement he made with the Almighty.
3. In Ezra and Nehemiah we have a picture of believing Israel, and in Esther we see the exact opposite.
2. These people were rebellious. This is exemplified by Mordecai who stood before the King and declared, "I will not bow before any Gentile".
3. These people lived by their own wits, preferring survival by craftiness rather than relying on God's provision.
1. Esther tells Mordecai, "If you won't bring about the Jewish deliverance then I will".
2. This is why you never see these people praying. They are happier doing things on their own outside of the Will of God.
3. There's an amazing parallel between the Book of Esther and the events that go on in America today.
4. Because of their rebellious nature the Persian Jews were in danger of extermination by the King.
5. In the midst of their unbelief God by Grace still works Provincially in their behalf. Although the name of God isn't mentioned in the Book, the finger of God is clearly seen.
7. Outline of the Book:
1. Introduction: Esther 1-2, gives the time, place, main speakers, and the background.
2. Rising action and opposing forces meet: Esther 3-4.
3. Action leading to the crisis: Esther 5.
4. Climax of the drama, reversal of the crisis: Esther 6-7.
5. Falling action leading to a major catastrophe: Esther 8.
6. The catastrophe, Persians and Jews fighting, with the Jews emerging victorious: Esther 9.
8. The Feast of Perum
1. This feast is only mentioned in Esther.
2. It is mentioned no where else in Scripture because it celebrates the craftiness of the Jews in defeating the Persians, rather than recognizing God brought the victory.
9. Contributions of the Book of Esther:
1. Lists the genealogy of the Jews outside of the Promised Land at the time of the rebuilding of the Temple.
2. The Book shows the amazing Providence of God, even over a disbelieving and faithless people.
3. The Book shows a interesting illustration between Esau and Jacob. Israel is descended from Jacob, Haman (the government official who suggests destroying the Jews) is of the line of Esau.

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