The study of Esther
Esther
The genre of this book is a biographical historical narrative. The theme of this book is that God provides for his people and that he uses believers and non believers to accomplish his will. We see in this book Gods hand in history and in circumstances in life. God is the sovereign ruler of the universe and his plans will not be moved by evil people. This book also tells us how the feast of Purim came to be an annual remembrance of how God delivered his chosen people from Genocide. The key character and event are as follows. This story begins with Esther a Jewish orphan who went to live with her cousin Mordicai and King Xerxes. King Xerxes was a cruel tyrant that hated Jews. He was known for giving lavish banquets and showing off his wife Queen Vashti beauty during these affairs. During one of this banquet the king wanted Queen Vashti to do so and she refused. He had her killed for her disobedience. So King Xerxes was without a queen. Esther was very beautiful and brought to the king, he chose her for his new Queen. Esther had to hide her Jewish identity from her husband because only Persian women became queen and his hatred of the Jews .Her cousin Mordicai was given a position as a minor palace official. The plot thickens with some good old fashion office politics. One of King Xerxes highest officials named Haman became angry with Mordicai because he refused to bow down when he passed like everyone else did because, of his personal conviction to Jewish law. This not only made Haman hate Mordicai but all the Jewish people. He felt the Jewish people threatened his power, and their laws made it difficult for them to assimilate with others in the kingdom. His hatred grew to such an extent that he wanted all the Jewish people destroyed. Mordicai finds out about Haman plot to hurt the king as well as the Jewish people. Mordicai tells his cousin Queen Ester of the plot. During this time in history a women can be killed if she goes to her husband the king without his permission. The Jewish people spend much time in prayer and fasting about this matter. Esther takes a great risk after much prayer to save her people. She goes uninvited to her husband the King and invites him and Hamen to a feast. During this feast she goes to her husband without his permission a second time to makes the king aware of Hamen plot against the king. She also risks her life by telling the king of her Jewish heritage and Hamen plot against her people. The king does not kill Esther when he finds out she is Jewish but she gain favor in his eyes for being so courageous and making aware of Hamen plot against him. The King gives the Jewish people in his kingdom the right to defend themselves they are successful and Hamen is killed and his plan is thwarted. Despite all the plans of man we see the mystery of God hand to bring about is will for the history of mankind.
The genre of this book is a biographical historical narrative. The theme of this book is that God provides for his people and that he uses believers and non believers to accomplish his will. We see in this book Gods hand in history and in circumstances in life. God is the sovereign ruler of the universe and his plans will not be moved by evil people. This book also tells us how the feast of Purim came to be an annual remembrance of how God delivered his chosen people from Genocide. The key character and event are as follows. This story begins with Esther a Jewish orphan who went to live with her cousin Mordicai and King Xerxes. King Xerxes was a cruel tyrant that hated Jews. He was known for giving lavish banquets and showing off his wife Queen Vashti beauty during these affairs. During one of this banquet the king wanted Queen Vashti to do so and she refused. He had her killed for her disobedience. So King Xerxes was without a queen. Esther was very beautiful and brought to the king, he chose her for his new Queen. Esther had to hide her Jewish identity from her husband because only Persian women became queen and his hatred of the Jews .Her cousin Mordicai was given a position as a minor palace official. The plot thickens with some good old fashion office politics. One of King Xerxes highest officials named Haman became angry with Mordicai because he refused to bow down when he passed like everyone else did because, of his personal conviction to Jewish law. This not only made Haman hate Mordicai but all the Jewish people. He felt the Jewish people threatened his power, and their laws made it difficult for them to assimilate with others in the kingdom. His hatred grew to such an extent that he wanted all the Jewish people destroyed. Mordicai finds out about Haman plot to hurt the king as well as the Jewish people. Mordicai tells his cousin Queen Ester of the plot. During this time in history a women can be killed if she goes to her husband the king without his permission. The Jewish people spend much time in prayer and fasting about this matter. Esther takes a great risk after much prayer to save her people. She goes uninvited to her husband the King and invites him and Hamen to a feast. During this feast she goes to her husband without his permission a second time to makes the king aware of Hamen plot against the king. She also risks her life by telling the king of her Jewish heritage and Hamen plot against her people. The king does not kill Esther when he finds out she is Jewish but she gain favor in his eyes for being so courageous and making aware of Hamen plot against him. The King gives the Jewish people in his kingdom the right to defend themselves they are successful and Hamen is killed and his plan is thwarted. Despite all the plans of man we see the mystery of God hand to bring about is will for the history of mankind.
