Esther was written for the Jewish people, to display the providence of God, in relation to the Feast of Purim. This book was to be read by the Jewish people during this Feast as a remembrance of the great deliverance from their enemies, which God provided through Esther.
#1 - TITLE
The book takes its title from its heroine’s non Jewish name, Esther, in Persian it means “star” or from the name of the Akkadian goddess Ishtar.
Her Hebrew name is given in 2:7 as Hadassah which means Myrtle.
In the Hebrew OT the book falls in the third division, the writings but in the Septuagint it stands after the historical and before the prophetical books as in the English Bible.
#2 - AUTHORSHIP
While the text of Esther does not specify the author’s identity, the writer’s knowledge of Persian courts, the palace of Susa, and details of the events in the reign of Ahasueres indicate that the author lived in Persia during this period.
The obvious Jewish nationalism and knowledge further suggest that the author as Jewish. Ezra and Nehemiah have been suggested as possible authors, but the style of Esther differs markedly from Ezra and Nehemiah and any precise identification remains speculative.
#3 - CONTENTS
The story centres in a deliverance of the Jewish people brought about by a Jewish maiden who became the queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus.
Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews brings grave danger to God’s people and in cooperation with her cousin, Mordecai; Esther cleverly turned an intended extermination of all Jews all over the Persian world, resulting in a great deliverance.
In joy over the deliverance, the Jews inaugurated an annual festival called Purim, which is the remainder of God’s faithfulness on behalf of his people.
#4 - MAIN THEMES
PURIM
The book of Esther is read annually at the Jewish celebration of the feast of Purim. The festival commemorates the deliverance reported in the book and likewise, the book establishes the celebration of the festival.
The name “Purim” is entirely appropriate, for God’s deliverance does not come by the angel of the Lord slaying the enemy in the night but by means that others would view as chance.
The theology of Purim affirms that God is no less at work in the latter than in the former.
Tip #5 - OUTLINE
Esther 1-3: The Plot to destroy the Jewish Nation
Esther 4-7: The Plot Executed
Esther 8-10: The Plot Frustrated
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