After the exile, many Jews remained in Babylonia and did not return to their native land. The Babylonians were conquered by the Persians. Esther is a fascinating drama about a plot to exterminate the entire Jewish nation in the days of the Persian King Xerxes. It is a story filled with intrigue and suspense.
In the opening two chapters, Esther, a Jewish girl, is elevated to Queen of Persia. In the chapters that follow, a plot by Haman, a leader in the king's government, is uncovered by Mordecai, the cousin of Queen Esther. If Haman's plot succeeded, it would have meant the virtual end of the Jewish people. Esther showed great courage by subverting the plot. In the end, Haman was killed, and Mordecai, the Jew, was lifted up and honored by the Persian king and his people.
An odd thing about this book is that though God is clearly at work in every aspect of the drama, he is never mentioned. His veiled sovereignty protected and prospered his people.
What does it say?
One of the fascinating features of the book of Esther is not what it says, but rather what it doesn't say - at least not explicitly. There are no explicit references to God anywhere in the book. God is at work everywhere in the story, but he is not on center stage. He stands behind every scene, silently working to carry out his purposes for Esther and Mordecai and all the people of Israel.
God had disciplined his people by sending them into exile for a time of testing, purging, and introspection. He would also preserve them in exile against all threats of extermination. Esther is a story of preservation. Evil Haman is intent on eliminating God's people and elevating himself. But God turns the tables by elevating a Jewish girl to Queen of Persia and bringing Haman to humiliation and death.
Faces & Places
The story of Esther takes place in the Persian city of Susa, the same city in which Nehemiah later served a different Persian king.
Esther is the key character in the book by her name. Esther is a Jewish girl who becomes Queen of Persia. She was an orphan brought up in Susa, Persia's capital city, by her cousin Mordecai. After Esther and Mordecai thwart the plans of evil Haman to destroy the Jews, Mordecai becomes the king's chief minister. Haman had been chief minister before the tables are turned.
Key Verses & Themes
Feasts:
The entire book revolves around feasts. There are ten feasts that occur during the course of the story (1:3-4; 1:5-8; 1:9; 2:18; 3:15; 5:1-8; 7:1-10; 8:17; 9:17; 9:18-32).
The Feast of Purim:
The story of Esther is commemorated in the Jewish feast of Purim. Esther 9:28 "These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never cease to be celebrated by the Jews, nor should the memory of them die out among their descendants." (See also 3:7; 9:24, 28-32.)
Providence:
Esther 4:14 "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
So what?
In writing this book, it appears that the author has deliberately held back from mentioning God or describing any religious activity. He probably does this as a literary device to heighten the fact that God controls and directs all the seemingly insignificant coincidences that make up the plot and result in deliverance for the Jews. This is particularly evident in chapter 6, the critical turning point in the story, where all sorts of "coincidental" events occur to bring the story to its happy ending.
The book of Esther becomes a convincing reminder of God's providential, behind the scenes, attention to every detail of life. Review the book of Ruth for a similar illustration of God's personal care, where in the midst of the turbulent period of the judges, the story of God's care for Ruth and Naomi testify to his ability and readiness to attend to our every need.
Do you believe God is working for your benefit in all things? (Romans 8:28)
