ESTHER Protection in the dispersion. Historical Books An Introduction to the OT Arturo Pérez

Transcription

1 ESTHER Protection in the dispersion Historical Books An Introduction to the OT Arturo Pérez

2 Contents Historical & geographical context Introduction to the book of Esther Name, Author, Date, Time covered Main Subject Outline Summary Lessons to learn

3 Chronological View of the OT 4004? BC BC G E N E S I S E X O D U S N U M B E R S J O S H U A J U D G E S 1 st S A M U E L 2 nd S A M U E L 1 st K I N G S 2 nd K I N G S E Z R A N E H E M I A H NT 1&2 Chronicles Job Leviticus Deuteronomy Ruth Sal. Proverbs Songs Ecclesiastes Babylonian Captivity (70 years) Esther Legend Before During After Pentateuch Historical Books Poetical Prophets Jonah Hosea Amos Isaiah Joel * Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Obadiah* Ezekiel Daniel Jeremiah Lamentations Haggai Zechariah Malachi

4 Chronology of Jewish Captivity Northern Israel falls under Assyrian Emp. 721 BC 1 st Deportation in Judah: Daniel and friends 605 B.C 2 nd Deportation in Judah: Jehoiachin & 10,000 more. 3 rd Deportation: complete destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple 588 BC 975 B.C. 721 B.C. 671 B.C. 610B.C. 605 B.C. 599 B.C. 588 B.C 538 B.C. 975 B.C. Israel after Solomon Kingdom s split: North Israel South- Judah Fall of Assyria by Babylon 610: Josiah s death Jehoahaz (3 months) Jehoiakim ( ) Jehoiachin (3 months) Zedekiah ( ) Fall of Babylon under Darius and Cyrus Medo-Persian Kingdom 538 B.C. 70 years CAPTIVITY Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10; Dan.9:2

5 Chronology from Cyrus until Rome 1 st Group: Zerubbabel led 42 thousand Jews back to Jerusalem by Cyrus decree (Ezr.1:3, 5) 2 nd Group: Ezra led 1,500 men 467 B.C. (Ezr.7:7) Inter-testamental Period (400 years of silence: Malachi to John the Baptist) 536 B.C BC 6 B.C. Malachi s prophesy 520 B.C. Prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah 515 B.C. Temple is ready Esther is queen ESTHER rd Group: Nehemiah travels to rebuild walls in Jerusalem by Artaxerxes 454B.C Jesus Birth

6 Chronology in EZRA (James Usher) CYRUS Starting Temple 536 Cambyses Ahasuerus Magus Smerdes Artaxerxes 522 (7 mo) DARIUS son of Hystaspes (Ahasuerus-Esther) Temple is finished 515 XERXES ARTAXERXES Work put on hold 534 ESTHER Continuation of Temple s construction by Zerubbabel & Jeshua Encouraged by Haggai & Zechariah 520 Haggai and Zechariah Ezra Nehemiah Ezra 1 4 Ezra 4 6 Ezra 7-10 Ezr.4:4-5 Ezr.6:1-14

7 Outlines: Ezra & Nehemiah EZRA 1 st group: Zerubbabel (1 2) Temple s Re-building (3 6) ( ): Esther & Ahasuerus / ( ) Xerxes / ( ) Artaxerxes 2 nd group: Ezra (7 10) 536 B.C. 515 B.C. 467 B.C. NEHEMIAH 3 rd group: Nehemiah was sent by Artaxerxes as a Governor over Jerusalem (1 2) Re-building of the walls of Jerusalem (3 6) Spiritual reformation and revival under the leadership of Ezra & Nehemiah (7 13) 454 B.C. 442 B.C.

8 Chronology of events in Esther Date Event Reference B.C. Jerusalem s restoration Ezra B.C. 515 B.C. 510 B.C. Ahasuerus feast Esther is named queen Haman s plot and liberation Esther 1 Esther 2 Esther B.C. Ezra the reformer Ezra B.C. Nehemiah the governor Nehemiah 1-13

9 The Persian Empire 721 B.C Zerubbabel 536 BC Ezra 467 B.C. 454 B.C. 322 B.C. Assyriah Babylonian captivity against Jerusalem Babylon Persians / Medes Nehemiah Alexander

10 Contents Historical & geographical context Introduction to the book of Esther Name, Author, Date, Time covered Main Subject Outline Summary Lessons to learn

11 Name, Author, Dates ESTHER EZRA NEHEMIAH Name Est. 2:7 Author Persian: Esther = Star Hebrew: Hadassah = Myrtle Unknown Mordecai? Ezra? Hebrew Canon considers it as ONE BOOK. Split in half in the XV century (1448). Talmud = Ezra Talmud = memories of Nehemiah Date 450 B.C. 430 B.C. Time & Place ~ 10 years: B.C. SUSA, Persia. Around 80 years: Cyrus decree 537 B.C. until Ezra s reformation in 456 B.C. Around 10 years: Name as governor by Artaxerxes in 456 B.C. to 433 B.C.

12 Main Subject of Esther Providential liberation of the Jews through Esther and Mordecai. Key text: Esther 4:14-16 Key word: Jews (33 times). The book of Esther is important because: In despite of not mentioning the name of God, His presence is manifested through His Providence. It shows how God preserved the Jews. It shows the origin of the Feast of Purim

13 Outline of ESTHER The Jews in the Persian Court (1 2) Ahasuerus feast (1) Election of Esther as a queen (2) Haman s conspiracy against the Jews (3 5) Jewish Triumph and the Feast of Purim (6 9) Epilogue: Mordecai s greatness (10) 519 B.C. 515 B.C. 510 B.C.

14 Summary of the Book The Jews in Persian court (1 2) 519 B.C: Ahasuerus celebrates a feast (1:3) and he was disregarded by Queen Vashti who decided not to go to the feast when she was called 515 B.C. Esther is elected as Queen to replace Vashti on the 7th year of Ahasuerus, this is four years after the incident of the feast (2:16). Mordecai, his cousin and tutor, that had adopted her as his daughter, discovered a plot against the King and the guilty men were killed. That incident was recorded in the chronicles of King Ahasuerus.

15 Haman s threats to the Jews (3 5) Haman was a King s officer honored by everyone except Mordecai. 510 B.C. In the 12th year of Ahasuerus, Haman tried to kill all the Jews with a royal support (a decree with the King s seal) (3:7) Mordecai warned his people. They announced fasting and prayer. Mordecai went to Esther. She risked her life and she went to the King. (4:11-17) Esther won favor on Ahasuerus sight (5:1-2) and she invited them to a feast to inform the King. Haman was invited, but he was suffering because of Mordecai s indifference to him. Haman s family advised him to hang Mordecai. (5:14)

16 Jewish trimphs and Purim (6 9) While Haman was late at night at the Palace, trying to see the King to have his permission to kill Mordecai, the King couldn t sleep that night and he asked someone to read aloud his Chronicles and there he heard about Mordecai s actions saving his life. The king asked Haman what should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?" Haman had to honor Mordecai. The day of Esther s feast she accused Haman and he was hanged in the place he prepared for Mordecai. Decree as vendetta for the Jews: 500 enemies die in Susa; Haman + 10 sons and 75 thousand in the provinces (9:16) The feast of Purim (the feast of Lots) was instituted to celebrate this liberation. (see appendix)

17 Chapter 10 - Epilogue: Mordecai s greatness Mordecai was honored by Ahasuerus He was second in the kingdom after King Ahasuerus He was loved by the people because he looked upon the people s wealthfare and he kept the peace for them.

18 Lessons to learn Nothing happens by chance, but by the Providence of the Lord. See the events chain: Ahasuerus wants to celebrate a party to show off his glory. (1:3) Queen Vashti refused to go when she was called. (1:12) The princes of Persia advised to remove and replace her (1:13-21) The King decides to choose a new Queen (2:1-4) Mordecai thinks of bringing his protected daughter, his cousin Esther. Ahasuerus liked Esther and loved her more than any other woman (2:16-17) Mordecai s denunciation is recorded in the Chronicles (1:21-23) Mordecai s resolution and Esther s courage (4) The king s sleeplessness; the reading of the Chronicles in the place mentioning Mordecai saving the king s life. The king s desire to reward this action. (6) Esther s denunciation against Haman and the end of the enemies. God delivered us from an irrevocable decree that all people are sinners and deserve death (Ro. 6:23)

19 Appendix

20 The Feast of Lots (Purim) 1 of 2 Observed: 14 or 15 Adar (February or March) Background Commemorates the preservation of the Jewish people. Purim marks the deliverance of the Jews through Jewish Queen Esther in Susa, Persia. The annual celebration of Purim is a joyous feast remembering the foiled plot of Haman to kill all the Jews The king had Haman executed. The word purim means lots and refers to the lot Haman cast to decide the day to choose for the destruction of the Jewish people.

21 The Feast of Lots (Purim) 2 of 2 Fascinating Facts Purim is a happy and noisy holiday. The megillah, the scroll of the book of Esther, is read in the synagogue. Whenever Mordecai is mentioned, everyone cheers. Whenever Haman is mentioned, everyone boos, stamps their feet, and shakes noisemakers, called groggers. Treats include Hamantashen, a three-cornered cookie which represents Haman s hat. Other customs include parades, dressing up as characters and reenacting the story of Esther, parties, and carnivals. It is customary to give gifts to the poor on Purim.

22 Landmarks on the book of Esther This is one of the two books in the Bible with a woman s name (Ruth and Esther). It does not teach about the law or the Jewish religion. It does not record any prayer to the Lord. It does not mention the name of God or the name Jehovah. In spite of not mentioning the name of the Lord, His hand is revealed acting through His providence.

23 What is the PROVIDENCE? It s the continuous activity of the Creator through which, with great goodness and mercy, He keeps His creatures in orderly existence, guiding and leading all the events, circumstances, and actions, and routing everything to His purpose, for His glory, according to His attributes of infinite holiness and wisdom, and without interfering with human responsibility. God has not left this planet alone in the vast universe or forgotten for a moment the human situation. God visits, touches, communicates, controls, and intervenes, coming before and between people and their needs. Providence is ground for thankfulness. Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. (2001). Tyndale Bible dictionary. Tyndale reference library (1092). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

24 Serendipity: a counterfeit concept of Providence Serendipity This is the term used by the one who takes credit for unintentional discoveries of good things along the way in life. But he refuses to acknowledge that God was there before him and so he does not give thanks. [1] Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. (2001). Tyndale Bible dictionary. Tyndale reference library (1092). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.