Esther (Anchor Yale Bible Commentary | AYBC)
Overview
Esther, the biblical book named after the beautiful Jewish woman chosen by the Persian King Xerxes to be queen, is a story of love, political intrigue, and religious faithfulness. Carey A. Moore combines his treatment of scholarly issues with an engaging explanation of the popular Jewish festival of Purim.
One of three biblical and extrabiblical books named after women (Esther, Ruth, and Judith), Esther reads like a novel, with its fast-paced, action-packed story. Drawing on ancient tales of court intrigue and Midrashic sources, the author captivates the reader with the story of Queen Esther, her uncle Mordecai, King Xerxes, and the royal court’s villain, Haman. The story not only entertains, it also explains the origins of the Jewish festival of Purim.
Moore deftly deals with the scholarly issues peculiar to this book without sacrificing his sensitivity to its literary quality. The uncertainty that Esther should be included in sacred Scripture stems from its apparent lack of religious elements, its absence at Qumran, and its questionable historicity. Moore takes up these issues, carefully explaining and weighing prevailing scholarly theories before registering his own conclusions on the origin, date, and purpose of the book of Esther.
Logos Bible Software gives you the tools you need to use this volume effectively and efficiently. With your digital library, you can search for verses, find Scripture references and citations instantly, and perform word studies. Along with your English translations, all Scripture passages are linked to Greek and Hebrew texts. What’s more, hovering over a Scripture reference will instantly display your verse! The advanced tools in your digital library free you to dig deeper into one of the most important contributions to biblical scholarship in the past century!
- Offers original translations, including alternative translations, annotations, and variants
- Provides verse-by-verse commentary on the text
- Presents the reader with historical background, including analysis of authorship and dating
- Features an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary literature
- Queen Vashti Is Deposed (1:1–22)
- Esther Is Chosen Queen (2:1–18)
- Mordecai Foils a Plot against the King (2:19–23)
- Haman Plans the Destruction of All the Jews (3:1–15)
- Esther Agrees to Go Unsummoned to the King (4:1–17)
- Esther Lays a Trap for Haman (5:1–8)
- Haman Resolves to Hang Mordecai (5:9–14)
- Mordecai Is Finally Rewarded (6:1–13)
- Haman Is Unmasked and Executed (6:14–7:10)
- The King Begins to Undo the Evil of Haman (8:1–17)
- The Jews are Victorious over Their Enemies (9:1–19)
- How Purim Became an Established Festival (9:20–32)
- The Conclusion of the Book of Esther (10:1–3)
Top Highlights
“Even a cursory comparison of the Greek and Hebrew texts of Esther shows that the Greek differs in four important ways” (Page lxi)
“The king of Persia is mentioned 190 times in 167 verses, but God is not mentioned once” (Page xxxii)
“The author is especially interested and effective in his use of irony” (Page lvi)
“Vashti was deposed for being disobedient once (1:17–19)—Esther was disobedient twice and yet was rewarded (5:1–2, 8); Haman obeyed the king’s command, humiliating though it was (6:11–12)—Mordecai deliberately disobeyed a royal command, yet was handsomely rewarded (3:2, 8:1–2); the city wept while the king and Haman drank (3:15); Haman, thinking that he was prescribing royal honors for himself, was actually prescribing them for Mordecai, his bitter enemy (6:6–9); Haman was hanged on the gallows which he had intended for Mordecai (7:9–10).” (Page lvi)
“Esther is not unlike other Wisdom books such as Qoheleth, or Ecclesiastes, where God is only rather dutifully and perfunctorily acknowledged (cf. Eccles 12:13) and cultic acts are virtually ignored; or the Book of Job and many passages in Proverbs, where God is quite remote and such concerns as dietary laws and Sabbath observances are also ignored.” (Page xxxiv)
- Title: Esther
- Author: Carey A. Moore
- Series: Anchor Yale Bible (AYB)
- Publisher: Yale University Press
- Publication Date: 1995
- Pages: 192