Key word: Jew
Esther is one of the most interesting and unique books in the Bible for a number of reasons:
1. It is one of only two books in the Bible named after women. Ruth is about a Gentile woman who marries a Jew, and Esther is a Jewish woman who married a Gentile.
2. While Ezra and Nehemiah describe events happening in and around Jerusalem as about 50,000 Jews return from exile Esther tells us what is happening to Jews who did not return but remained in Persia. The story fits between chapters six and seven of Ezra, after the Temple had been rebuilt under Zerubbabel and before Ezra returned.
3. While the book is saturated with the sovereignty of God – which is its main theme, the name of the Lord is not used even once.
4. It is in Esther that the title “Jews” becomes prominent. Before this time “Jew” was found only 2 times in all the Bible. But in Esther it is used 47 times. It is derived from the word Judah since most of the Babylonian/Persian exiles were from Judah.
The story line tells of King Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes) of Persia who is in need of a new queen. An empire-wide beauty contest is held and Esther, a beautiful Jewish young lady wins. As the story unfolds, two men come into conflict. Haman, the villain of the story rises to second in command of Persia and demands virtually to be worshipped. Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, and a godly Jew refuses to honor Haman. Haman becomes so furious that he seeks to not only kill Mordecai but all of the Jews. When the king, not realizing Esther is a Jew, allows Haman to carry out his plot, only Esther can save the Jews. God has placed her in the perfect position to rescue her people. Mordecai and Esther turn the tables on Haman and he is hanged and the Jews are allowed by the king to defend themselves, and have a great victory over their enemies. To celebrate this victory, the Feast of Purim was initiated (9:19, 25-26).
Esther is the story of how a sovereign God guides and protects His people even in the midst of evil.
Key verse: Esther 4:14b – “And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?
