The Book of Esther

 Esther    

Title: Esther – from Persian sitareh – star. Her Hebrew/Jewish name was Hadassah – myrtle (with a star-like flower). Most likely, she is not an author; she is the protagonist of the book.    

Date of writing: Right after the events of the narrative. There are at least three letters going out within the plot of the book. At the end of the book the commemorating feast is established – Purim. Therefore, in the culture of writings, there is no reason to think that the recording of the events took decades or even centuries, unless one believes it is not a historical book but a fairytale. 

Date of Narrative:  There are some chronological studies done in relation to dating the book. I agree with Dr. James B. Jordan (https://biblicalhorizons.com/biblical-chronology/8_08/)

At least two things to consider:

1. Both Ezra 2:1-2 and Neh. 7:6-7 say that Mordecai was one of the men of Israel who returned to Jerusalem and Israel after the exile. Which makes him quite advanced in years.

2. Neh. 2:6 mentioned the queen – most likely Esther. 20^th year of the king means 8 years after the events of the book of Esther (cp. 3:7).

Therefore, it couldn’t happen/written around 400 BC. The date should be closer to 510s BC.

Structure:

There are basically two stories which are somewhat parallel to each other. In the middle of each story the king remembers something important, and it turns the course of history. NB: “to remember” in the Bible is not simply to bring to memory, it is to notice and act upon it. 

Part 1 (1:1 – 2:18)

A. The Great Feast (1:1-9)

  B. Vashti’s disobedience (1:10-12)

    C. Advice of the wise men (1:13-22)

      D. The king needs a queen (2:1) – the king remembers

    C’. Advice of the wise men (2:2-4)

  B’. Esther’s submissiveness (2:5-17)

A’. Esther’s Accession Feast (2:18)

 

Part 2 (2:19 – 10:3)

A. Mordecai (2:19-23)

  B. The Attack on God’s People (chapters 3-4)

    C. Esther’s First Feast with Haman (5:1-8) – Haman is well fed

      D. At the King’s Gate (5:9-14)

        E. The king has a sleepless night (6:1) – the king remembers

      D’ At the King’s Gate (6:1-14)

    C’ Esther’s Second Feast with Haman (7:1-10) – Haman dies

  B’ The Deliverance of God’s People (chapters 8-9)

A’ Mordecai:

 

Main themes:

* Godly witness

* Supremacy of the king

* God works through people

Main Characters:

Ahasuerus, Vashti, Memucan, Mordecai, Hadassah/Esther, Haman

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: There is a chronological parallel between the Greater Chronicles (esp. Ezra and Nehemiah) and the Book of Esther. The spoil from the defense (9:10, 15, 16) goes to the completion of Temple-Jerusalem project back in Judea. 

Also, notice the parallels between the king Ahasuerus and God. His word is strong (should not be disobeyed and cannot be changed) and nobody can come to his presence unless being called. His throne room resembles the Holy of holies.

Relevancy of the Book: We are saved not by our schemes or even conspiracies, but by the faithful God who single handedly may overturn the schemes and evil plans of those who want to harm the Bride of Christ – the Church.     

Memory verses:  3:15-16 – Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” 

Greater Chronicles

Greater Chronicles   

Title: Greater Chronicles combines 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Ezra and Nehemiah traditionally were written on a same scroll. 1-2 Chronicles are “attached” to Ezra-Nehemiah through repetition 2 Chr. 36:22-23 and Ez. 1:1-3. 

Structure:

Genealogy, pre-exilic (1 Chr. 1 – 9), Dorsey, p. 146 (improved)

A. 1:1 – 2:2, non-tribe unit: Israel’s past 

 B. 2:3 – 4:43, Royal tribe of Judah and Simeon, cp. Judges 1:1-3

  C. 5. Transjordan tribes: Reuben, Gad, and ½-Manasseh 

   D. 6, Tribe of Levi

  C’. 7, Cisjordan: Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, ½-Manasseh, Ephraim, Asher     
 B’. 8, Royal tribe: Benjamin

A’. 9, non-tribe unit: Israel’s present; Judah (3-6), Benjamin (7-9), Priests (10-13), Levites (14-34).   

Then 9:35-44, genealogy of King Saul to lead to another unit.

 

Jordan’s lectures at BTS (Biblical Theological Seminary, St. Petersburg, Russia):

	A. Apostacy	B. Battling – Wars	C. Cult – Temple
I	1 Chr. 10, Saul	1 Chr. 11 – 29, David	2 Chr. 1 – 9, Solomon
II	2 Chr. 10 – 12, Rehoboam	2 Chr. 13, Abijah	2 Chr. 14 – 16, Asa,  17 – 20, Jehoshaphat
III	2Chr. 21 – 22, Jehoram, Ahaziah, Athaliah	2 Chr. 23, Jehoidah	2 Chr. 24:1-16, Joash
IV	2 Chr. 24:17-27, Joash	2 Chr. 25, Amaziah	2 Chr. 26 – 27, Uzziah, Jotham
V	2 Chr. 28:1-4, Ahaz	2 Chr. 28:5-27, Ahaz	2Chr. 29–32, Hezekiah
VI	2 Chr. 33:1-9, Manasseh	2 Chr. 33:10-20, Manasseh	2 Chr. 33:21 – 35:27, Amon, Josiah
VII	2 Chr. 36:1-21, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah	2 Chr. 36:22 – Ez. 3:13, Cyrus	Ez. 4 – Neh. 12, Darius, Artaxerxes

VIII: Neh. 13 tells the apostacy and spiritual battle in many areas of life. But the chapter ends with final cleansing done by Nehemiah (13:30-31).

Date of writing: Even though 1-2 Chronicles begin with the creation/Adamic genealogy (1 Chr.1:1), it is done to bring a post-exilic hearer “up to date” with the lineage of remnants who came back to Jerusalem/Judea. Therefore, the book should’ve been completed around the time of reconstruction of the Temple and erection of the Walls of Jerusalem. There are some studies of chronology of the period. I agree with the James B. Jordan’s one which puts the end of the book to 489 BC (cp. James B. Jordan, The Handwriting on the Wall, pp. 629-648).          

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

For the understanding of the Greater Chronicles is important to be familiar with the structure of the sanctuary (Exodus 25–31). Overall, Greater Chronicles put a much heavier accent on the cult/worship. That’s why we have a longer story of the moving of ark of the Covenant under David (cp.  2 Sam. 6 vs. 1 Chr. 13–16).

The author builds up on the familiarity of his listeners and readers with the accounts of the same events from the 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, and other parts of the Bible (cp. 1 Chr. 4 and Judges 1).

The book gives answers to some chronological questions raised by NT narrative (cp. Ez. 6:15-16 vs. John 10:22; 2 Chr. 24:20-21 vs. Matt. 23:34-35).

Lutheran teaching: Two important teachings of the Lutheran church are supported by the passages from the book. First, the idolatry shall be overthrown by God. It is a lesson from the past that carries out into the present and the future. Our God is not going to tolerate anything or anyone who attempts to take His place in the life of the people (LC I:35).

Second, the theology of rest. Dr. Martin Luther in his Large Catechism says: “people must have holidays.” Then he continues, based on Nehemiah 8: “special function of this day of rest should be the ministry of the Word for the young and the mass of common people (LC I:86).   

Memory verses:  

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 – When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

Overview of the Bible: Daniel

 

Daniel  

Title: Book of Daniel – personal dairy and visions of a single prophet.   

Date of writing and narrative: From 605 BC – first group of Judeans arrived to Babylon – to the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia (10:1). 533 BC (TLBS has 536 BC as the final vision), when the book was completed. Also, cp. Ch. 1:1, 21.

Structure:

A. Hebrew, ch. 1 – sons of the Kingdom

    B. Aramaic, ch. 2-7

            a. Nebuchadnezzar dreams of 4 kingdoms, ch. 2

              b. test of faith – deadly threat: three servants, ch. 3

                c. judgment and conversion of Nebuchadnezzar, ch. 4

                c’. judgement and conversion of Belshazzar, ch. 5

              b’. test of faith – deadly threat: Daniel, ch. 6

            a’. Daniel’s vision of 4 kingdoms, ch. 7    

A’. Hebrew, ch. 8-12 – establishment of the kingdom

            i. vision of 3 kingdoms in animal form, ch. 8  

              ii. prophecy of judgment of “your city” (the capital), ch. 9

            i'. vision of 3 kingdoms in human terms, ch. 10-12

Main themes:

Faithfulness and submission in the foreign land.

Kingdom development.

Main Characters:

Daniel – God has judged – renamed to Belteshazzar (cp. to Belshazzar) 

Hananiah – YHWH is gracious – Shadrach

Mishael – Who is what God is? – Meshach

Azariah – YHWH has helped – Abednego

Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius – Cyrus

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

Third day (year, period etc.) idea is important to the Book (1:1; 8:1; 10:1). A preliminary judgement and a course on the future restoration. 

Daniel is a faithful disciple of Jeremiah – he followed the LORD’S command through the teacher to settle in Babylon (29:4-7) and waited for completion of 70 exile period (cp. Jer. 29:10 and Dan. 9:1-2).

The Book of Ezekiel refers to Daniel (14:14, 20: 28:3)

Lutheran teaching:

Sermon of Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar (4:24-27) is often used as an argument between the theology of faith and the theology of works. “Faith is required… For Daniel did not mean that the king should only give alms. He includes repentance… He converts the king not only to give alms, but much more, to have faith.” [Ap. V (III): 133/254;140/261].

The discussion on theology of worship [Mass] is heavily based on a proper understanding of Daniel ch. 8, 11, 12 – Ap. XXIV (XII):35-57.

Daniel 7:14 is one of the foundational passages for an understanding of the person of Christ – FC, SD VIII:55.     

Lutheran hymnody:

931 – All You Works of the Lord – Song of Three Young Men (deuterocanonical).  

Relevancy of the Book:

The Book of Daniel is important on two levels: personal/devotional and historical. In the book we can see a single person (or a very small group of people) who can resist the outer pressure of godless powers and authorities. The book gives us page after page examples of faithful ones who were ready to risk their lives presenting the Gospel to the hostile society.

At the same time, we see the global picture of development of God’s kingdom using the power of human empires: Persia, Greece, Rome. And how they – empires – will be replaced by true worshiping kingdom of God.       

Memory verses:  

12:2-3 – Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and to everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever.