Courses of Affairs
The book of Esther takes place during the Persian Empire at the time of Xerxes (485-465 BCE). It is one of the most neglected books in the bible and very few people have ever heard a sermon on it. In fact, Ray C. Stedman reports that "Esther is a different kind of literature" and "because it is a different kind of literature, I think perhaps we are a bit frightened by it" (np). The book never mentions the name of God, the prophecy of Christ, and the words heaven or hell never even appear in it. It is a parable, so that God may illustrate a point (Stedman np). The Layman's Bible Commentary states that "there is no doubt that it is God's hand that determines the course of affairs" (Kelly et al. 43). God's does this by allowing a Jewish girl, Esther, to become queen of the Persian Empire, using her influence to destroy their enemies in order to save his people and allowing his people to rejoice in their glory (NJB Esther 1:1-10:3). Esther rises to power when King Ahasuerus, another name for Xerxes, calls upon Queen Vashti to show the people, at Ahasuerus's feast, her beauty. She refused and Ahasuerus divorced her. Soon after Ahasuerus calls all the fa
Mordecai takes Haman's position as the king's favorite and wishes to celebrate the triumph of the Jewish people. He sends letters out to all Jews in the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the Persian Empire. He invites all the Jews to come out and celebrate the day the Jews rid themselves of their enemies. Thus, the day came to be known as "The Feast of Purim"(NIV Esther 9:18-22). Available http://newadvent.org/cathen/05549a.htm Available http://pbc.org/dp/stedman/esther/0032.htm1 Kelly, Balmer H. The Layman's Bible Commentary. Volume 8., McMahon, A.L. The Catholic Encyclopedia. 10 May 2000.
Some common words found in the essay are:
NIV Esther, Haman Haman, Catholic Encyclopedia, Jews Copies, Persian Empire, Ray Stedman, PurimNIV Esther, Soon Ahasuerus, Mordecai Esther's, Bible Commentary, niv esther, jewish people, allowing jewish, save jews, haman angered, persian empire, affairs kelly et, bible commentary, jewish girl, girl esther, esther queen, et al 43, layman's bible commentary, kelly et al, gallows built mordecai,
Approximate Word count = 1045
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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