Esther 6; Esther 7; Esther 8; Esther 9; Esther 10
Mordecai receives great honors. Haman mourns and is counseled by his wife. Esther reveals Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews. He is hanged on his own gallows. Mordecai is honored and placed over the house of Haman. Ahasuerus reverses the decree calling for the destruction of the Jews. The Jews slay their enemies, including Haman’s ten sons. The Feast of Purim is instituted to commemorate their deliverance and victory. Mordecai, the Jew, stands next to Ahasuerus in power and might.
• Queen of Persia and Advocate for Her People — Comments on Esther
“Esther’s beauty was such that it could catch and hold the eye of an oriental emperor accustomed to being surrounded by loveliness. Combined with physical charms were qualities of spirit that revealed that she had inward beauty as well. The qualities were loyalty, love, and dedication. Submissive yet courageous, yielding yet faithful, she was able to avert the intent of evil individuals determined to destroy her people. Indeed, she saved God’s covenant people from an intended extinction.
“The story of Esther is sacred to the Jews and compelling to all because of her dauntless defense of her convictions and her people. Her name, in the Persian tongue, means ‘a star’; the many meanings of that symbol are most fitting.”
This is the introduction to the notes and commentary on Esther in the church educational system's institute course on the Old Testament. If you wish to read this, please click on this link.
Job 1; Job 2
Job, a just and perfect man, is blessed with great riches. Satan obtains permission from the Lord to tempt and try Job. Job’s property and children are destroyed, and yet he praises and blesses the Lord. Satan obtains permission from the Lord to afflict Job physically. Job is smitten with boils. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar come to comfort him.
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Ahasuerus of Persia and Media makes royal feasts. Vashti disobeys the king and is deposed as queen. Ahasuerus seeks a new queen. Mordecai presents Esther. Esther pleases the king and is chosen as queen. Mordecai exposes a plot against the king. Mordecai, the Jew, refuses to bow to Haman. Haman arranges a decree to kill all the Jews in the kingdom. Mordecai and the Jews mourn and fast because of the king’s decree. Esther determines to enter the presence of the king, even at the peril of her life. The king receives Esther. She invites him and Haman to a banquet. Haman plans to have Mordecai hanged.
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Nehemiah 10; Nehemiah 11; Nehemiah 12; Nehemiah 13
The people covenant to marry in Israel, to honor the Sabbath, to pay tithes, and to keep the commandments. The people and their overseers are elected by lot to dwell in Jerusalem and the other cities. The priests and Levites who came up from Babylon are named. The walls of Jerusalem are dedicated. The offices of priests and Levites are appointed in the temple. The Ammonites and Moabites are denied a place in the congregation of God. Tobiah is ejected from his dwelling place in the temple. Nehemiah corrects abuses and reinstitutes Sabbath observance. Some Jews are rebuked for marrying non-Israelite women and defiling the priesthood.
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Nehemiah 6; Nehemiah 7; Nehemiah 8; Nehemiah 9
Sanballat engages in intrigue against Nehemiah and the building of the wall. The Jews finish the construction of the wall. Provision is made to protect Jerusalem. The genealogy is given of the Jews who returned from Babylon. Priests without genealogical records are denied the priesthood. Ezra reads and interprets the law of Moses to the people. They keep the Feast of Tabernacles. The Jews fast and confess their sins. The Levites bless and praise the Lord and recite his goodness toward Israel.
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Nehemiah 1; Nehemiah 2; Nehemiah 3; Nehemiah 4; Nehemiah 5
Nehemiah mourns, fasts, and prays for the Jews in Jerusalem. Artaxerxes sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem. Sanballat and others oppose Nehemiah in rebuilding the walls and gates of Jerusalem. The names and order of those who help to build the walls and gates of Jerusalem are listed. The Jews’ enemies seek to prevent them from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah arms the laborers and keeps the work progressing. Many Jews are in bondage to their fellow Jews. At Nehemiah’s direction they are freed, their lands are restored, and the taking of usury is discontinued.
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Ezra 6; Ezra 7; Ezra 8; Ezra 9; Ezra 10
Darius renews the decree of Cyrus to build the temple. It is finished and dedicated, and sacrifices and feasts commence again. Ezra goes up to Jerusalem. Artaxerxes provides for beautifying the temple and sustains the Jews in their worship. Those who go up from Babylon to Jerusalem are listed. The Levites are called to accompany them. Ezra and the people fast and pray for and gain guidance and protection in going to Jerusalem. Many Jews intermarry with the Canaanites and others and follow their abominations. Ezra prays and confesses the sins of all the people. The Jews covenant to put away their wives taken from the Canaanites and others. Ezra assembles the people at Jerusalem. The Levites who married non-Israelite women are listed.
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Ezra 1; Ezra 2; Ezra 3; Ezra 4; Ezra 5
King Cyrus of Persia lets the Jews go back to Jerusalem to build the temple. Cyrus returns the vessels of the house of the Lord taken by Nebuchadnezzar. The descendants of the Jews taken captive who return to Jerusalem and to Judah are listed. The children of priests whose genealogy is lost are denied the priesthood. Faithful people contribute to the building of the temple. The altar is rebuilt. Regular sacrifices are re-instituted. The foundations of the temple are laid amid great rejoicing. The Samaritans offer help, then hinder the work. The building of the temple and of the walls of Jerusalem ceases. Haggai and Zechariah prophesy. Zerubbabel renews the building of the temple. The Samaritans challenge the Jews’ right to continue their building work.
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