Esther 7:1-10; 9:20-22

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser. (Esther 7:1-10)
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser. (Esther 9:20-22)
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc. (Esther 7:1-10)
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc. (Esther 9:20-22)
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries. Chapter 9.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons. Chapter 9.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:

  • Chapter LV of The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Clement of Rome (ca. 96).

  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
  • From the Geneva Notes. Chapter 9.
    • "He sets before our eyes the use of this feast which was for the remembrance of God's deliverance, the maintenance of mutual friendship and relief of the poor."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary. Chapter 9.
    • "The festival was appointed by authority, yet under the direction of the Spirit of God. It was called the feast of Purim, from a Persian word, which signifies a lot. The name of this festival would remind them of the almighty power of the God of Israel, who served his own purposes by the superstitions of the heathen."
  • From Wesley's Notes. Chapter 9.
    • "Whatever good motion is in our minds, we must acknowledge it to come from God. What is done by human prudence is to be ascribed to the direction of Divine Providence."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871). Chapter 9.
    • "Commentators are not agreed what is particularly meant by "these things"; whether the letters following, or an account of these marvellous events to be preserved in the families of the Jewish people, and transmitted from one generation to another."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, Brent A. Strawn, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "Esther is a strange and difficult book for several reasons, first and foremost because it is apparently non-theological."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "Courage for Community," Kate Huey, Weekly Seeds, i.UCC.org, 2009.
    • "Why does community require courage?"
  • Esther 7:1-10, 9:20-22, Pentecost 17, Commentary, Background, Insights from Literary Structure, Theological Message, Ways to Present the Text. Anna Grant-Henderson, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "This story is part of a worldview of courts and court life, which is not part of our lives today. Most of the Western world doesn't have to contrive in the way that Esther did to get an audience with a ruler. The question I want to ask is: How does knowledge of Christ change the way we respond to danger?"
  • Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22, Pentecost 17. The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Howard Wallace Audrey Schindler, Morag Logan, Paul Tonson, Lorraine Parkinson, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
• Articles & Background:

  • "Having Men for Dinner: Deadly Banquets and Biblical Women," Nicole Duran, Biblical Theology Bulletin, 2005.

    • "This essay looks at several biblical women who use the power of food and drink, the banquet with its implications of seduction, to kill men or to determine whom the dining men kill. I will be asking in particular how the symbolism of food and drink interacts with gender, sexuality, and killing in the tradition."

  • "Esther 7:4: A Commentary for the New Century," David J.A. Clines.

  • "Holy Disobedience in Esther," Karol Jackowski, Theology Today, 1989.

    • "A careful look at the disobedient characters in the Book of Esther, Queen Vashti, Mordecai, and Esther herself, helps us to discern the critical elements that influence their decisions and actions. Perhaps the current crisis of faith in authority signifies the exhausted end of something oppressive and the painfully slow beginning of something liberating. "

  • "Where God is Not: The Book of Esther and Song of Songs," by Dr. David R. Blumenthal, Professor of Judaic Studies, Emory University.
  • "Defilement of the Hands, Canonization of the Bible, and the Special Status of Esther, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs," Michael J. Broyde, Judaism, 1995.
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
  • Fleishman, Joseph, "Why Was Haman Successful at Winning King Ahasuerus' Approval to Exterminate the Jews in the Persian Empire?" Hebrew Union College Annual, 1997.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Frolov, Serge, "Two Eunuchs, Two Conspiracies, and One Loyal Jew: The Narrative of Botched Regicide in Esther as Text- and Redaction-Critical Test Case," Vetus Testamentum, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hallo, William W., "The First Purim," Biblical Archaeologist, 1983.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Humphreys, W. Lee, "A Life-Style for Diaspora: A Study of the Tales of Esther and Daniel," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1973.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Jackowski, Karol, "Holy Disobedience in Esther," Theology Today, 1989.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Levenson, Jon D., "Is There a Counterpart in the Hebrew Bible to New Testament Antisemitism?" Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 1985.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lewy, Immanuel, "Is Purim a Jewish Festival?" Reconstructionist, 1952.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lewy, Immaneul, "The Meaning of Purim," Reconstructionist, 1951.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Loewenstamm, Samuel E., "Esther 9:29-32: The Genesis of a Late Addition," Hebrew Union College Annual, 1971.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Mills, Mary E., "Household and Table: Diasporic Boundaries in Daniel and Esther," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Murphy, George L., "Providence and Passion in Esther," Currents in Theology and Mission, 2002.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Wechsler, Michael G., "The Purim-Passover Connection: A Reflection of Jewish Exegetical Traditions in the Peshitta Book of Esther," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1998.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "For Such a Time As This," Samuel Wells, Faith and Leadership, 2010.
• With Children:
  • "Esther - the Girl Who Became a Queen," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • "Haman's Evil Is Repaid," "Esther Saves Her People," "The Jews Rejoice & Declare a Feast," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
• Drama:
  • "Honesty Plays," Warren Grieve, dramatix.
  • "The Peasant Queen," Aruneshwar A. Singh and Mark Harris, dramatix.
  • "Here She Is," Nina Wallestad, Dramatic License. Conditions of Use.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
  • Clip Art: Esther, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
• Hymns and Music:
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Esther
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
  • Liberation
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Esther