The talmud says mordecai prophesied in the second year of darius. Yeah, he knows how to foil an assassination plot, he knows when to strap the sackcloth on, he knows when to weep and wail in front of the emperors gate, and he. Opposition to the book of esther is not a modern phenomenon. Esther was a young jewish orphan who grew up without a mother or father esther 2. He is described as being the son of jair, of the tribe of benjamin. Even when she became queen, she still obeyed mordecai who brought her up. Five powerful leadership lessons from the book of esther. Esther, an orphaned girl, became queen of persia and delivered her people from ruin.
Mordecai is a lot like daniel or joseph, except hes not quite as awesome or good at interpreting dreams or anything like that. She was born and raised in the splendid capitol city of susa esther 2. Esther found favor in hegais eyes and was given the best place in the house of women and quickly began her purification process which took an entire 12 months to complete. July 2, 2019 one of the great heroines of the old testament, hadassah was a beautiful, graceful young woman who put her faith in god and her guardian, her cousin mordecai. The book of esther 6 powerful life lessons from the bible. We dont know why god chose to inspire the book in this way, but we can see that god is the invisible force behind many of the events taking place in the book. The story takes place while gods people are in exile. Mordecai s genealogy in the second chapter of the book of esther is given as a descendant of kish of the tribe of benjamin. Interestingly enough, in the new testament no allusions to esther exist gordis 361. Esther was extremely beautiful and caught the attention of the keeper of the kings harem, who arranged for her to have an early meeting with the king.
This book is the story of how godly queen esther came to the throne in persia and preserved her people from extinction through her wise trust in god. Risking her life for others esther was beautiful in appearance, and her heart was right in the sight of god for she had love for others and that showed when she risked her life. Mordecai is one of the main personalities in the book of esther in the hebrew bible. The book of esther may not explicitly mention the name of god in its pages, but it undoubtedly showcases gods hand upon his people. Esther trusted mordecai s plan to conceal her heritage and she did as he said. One of the unique characteristics of the book of esther is the absence of any mention of god. In this time in history they are under the control of the persians, living far from the promised land. There are groups of people in contemporary culture, such as african american women, native americans, and immigrants, who are marginalized, disenfranchised, and powerless. Where in your own life do you see the qualities of esther and the qualities of haman. Esther hadassah esther is the heroine, the main character. Some of the traits are negative, but one holds out. Mordecai the jew the first thing we learn of mordecai was that he was a jew which esther 2. The old schoolhouse magazine spring 2015 101 character qualities from bible history. Esther was the daughter of abihail, and her guardianmentor was mordecai.
What are the characteristics of esther in the bible answers. The least likely was chosen by god to step up in order to save. Whether using wisdom or beauty, esther demonstrated a whole lot of decisiveness and maturity with her actions. The fate of gods chosen people is at the very center of the story, but god. For example, when esther asks the jews to fast, we can assume this included prayer est. Mar 30, 2008 god is accomplishing his purposes not in spite of ahasuerus but rather he is using ahasuerus to serve his own great purpose, that is, to protect the nation of israel. The account of esther in the old testament provides us with some humbling facts about leadership. But mordechai feared the day when esther would be called to the palace.
Mordecai, esther and president trump the christian. Esther, the beautiful jewish wife of the persian king ahasuerus xerxes i, and her cousin mordecai persuade the king to retract. Jul 20, 2015 mordecai the jew the first thing we learn of mordecai was that he was a jew which esther 2. Esther and mordecai were among those who chose not to return.
The book of esther is a romantic and patriotic tale, perhaps with some historical basis but with so little religious purpose the book purports to explain how the feast of purim came to be celebrated by the jews. Characteristics of mordecai the one destined to be prime minister he was faithful to the true heart of god, who adopts the orphans. Interestingly enough, the book of esther doesnt contain any direct references to god. Hes a bit more minor leaguethe faygo to their fanta, if you will. Sep 21, 2015 esther was not only beautiful, but obedient as well. The heart of the matter esther and haman are a lesson in contrasts throughout the book. He pays her debts and assumes responsibility for her. Mordecai and queen esther cathy diezluckie the old schoolhouse magazine spring 2015 page 9899 queen esther bible esther bible study book of esther scripture study ester in the bible morning scripture bible teachings bible scriptures esther biblia. Interest in the book of esther has been both negative and positive. Thats obvious, given that the book is named after her though she gets about the same amount of stage time as some of the other major characters like ahasuerus, haman, and mordecai.
Esther lesson 8 in character by character, series 2. What are the characteristics of esther in the bible. She was able to save the jewish people in the persian empire from being destroyed. The secular character of the book of esther the divine name is never. Tidings of this cruel scheme soon reached the ears of mordecai, who communicated with queen esther regarding it. Mordecai the jew became the prime minister, with authority next to that of king xerxes himself. He was esther s adoptive father, mentor, confidante, cheerleader, and fellow leader to stand for the rights of their jewish community. Its one of the most beautiful books in the bible and so full of great takeaways for the modern christian woman. The last verse of the book reads, mordecai the jew was second in rank to king xerxes, preeminent among the jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the jews, esther 10. Mordecai, the cousin of esther, had been brought to babylon as a captive by nebuchadnezzar v. Mordecai and esthers relationship it does indeed mean that they were cousins, but the commentators also note that when the megillah states that mordechai took her to him as a bat daughter it actually means to say bayitas in homemeaning that he married her and they built a home together. The book purports to explain how the feast of purim came to be celebrated by the jews. Esther was not only beautiful, but obedient as well. Esther, the beautiful jewish wife of the persian king ahasuerus, and her cousin mordecai persuade the king to retract an order for the general annihilation of jews throughout the empire.
Christ did the same for us in receiving us into the family of god eph 1. The life of mordecai might seem secondary in the extraordinary story of esther in the bible, but mordecai was more than just her uncle who welcomed her as his own daughter. As you read the book of esther, you will see that mordecai was very. The title of this book comes from its principal character, esther. One key figure in the book of esther, a man named mordecai, is someone we should know and learn from. E book if you found this character study helpful, get our character studies e book, with this and 8 different practical lessons on important bible heroes of the faith. The key personalities are esther, mordecai, king ahasuerus or xerxes, and haman. Regardless of how one defines heroism, it is present in the book of esther. Characters in esther mordecais confidence in god april 20, 2008 posted by roberttalley in esther, faith, religion, sermons. Esther estuhr was a brave young woman who saved her people from being wiped out. Esther is the only book of the hebrew bible not represented among the dead sea scrolls. There is a ruler in the bible with whom president trump shares no less than five major characteristics. Public mourning of mordecai provokes a change in esther who becomes, not angry like the king, but distressed esth 4.
Chronologically, this book fits into the 40 year gap between ezra 6 and 7. The final verse of esther notes, mordecai the jew was second in rank to king xerxes, preeminent among the jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the jews esther 10. The book of esther is set far away from the promised land, on the opposite end of the world in the city of susa, the capital of the powerful persian empire c. Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people. For he was in charge of a very charming and good hearted cousin named esther, or hadassah. The book of esther is about the fear of a feminine insurrection against patriarchal order and sacrifice within the community. Nowhere in the book of esther is the name of god mentioned in any capacity. Here he used mordecai, esther, hundreds of horses to deliver the decries, and all the jews own strength to fight the enemies. Mordecai was like a father to his cousin, queen esther pexels. The genre of the book of esther is narrative history. The book of esther and women in the leadership role women have played important leadership roles throughout history and the biblical story of esther is one such example. As esther was an orphan, her cousin mordechai brought her up. The author is unknown, but some biblical scholars conclude that it was mordecai, himself, who wrote the book of esther.
The illfate of the book of estherthe greek versionthe apocr. Character of esther in the biblical narratives english. What is not always clear, is how wicked men, especially wicked rulers are used by god to fulfill his plan. Book of esther, in the hebrew bible and the christian old testament. Jan 02, 2020 the final verse of esther notes, mordecai the jew was second in rank to king xerxes, preeminent among the jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the jews esther 10. Esther and mordecai wrote an order authorizing jews to celebrate these two days as the feast of purim in commemoration of the day when jews got relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned to joy, and when their mourning turned into celebrating. The literary figure of esther is a personification of leadership wisdom from an unlikely source. Without taking away from her courage, wisdom and devotion to god, the real hero of the book is a midlevel government official, mordecai.
While ezra and nehemiah deal with the history of the jewish remnant that returned from babylonian captivity, the book of esther is a fascinating story of some of those who did not return. Mordecai is the cousin of esther who cares for her. Five things about esther that nobody talks about jews for jesus. Each of these men displays a manifest unfaltering loyalty to the countrys civil leader at times when it would have been easy to do otherwise. In esthers story, gods involvement is implicit rather than explicit. Mordecai secretly looked in on esther to be sure that all was well with her esther 2. Esther trusted mordecais plan to conceal her heritage and she did as he said. The massacre had been plotted by the kings chief minister, haman, and the date decided by casting lots purim. He is esthers kinsman redeemer as christ is our kinsman redeemer. She was a beautiful jewish orphan girl who became the queen of persia around 475 b. Without taking away from her courage, wisdom and devotion to god, the real hero of the book is a. You can read about esther in the book of esther in the bible.
The book of esther is about the fear of a feminine insurrection against patriarchal order. Let me share a brief background with you on the book of esther. The events in the book take place from 483 bc to 473 bc, during the first half of the reign of king xerxes. Mordecai instructed esther not to reveal her background and then when he heard the plot to assassinate the king, he was able to be as shrewd as a serpent and. The global message of esther esther and the sovereign rule of god. These characteristics embody a man who was placed in situations by. One would think that when mordecai talks to esther to encourage her that god provide for his people, he would use the name of god.
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