WHO WROTE:  By whom was the Book written?  Neither the contents of the Book or any reliable tradition give us a clue or help.  Mordecai, whose claims have been strongly urged by some, is excluded by the closing words in Esther 10:3, which sum up his life work and the blessings of which he had been the recipient.  The words imply that when the Book was written, that great Israelite (Mordecai) had already passed away.

 

 

WHAT TIME PERIOD IS COVERED:  Between B.C. 492 - B.C. 460.

 

 

WHEN WRITTEN:  Between B.C. 492 - B.C. 460.

 

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INTRODUCTION:  Esther’s real name was “Hadassah” (see Est. 2:7), which means, “myrtle,” as in the “myrtle tree,” and that is what this Book should have been named and what we should call her.  Her Persian name “Esther” means, “Something Hidden,” but is akin to, “star,” implying like “Venus,” which in Persian thought meant, “good fortune,” and may have had implications to heathen gods in order, in Mordecai’s mind, hiding Esther’s Jewish background.  However, a better breakdown would be a derivative of the Hebrew root, “s-t-r,” meaning, “hide,” again, in an effort to “hide” Hadassah’s Jewish heritage.  As well as the Old Persian word “stara,” meaning once again, “star.”

 

This Book has a remarkable peculiarity, in that the name of God does not occur in It from the first word to last word, in any form at all.  However, that this Book is of a true historical nature is confirmed by the fact that the “Feast of Purlin,” meaning, “Lots” (see Est. 9:29-32), has thenceforward been observed on the 14th and 15th of the month Adar (our February and March), even down to our day.  The Book is also confirmed in secular history by the casual way in which z’2Ma. 15:36” alludes to the feast (“Mardochaeus’ day”) as kept by the Jews in Nicanor’s time.  Also, Josephusinforms us that there was a Temple copy of this Book which was carried among the Temple spoils in the triumph of Vespasian.

 

From “Smith’s Bible Commentary” we learn: “The Book of Esther is placed among the Hagiographa by the Jews, and in that first portion of them, which they call ‘the five rolls.’  It is written on a single roll, in a dramatic style, and is read through by the Jews in their synagogues at the Feast of Purim, when it is said that the names of Haman’s sons are read rapidly all in one breath, to signify that they were all hanged at the same time; while at every mention of Haman, the audience stamp and shout and hiss, and the children spring rattles.”

 

From Chuck Missler (See my Bible Study:  “BIBLE CODES”):  It has been observed and stated many times, that the Book of Esther should not be included in the Canon of Scripture, since it does not contain the Name of God.  In fact, Luther wanted it out so badly he would not read the Book, or translate It.  However, “YHWH” has been found in thee Book, except in is spelled backwards, “HWHY,” in Esther 1:20.  In that passage we understand that God is turning back the counsels of man.  In Esther 5:4 we have the initial letters of God, in which the passage speaks of the initiating action of God where he causes Esther to act.  And in Esther 5:13 we have the last part of God’s Name, in which the passage speaks of Haman’s end approaching and God overruling Haman’s gladness, turning back his counsel.  Lastly, in Esther 7:7 we have again the last letters of God’s Name, where the passage speaks of Haman’s end and God bringing about the end He had previously determined.

 

In Esther 7:5 the Name “I Am” is encrypted.  And in a different interval than 7, but of 8, in Esther 1:3, we have the Name, “Meshiach,” which equals, “Messiah.”  Again, in Esther 4:7 (back to intervals of 7), encrypted is the Name, “Yeshua,” meaning in English, Jesus.  So God’s Name is in the Book, but He protects His people by encrypting It into the text.  In Esther 4:2 we have (intervals of 7) “El Shaddai,” meaning, “The Almighty.”

 

Lastly, in Esther 3:11-12, taking an equidistant letter sequence of 6 (the number of mankind), “haman v’satan ray ‘yach,” meaning, “Satan and Haman share the same stench.”

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