The Book of Esther - Analysed and Explained in Summary - Volumes 1, 2, and 3 of "The Analysed Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
To the best of our knowledge we are of the understanding that this book, taken from Volumes 1, 2, & 3 of the "Analysed Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan published in 1907, and freely available elsewhere on the internet is in the public domain.
ESTHER - GOD AMID THE SHADOWS
Part A: THE KING'S COURT - Esther 1:1-3:15
A1. The Feast of Shushan - Est. 1:1-1:22
A2. The New Queen - Est. 2:1-2:23
A3. Haman - Est. 3:1-3:15
Part B: THE COUNTRY - Esther 4:1-4:3
B1. Mordecai - Est. 4:1-4:2
B2. The Jews - Est. 4:3
Part C: THE KING'S COURT - Esther 4:4-8:17
C1. Esther and Mordecai - Est. 4:4-4:17
C2. Esther and the King - Est. 5:1-5:8
C3. Haman - Est. 5:9-5:14
C4. The Sleepless King - Est. 6:1-6:14
C5. The Queen's Banquet - Est. 7:1-7:9
C6. Mordecai - Est. 8:1-8:17
Part D: THE COUNTRY - Esther 9:1-9:32
D1. Poetic Retribution - Est. 9:1-9:19
D2. The Feast of Purim - Est. 9:20-9:32
Part E: CONCLUSION - Esther 10:1-10:3
E1. Ahasuerus and Mordecai
Introduction
The events recorded in the book of Esther occurred between the completion of the Temple and the mission of Ezra (between Ezra 6 and 7). In all likelihood the narrative, as we have it, was taken directly from the Persian records. This would account for much that has created difficulty in the minds of some as to the presence of this book in the canon of Scripture. The fact that the name of God is not mentioned would be perfectly natural if the historian were a Persian. That many things are chronicled without apology, which are the customs of a godless nation, would also be explained thereby.
All this, however, makes the persons and teaching of the book more valuable. It is a fragment of profane history captured for sacred purposes. The story reveals, to such as have eyes to see, that same principle of the overruling of God on behalf of His people which marks all their history. Here, however, it is seen operating on their behalf in a foreign land.
The principal value of the book is not its revelation of His care for individuals, though, of course, that also is present. It is rather that of His preservation of the people as a whole, in an hour when they were threatened with wholesale slaughter; and moreover it emphasizes His care even for those who had not returned with Zerubbabel. The feast of Purim, observed even today, is the living link to the events recorded, and historically sets the seal upon the accuracy of the story. That feast celebrates, not so much the defeat of Haman, or the advancement of Mordecai, as the deliverance of the people. The book is pre-eminently dramatic, and is best analyzed around the scenes: The King's Court, Ahasuerus (1-3); the Country, Mordecai, and the Mourning Jews (4-4:3); the King's Court, the unnamed God (4:4-8); the Country, Purim, the Rejoicing Jews (9); Conclusion (10).
A. The King's Court, Ahasuerus - Esther 1:1-3:15
The first scene presented to us is that of a great feast in the palace of the king. In the midst of it the king commanded his queen, Vashti, to his presence. The one redeeming feature in the revelation of the conditions at the court of Ahasuerus was that of Vashti's refusal to obey the command of the king. She paid the price of her loyalty to her woman-hood in being deposed.
Mordecai's action in the case of Esther is open to question. His love for her was evident, and the picture of him walking before the court of the women's house into which she had been taken indicated his continued interest in her. His advice that she should not betray her nationality was questionable, as her position at the court of the king was one of peril for a daughter of the covenant. Her presence in the palace was part of that process by which the overruling of God preserved His people, and frustrated their foe.
Haman is now introduced, a man haughty and imperious, proud and cruel. His malice was stirred against Mordecai, and also, therefore, against all his people, and he made use of his influence with the king to obtain authority practically to exterminate the whole of them.
B. The Country, Mordecai, and the Mourning Jews - Esther 4:1-4:3
The intention of Haman became known to Mordecai, who at once took up his position outside the king's gate, and there raised a loud and bitter cry. The royal proclamation filled the people through the provinces with sorrow, and they mourned with fasting and weeping and wailing.
C. The King's Court, the Unnamed God - Esther 4:4-8:17
The news of this mourning reached Esther in the royal palace, and she sent to make inquiries. Thus between the extreme need of her people and the king she became a direct link. The custom and law of the court forbade her approach to her lord save at his command. The urgency of the case appealed to her, however, and with splendid heroism she ventured. Conscious of her need of moral support, she asked that the people would fast with her. There was a note of sacrifice and abandonment in her words, "If I perish, I perish."
Her venture was crowned with success. It might have been quite otherwise, and the graciousness of the king, notwithstanding Esther's violation of the law of the palace, was undoubtedly due to the disposition of that God in Whose hand are the ways of kings, whether they will or not. Her request was at first of the simplest. She invited the king and Haman to a banquet. The overwhelming pride of Haman was manifest in his gathering of his friends, to whom he boasted of his riches, of his advancement, and now of this last favour, that he alone was invited to accompany the king to the banquet of Esther. Acting upon the advice of wife and friends, he committed the folly of making the time of the banquet merry for himself by first erecting a gallows for Mordecai.
In the economy of God vast issues follow apparently trivial things. In the case of Ahasuerus a sleepless night was the means through which God moved forward for the preservation of His people. To while away its hours, the records were read to the king, and a deed of Mordecai therein recorded led to the hasty and strange happenings which filled the heart of Haman with anger and terror. Mordecai was lifted from obscurity to the most conspicuous position in the kingdom. Events moved rapidly forward. By the way of the banquet Haman passed the gallows. It was a fierce and terrible judgment, and yet characterized by poetic justice.
D. The Country, Purim, the Rejoicing Jews - Esther 9:1-9:32
The peril of the Hebrew people was not yet, however, averted. The royal proclamation had gone forth that on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month they should be exterminated. By the constitution no royal proclamation could be reversed. The king granted Mordecai to write and sign letters to his people, permitting them to arm and defend themselves. The fateful day arrived, but it was one on which the changed conditions in the case of Haman and Moredcai were repeated throughout the whole of the provinces.
In memory of the deliverance the feast of Purim was established. According to Jewish tradition "all the feasts shall cease in the days of the Messiah, except the feast of Purim." It is a remarkable thing that while there have been breaks in the observance of the other great feasts, and some of them have been practically discontinued, this has been maintained.
E. Conclusion - Esther 10:1-10:3
Whatever view we may hold of this book of Esther, it is certain that Jewish leaders have treated it as an exposition of the method by which God wrought deliverance for His people in a time of peril, even while they were in exile.