Read Esther 1, Introduction to Esther

 Introduction to ...

Class Notes from the teaching of Prof. Curtis Mitchell, Biola University, 1967-1968, Old Testament Survey

Professor at the time, and later to be Dr. Curtis Mitchell, was a powerful teacher of the Bible during my years at Biola (1967-1970).  In addition, the woman I would later be blessed to have as my wife, as well as two cousins were in some of those classes.  For me, after 2 years of secular Junior College, my first class with Prof. Mitchell was in my first semester.  He lectured.  He was not a particularly “charismatic” personality.  But I was profoundly gripped by the Word of God as he opened up the Scriptures.  My notes were amazingly meticulous.  And not long after I took those hand-written notes and typed them up, making a good-sized book.  And yes, I said “typed,” not on a computer but using a very “non-electric” Smith-Corona typewriter, one that required finger strength for each letter. 

I doubt that it is possible for me to do what I’m about to do and make his teaching come alive for you.  But I am going to digitalize my notes of his lectures.  I hope this will be beneficial to you.  For now, I am going to start with the Book of Esther because it is where we are in our survey of the Old Testament.  These we will post on our blog.

I found the following introduction of Dr. Curtis Mitchell attached to an article he penned for the Chafer Theological Seminary Journal in 1996:

Curtis Mitchell, B.A. (Biola University), B.D. (Talbot Theological Seminary), Th.M. (Western Seminary), Th.D. (Grace Theological Seminary). Dr. Mitchell taught at Biola University for nearly 25 years and has contributed scholarly articles to journals such as Bibliotheca Sacra and the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society.

The Book of Esther

1.    Name: Esther is the heroine of the story.  Jews place great emphasis on Esther.

2.    Author: Inconclusive.  1) In 1:1 and 10:2 it indicates the reign of Ahasuerus was past when the book was written.  2) The writer was acquainted with the Persian court and its customs, so he was a contemporary.  Suggestions are Ezra or Mordecai.  In style it is not like Ezra, but that isn’t so important.  Others say Mordecai wouldn’t have spoken of himself so greatly.

3.    The time of writing: 1) Again, it was written after the reign of Ahasuerus.  2) In 2:5 there is a genealogy of Mordecai.  3) There is mention of Ahasuerus’ death (10:2).  It was likely written close to the time it happened.

4.    Purpose: 1) To show the origin of the feast of Purim.  2) To show the overruling providence of God.

5.    Outline:

a.     Ch. 1-2: Esther made queen.

b.    Ch. 3-6: Haman’s rise to power and his hatred of the Jews.

c.     Ch. 7-10: The Jew’s deliverance through Esther’s influence.

6. Relation to other books of the OT: It is unrelated to other books of the OT.  It is written and happens at the same time as Ezra and Nehemiah. 

a.     This book reads like an oriental romance and takes place in scenes of grandeur. 

b.    This book commemorates things of great importance to the Jews but it lacks characteristics evident in other OT books. 

c.     God is not mentioned but it is evident that He is working behind the scenes.

d.    There is no longing for the homeland as in other books of the time (Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah). 

e.     There is no reference to the temple, priest or sacrifice.  Esther and Mordecai attempted to conceal their Jewish parentage, to gain favor in the Persian court.  The author was born and raised a Persian.  So he lacked a knowledge of conditions and institutions in the homeland. 

f.      We know the book is trustworthy because of the reference to the feast of Purim in 2 Maccabees 15:36. Josephus, a historian, refers to it.  Archaeology attests to the trustworthiness of the court life, customs, etc.  So if it isn’t related to OT books it is related to other things. 

g.    The Jews placed this book next to the Pentateuch in importance.  The Pentateuch begins the Jewish nation, and Esther the preservation of the Jewish nation.  They would have disappeared.  Humanly speaking, only Esther’s intervention saved them.

7.    Lessons – Values.

a.     Shows how the Jews sought to hide their origin and ancestry.

b.    Bears witness to piety and faith of Esther and Mordecai.

c.     Bears witness to Mordecai’s faithfulness to his convictions (3:2,3).

d.    Bears witness to Esther’s willingness to suffer for her people.

e.     The whole book attests the fact that God is working behind the scenes.

f.      The follies of Xerxes/Ahasuerus and the wickedness of Haman are overruled by God.

g.    Esther is the counterpart of Ezra and Nehemiah; the latter took care of the returning Jews, while Esther shows how God took care of those who stayed.

h.    God watched over the Jews even when they were removed from an outward relationship with Him and even when they weren’t talking to Him.