O.T. FINAL EXAM W.Q. ESTER

Question 1

What is the theme of Ester?

Answer 1

this book explains the origin of the annual festival of Purim. (and to keep alive for later generations the memory of the great deliverance of the Jewish people during the reign of Xerxes.

Question 2

what were some reasons to question the inclusion of Ester in the Bible?

Answer 2

1. Purim has never been seen as connecting with Christian truths.
2. Some didn’t like the fact that it deals with the jews who preferred the comforts of Persia rather than returning to Jerusalem.
3. God’s covenant name (Yahweh) is not mentioned.
4. There is no mention of worship, prayer, or sacrifice (fasting is mentioned).
5. Esther receives no mention outside of Scripture in any secular record so far discovered.
6. It is not even quoted in the New testament.

Question 3

what position in the canon does the book of Esther have?

Answer 3

Esther is the last historical book, in the canon.

Question 4

what does the book of Esther talks about that no other book does?

Answer 4

is the only book that talks about the Jews who were exiled that decide to remain in the lands to which they were exiled.

Question 5

who is the author?

Answer 5

the author is thought to be Mordecai

Question 6

where did the word Jew come from?

Answer 6

the word “Jew” was derived from “Judah” because of the predominance of this tribe.

Question 7

what is Esther about?

Answer 7

Esther is not just about God’s providence but is real Salvation History:

1. God’s unfailing promise to be with and deliver his people, whatever the historical details is evedent.
2. the gates of hell shall not prevail (Matt. 16:18)
3. this is a documented example of romans 8:28 being worked out in history.
4. covenantal faithfulness is shown in that God continued to be faithful to his covenant people even when his people refuse to return from their exile.
5. the reader sees the unusual number of “coincidences”

Question 8

Esther is not just about God’s providence but is real Salvation History:
how should we see the book?

Answer 8

it’s better to see Esther as an inspired record of God’s interaction with his people in both judgment and grace toward his overall redemptive plan.

Question 9

why does Esther record the Amalekites?

Answer 9

Esther records the amalekite’s final effort in the old testament to completely destroy the jews.
=agagite (3:1) a descendant of the amlekites king Agag whom Samuel killed personally because king Saul spared him even though God ordered him to kill them all.

Question 10

how does God act or shows up?

Answer 10

in esther God acts, not in an overt way, but hidden “in, with and under” the funbles and foibles of manking