Garth Heckman
The David Alliance
TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com
Ever have a moment when you don’t see it and then you see it? The classic picture of an old women or a young beautiful woman depending on what you see?
Here's a more detailed look at the reasons:
1. Lack of Historical Evidence:
Missing Persian References: . Some scholars questioned the book's historical accuracy, pointing to the lack of mention of the characters and events d...
Garth Heckman
The David Alliance
TDAgiantSlayer@Gmail.com
Ever have a moment when you don’t see it and then you see it? The classic picture of an old women or a young beautiful woman depending on what you see?
Here's a more detailed look at the reasons:
1. Lack of Historical Evidence:
- Missing Persian References:
.
Some scholars questioned the book's historical accuracy, pointing to the lack of mention of the characters and events described in Esther within Persian historical records.
- Not Found at Qumran:
.
The Dead Sea Scrolls, a collection of Jewish texts dating back to the period when the Book of Esther was thought to have been written, did not include the Book of Esther, further fueling skepticism about its authenticity.
2. Theological Concerns:
- Absence of God's Name:
.
The most significant theological issue was the complete absence of God's name in the Book of Esther. This was seen as unusual compared to other books in the Old Testament.
- Interpretations of Divine Providence:
.
While some argued that the book implicitly suggests divine providence through the actions of the characters, others felt the lack of explicit mention of God undermined its theological purpose.
3. Jewish Canon Formation:
- Delayed Inclusion:
The Book of Esther was not included in the earliest forms of the Jewish canon, and it was debated whether it should even be included at all.
- Nationalistic Pride:
Some suggest that the book's inclusion in the Jewish canon was influenced by a desire to celebrate the Jewish people's triumph over Haman and to provide a sense of national identity.
4. Christian Canon Formation:
- Deuterocanonical Status:
The Book of Esther was not universally accepted by Christians from the beginning. Some Christians, like Jerome, considered it canonical, while others, like Athanasius, classified it with the Apocrypha, a collection of books considered useful but not part of the official canon.
- Influence of Jewish Canon:
Ultimately, Christians largely adopted the Jewish canon, which included the Book of Esther, leading to its inclusion in Christian Bibles as well.
5. Additions to the Septuagint:
- Greek Version: An alternate version of the Book of Esther in Greek, which included references to God and additional passages, was also debated. The Eastern Orthodox Church uses the Septuagint version of Esther, while the Roman Catholic Church preserves the Greek additions as "Additions to Esther"
God is not mentioned in Esther ANYWHERE…
SO WHERE IS HE?
HE IS EVERYWHERE!
- Queen Vashti won’t give it up
- From Vashti's defiance to Mordecai's sleepless night, seemingly random occurrences contribute to the ultimate deliverance of the Jews.
- Esthers beauty over 25 million women
- Jew chosen to be queen
- Mordecai hears about a plot
- King can’t sleep and they read Mordecai’s story
- Haman used like a puppet in Gods hand
- 2 parties to set up Haman’s demise
- Haman’s advance on queen Esther
- The Pole set up for Mordecai used for Haman
- The Jews enemies are identified and then killed due to the timing and they get the take of those they kill
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