Bereansearching Bible Studies

The casting of “pur” or “lot” in the Book of Esther is like the rolling of dice, but as we know from Proverbs 16:33, “The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.“

An Exposition of the Book of Esther: The Little Known (Little Understood?) Book of Prophecy that Reveals God’s Magnificent Plan of Salvation Through the Person and Work of The Lord Jesus Christ

NOTE to the reader: The following is only an excerpt of a much longer, much more complete, and much more in-depth study, please see: The Book of Esther: a Christian Commentary

Introduction

The Book of Esther, Like All of the Books of the Bible, Displays God’s Divine Providence for His Glory and Honor Throughout All Time, from Eternity to Eternity

This post is intended to show why the Book of Esther is miraculous on many levels, but is particularly astounding to anyone who is blessed to see the truly amazing eternal/spiritual thread that God has interwoven in the historical account found in the Book of Esther. May God grant the reader the spiritual “ears to hear and the eyes to see.”

The Book of Esther in Jewish Culture

The Book of Esther is read every year to the assembled congregations of the Jewish people in their synagogues to the present day.  It is read as part of the celebration of the Feast of Purim (also known as the “Feast of Lots” which are objects used as a form of divination, something like “dice”, and from which we get the term “lottery”.)  The feast is celebrated to remember the deliverance of the Jews from Persia, whose date of destruction, their judgment day, was pre-determined by the casting of “pur” or “lot” (Esther 9:24). The predetermined time was to be at the end of the year, but was ultimately, amazingly, turned into a day of deliverance and salvation, in accordance with God’s Will (Proverbs 16:33). And because of that deliverance of the Jews in Persia, God enabled them to return from captivity, and to restore Jerusalem and the Holy Temple in advent of the coming of The Lord Jesus Christ, The Jewish Messiah, about 450 years later.

Esther is a Book of Concealment & Hidden Truth (and therefore it is also an Historical Parable)

The key to understanding the true meaning of the Book of Esther is to see that the whole book is an Historical Parable, which prophetically points us to the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, Who Is The Only Lord, God, and Savior.

Many Bible students are aware that there is not one direct/explicit reference to God to be found anywhere in the Book of Esther. This is because God has deliberately concealed Himself within the text, and, moreover, in the process, God has also deliberately concealed the Gospel of God’s Magnificent Salvation Plan, wrought by the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ, as well. In fact, the entire Book of Esther concerns “concealment” and “hidden things of God”.

We should take a moment to recall what we read in Isaiah 45:15, “Verily thou [art] a God that hidest (סָתַר (sāṯar))^H5641 thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.“

The Essence of Esther is “Concealment”

The very name ‘Esther’ underscores this point of ‘concealment‘. Esther in Hebrew is אֶסְתֵּר (’es·têr)^H635, which happens to be, phonetically, very similar to the Hebrew word אֶסָּתֵ֑ר (’es·sā·ṯêr)^H5641, which is a version of the Hebrew word סָתַר (sāṯar)^H5641, meaning “to hide” or “to conceal“, or “to close-up“, and that version, אֶסָּתֵ֑ר (’es·sā·ṯêr)^H5641, is found twice in this form in the Bible:

1.  Genesis 4:14 (translated in English as “shall I be hid;“ where we read of Cain crying to God, “Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid (אֶסָּתֵ֑ר (es·sā·ṯêr))^H5641; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, [that] every one that findeth me shall slay me.“) and
2. Job 13:20, “Only do not two [things] unto me: then will I not hide (אֶסָּתֵ֑ר (’es·sā·ṯêr))^H5641 myself from thee.”

Another version of the same Hebrew word is אַסְתִּיר (’as·tîr)^H5641, which is used only once in this particular form in the Bible, in Deuteronomy 31:18, where we read, “And I will surely (אַסְתִּיר (’as·tîr))^H5641 hide (אַסְתִּיר (’as·tîr))^H5641 my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.” (Note also that the word “hide” was doubled, and hence was translated as “surely hide“). In this later usage, God was specifically telling Moses in Deuteronomy 31:16-22 that, in the future, when the people of Israel would commit spiritual adultery, by worshipping other gods, that God at that point would “hide/conceal” Himself (hide His “face”) from National Israel as a result. (It is therefore all the more ironic that, derived from this forewarned concealment of God’s Face, a Jewish tradition has arisen, such that hiding one’s face (wearing a mask) is considered proper when the Jews celebrate the day of Esther/The Feast Purim.)

So then, we can see that the name Esther is actually a cross-cultural “homophone”, in that in Persian Esther means “Star“, but in Hebrew, Esther phonetically means “Concealed“. At a minimum, one could say that, by changing her name from Hadassah (Jewish) to Esther (Persian), it would have certainly helped her to “hide” or “conceal” her Jewish identity from potential enemies like Haman. Beyond providing an interesting play on words (“pun”), we will also learn from this study that there is far more hidden in the Book of Esther (by God) than just Esther’s Jewish identity.

The Book of Esther Is an Historical Parable about Deliverance and Salvation Through Jesus Christ

The Book of Esther is indeed about the miraculous physical deliverance of the Jews of Old Testament National Israel (the physical descendants of the patriarchs from the first, Abraham, through Isaac and Jacob and David).   More importantly, it is really all about the miraculous eternal deliverance of the true Jews, the “eternal” Israel, the body of believers, the church of Jesus Christ (those who are of the faith of Abraham, which include a remnant of both National Israel and the Gentile nations – – Romans 2:28–29; Romans 4:13–16; Galatians 3:26–29).  Because the Book of Esther has both an earthly/historical meaning and a heavenly/eternal spiritual meaning, it is also an “Historical Parable“, which involves significant use of “allegories” and “Types“. 

The Book of Esther Reveals God’s Magnificent Salvation Plan Through Jesus Christ…From Beginning to End and Forever in Eternity

Perhaps the most important of God’s purposes for the Book of Esther was to convey (albeit in a concealed manner) most, if not all, of the key elements of God’s magnificent salvation plan through a series of vignettes within one short (ten chapter) historical account. 

The Message of the Book of Esther is the same Gospel Message that can be found everywhere else in the Bible as it focuses on the Person and Work of the LORD Jesus Christ. The only difference is that, each time Jesus is found in the Bible, we can learn more about Him and God’s Gospel plan through Him (which glorifies God in the process).  However, to truly “see” Jesus (to believe with our hearts and not just our minds), we must have our “spiritual eyes” opened by God.  Given that this can be the case, then another purpose for God having provided us with the Book of Esther is that it will edify and strengthen the faith of the saints (the elect of God, the true believers).

Perhaps just as significantly, and even more importantly, the Book of Esther is also a spiritual book of Prophecy (with some elements still to be fulfilled), because it culminates with a picture of Judgment Day at the end of creation, and the eternity in Heaven that will follow for all those who are counted among the people of Jesus… and the eternal death and destruction in Hell for all those who are not.

So where do we see Jesus in the Book of Esther?

Some Christian commentaries conclude that it is Esther who, “as the advocate for her people,” is the deliverer of salvation to her people and therefore allegorically portrays Jesus Christ.  Is that a correct interpretation?  

To answer that question, this summary commentary is presented in the following sequence:

1. Highlighting the main personages and the attributes of each in the order of their appearance;
2. Synoptically reviewing of the historical context in which each person appears;
3. Assessing each of the personages and who they represent from a spiritual/eternal perspective;
4. Providing an expositional outline of the important analogies that can be drawn from each chapter’s historical vignettes.

Note to the reader: The highlighted live links below connect with other posts that expand upon some of personages named in the Book of Esther. Also available are expanded verse by verse expositions of each of the ten chapters of the Book of Esther posted separately on this website for further study.

I. The Main Personages Described in the Book of Esther

1) King Ahasuerus: A very great and powerful king who reigned over a “glorious  kingdom” with the “honour of his excellent majesty.”

2) Queen Vashti: A beautiful queen, the first wife of the king Ahasuerus.  When she was bidden by the king (by his “commandment”) to a great feast, she refused to come while holding her own feast for the women; so the king decreed that she could never again come into his presence.  He also decreed that her royal estate be given “to another that is better than she.”  King Ahasuerus sent letters to all his provinces to be published “to every people after their language.”

3) Mordecai: A certain Jew, “the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite“, who lived in the king’s palace and sat in the king’s gate. He was the nearest kinsman to Esther, being her elder cousin.

4) Esther: A fair and beautiful maid, a virgin, (and an orphan, because “for she had neither mother or father”)  who was brought up by Mordecai, and he “took for his own daughter“… “when her father and mother were dead“.)  Esther pleased king  Ahasuerus and “she obtained kindness of him.”  “And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.“

5) Two Chamberlains: 1) Hegai (Hege): “the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women.” Esther 2:8; and 2) Hatach, “[one] of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her“Esther 4:5.

6) Haman: A chief prince of king Ahasuerus who, because he saw that Mordecai bowed not to him (Haman), nor reverenced him, “…sought to destroy all the Jews that  were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.“ Esther 7:6 “And Esther said, The adversary and enemy [is] this wicked Haman.“

II. Synopsis of the Historical Account

King Ahasuerus replaces his first queen, Vashti, for her disobedience, and gives her royal estate to Esther (the Jewish orphan raised up by her elder kinsman, Mordecai) who has been anointed by the King’s Chamberlain, Hegai.  Later, in his prideful wrath because Mordecai would not bow to Haman, prince Haman determined (by the casting of lots, or pur) a single specific day, at the end of the year, to destroy Mordecai and his people (the Jews). Haman then convinced the king to decree the destruction of “a certain people” (the Jews) from throughout the land by accusing them of not keeping the king’s laws. When Mordecai heard about it, he put on sackcloth and ashes outside the palace gate.  “Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it [was], and why it [was].” Later under commandment from Mordecai, Esther went into the kings presence (at the risk of death, but walking by faith…”if I perish I perish“) to inform the king (over time through two sequential banquets) of Haman’s plot to kill her people (the “Jews”). At the same time, Haman also planned to have Mordecai hanged on the highest gallows that Haman had made for that purpose.  

However, Mordecai, was subsequently honored by the king, because of an earlier act of faithfulness to the king that Esther had earlier “certified the king [thereof] in Mordecai’s name” in Esther 2:22 (which the king had forgotten for a time to serve God’s purposes). Mordecai, who was known to the king to be a Jew, was arrayed in the king’s royal apparel wearing the king’s royal crown and allowed to ride through the street of the city on the king’s horse being declared as the one man in the kingdom that the king did most want to honor.  This was the very honor and distinction that Haman, because of his pride, had sought for himself.  Instead of receiving that honor as he had imagined, Haman was subsequently humiliated. Moreover, after Esther later revealed to the king Haman’s plot to kill “her people” (the “Jews”) and the king soon supposed Haman was about to accost Esther, the king ordered that Haman was to be hung from the same gallows that Haman had built to hang Mordecai.

Because Mordecai had subsequently been granted the king’s authority (which had previously been given to Haman), Mordecai made a new decree, which, while NOT nullifying the earlier decree, provided the means by which the Jews could defend themselves and kill all those in league with Haman at the end of the year. And we also know that there was a great “conversion” during this interim period that occurred between the third month (which is always associated with the Feast of Firstfruits/Pentecost) and the end of the year (which can Biblically be associated with Judgment Day), for we read, “…And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.“

In the final battle, at the end of the year, where Haman had planned to have all the Jews destroyed and consumed in one day, all those who hated the Jews, including all of the ten sons of Haman, were themselves removed “with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction.”  The next day, after this great battle, the Jews rested from their enemies and “made it a day of feasting and gladness,” to be remembered and kept throughout every generation.  

Finally, because the king had advanced Mordecai “next unto the king” (his right-hand man, so to speak), Mordecai was “great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.”  We also read earlier, after the death of Haman, that “Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.  The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.“

III. The Spiritual “Types” Represented by Each Person in the Book of Esther

If we compare the historical account found in the Book of Esther with the rest of the Bible, we can find some amazing and unequivocal parallels between those main personages and the key figures of the Bible (and the role of each) in the unfolding of God’s Magnificent Salvation Plan:

1)  King Ahasuerus with Heavenly Father (or more generically, Almighty God)

2)  Queen Vashti with National Israel of the Old Testament

Vashti was a beautiful first queen, but she rebelled against the King and refused to come to his feast, but rather held her own feast for the women in the royal palace that belonged to the King. Deuteronomy 31:16-18 explains how this analogy is a valid one.

3)  Mordecai with The Lord Jesus Christ (God as Savior)

Although the meaning of “Mordecai” (מָרְדְּכַי (mārdᵊḵay))^H4782 is not clear, being of foreign origin, but it is said to mean “little man“, which is interesting, because it was Mordecai’s warning to the king that saved the kingdom, and yet he was not remembered.  This sounds quite somewhat similar to what we read in Ecclesiastes 9:13-17, “This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: [There was] a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. The words of wise [men are] heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.“

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who delivers His people, the eternal Israel, the true “Jews.”  Jesus Is The One Who ascended to the Right Hand of God the Father. Jesus is the One Who we read about in Revelation 19:11-16. Jesus wears the “many crowns”, riding the “white horse”, and Jesus bears the Name that is “Faithful and True“.  He is the one who Satan sought to destroy on the cross, but it was Jesus who instead vanquished Satan at the cross.  Jesus (as the God-Man) is the One Who nurtures the believers by serving in the role of their near kinsman.  We also know that at the Great Battle at the end of the age, on Judgment Day, all who are in league with Satan (the unbelievers) will be destroyed with him at that time.  Then will the “Jews” (the true believers in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, please see Romans 2:28-29) find rest from their enemies.  We also know that the believers are referred to throughout the Bible as the Bride of Jesus Christ (and Jesus Christ is also God).  That bride is described in the Bible with all the attributes ascribed to Esther.  The true believers replaced Old Testament National Israel (pictured by Vashti), God’s former chosen people, whom He effectively divorced at the cross because they would not come when bidden to the final Passover Feast (they rejected Jesus as Messiah, the Perfect Passover Lamb of God, see also Luke 14:15-24). (Please also see Jeremiah 3:8 regarding the initial divorce by God of the first ten tribes of Israel, see also Isaiah 50:1)

4)  Queen Esther with the Body of Believers (from both Jews (the remnant) and Gentiles; the true “Jews” or the “eternal Israel”). Esther walked by faith and not by sight (Esther 4:16, “if I perish, I perish“), as we read in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”. As representing the church, Esther represents the “bride” who we read about in Revelation 21:2, “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

5)  Two Chamberlains*: Hegai (Hege) and Hatach, as “Types” for “God, The Holy Spirit“

1. Hegai (Hege) (הֵגֵא (hēḡē’) ^H1896 was a chamberlain eunuch appointed by king Ahasuerus to attend Queen Esther whose name means either “eunuch” or “Meditation“; “Word“; “Groaning“; “Separation”, and he prepared Esther to come into the presence of the king by purifications “with nothing but what Hegai appointed“, and that was “six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with [other] things for the purifying of the women.”  Remembering that in Romans 8:26 we read, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.“
2. Another of the King’s Chamberlains, who also would have had to have been a eunuch, is named Hatach, הֲתָךְ (hăṯāḵ)^H204, meaning either “a Gift” or “Verily” (hence “Truly” or “Truth“), and both attributes are clearly used in the Bible as representations of the Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit.   The Holy Spirit Anoints the believer and Is An Intermediary for them in prayer to God the Father. The Holy Spirit Is “The Gift from God”Acts 10:45, and also He Is “The Spirit of Truth” John 16:13 Who leads the believer into all Truth (Jesus)!  (Please see the much more extensive exposition regarding the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost below.)(Please see: The Book of Esther: a Christian Commentary).

* A third Chamberlain (likely another eunuch) is also mentioned, named Shaashgaz, שַׁעַשְׁגַּז (šaʿašgaz)^H8190, meaning “servant of the beautiful“. Shaashgaz was in charge of the concubines in the “second house“, after each had her year of purifications and after having come into the presence of the King the first time. It is not clear to this teacher what specific role Shaashgaz has, but he could serve as a ministering angel from Heaven (Hebrews 1:13&14) and/or an earthly minister of the church (Matthew 19:12). We do know that Esther was described as beautiful in Esther 2:7, “And he (Mordecai) brought up Hadassah, that [is], Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid [was] fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.”

6)  Haman with Satan (See also: The Devil in Disguise: Haman the Agagite and Amalekite)

Regarding Haman’s role, from Isaiah 14:12-15, we clearly see that Satan, the chief prince of all the angels that became devils, in his great pride, sought to “be like the most High,” but was subsequently consigned to Hell. Satan wanted to exalt his throne above the “stars” of God; as we read in Isaiah 14:13, “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:” 

It is particularly noteworthy that in Esther 7:6 we read, “And Esther said, The adversary and enemy [is] this wicked Haman.“ In the original Hebrew, the word frequently translated into English for “adversary” is שָׂטָן (śāṭān)^H7854. So it should be abundantly clear that Haman is being used as a “Type” of the devil (Satan), who is most certainly both wicked as well as the enemy of God, God’s Word, and God’s people. This is also entirely consistent with 1 Peter 5:8, where we read, “¶Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:“

We also see this is God’s condemnation of Edom, hence Esau, hence Haman (and therefore: the devil) in Obadiah 1:4, “Though thou exalt [thyself] as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

God dealt with Haman’s (and the devil’s) pride exactly as God Will Do on Judgment Day (“The day of the LORD of hosts”) as we read in Isaiah 2:12, “For the day of the LORD of hosts [shall be] upon every [one that is] proud and lofty, and upon every [one that is] lifted up; and he shall be brought low:“

In the Bible, the “stars” represent the believers, typified by Esther (whose very name means “Star” in Persian).  We see this clearly in Daniel 12:3, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.“ And please note also how the words “stars” and “sons of God” are used together in this verse: Job 38:7, “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? And it is by no coincidence that we see “stars” compared with “Abraham’s seed”, who represent the believers when we compare scripture with scripture looking first at Genesis 15:5, “And he (God) brought him (Abraham) forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.“, and then Galatians 3:29, “And if ye [be] Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.“

Remember also, in Matthew 4:8-10, how the devil, like Haman to Mordecai, having been given the power by God to rule this world upon the Fall of Adam, desired for Jesus to “fall down and worship” him, and Jesus answered, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” 

IV. Expositional Outline of the Prophetic Book of Esther 

Comfort for the Believers at all Times (God’s Magnificent Salvation Plan Embedded and Explained in Ten Short Chapters)

(Psalm 68:5, “A father of the fatherless (e.g.,Esther), and a judge of the widows (e.g., Ruth and Naomi), [is] God in his holy habitation.“)

Chapter I.          “God’s Magnificent Salvation Plan: Old Testament National Israel (under the Law) rebels: making a way for the remnant of both Jews and Gentiles” (under Grace)(Esther 1:12 and Esther 1:19) Please see Deuteronomy 31:16-18 and Romans 4:15.

Chapter II.         “God Remembers His Covenant: The Establishment of the New and Better Covenant” (Esther 2:1-4)   Please also see Hebrews 8:6-13.

• Jesus Christ (Mordecai) Shows Mercy to the Fatherless (Esther)  (Esther 2:7)
• The Work of the Holy Spirit in His Anointing and Purifying the Believer (e.g., Esther) to enter into God’s presence: (Esther 2:15)
• A Rebellion Against the King by Those (possibly eunuchs) “Who Kept the Door”, Bigthan and Teresh (possibly representing the fallen angels of 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 1:6 Revelation 12:9?) (Esther 2:21-23) and/or the Fall of Adam and Eve.

Chapter III.     “Satan Given Dominion Over This Creation Immediately Upon the Fall of Adam” (Esther 3:1 and Esther 8:5)  Please see Romans 6:23

• The Temptation of Christ,  Satan Seeks to Destroy Jesus and His People by Accusing the People for Being Sinners…Not Keeping the King’s Laws (Esther 3:6-8), Please see: Revelation 12:10

Chapter IV.       “The Atonement of Jesus Christ” (Esther 4:1) followed by “three days and nights” of fasting typifying the period of the Atonement.

Chapter V.        “The Faith of the Saints” (Christ’s Faith, Ephesians 3:11&12)  (Esther 5:1&2) Please see Hebrews 12:2, Numbers 24:17, and Psalms 45:6 (note that Esther did not put on “royal apparel” until the “third day” typifying the partaking of the first resurrection)

Chapter VI.       “Previewing Palm Sunday” (Esther 6:11). This vignette, while not in the historically correct sequence, nonetheless prophetically reminds us that just as Mordecai was honored on by the king and the people, so too would Jesus honored on his triumphal entry into Jerusalem being honored by both God the Father and the crowds cried “Hosanna” and called Jesus the “King of Israel” (John 12:13), For more on the meaning of Palm Sunday please see This Post.

Chapter VII.      “The Last Passover Feast and Christ’s Victory over Satan at the Cross” (Esther 7:10)

Chapter VIII.     “The Great Commission, the New Testament Era Beginning with Christ’s Ascension“, Heralded by Pentecost (Esther 8:1-17)

Chapter IX.       “Judgment Day and the Transition to Eternity“

Chapter X.        “Eternity in Heaven” (Esther 10:3) Please see Galatians 3:16 & 29

NOTE to the Reader: There is not one direct reference to God found anywhere in the Book of Esther.  As a result, Martin Luther declared it to be an apocryphal book.  It is also the only Old Testament book missing from the Dead Sea Scrolls, possibly because the Essene sect believed that Esther was not sufficiently faithful to the Mosaic Law, i.e., Esther (a “Jewess”), married the “Gentile” Persian king.  Nonetheless, for historical corroboration and accuracy, it is important to also note that Mordecai is specifically mentioned among those who returned to Jerusalem in the restoration following the initial captivity into Babylon as can be found in both Ezra 2:2 and Nehemiah 7:7. This double witness validates that Mordecai was a real person in history during the associated time period. The Book of Esther is a true and valid part of the Holy Scriptures, and was perfectly crafted in time and space by God the Holy Spirit as an Historical Parable.

Conclusion

The Book of Esther provides us with an accurate account of an actual period in history, but it was nonetheless orchestrated, recorded, and written under the inspiration of Almighty God, by His Holy Spirit, and it is incorporated into God’s Word the Bible for the edification and consolation of His people, which glorifies God in the process.  The Book of Esther is, therefore, a sequence of historical vignettes orchestrated by God in the first instance (historically), and written down as precisely crafted in the Bible in the second instance (spiritually) to fulfill God’s own purposes. Those purposes include the conveyance of most, if not all, of the key elements of God’s Magnificent Salvation Plan, wrought by the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ, into one short (ten chapter) account (albeit in a “concealed” manner…”Esther” in Hebrew means “concealment”).

And despite the fact that The Book of Esther is read every year to the assembled congregations of the Jewish people in their synagogues to the present day, the true meaning of it, as well as the true meaning of the associated Feast of Purim, remains entirely “concealed” to the Jewish people exactly as was foretold by God to Moses in Deuteronomy 31:16-22. The Book of Esther is therefore also an Historical Parable, which prophetically points us to the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, Who Is The Only Lord, God, and Savior. Moreover the book spiritually spans a period of time encompassing Old Testament National Israel and into the future fulfillment of the feasts of Passover and Pentecost in the New Testament era, as well as a prophetic “preview” of the still future Judgment Day and beyond into eternity in the New Heavens and the New Earth. We can also see key personages of the Bible throughout this book by those who serve as “Types” to each sequentially represent 1) God the Father/Almighty God, 2) Old Testament National Israel, 3) the Lord Jesus Christ, 4) Eternal Israel, 5) The Holy Spirit, and 6) the Devil.

Again, the reader is reminded that there is a longer, much more complete, and much more in-depth study that should be read and pondered in light of all the Bible (just like the Bereans would have done) to verify whether these things are so or not: The Book of Esther: a Christian Commentary

Postscript

When we look around the world today and pass people on the street, it is impossible for anyone to discern by outward appearance who is a true believing Christian.  Only God knows the heart.  And just as Esther’s identity as a Jew (representing the eternal Jews who form the Bride of Christ) was concealed, but eventually revealed, so too will the Bride of Christ remain hidden from the world until the end of time when Jesus comes back on the clouds of Glory to gather His Bride to the Wedding Feast (while also condemning the unsaved of the world in Judgment).

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