Esther, which is part of the NIV Application Commentary Series, helps readers learn how the message of Esther can have the same powerful impact today that it did when it was first written.
Esther (NIV Application Commentary, The)
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From the Publisher
Esther's story is without doubt both an inspiration and one of the great teaching resources of the church. But what is the key to unlocking the great lessons of Esther? It is this: Read correctly, the lead character of the book of Esther is not even Esther. The lead character is God. The story of Esther is perfect inspiration for us when we find ourselves in situations we never sought, never planned for, and don't think we have the gifts to succeed in handling. It tells us what to do--trust these situations to the Lord and move on.
From the Author
Karen H. Jobes (Ph.D., Westminster) is assistant professor of New Testament studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA, and the author of The Alpha Text of Esther
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
THIS IS WHAT happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
THIS IS WHAT happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
Format:Hardcover
While preparing to teach an adult Sunday school class on Esther, I bought this book sight-unseen through Amazon (though I had a notion it would be worthwhile, since the publisher is Zondervan and the author went to Westminster Theological Seminary). Now that my study on Esther is finished, I can't think of another tool I relied on more heavily than this one (except for the Bible, of course!); I sometimes felt that I should just stop teaching and buy every person in my class a copy of Jobes's excellent book.
It's extremely well-informed, marshaling a vast assortment of scholarly material from other writers; yet it's also quite contemporary, with extended passages applying the text to modern-day life. Best of all, it's level-headed and perceptive; she really wants to understand the book, and thus brings no particular preconceptions about how this or that event should be interpreted.
One thing I learned in my teaching is that Esther is one of the most cryptic books in the Bible, with many thorny issues about which the Biblical writer himself does not care to editorialize. Jobes brings a refreshingly open-minded approach to these issues, and really makes you think, think, think. Yet she never veers from her obvious conviction that this is the infallible word of God. It's quite exhilarating! I kept reading huge chunks of her analysis aloud in class. One of these days I'll track her down and write a letter expressing my gratitude.
If you're a fan of Esther, and especially if you plan to teach or preach on the book, YOU NEED Jobes's terrific analysis. I found it indispensable.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.4 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
INDISPENSABLE
Jan 22 2001
By Joseph W. Smith III
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
While preparing to teach an adult Sunday school class on Esther, I bought this book sight-unseen through Amazon (though I had a notion it would be worthwhile, since the publisher is Zondervan and the author went to Westminster Theological Seminary). Now that my study on Esther is finished, I can't think of another tool I relied on more heavily than this one (except for the Bible, of course!); I sometimes felt that I should just stop teaching and buy every person in my class a copy of Jobes's excellent book.
It's extremely well-informed, marshaling a vast assortment of scholarly material from other writers; yet it's also quite contemporary, with extended passages applying the text to modern-day life. Best of all, it's level-headed and perceptive; she really wants to understand the book, and thus brings no particular preconceptions about how this or that event should be interpreted.
One thing I learned in my teaching is that Esther is one of the most cryptic books in the Bible, with many thorny issues about which the Biblical writer himself does not care to editorialize. Jobes brings a refreshingly open-minded approach to these issues, and really makes you think, think, think. Yet she never veers from her obvious conviction that this is the infallible word of God. It's quite exhilarating! I kept reading huge chunks of her analysis aloud in class. One of these days I'll track her down and write a letter expressing my gratitude.
If you're a fan of Esther, and especially if you plan to teach or preach on the book, YOU NEED Jobes's terrific analysis. I found it indispensable.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
First-rate commentary!
Mar 25 2008
By Matthew L. Bridges
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Dr. Jobes' volume on Esther is my favorite in the Old Testament NIVAC series. I completely disagree with the "Not a good commentary" reviewer below, especially the remarks suggesting Dr. Jobes casually dismisses biblical and historical evidence (her dissertation was on the relationship of the LXX Alpha-text of Esther to the MT).
On the contrary, I found the commentary to be loaded with historical and cultural information that is indispensible to a proper understanding of the text as the original audience would have understood it. Also, as another reviewer has already mentioned, Dr. Jobes really makes you think. I particularly enjoyed her discussions on Divine Providence.
The only criticism I have to offer would be that her handling of eschatological topics is very "Reformed", where my preference is for "Progressive Dispensationalism." I wouldn't suggest you not purchase the book because of that though.
All in all, this is a fantastic commentary from a first-rate scholar!
On the contrary, I found the commentary to be loaded with historical and cultural information that is indispensible to a proper understanding of the text as the original audience would have understood it. Also, as another reviewer has already mentioned, Dr. Jobes really makes you think. I particularly enjoyed her discussions on Divine Providence.
The only criticism I have to offer would be that her handling of eschatological topics is very "Reformed", where my preference is for "Progressive Dispensationalism." I wouldn't suggest you not purchase the book because of that though.
All in all, this is a fantastic commentary from a first-rate scholar!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engaging from Intro to End
Aug 18 2008
By J. Doi
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Well done. Jobes places us in the Persian palace helping us to understand the strange surroundings. She is forthright in her presentation of the facts and situations, even though the author of Esther is spare with details and explanations.
Jobes cautions the reader not to be hasty in making 21st century moralistic conclusions about Esther and friends, something that I have noticed other commentaries on Esther do not shy away from. She highlights things in the story of Esther that the casual reader as well as other commentators overlook: the reversals of destinies, the fascinating chiastic structure of the book, and relationships between men and women.
Jobes easily and naturally invites you to see the providence of God in a book where His name is not mentioned. And she makes the exciting story of Esther even more so as we see it related to the completed story of salvation.
Jobes cautions the reader not to be hasty in making 21st century moralistic conclusions about Esther and friends, something that I have noticed other commentaries on Esther do not shy away from. She highlights things in the story of Esther that the casual reader as well as other commentators overlook: the reversals of destinies, the fascinating chiastic structure of the book, and relationships between men and women.
Jobes easily and naturally invites you to see the providence of God in a book where His name is not mentioned. And she makes the exciting story of Esther even more so as we see it related to the completed story of salvation.
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Go to Amazon.com to see all 11 reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
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