Introduction
The Novel about Esther
The Book of Esther is a novel more real than many
historical books. Even if the events are fictitious, they express the
anguish, the resentment and the hopes which, for centuries, were those of
the dispersed Jews. Fear of the pagans, contempt for those who do not know
God;
constant attempts to obtain the favor of the authorities; persistent pleas
to God who cannot allow his people to disappear; hope for the day when they
can take revenge on their enemies for the greater glory of God.
At a time when the gospel is not yet known, the Book of Esther emphasizes
God¡¯s fidelity to his word: the Jewish people had to survive until the final
redemption of the world.
The Jews had the custom of exchanging presents and celebrating a feast
during the time of Purim. The novel supports this custom and justifies the
feast by relating the story of a persecution during which the Jews were
saved this same day by the intervention of Esther and Mordecai. It is
interesting to note that Mac 12:36 speaks of the day of Mordecai: there is
certainly a connection between the Jewish victory and what is related in the
Book of Esther.
As we see, the Book of Esther is very Jewish, but it is also relevant for
the Christians of today, persecuted or barely tolerated in many places.
The Book of Esther
In the Greek Bible the Book of Esther includes important passages ¨C the most
beautiful ¨C not found in the Hebrew Bible. Some believe that these sections
were added in the Greek Bible. Others, however, think that the Greek text is
closer to the primitive one, and that later some passages were taken out for
the Hebrew Bible.
We put the additional texts found in the Greek Bible in italics.