PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Expositor's Bible: Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther
Adeney, Walter F. (Walter Frederic) · 116,604 words · 154 reading sections
_The Holy City._
NEHEMIAH vii. 1-4; xi. We have seen that though the two passages that deal with the sparsity of the population of Jerusalem are separated in our Bibles by the insertion of the section on the reading of The Law and the formation of the covenant, they are, in fact, so closely related that, if we skip the intermediate se…
694 wordsSECTION 122_The Holy City._
[246] Pages 271-273. The "population question" which troubled Nehemiah at this time is so exactly opposite to that which gives concern to students of social problems in our own day, that we need to look into the circumstances in which it emerged in order to understand its bearings. The powerful suction of great towns,…
699 wordsSECTION 123_The Holy City._
The fierce antagonism of the Samaritans is an indirect confirmation of the wisdom of Nehemiah's plans. Sanballat and his associates saw clearly enough that, if Jerusalem were to become strong again, the metropolitan pre-eminence--which had shifted from this city to Samaria after the Babylonian conquest--would revert to…
961 wordsSECTION 124_The Holy City._
Nehemiah's simple expedient succeeded, and praise was earned by those Jews who yielded to the sacred decision of the lot and abandoned their pleasant rustic retreats to take up the more trying posts of sentinels in a garrison. According to his custom, the chronicler proceeds to show us how the people were organised. Hi…
695 wordsSECTION 125_Beginnings._
NEHEMIAH xii. 27-47. A curious feature of the history of the restoration of Israel already met with several times is postponement. Thus in the days of Cyrus Zerubbabel leads up an expedition for the express purpose of building the temple at Jerusalem; but the work is not executed until the reign of Darius. Again, Ezra…
682 wordsSECTION 126_Beginnings._
It is important, then, that we should understand what we mean by dedication. Unfortunately in our English Bible the word "dedicate" is made to stand for two totally distinct Hebrew terms, one[247] of which means to "consecrate," to make holy, or set apart for God; while the other[248] means to "initiate," to mark the b…
719 wordsSECTION 127_Beginnings._
The method in which a new beginning was celebrated by the Jews in relation to their restored walls is illustrative of the spirit in which such an event should always be contemplated. In the first place, as a preparation for the whole of the subsequent ceremonies, the priests and Levites carried out a great work of pur…
1,150 wordsSECTION 128_Beginnings._
Further, it is to be observed that a note of gladness rings through the whole ceremony. The account of the dedication concludes with the perfectly jubilant verse, "And they offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy; and the women also and the children rejoiced: so tha…
696 wordsSECTION 129_The Rigour Of The Reformer._
NEHEMIAH xiii. There is no finality in history. The chapter that seems to be rounded on with a perfect conclusion always leaves room for an appendix, which in its turn may serve as an introduction to another chapter. Ezra's and Nehemiah's work seemed to have reached its climax in the happy scene of the dedication of t…
751 wordsSECTION 130_The Rigour Of The Reformer._
It is likely that some rumours of the declension of Jerusalem reached Nehemiah at the Persian court. But he did not discover the whole extent of this retrograde movement until he was once more in the city, with a second leave of absence from Artaxerxes. Then there were four evils that he perceived with great grief. Th…
820 wordsSECTION 131_The Rigour Of The Reformer._
The third indication of backsliding that vexed the soul of Nehemiah was Sabbath profanation. He saw labour and commerce both proceeding on the day of rest--Jews treading the winepress, carrying the sheaves, lading their asses, and bringing loads of wine, grapes, and figs, and all sorts of wares, into Jerusalem for sale…
858 wordsSECTION 132_The Rigour Of The Reformer._
[256] Neh. x. 31. Lastly, Nehemiah was confronted by the social effects of foreign marriage alliances. These alliances had been contracted by Jews resident in the south-western corner of Judaea, who may not have come under the influence of Ezra's drastic reformation in Jerusalem, and who probably were not married till…
1,010 wordsSECTION 133_The Book Of Esther: Introductory._
[257] Neh. xiii. 14. [258] Neh. xiii. 22. [259] Neh. xiii. 31. There is a striking contrast between the high estimation in which the Book of Esther is now cherished among the Jews and the slighting treatment that is often meted out to it in the Christian Church. According to the great Maimonides, though the Prophets…
703 wordsSECTION 134_The Book Of Esther: Introductory._
But there is another side to the question. This book is marvellously true to Persian manners. It is redolent of the atmosphere of the court at Susa. Its accuracy in this respect has been traced down to the most minute details. The character of Ahasuerus is drawn to the life; point after point in it may be matched in th…
730 wordsSECTION 135_The Book Of Esther: Introductory._
These charges have been met by the hypothesis that the author found it necessary to disguise his religious beliefs in a work that was to come under the eyes of heathen readers. Still we cannot imagine that an Isaiah or an Ezra would have treated his subject in the style of our author. It must be admitted that we have a…
1,059 wordsSECTION 136_The Book Of Esther: Introductory._
"Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock."[262] [262] Psalm cxxxvii. 9. It is more difficult to account for the responsible part taken by Mordecai and Esther in begging permission for this awful massacre. The last pages of the Book of Esther reek with blood. A whole empire is conv…
373 wordsSECTION 137_Ahasuerus And Vashti._
ESTHER i. The character of Ahasuerus illustrates the Nemesis of absolutism, by showing how unlimited power is crushed and dissolved beneath the weight of its own immensity. The very vastness of his domains overwhelms the despot. While he thinks himself free to disport according to his will, he is in reality the slave …
661 wordsSECTION 138_Ahasuerus And Vashti._
We naturally start with this glaring exhibition of the irony of fate in our study of Ahasuerus, because it is the most pronounced factor in his character and career. There are other elements of the picture, however, which are not, like this, confined to the abnormal experience of solitary rulers. Next to the revenge of…
660 wordsSECTION 139_Ahasuerus And Vashti._
In the story of Esther poor Vashti's fall is only introduced in order to make way for her Hebrew rival. But after ages have naturally sided with the wronged queen. Was it true modesty that prompted her daring refusal, or the lawful pride of womanhood? If so, all women should honour Vashti as the vindicator of their due…
735 wordsSECTION 140_Ahasuerus And Vashti._
If such a law as this had ever been passed, we might well understand the complaint of those who say it is unjust that the function of legislation should be monopolised by one sex. Even in the West, where women are comparatively free and are supposed to be treated on an equality with men, wrong is often done because the…
823 wordsSECTION 141_Haman._
[263] On the supposition that the writer is not here recording historical facts in the life of Amestris, the real queen of Xerxes, who we know was not murdered. ESTHER iii. 1-6; v. 9-14; vii. 5-10. Haman is the Judas of Israel. Not that his conduct or his place in history would bring him into comparison with the tr…
665 wordsSECTION 142_Haman._
Then at the first check he suffers an annoyance proportionate to the boundlessness of his previous elation. He cannot endure the sight of indifference or independence in the meanest subject. The slender fault of Mordecai is magnified into a capital offence. This again is so huge that it must be laid to the charge of th…
810 wordsSECTION 143_Haman._
In the second place, vanity leads to cruelty through the entire dependence of the vain person on the good opinion of others; and this we may see clearly in the career of Haman. Vanity is differentiated from pride in one important particular--by its outward reference. The proud man is satisfied with himself; but the vai…
651 wordsSECTION 144_Haman._
Two other features in the character of Haman may be noticed. First, he shows energy and determination. He bribes the king to obtain the royal consent to his deadly design, bribes with an enormous present equal to the revenue of a kingdom, though Ahasuerus permits him to recoup himself by seizing the property of the pro…
739 wordsSECTION 145_Queen Esther._
When we turn to the events themselves, we must take another view of the situation. Here was a rough and sweeping, but still a complete and striking punishment of cruel wrong. The Jews expected this too frequently on earth. We have learnt that it is more often reserved for another world and a future state of existence. …
799 wordsSECTION 146_Queen Esther._
The beauty of Esther's character is this, that she is not spoiled by her great elevation. To be the one favourite out of all the select maidens of the kingdom, and to know that she owes her privileged position solely to the king's fancy for her personal charms, might have spoilt the grace of a simple Jewess. Haman, we …
811 wordsSECTION 147_Queen Esther._
Esther was wise in taking the suggestion of her cousin that she had been raised up for the very purpose of saving her people. Here was a faith, reserved and reticent, but real and powerful. It was no idle chance that had tossed her on the crest of the wave while so many of her sisters were weltering in the dark floods …
932 wordsSECTION 148_Queen Esther._
It is to be noted, further, that Esther was a woman of resources. She did not trust to her courage alone to secure her end. It was not enough that she owned her people, and was willing to plead their cause. She had the definite purpose of saving them to effect. She was not content to be a martyr to patriotism; a sensib…
757 wordsSECTION 149_Mordecai._
ESTHER ii. 5, 6; iv. 1, 2; vi. 10, 11; ix. 1-4. The hectic enthusiast who inspires Daniel Deronda with his passionate ideas is evidently a reflection in modern literature of the Mordecai of Scripture. It must be admitted that the reflection approaches a caricature. The dreaminess and morbid excitability of George Elio…
682 wordsSECTION 150_Mordecai._
[266] Esther ii. 5, 6. The peculiarity of Mordecai's part in the story is this, that he is the moving spirit of all that is done for the deliverance of Israel at a time of desperate peril without being at first a prominent character. Thus he first appears as the guardian of his young cousin, whom he has cherished and …
814 wordsSECTION 151_Mordecai._
We see that in Mordecai the flexibility of Jewish patriotism was consistent with a proud scorn of the least approach to servility. He would not kiss the dust at the approach of Haman, grand vizier though the man was. It may be that he regarded this act of homage as idolatrous--for it would seem that Persian monarchs we…
724 wordsSECTION 152_Mordecai._
Now we come to the second course of events that issued in the deliverance and triumph of Israel, and therewith in the escape and exaltation of Mordecai. Here the watchful porter is at the spring of all that happens. His fasting, and the earnest counsels he lays upon Esther, bear witness to the intensity of his nature. …
717 wordsSECTION 153_Mordecai._
The worthiness of the festival will vary according to the ideas and feelings that are encouraged in connection with it. When it has been used as an opportunity for cultivating pride of race, hatred, contempt, and gleeful vengeance over humiliated foes, its effect must have been injurious and degrading. When, however, i…
697 wordsSECTION 154*** End Of The Project Gutenberg Ebook The Expositor'S Bible: Ezra, Nehemiah, And Esther ***
* * * * * Transcriber's note: Variations in spelling have been preserved except in obvious cases of typographical error. Hyphenation is inconsistent. Page 371: "As in the case of Judas, there is thought to be no call...." Missing word "is" has been inserted. Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old ed…
211 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.