The Book of Esther

The Book of Esther

The book of Esther is a Jewish novella, a work of literature, set among the Jewish diaspora community in in the Persian empire under the rule of Xerxes, 486-465 BCE. Did you know that there are two versions of the book in the bible? One is in the Old Testament section, another, the Greek version, is in the apocryphal section of the bible. Some Protestant bibles don’t include the apocrypha, but study bibles usually do. If you can, read the Greek version of Esther before worship this Sunday, as I will compare the two versions in my sermon. What is the book about? Esther, an orphaned woman, who is part of the Jewish diaspora community in Susa, Persia, is surprisingly elevated to Queen of Persia. This allows her, under great danger for herself, to save the Jewish community from genocidal destruction. Esther is an example for stepping up in times of need.

Rev. Kristin-Luana Baumann, sermon, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Port Angeles WA.

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