John Shaver XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX Courses of Affairs The book of Esther takes place during the Persian Empire at the time of Xerxes (485-465 BCE). It is one of the most neglected books in the bible and very few people have ever heard a sermon on it. In fact, Ray C. Stedman reports that “Esther is a different kind of literature” and “because it is a different kind of literature, I think perhaps we are …showed first 75 words of 1036 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1036 total…to save the Jews and allowing the Jewish people to rejoice in their glory (NJB 1:1-10:3). Bibliography Works Cited The Holly Bible, New International Version. Kelly, Balmer H. The Layman’s Bible Commentary. Volume 8., Richmond, Virginia: John Knox Press, 1962. McMahon, A.L. The Catholic Encyclopedia. 10 May 2000. Available http://newadvent.org/cathen/05549a.htm The New Jerusalem Bible, Pocket Edition. Stedman, Ray C. A Pair of Queens. 10 May 2000. Available http://pbc.org/dp/stedman/esther/0032.htm1