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Why doesn't the book of Esther mention God?



    
    

Clarify Share Report Asked August 19 2015 Mini Anonymous (via GotQuestions)

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Shea S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries
The book of Esther is unique in several ways. One distinguishing characteristic is that it's the only biblical book that does not mention God by name. This fact has caused some to question its plac...

August 19 2015 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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1340324413 Chris Eleam Chris Eleam
There are those who want to say that the book of Esther is neither inspired nor beneficial, but is simply a beautiful legend. They base their claim on the absence of God’s name. While it is true that God is not directly mentioned, in the Hebrew text there appear to be four separate instances of an acrostic of the Tetragrammaton, the initial letters of four successive words, spelling out YHWH (Hebrew, יהוה), or Jehovah. These initials are made especially prominent in at least three ancient Hebrew manuscripts and are also marked in the Masora by red letters. Also, at Esther 7:5 there is apparently an acrostic on the divine pronouncement “I shall prove to be.”—See footnotes on Esther 1:20; 5:4, 13; 7:7, as well as 7:5.

July 09 2017 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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