Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-10-05

INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON.
Reaections Of an Rieyating Character
-whoiesome Food for Thought
Studying the scriptural Lesson In-
telIigentIy and Proatably.


Studying the scriptural Lesson In.
telIigentiy and Probably.
The lesson for Oct. 8 Is from Esther
3: Ill; Its subject Is "Haman's Plot
Against the Jews" Two lessons from
the book of Esther oblige us to consider
the purpose, contents and date OF that
much disputed book. The Jews put IS
Their among the five trolls" or writings
MS distinguished from the law and the
prophets: and while they highly esteemed
this narrative, so pleasing to their ma
tional pride, they never placed u, nor
the other ''rolls," on level Of authority
with the law or the prophets. 1t Is per-
haps fair statement to say that the
Jews regarded these books with snade
greater generation than we regard our
English classics. But since early Cnr,s-
tian times the Old Testament books have
usually been considered as all ON the same
level OF inspiration, canonicity ana sa-
crcdness, though Of course not all on the
same level as regards their value to the
devotional life. The book Of Esther mas
less of distinctly religious teaching than
any other book in the Bible, with the pos
sib,e exception of the Song of Songs AS
has been often remarked. II does not con
tain the name az God; and while the lat
riotic and self-forgetful conduct Of Esther
is worthy of all praise, Mordecafs char
acter is by no means beyond criticism
and the terrible revenge taken upon she
Persians Is certainly not capable OF con-
veying any elevated moral lessons for to-
day The real interest of the story for
US is the light 1t casts upon Jewish con-
ditions in the third or fourth century
before Christ, when (probably) the book
of Esther was written. 1t shows the IN
tense national feeling of the Jews, not
crushed, but intensified under despotic
rule; aud the fierce hatred Of their OPP
pressors which has ever been character
istic of the race. This story of Esther
was one Of the most cherished OF their
records Of glorious past.
When we inquire whether the narrative
is accurate in all its details, there Is
difference of opinion. On the one hand,
there are many striking condolences De-
tween this book and the accounts OF the
persian monarch Xerxes (Ahasuerus)
preserved by Herodotus and other Greek
historians. That there was royal cap
tal at Susa or Shushan GOO miles east
of Babylon) has been established by ex-
cavations made on the site within rev
years. The character of Ahasuerus CIV
en- in the book of Esther is quite In ac-
cord with that depicted by the historians.
The times named for the several events
in the book would fit in with his other
achievements. But the wife OF this KING
is said by Herodotus to have been cruel
and superstitious woman named Ames-
| iris. whose name and character cannot
he reconciled with either Vashti or Es-
Their; and further, an invariable rule is
said to have prevailed in the Persian
empire that the queen must be CHOSEN
from one of the branches of the royal
| house-so that Esther could not nave
! been actually queen, though she may
have been the favorite OF Ahasuerus
harem. The immense slaughter OF Per-
| sians-the ruling race-by Jews (Esth.
| 8: 5, Is, 16) is thought by some to be I'M
probable. Other reasons are urged Ior
regarding the narrative as based on ac-
tual occurrences, but embellished by the
writer. 1t is unlikely that complete
case can be proved on either side. but
| ii is safe to say that modern writers OF
a radical school are more disposed to adj
NIT that the book contains substantial
basis of fact than were similar writer's
fifty years ago. Like the book Of Daniel,
the date of writing and exact correspond
ence of details with history as recorded
by secular writers are not essential for an
appreciation of the literary and moral
value of the book of Esther. Only on the
theory that to question a single item in
the great collection Of miscellaneous writ
ings that form our Bible is to destroy the
authority of the whole can objection be
made to an unprecedented consideration OF
the character Of such book as Esther.
or course the chapters preceding the
lesson must be read. Whatever else may
be said of the book of Esther. it Is one of
the most fascinating stories that was
ever written. The manner of Esrher's
rise to power. the arbitrary caprices of
Ahasuerus, the plot. the GREATNESS sus-
pense Of the interval when the fate of
nation hung in the balance, the heroic
daring of the young queen. the tragic
conclusion-all these, and the manner In
which they are woven together, make the
book true drama.
Explanatory.
AFTER these things: the date of Es-
theirs elevation is given q: 16) as the sew
enth year of Ahasuerus. That would be
at the end of the year $50, or the begin
hing of 479; that is to say, Immediately
| nfter the return Of the king from Greece