Thought provoking video. I'm looking forward to hearing more of your insights on Job. That was the first book to fall for me in terms of believing the bible to be literally true.
"They should realize before they criticize That God is the only way to love" (Black Sabbath "Master of Reality: After Forever" 1971) Peace be with you.
From a Fundamentalist point of view, Esther sleeping with a foreign king out of wedlock to fulfill God's greater purpose is a contradiction against God's objective moral laws pertaining to marriage.
Brandon, you left out the best part: a comic turn of events. When Esther reveals the twist that she is officially on the list of people to be exterminated and begs the king to change his mind, the king gets angry and walks in the garden to cool off. Haman realizing he's in trouble throws himself on Esther, begging her to intercede for his life, and lo and behold: the king comes back from his walk just in time to see Haman ontop of his wife. The king exclaims "Is he also going to rape my wife right in front of me?" And before he finished saying that (just like the messengers in Job) the guards throw a bag over Haman's head and drag him out. There are lots of dramas even to this day that involve someone walking in at a bad moment and misjudging what's going on (comedies too).
Although Esther is the star of the show, Vashti herself is also very admirable. To say no the king, KNOWING you risked death because you are absolutely fed up with the king's debauchery is a statement. Truly a Queen.
@MindShiftSkeptic oh, this is an interesting comment. So, is debauchery bad? A decree of genocide is bad, right? See, let me help you understand something here. What Haman was attempting to do was genocide. When God stops evil, it's JUSTICE! LEARN THE DIFFERENCE! God has all authority and sovereignty to exact justice the way he sees fit. Now, let's jump into our real time. Now, if God was to blow Hamas out the sand right now, what would u say? I want to hear this.
@nmr3647 I've noticed you going around to multiple videos of his and arguing in the comment section about his sayings. You know this is a secular Bible study from an atheist, and yet you come here anyway. Not to learn and listen to a different perspective, but to get angry and leave negative comments. I hope you find peace one day, not the peace you think you currently have, but REAL peace.
Right?! I wish so bad they would make this from a secular perspective. Have it done quality like GOT and throw the verses up on screen during each rape, genocide, act if incest, child sacrifice etc!
@MindShiftSkeptic put this up on the screen. I will meet my Maker one day and answer for all I've done. I decided to sow spiritual discord and lead people astray and mock God. Is God making you do this? Lol. 🫠
@nmr I’d encourage you to take 15 minutes of quiet time and search within your heart as to why Brandon makes you so uncomfortable. You can learn a lot about yourself that way :) Have a good rest of your day
I would like to remind everyone that in the VeggieTales adaptation of this story, The king of Persia decides he wants a new queen when the current one refuses to make him a sandwich. I can’t tell if that has aged like wine or milk
Although not canon in the protestant line, we catholics have the book of judith and extra chapters for this book which actually introduce Jehovah's intervention through prayer I believe it was mordecai. There are a lot of parallels between Judith and Esther when I read them especially in the themes of divine intervention; both are also historical fiction.
I'm an atheist, but sometimes I still love watching the old epic biblical movies like The Ten Commandments, because they actually showcase many nuanced human elements in the socio-political struggles and personal relationships. There's a movie about Esther's story from 2006 called One Night with the King. It doesn't feel too preachy and it fixes some of the plot issues that you mention. For instance, Esther actually admonishes the king in private for his treatment of his previous wife. Their relationship is more about softening his heart towards her over time and coming to accept who she is without knowing until the end her identity as a Jew. It reminds me of the song they used to sing on Ash Wednesday "they will know we are Christians by our love." Taking religion out of it, I think it's an interesting approach towards gaining appreciation for a people or culture. Basically, instead of coming at a topic with preconceived notions (such as labeling oneself as part of a specific religion), you get to know the essence of what that person, group, or belief is about. It has an element of placing humanity at the forefront, which I always like when talking about groups that I may disagree with.
When I was an extremely doubt filled Christian, one of my favorite books was Esther. I liked Esther because it felt redemptive, and more like an interesting story with agency and character development than a moralistic tale. In retrospect, I also remember it feeling like a welcome relief from most other books because it wasn’t focused on and obsessed with subservience to God, although I couldn’t really admit that, even to myself
Haman giving Xerxes suggestions for how to honour someone who's pleased the King, thinking it was him, and then having to do all he suggested for his nemesis is genuinely funny, and VeggieTales made it even more so. It's a decent enough story, possibly adapted from stories from Persia (only saying that because Persia seems to have such a fantastic narrative tradition), but I do wonder if it came close to not being included in the canon? The Dead Sea Scrolls have complete or partial copies of all of the Tanakh except for Esther, so maybe it's canonicity was disputed, even as late as then? Of course, if they're going to include fanciful stories of Jewish women underdogs taking on oppressors in scripture, why couldn't they have included Judith? There should have been a VeggieTales adaptation of that...
From what I understand, the Jews were kept unarmed in Persia, so when the king proclaims that they can defend themselves, it means that they can buy and maintain weapons so that they're not easy targets. But excellent as always.
Very interesting. One of my favorite types of stories is ancient historical fiction. They are usually built around some real event but the main characters are (mostly) made up. Plot devices are used to get the hero and heroine into and out of trouble. I can say that the book of Ester would have been enjoyable for fiction readers like me by itself.
Ha. Yes while god was on vacation, it was left to one young jewish girl to have to whore herself out and risk her life to save her people. Sure would have been nice for god to do that confusion trick instead. But god only does that to save men lol. Sorry had to. Thanks for watching!
I'm definitely getting Shakespeare vibes from this. Just as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern happily carried their own execution order, Haman happily built the stake upon which he was later killed. A main character overhearing important information, the plot being in banquet hall set pieces with the bulk of the plot centered around entering and exiting static environments, and plot with high production value being delivered through narration or expositional dialogue. I think you nailed it. I never saw it before (although the last time I read Esther I was a teenager).
I didn’t think I’d enjoy listening to a secular bible study, especially since even talking about the bible now brings up unpleasant memories. But you make it tolerable lol. And it’s interesting to me, listening to this from an entirely different perspective than I had before. Appreciate it! * I CAN’T WAIT to hear the one on Revelations 😂. I’m gonna have to be drinking for that one.
14:35 - Now I’m excited for the release of “Esther, the Canaanite Slayer” in theaters. Was looking forward to this video and you’ve not disappointed. Thanks again for your work.
Its a neat one for sure. Unfortunately at the end of the day its just a poor jewish girl having to whore herself out and break gods intermarriage commandments to save her people when god would not step in
@@MindShift-Brandon whew! That is a perspective I didn’t even think about! I remember the yoke thing came up in a conversation because I said I didn’t mind my significant other being an atheist/agnostic even though I was really religious and spiritual. As long as there is respect and common ground on how to raise the children, I was good. Values and morals can still be similar without the religion. There are many accounts of these stories where marrying someone outside did more good than harm. Was I being hypocritical or not following the commandments? If this is true, then you can say the same about God.
You said something that sparked my memory. You mentioned that "oathes mean nothing". I feel that no one ACTUALLY believed in God-- that these were stories as guides for culture or weilded as power by leaders. The fact everyone breaks vows is so human and just "proof" no one took the God thing any more seripus than they HAD to... like a child whose parent is expecting them to do X,Y and Z and the child does as minimal as possible but when parent isnt looking they straight up do what they want. 😂
@@unknownx7252 Because it's both an enchanting story on its own, and the fact that its due to the Christian interpretation of "Divine Destiny" where Esther was placed in the position as a queen exactly for the reason that god wanted to save his people since he knows the future. It provides a comfort zone to people who wants to imagine that they have a divine purpose for existing.
"So we get lots of fun death and destruction." I don't think Brandon means to be funny allllll the time, but the dead pan way he says these things makes me chuckle.
I had no idea that Tobias and Judith were not in the Protestant canon! As a former catholic, I was really excited to hear your take on these two- especially Tobias which gets thrown around a lot in Catholic youth circles at least where I’m from!
Thank you for this series. I just found it yesterday. I started with Ruth... then went back and listened to Genesis and Exodus. Today I discovered you posted Esther... so I listened to that one. Ruth and Esther were my favourite books as a Christian. I liked your dive into some of the less talked about issues. I will go back and wade through the rest... hoping you can make Leviticus and Numbers a little more interesting than the years I endured their content during my Christian years. I still have a lot of baggage that keeps me from wanting to start reading the bible again. My lack of comprehending Greek being one, and my lack of community to dissect ideas like you are doing being the other. But I will hang in there with you. I realize most of the content of the bible has found a place in my cranium to gather dust... so as you talk about the stories and content... they are not far from my recall. Thank you. Ruby from Alberta Canada
Hey Ruby! so appreciate you checking out the series. I cant promise you will like Leviticus and Numbers, but what I cover with them is anything but boring!
@@20july1944 Wow... No one has ever asked me that. Thank you. I suffer from lack of interest from my family and friends about my life journey. So neat to find out someone out in the worlds really cares. I just wish I had an answer for that which is concise... but I don't . It is why I blog. I have six blogs to process all the why questions. So I can't sum it up here. But thank you for asking!!!
It's been a while since I've read the Bible in it's entirety. You bring back 🎶Memories🎵 I'm gearing up to read it again after years. I grabbed a copy of Je Schneider's latest Bible exploration. Might read that first before hitting up the ESV.
While it is true that the Hebrew version of Esther, which is in the Protestant canon, doesn't mention God by name, the Greek version, which is used by Roman Catholics, has several additions to the text that do mention God. Don't know if you plan to do the Deuterocanonical books, but there's some doozies among them.
👍Some of these stories are told much more smoothly. Tobit. Judith. Susannah. Bel and the Dragon. From these stories, plus Ezra-Nehemiah, it seems life in exile was not too bad.
Great summary and analysis of Esther. I am currently reading through the Jewish Annotated Apocrypha. The Greek additions to Esther are pretty fun too. There are God references added, for example. Biblical scholars say Judith is similar to Esther. Like Esther, Judith uses her beauty to save her people, but Judith is much more violent.
@@MindShift-Brandon God, those are so nice. I bought a really soft, long sweater just the other day and have been wearing it every day while I WFH. This time of year is so cozy.
This one really helps convince me that the Jewish "scriptures" was pulled together as a nationalist document to get Artaxerxes to release them under his policy of releasing nationals. It has all the earmarks. I loved the movie version One Night with the King. But it's a story. That's IT.
Thanks for this series! I love it. You mentioned in this episode Psalms already. I look forward to that one. Is it possible to do several parts about the episode of psalms? Because it’s a very important an beloved book by many christians. Many to unpack. Same for isaiah btw.
Thanks so much! And Yes ive been thinking about that a lot. So many books, even ones i have already done require much deeper dives than 30-40min but i do love having a simple, fast, highlevel 66 episode series for this bible. I think i might stick with one per book. Do what i can. And then do deep dives afterward
I just found your channel this week and I’ve been really enjoying it! Watched more videos than I’d care to admit, but it’s been time well spent. Thanks for putting out such consistently great content!
Mordicai's comment to Esther in 4:14 "for such a time as this" implies God's providence in making her queen to save his people. This is problematic in that she was basically a sex trophy for the king based on her appearance. Is this what the God of the bible thinks women are good for? I hope God's plan to save America doesn't involve my daughter being Trump's "queen"
Pretty clearly it's what the god of the bible, being fashioned out of the ideals of men at the time, thinks women are good for. That and bearing children, servitude, and rape.
I was not raised Christian but am FASCINATED with this Secular Bible study course. Can anyone recommend a version of the Bible that is written in “everyday English?” If I read it, I think I can follow Brandon’s lectures better.
@@MindShift-Brandon I'm another who is happily going through these in order. I so appreciate what you're doing, it lifts so much former weight off me to look at these books more clearly.
Anyone else find it weird that Persians never recorded this rather unique and exceptional period of history where a Persian ruler takes a non-Persian and Non-Noble woman as his wife (Not concubine) and reneged laws that would have resulted in the large-scale killing of an entire ethnic group of an empire which was a multi-state empire in which its regions had vast autonomy.
Better than Cliffs notes as always! I always listen straight through but I've started going back and making a summary of each chapter so that I can remember where what happened and points that have really stuck out for me. Off topic... Have you ever seen the movie, A Theif in the Night, I think from 1972? I was talking to my sister yesterday and she randomly brought up the rapture and it brought back to mind that movie that was shown in my church when I was about ten years old. It was SO traumatizing. I was terrified for months, always making sure I hadn't been "left behind." Maybe someday you could talk about your thoughts on the rapture and even that movie specifically. Thanks as always. Brandon.
@MindShiftSkeptic I know that movie was long before you were born. After 50 years, I still have that song in my head, "the children died, the days grew cold. A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold. I wish we'd all been ready. There's no time to change your mind. The son has come and you've been left behind." I just found on UA-cam that some modern Christian band has remade the song. It still gives me chills! I can't wait to hear your views on the rapture, but one topic at a time!!
I like when the telling of the story of Esther and when Haman is mentioned people have these noise makers and they spin them around and say shout “boo!!”
Looking at the story of Ruth and Esther compared to the bible, it shows the difference in struggles between men and women in a patriarchal society. In the bible it seems like most books which surround the women are about them having to attain power so they can survive, in a society that sees them as less-than. It really reflects on much of history where, to women, power means an elevation to almost where a man would stand. That means freedom to not worry about where their next meal comes from, to have their voice heard, to not be raped or their children murdered.
I have always found this story interesting, the difference now is that I don't see it as actual history. However, I do think this book does contributes to Christians persecution complex.
@@20july1944 Nowhere in recorded Persian history do we have the Achaemenid or predecessor Empire passing laws targeting Jews for extermination. Nor do we see any record in Persian history referencing a Persian Emperor taking a Jewish concubine and passing a law permitting Jewish people to form a militia to prevent the aforementioned massacres. If you have a credible historian or archaeologist whose found a steele or tablet that records this I'd be interested in reading it.
@@GuyShōtō It would be embarrassing for the rulers IF it was even of any interest to them and ancient history was easy to edit at the time for the rulers who paid the stone carvers. The incident would be very small beer to them, and regimes/countries changed many times there, so lack of written/carved evidence isn't very significant.
Danny, you morose POS, this is a book in the OLD Testament. Christians didn't put anything in the OT, Jews did. Because of your picture, I always read your posts in a whine.
Hi Brandon! I'm so glad you covered this book. I have some information you may not have known. This story is actually a Jewish retelling of a Babylonian tale. In the original, Esther was the goddess Ishtar and Mordecai was the God Marduk who became King of the Gods. This would explain the absence of Yahweh. It also shows how, in ancient times, when different cultures met, stories would be shared and adapted.
So much crossover! Most biblical stories in general are retellings but i was unaware of the specifics on this one. Thank you! Excited to look into that further
At about the 24:25 mark, if I understand the statement you were making, you were saying that Haman knew Mordecai was Jewish and then later we find out he figures out that Mordecai is Jewish. Can you point me to the verses that show this? I thought that was interesting, but I couldn't find where Haman figured out that Mordecai is Jewish. It seems to me that he knows from the negative encounter they have and onwards. I read the NRSV so maybe it words it differently.
Haven't watched this one yet, just found your channel the other day and I'm trying to catch up! You have the best channel for this topic I have seen to date. I was never religious but my brother in law is, so I watch these videos to try and counter his points.... with that said, I brought you up, and his question was "has he been baptized" (and he means on your own choice, not as a child), mentioned taking in the holy Spirit too.... don't think you will see this, and maybe it has been answered already, sorry if so....
So glad to have you here! Thanks for the kindness. Lol to answer your brother’s pointless question. I was baptized. As a kid but at an older age when i decided. I think i was 11. Id argue i knew more scripture then than most professing adults. Baptism is just an outward expression of faith. It doesn’t grant any powers. Now baptism of the holy spirit supposedly does. If your brother is the kind of believer who thinks that is proved by tongues i know exactly where he falls in his beliefs. These questions are so silly because despite whatever my answer is, it wouldnt change the issues with the religion. It doesnt all of a sudden make the bible valid, the history true, take away the moral and scientific issues etc. have fun with that one!
@@MindShift-Brandon wow, thank you for the response, and so quickly! And yes, he says something about speaking in tongues and Jesus tells him what it means, something like that.
@wakeupamerica2824 lol well thats not biblical. One should only ever speak in tongues when someone else with the gift of interpretation of tongues is present to translate.
Funny how Esther had to do this herself as a woman where god was absent , didn’t give her no help no power no nothing just her doing it herself to help her people for men to write it in the Bible that god say we should help others, 😂😂😂 when god was dealing with men he give them power and wisdom, but with women he let them do all the work for him to take credit for it ,
@20july1944 oh be quiet , God don't care for women, he just use them for marriage to sh1t out his sons that he plays favorite with, if a woman choose to aspire to gain wisdom and power for her own gain God is useless , But when its a man he is appears 🤣🤣 example MOSES: God gave him power to turn water to blood and divide sea. SOLOMON:, God unlimited wisodm DAVID:God made him king ELIJAH:gave him power to curse SAMSON :God gave him super strength. And so many more, 🤣 how many of them where women, Women are punished more or used In the FAVOR OF MEN , heck God even use Rape as punishment, it's in the Bible, when has God intervene in a woman's interest unless it isn't related to love and marriage AKA THE DESIRE OF A MAN IF HE BEGS GOD FOR, as if that all women wants some women seek wisdom and power, yet god hate that for them, WOMEN IN THE BIBLE IF THEY ARE EVER MENTIONED, are always related to being under a man, have no power of there own and God DO NOTHING FOR THEM. hence why I call the bible the man made book. AND WHEN WOMEN DO THE WORK FOR THEMSELVES, MEN TAKE FULL CREDIT AND ATTACH IT TO THEMSELVES OR FUNNY GOD... pathetic
Throughout the entire Bible, god intervenes. There is no shortage of passages highlighting the miracles he does for his people. Hardening hearts, confusing enemies, dropping food, rocks and flames, releasing the bears and so on. These god miracles are absent from this book; that’s why it’s viewed as an anomaly. You sound silly asserting, “…you don’t know what god did behind the scenes…”, when the rest of the book consistently tells the reader what god DOES behind the scenes.
@@bobbydobalina Actually, that wasn't my point although it is true; this is a story from Jewish exile history and you have no basis for denying it could and did happen. I don't care about the story either way.
I would have to wonder....could it be that Estate was actually the first book written, then all other texts were written to explain the Divine providence
Esther is believed to have been originally written as a Novel. It is entirely fiction. Using some minor historical truths that were consolidated withing the large time frame that they occured.
😊27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
To me, this story, and several others in the OT, are object lessons in how to survive as a colonized/oppressed people. Sometimes you have to become the wife of a king, but if you can get into the oppressor's royal court, you can have some influence that just might save your people group. Also a bit of propaganda aimed towards the non-royal people in the oppressor's group: don't attack our group, you may get a counter-attack (with the king's blessing).
Not related to the video but it's something I'd love an answer for regardless. In 1 of your earlier videos you talked about how the church you went to performed faith healing, your mother spoke in touches etc. I am very curious as to how you can explain that from a naturalistic world view. I understand all the rational arguments against God but when you witness a blind man see for the first time or someone disabled walk again its hard not to believe. I would love to hear your perspective of these things
I'm surprised you haven't seen any of the many videos about how these fake healers pull their deceptive stunts to fool the audience, there's plenty right here on UA-cam. Let's just say for now that the blind man wasn't actually blind, and the disabled person could walk before the fake healer got near them. The fake healers know they are getting money and adoration from fools, and hate it when they get exposed.
(Darth Vader Theme) I am Haman, the Prime Minister, you may think I am quite sinister, but I am really good, I'm just misunderstood, and I just want to hang Mordechai.
Fair analysis of this Bible story that is obviously fictional but, is only a little violent and less misogynistic than most. I always wondered why it was in the Bible at all, too.
I think it still serves the jewish propaganda machine quite well. Underdog story. Vengeance on enemies, being special in the sight of kings etc. thanks for being here
So Mordecai didn't bow to Haman because he was a man and not God. Did Mordecai avoid bowing to the King also? I doubt. Also, Kings don't hold random contest to choose the queen, maybe concubines. Kings usually marries a daughter of high ranking politicians or millitary officers to strengthen his authority. We see already in the story that men were planning a revolt, so it would be rationalbfor him to Marry a daughter of someone powerful, not a women he doesn't know, neither her family. Yeah this is fiction
Kace: If a king is strong enough not worry about allies, he just evaluates women as sex objects. You're right there are usually dynastic considerations, but maybe not in this case. I can find out when I go to heaven IF God/heaven exists, but I won't bother asking because I honestly don't care.
Could we hear your thoughts on the Adam and Eve myth? My view is that it doesn't make sense because if in Eden there is no sin, and it's not until they eat the apple that sin appears (through gaining knowledge of good and evil) then wouldn't the act of disobeying god (making the choice to eat the apple) not have been a sin because they made that choice prior to eating the apple? If anything goes in Eden, then disobeying god should also be on the table. Right? After eating the apple, the first time you sin, maybe you would be kicked out of Eden, but the act itself shouldn't have been a sin. I mean, there's a lot of other things to unpack in this myth, but this seems like a big one to me.
@@MindShift-Brandon That would really be fantastic. I think it's such a big, important part of the faith, the whole idea of where we fell from and it just seems so ridiculous when you really bite into it. I think it would make a great deconstruction video. ;)
To add to it, if Adam (and Eve) sinned and caused death to enter the world, what was the purpose of the tree of life in the garden? Doesn't seem to make sense to have a tree of life if there's no death.
Kristi Burke does a good job of that IMO, you might want to check that out. She and Brandon make a nice combination (she's not as prolific as Brandon, though!)
Excellent points! After reading the Bible many times from front to back it became evident that all these books are simply just stories that have been passed down through the generations. So much is said but it doesn't ring as truth for the simple fact of how it's written. Each book is just a collection of stories. If you read all the apocrypha books it really becomes obvious because, it's like many of them were written to fill in the blanks of what was missing within other stories. All fictional with just enough truth sprinkled in here and there to ring true to those lacking in critical thinking skills.
A story can have value regardless of the historicity of it. You are asumming the all jewish and christian people take Esther as historical when a simple google search doesnt reveal that to be the case.
@@kettei7743 That is true, but my sense is that a lot of people here were brought up in the tradition of an inerrant bible -- that it has to be literally true, since it comes from god. So their comments come from that perspective. I was brought up in a different kind of church, but even though it was attached to a seminary, there was still a lot of glossing over about the supposed "history".
I have to laugh because this book's plot sounds like a comic book. I hear echoes of complaints about comic book movie plots in your criticism. 😄 And doesn't that odd decree that Jews could fight back (and them getting carried away) seem like an ancient version of the Purge movie? (Though I have never watched them, only know the concept)
They could have made this a separate book, I realized that when I read it, nothing about the imaginary sky daddy wizard, the could have just made the Esther chronicles or whatever, the writers of the Bible said, we won't give a woman that much credit, pretty insecure, so they made up a god, how it seems, but the story is interesting
It was ten sons that Haman had that were slain and hanged on the gallows, not nine, , And there is no record of Esther or Mordecai or any of the Jews taking part in any of the drinking , In Chapter 1 verse 8 It reads that the drinking was according to the law " none did compel " it was according to every man's pleasure .
22:03 Evidence that Jewish is not a nationality. The same for Hebrew. Somehow Moses was not recognized as such for many years, but was thought to be Egyptian. Try not revealing the fact that you're Chinese, or Japanese, or Nigerian, or Brazilian, or Russian. Not very likely. Jewish and Hebrew apparently refer to a sect with a different set of beliefs or culture, as opposed to perhaps the popular majority. The Hebrew Scriptures don't cover a large portion of the world. People travel by feet and animals such as horses and donkeys.
Although yes, you are not trying to antisemitic. Nevertheless, my perspective is it's more about a lesson of divine intervention and preservation of Jewish identity and hope for the Jewish people. On the other hand , it should be noted that certain aspects were overly and unnecessarily embellished to emphasize a groups ' identity.
My goodness, I had a long comment here and I touched the backspace of my phone screen 😭 Anyways... So we have here the origin of Jewish celebration of Purim. There they read the book of Esther. It's about "adonay never abandons you" Protestant Christians don't use old testaments Catholic Apostolic and Roman then.. 🤔 Sooo... I expected a reference to The first epistle just after Acts of the apostles. Romans. Chapter one verse 1 I Paul, servant of... Etc. I name myself as an apostle, I was chosen.. When you get to chapter 8, there is a good reference for the importance of having Esther in the canon. About how the law survives by the grace of god, so mordecai survived but not He-Man 😈 Haman So you are going to Job... The Prosecutor bets Adonay the best of the best, Job, is part of the chosen people because he is super good at $$$ and everything.. So... Let's FLICK him to "TEST" Him... I love Jonas book.. 🤔 😬 😅 Poor whale... I hope people don't comment you are throwing hate to this book because you aren't. Very nice to see you using missionaries talents at knowing the word.. I don't understand why you didn't get the Judaism point of view here. How is this supposed to connect things for the future Messiah.. And that putting names and dates like Luke's gospel "mean they are historical"
*yawn* because Micah, Isaiah etc. were clearly talking about a political Messiah who would literally deliver the Northern Israelites/Jews from the brutal and oppressive Assyria. We don't understand Judaism? Well. ask most modern Jews and they will get angry at you for appropriating their Scripture texts to fit the Christian narrative. I mean, what an absolutely out of context prophecy it was when in Matthew 2 when Jesus and his family fled to Egypt, the gospel writer claimed that it was a fulfilled prophecy from Hosea 11:1 (the Hosea 11:2 said my son was rebellious.)
@@YeenMage oh yes man. They TELEPORTED there... They took a plane, like how in star wars episode 5 dagobah and Bespin seem to be very close to each other and to reach Bespin, the millenium falcon without hyperdrive got there pronto? The yawn part was unnecessary 🥺😈🖖
The story is quiet good though if you discount this as a religious book. It's like a fairy tale, good vs bad like Disney's Snow White and reminds me of some Greek myth fables that I like. And the less god features in Old Testament books like in Ruth, the better the story becomes. IDK
@@20july1944 *sigh* I am not sure if I want to talk you out of your beliefs but anyways: Why? The same reason why you will most likely never believe that the Quran, the Mahabharta, the Ramayana, the Vedas, the Aeneid, the Deuterocanonicals (Apocryphas) etc. as historical - you will only believe what you want to believe which is the Bible, and draw your conclusions starting there instead of the other way around. Also, I am was a Bible scholar so I have my scholarly reasons. I don't take any religious text at face value. You probably don't even know that each Bible books have their genre, so you might be completely missing what they are trying to say. There is no solid evidence of an Esther becoming a queen to Ahasuerus (maybe Xerxes I) or his 3rd son Artaxerxes I which is damning enough. Such an very important event would appear many times in historical records - and I have more but this comment is too long now. Go ahead though, search online and you will find a couple of scholars forcefully insisting the traditional view. Also, who said we aren't considering some parts of the Bible as historical (the general details of the Sack of Jerusalem, the Babylonian exile, the return of the Jews under Achaemenid Persia are considered historical)? You are the only one it seems who is attacking the strawman by telling yourself we all atheists are dismissive of the Bible. Us concerned just don't take a book at face value just like we are skeptical with the myth of Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus. Also, were you born in 1944? If yes, then it's mostly impossible to change the mind of a man of that age so I cannot do anything to help you out.
@@YeenMage No, asshole, 20july1944 is a famous date from history. If you're a Bible scholar, please tell me how you think Christianity actually started.
As someone from Bosnia, this story actually seems plausible to me. This sort of institutional plotting of hateful individuals against members of a race, religion, or ethnicity that they hate is the norm all around the world. There's plenty of history of it here in the US if you just scratch the surface. Look at Jim Crow laws and countless other examples of various groups being targeted.
Things are always the same. It's true. The point about plausibility is the chosen people have lots of bad rulers (supposedly) with their names written down... 🤔 But stories like Esther's, they always seem to win...
Now that I remembered, i'm actually very interested in what you have to say in the book of Job! Since while i'm personally very satisfied with the video Inspiring Philosophy did about it over 9 year ago and the one from the BibleProject, I'd stil like to hear your take✌
Esther and Ruth always amuse me because they get lauded as examples of God lifting women up and how they are as good, or better, than men because we’re *all* children of God. Except…it they did so specifically because of the Biblically sanctioned, patriarchal misogyny of the society AND knowing examples to immediately present by name to argue our traditional Biblical role immediately disproves the point. Can you name every example of a male championing God’s will or plan? There are too many to remember. But we got two women. God bless equality! 🤦🏻♀️
lol, feel free to explain. I wish that was the decision before me. But since I cant be hiking all the time and have to sit in this office for work, I might as well pop out a few videos each week, ay?
@@MindShift-Brandon I was supposed to thru hike the AT this year and it’s on hold. Maybe next year. If you’re as happy and miserable hiking as much as I am well… who wants to make content on the Bible.
You do know he's spent the majority of his life as a Christian right? Going to Christian schools, and Christian college? Spending most of his time around Christian people and in Christian spaces? With a Christian family and friends? Attending church and learning the Bible cover to cover, as well as memorizing most of it. Not that he needs any of that to read a book and talk about it on the internet, but if that doesn't qualify someone to teach others about the Bible, I don't know what would.
@tiffanydoug5250 That wouldn't qualify anyone to teach the Bible. I spent most of my life pumping gas in my car and sniffing exhaust fumes. That qualifies me to teach automotive engineering.
Back to SBS! Welcome everyone
😊Esther ....of wood rosin ?
Thought provoking video. I'm looking forward to hearing more of your insights on Job. That was the first book to fall for me in terms of believing the bible to be literally true.
"They should realize before they criticize
That God is the only way to love"
(Black Sabbath "Master of Reality: After Forever" 1971)
Peace be with you.
From a Fundamentalist point of view, Esther sleeping with a foreign king out of wedlock to fulfill God's greater purpose is a contradiction against God's objective moral laws pertaining to marriage.
100%! Great point. Marrying a gentile is pure evil, until it saves the whole jewish race.
sex before marriage isnt a sin. the law says if a man seduces a virgin (before marriage) go to her father and pay him a dowry for her and then marry.
@@DaddyAZTLOne problem is Esther marrying a Caananite. Deuteronomy 7:1-3.
@@tim57243 ester married king of persia. persians arent cannanites.
@@DaddyAZTLRight. I had him confused with Haman. The video says Haman was a Caananite, but other sources are telling me he was an Amalekite.
Brandon, you left out the best part: a comic turn of events. When Esther reveals the twist that she is officially on the list of people to be exterminated and begs the king to change his mind, the king gets angry and walks in the garden to cool off. Haman realizing he's in trouble throws himself on Esther, begging her to intercede for his life, and lo and behold: the king comes back from his walk just in time to see Haman ontop of his wife. The king exclaims "Is he also going to rape my wife right in front of me?" And before he finished saying that (just like the messengers in Job) the guards throw a bag over Haman's head and drag him out. There are lots of dramas even to this day that involve someone walking in at a bad moment and misjudging what's going on (comedies too).
This one is full of hidden Esther eggs!
Although Esther is the star of the show, Vashti herself is also very admirable. To say no the king, KNOWING you risked death because you are absolutely fed up with the king's debauchery is a statement. Truly a Queen.
Ahh very true!
@MindShiftSkeptic oh, this is an interesting comment. So, is debauchery bad? A decree of genocide is bad, right? See, let me help you understand something here. What Haman was attempting to do was genocide. When God stops evil, it's JUSTICE! LEARN THE DIFFERENCE! God has all authority and sovereignty to exact justice the way he sees fit.
Now, let's jump into our real time. Now, if God was to blow Hamas out the sand right now, what would u say? I want to hear this.
@nmr3647 I've noticed you going around to multiple videos of his and arguing in the comment section about his sayings. You know this is a secular Bible study from an atheist, and yet you come here anyway. Not to learn and listen to a different perspective, but to get angry and leave negative comments. I hope you find peace one day, not the peace you think you currently have, but REAL peace.
Let us focus on Vashti, @@nmr3647
Lets not pretend isreal, stolen land, isn't filled with this evil also, who murdered the ppl and took their land@@nmr3647
The Bible is so brutal, it would be like GOT if turned into a show. Can you imagine all of this on film?
Right?! I wish so bad they would make this from a secular perspective. Have it done quality like GOT and throw the verses up on screen during each rape, genocide, act if incest, child sacrifice etc!
@@MindShift-Brandon I would definitely watch it! Love the verse idea…
@MindShiftSkeptic put this up on the screen. I will meet my Maker one day and answer for all I've done. I decided to sow spiritual discord and lead people astray and mock God. Is God making you do this? Lol. 🫠
@nmr I’d encourage you to take 15 minutes of quiet time and search within your heart as to why Brandon makes you so uncomfortable. You can learn a lot about yourself that way :)
Have a good rest of your day
I wonder if it would be age restricted
I would like to remind everyone that in the VeggieTales adaptation of this story, The king of Persia decides he wants a new queen when the current one refuses to make him a sandwich. I can’t tell if that has aged like wine or milk
Wine. It captures the attitude behind it.
😂 100% good wine 🍷
I think it's aged akin to flan
Huh
Although not canon in the protestant line, we catholics have the book of judith and extra chapters for this book which actually introduce Jehovah's intervention through prayer I believe it was mordecai. There are a lot of parallels between Judith and Esther when I read them especially in the themes of divine intervention; both are also historical fiction.
I'm an atheist, but sometimes I still love watching the old epic biblical movies like The Ten Commandments, because they actually showcase many nuanced human elements in the socio-political struggles and personal relationships. There's a movie about Esther's story from 2006 called One Night with the King. It doesn't feel too preachy and it fixes some of the plot issues that you mention. For instance, Esther actually admonishes the king in private for his treatment of his previous wife. Their relationship is more about softening his heart towards her over time and coming to accept who she is without knowing until the end her identity as a Jew. It reminds me of the song they used to sing on Ash Wednesday "they will know we are Christians by our love." Taking religion out of it, I think it's an interesting approach towards gaining appreciation for a people or culture. Basically, instead of coming at a topic with preconceived notions (such as labeling oneself as part of a specific religion), you get to know the essence of what that person, group, or belief is about. It has an element of placing humanity at the forefront, which I always like when talking about groups that I may disagree with.
It was fun, thanks. I am looking forward to seeing the book of Ecclesiastes analysed.
Ecclesiastes is one of my favorites that I’ve done so far.
When I was an extremely doubt filled Christian, one of my favorite books was Esther. I liked Esther because it felt redemptive, and more like an interesting story with agency and character development than a moralistic tale. In retrospect, I also remember it feeling like a welcome relief from most other books because it wasn’t focused on and obsessed with subservience to God, although I couldn’t really admit that, even to myself
Haman giving Xerxes suggestions for how to honour someone who's pleased the King, thinking it was him, and then having to do all he suggested for his nemesis is genuinely funny, and VeggieTales made it even more so. It's a decent enough story, possibly adapted from stories from Persia (only saying that because Persia seems to have such a fantastic narrative tradition), but I do wonder if it came close to not being included in the canon? The Dead Sea Scrolls have complete or partial copies of all of the Tanakh except for Esther, so maybe it's canonicity was disputed, even as late as then? Of course, if they're going to include fanciful stories of Jewish women underdogs taking on oppressors in scripture, why couldn't they have included Judith? There should have been a VeggieTales adaptation of that...
I'd love to see how Veggie Tales would handle Judith...
From what I understand, the Jews were kept unarmed in Persia, so when the king proclaims that they can defend themselves, it means that they can buy and maintain weapons so that they're not easy targets.
But excellent as always.
Thanks for that context!
@@MindShift-Brandon No worries, and thanks for yet another excellent video.
It also speaks volumes to me that in these stories with lead heroines you don't see god intervening or interfering on their behalf.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer was EXCELLENT! Maybe that will be in the new Bible when that gets written as the inspired word of god!
😂😂😂
Very interesting. One of my favorite types of stories is ancient historical fiction. They are usually built around some real event but the main characters are (mostly) made up. Plot devices are used to get the hero and heroine into and out of trouble. I can say that the book of Ester would have been enjoyable for fiction readers like me by itself.
For sure. Under the right pretense its a great little story
Like Spiderman xD
New York City was real, but Spidey??
A nice respite from all the smiting & terror. Thank you for SBS 😄
Ha. Yes while god was on vacation, it was left to one young jewish girl to have to whore herself out and risk her life to save her people. Sure would have been nice for god to do that confusion trick instead. But god only does that to save men lol. Sorry had to. Thanks for watching!
Yep. Back to drunkeness and illicit sex.
@@MindShift-Brandonwas she married to someone before
I'm definitely getting Shakespeare vibes from this. Just as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern happily carried their own execution order, Haman happily built the stake upon which he was later killed. A main character overhearing important information, the plot being in banquet hall set pieces with the bulk of the plot centered around entering and exiting static environments, and plot with high production value being delivered through narration or expositional dialogue. I think you nailed it. I never saw it before (although the last time I read Esther I was a teenager).
It's more like a Greek story.
@@katarinatibai8396 do elaborate.
I didn’t think I’d enjoy listening to a secular bible study, especially since even talking about the bible now brings up unpleasant memories. But you make it tolerable lol. And it’s interesting to me, listening to this from an entirely different perspective than I had before.
Appreciate it!
* I CAN’T WAIT to hear the one on Revelations 😂. I’m gonna have to be drinking for that one.
Lol, you and me both! Thanks for watching
Revelation reads like John was tripping balls while reading Isaiah.
14:35 - Now I’m excited for the release of “Esther, the Canaanite Slayer” in theaters.
Was looking forward to this video and you’ve not disappointed. Thanks again for your work.
Ha! Thanks so much
Esther was my favorite book! The ministry I was in would read the whole book for Purim.
Its a neat one for sure. Unfortunately at the end of the day its just a poor jewish girl having to whore herself out and break gods intermarriage commandments to save her people when god would not step in
@@MindShift-Brandon whew! That is a perspective I didn’t even think about! I remember the yoke thing came up in a conversation because I said I didn’t mind my significant other being an atheist/agnostic even though I was really religious and spiritual. As long as there is respect and common ground on how to raise the children, I was good. Values and morals can still be similar without the religion. There are many accounts of these stories where marrying someone outside did more good than harm. Was I being hypocritical or not following the commandments? If this is true, then you can say the same about God.
Did you have the noise makers so when Haman was mentioned you spun them around and booed?
You said something that sparked my memory. You mentioned that "oathes mean nothing". I feel that no one ACTUALLY believed in God-- that these were stories as guides for culture or weilded as power by leaders. The fact everyone breaks vows is so human and just "proof" no one took the God thing any more seripus than they HAD to... like a child whose parent is expecting them to do X,Y and Z and the child does as minimal as possible but when parent isnt looking they straight up do what they want. 😂
Yup, let's just say if it's real, they're faqed
Esther was one of my favorite stories when I was child, it really was a mesmerizing story.
It really is a unique standout, biblically speaking.
I watched the movie. It was pretty good, but there are insertions of details here and there of details not in the book
@IapetusStag my mom watches it every day, lol
@@unknownx7252 Because it's both an enchanting story on its own, and the fact that its due to the Christian interpretation of "Divine Destiny" where Esther was placed in the position as a queen exactly for the reason that god wanted to save his people since he knows the future. It provides a comfort zone to people who wants to imagine that they have a divine purpose for existing.
@@YeenMagewell thats just sad
I really appreciate this series. Really puts all the issues with the source material in one place for me.
Appreciate that! thank you.
Gosh LIJ: are you an atheist?
This is the only way (for me) to learn what the Bible says. Thank you, I’m really enjoying it!!
Got you! My pleasure
Me to girl
"So we get lots of fun death and destruction."
I don't think Brandon means to be funny allllll the time, but the dead pan way he says these things makes me chuckle.
Haman is more than just a Canaanite: He's am Amalakite, the archenemies of god that Saul was tasked with exterminating.
Esther is my absolute favorite story from the Tanakh and Purim is one of my favorite holidays!
Cant wait for Book of Job!
Thanks!
I had no idea that Tobias and Judith were not in the Protestant canon! As a former catholic, I was really excited to hear your take on these two- especially Tobias which gets thrown around a lot in Catholic youth circles at least where I’m from!
Thank you for this series. I just found it yesterday. I started with Ruth... then went back and listened to Genesis and Exodus. Today I discovered you posted Esther... so I listened to that one. Ruth and Esther were my favourite books as a Christian. I liked your dive into some of the less talked about issues. I will go back and wade through the rest... hoping you can make Leviticus and Numbers a little more interesting than the years I endured their content during my Christian years. I still have a lot of baggage that keeps me from wanting to start reading the bible again. My lack of comprehending Greek being one, and my lack of community to dissect ideas like you are doing being the other. But I will hang in there with you. I realize most of the content of the bible has found a place in my cranium to gather dust... so as you talk about the stories and content... they are not far from my recall. Thank you. Ruby from Alberta Canada
Hey Ruby! so appreciate you checking out the series. I cant promise you will like Leviticus and Numbers, but what I cover with them is anything but boring!
Why did you abandon Christ?
@@20july1944 Wow... No one has ever asked me that. Thank you. I suffer from lack of interest from my family and friends about my life journey. So neat to find out someone out in the worlds really cares. I just wish I had an answer for that which is concise... but I don't . It is why I blog. I have six blogs to process all the why questions. So I can't sum it up here. But thank you for asking!!!
@@RubyNeumann You're useless.
It's been a while since I've read the Bible in it's entirety. You bring back 🎶Memories🎵
I'm gearing up to read it again after years. I grabbed a copy of Je Schneider's latest Bible exploration. Might read that first before hitting up the ESV.
Enjoy! Can i ask what your main purpose is in choosing to reread it
Esther and Samson were my favourite stories.
the good ol days of when bible stories were not all horrific until you learn too much. Man I loved Samson, but now...
While it is true that the Hebrew version of Esther, which is in the Protestant canon, doesn't mention God by name, the Greek version, which is used by Roman Catholics, has several additions to the text that do mention God. Don't know if you plan to do the Deuterocanonical books, but there's some doozies among them.
👍Some of these stories are told much more smoothly. Tobit. Judith. Susannah. Bel and the Dragon. From these stories, plus Ezra-Nehemiah, it seems life in exile was not too bad.
Thanks so much, Brandon.
love doing these. Thanks for watching!
BRANDON IS DA MAN!!!
I can’t believe you didn’t mention the “For such a time as this” theme! That is an absolute favorite of Women’s Bible studies. 😏
Great summary and analysis of Esther.
I am currently reading through the Jewish Annotated Apocrypha. The Greek additions to Esther are pretty fun too. There are God references added, for example. Biblical scholars say Judith is similar to Esther. Like Esther, Judith uses her beauty to save her people, but Judith is much more violent.
Thats really interesting. Ill need to check that out and thank you!
Just started the video and I have to say, I'm digging the sweater. Looks so comfortable!
Ha! So comfy. Had just gotten it for my last (very cold) hiking trip.
@@MindShift-Brandon God, those are so nice. I bought a really soft, long sweater just the other day and have been wearing it every day while I WFH. This time of year is so cozy.
Thank you for doing this.
Always my pleasure
This one really helps convince me that the Jewish "scriptures" was pulled together as a nationalist document to get Artaxerxes to release them under his policy of releasing nationals. It has all the earmarks. I loved the movie version One Night with the King. But it's a story. That's IT.
well said. I'll have to go watch the movie!
OK, are you saying it is a false story? Stories can be true or fiction.
@@20july1944 If you'd listened to the video, you would know the answer to this.
@@20july1944 yes and this is false
@@Mahlak_Mriuani_Anatman OK, how did Christianity gets started?
Comment for the UA-cam algorithm 🎉🎉🎉
Thanks!
This is my favorite series of yours. Keep up the good work man!
Thanks so much and for your comments elsewhere. Love reading your exchanges
@@MindShift-Brandon thanks!
Thanks for this series! I love it. You mentioned in this episode Psalms already. I look forward to that one. Is it possible to do several parts about the episode of psalms? Because it’s a very important an beloved book by many christians. Many to unpack. Same for isaiah btw.
Thanks so much! And Yes ive been thinking about that a lot. So many books, even ones i have already done require much deeper dives than 30-40min but i do love having a simple, fast, highlevel 66 episode series for this bible. I think i might stick with one per book. Do what i can. And then do deep dives afterward
I just found your channel this week and I’ve been really enjoying it! Watched more videos than I’d care to admit, but it’s been time well spent. Thanks for putting out such consistently great content!
Thats awesome. Thanks so much for all the support. Glad to have you here!
Mordicai's comment to Esther in 4:14 "for such a time as this" implies God's providence in making her queen to save his people. This is problematic in that she was basically a sex trophy for the king based on her appearance. Is this what the God of the bible thinks women are good for? I hope God's plan to save America doesn't involve my daughter being Trump's "queen"
Pretty clearly it's what the god of the bible, being fashioned out of the ideals of men at the time, thinks women are good for. That and bearing children, servitude, and rape.
Oh dear
I was not raised Christian but am FASCINATED with this Secular Bible study course.
Can anyone recommend a version of the Bible that is written in “everyday English?”
If I read it, I think I can follow Brandon’s lectures better.
I'm caught up 😊 really enjoying these. Can't wait for the next one!
Oh wow. Thanks for being all over these! So cool to know people are following all the way through. Job comes out tomorrow morning!
@@MindShift-Brandon great! Looking forward to it ☺️✨️
@@MindShift-Brandon I'm another who is happily going through these in order. I so appreciate what you're doing, it lifts so much former weight off me to look at these books more clearly.
So glad to hear. Thanks!
Anyone else find it weird that Persians never recorded this rather unique and exceptional period of history where a Persian ruler takes a non-Persian and Non-Noble woman as his wife (Not concubine) and reneged laws that would have resulted in the large-scale killing of an entire ethnic group of an empire which was a multi-state empire in which its regions had vast autonomy.
¡Gracias, hombre!
Favorite UA-cam series rn!
Love to hear that. Thanks so much. Cant wait to put Job out!
Thanks!
Too kind, my friend. Thank you!
@@MindShift-Brandon Brandon, I wish I could do more. I will send these as I can. $5s and $10s, when it's here.
Better than Cliffs notes as always! I always listen straight through but I've started going back and making a summary of each chapter so that I can remember where what happened and points that have really stuck out for me.
Off topic...
Have you ever seen the movie, A Theif in the Night, I think from 1972? I was talking to my sister yesterday and she randomly brought up the rapture and it brought back to mind that movie that was shown in my church when I was about ten years old. It was SO traumatizing. I was terrified for months, always making sure I hadn't been "left behind." Maybe someday you could talk about your thoughts on the rapture and even that movie specifically.
Thanks as always. Brandon.
Thanks so much for that. I havent seen that movie but dont worry, we will for sure be covering rapture stuff!
@MindShiftSkeptic I know that movie was long before you were born. After 50 years, I still have that song in my head, "the children died, the days grew cold. A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold. I wish we'd all been ready. There's no time to change your mind. The son has come and you've been left behind." I just found on UA-cam that some modern Christian band has remade the song. It still gives me chills! I can't wait to hear your views on the rapture, but one topic at a time!!
I like when the telling of the story of Esther and when Haman is mentioned people have these noise makers and they spin them around and say shout “boo!!”
Looking at the story of Ruth and Esther compared to the bible, it shows the difference in struggles between men and women in a patriarchal society. In the bible it seems like most books which surround the women are about them having to attain power so they can survive, in a society that sees them as less-than. It really reflects on much of history where, to women, power means an elevation to almost where a man would stand. That means freedom to not worry about where their next meal comes from, to have their voice heard, to not be raped or their children murdered.
Great addition! thank you.
So are you a "Girl Power" atheist?
@revilo178it's not as common to happen to men
I have always found this story interesting, the difference now is that I don't see it as actual history. However, I do think this book does contributes to Christians persecution complex.
Ah thats a good point. Interesting tie in
Why wouldn't it be actual history? What is not credible to you?
@@20july1944 Nowhere in recorded Persian history do we have the Achaemenid or predecessor Empire passing laws targeting Jews for extermination. Nor do we see any record in Persian history referencing a Persian Emperor taking a Jewish concubine and passing a law permitting Jewish people to form a militia to prevent the aforementioned massacres. If you have a credible historian or archaeologist whose found a steele or tablet that records this I'd be interested in reading it.
@@GuyShōtō It would be embarrassing for the rulers IF it was even of any interest to them and ancient history was easy to edit at the time for the rulers who paid the stone carvers. The incident would be very small beer to them, and regimes/countries changed many times there, so lack of written/carved evidence isn't very significant.
Danny, you morose POS, this is a book in the OLD Testament. Christians didn't put anything in the OT, Jews did.
Because of your picture, I always read your posts in a whine.
Great video as always!! Fun fact, Esther’s real name was Hadassah but she changed it to Esther to hide her Jewish identity…
Yup which we would translate to Myrtle. Lol
Hi Brandon! I'm so glad you covered this book. I have some information you may not have known.
This story is actually a Jewish retelling of a Babylonian tale. In the original, Esther was the goddess Ishtar and Mordecai was the God Marduk who became King of the Gods.
This would explain the absence of Yahweh. It also shows how, in ancient times, when different cultures met, stories would be shared and adapted.
So much crossover! Most biblical stories in general are retellings but i was unaware of the specifics on this one. Thank you! Excited to look into that further
Wait, are there any scholars that support this theory? in the sense of esther being just a babylonian tale but with a differnet spin?
At about the 24:25 mark, if I understand the statement you were making, you were saying that Haman knew Mordecai was Jewish and then later we find out he figures out that Mordecai is Jewish. Can you point me to the verses that show this? I thought that was interesting, but I couldn't find where Haman figured out that Mordecai is Jewish. It seems to me that he knows from the negative encounter they have and onwards. I read the NRSV so maybe it words it differently.
Haven't watched this one yet, just found your channel the other day and I'm trying to catch up! You have the best channel for this topic I have seen to date. I was never religious but my brother in law is, so I watch these videos to try and counter his points.... with that said, I brought you up, and his question was "has he been baptized" (and he means on your own choice, not as a child), mentioned taking in the holy Spirit too.... don't think you will see this, and maybe it has been answered already, sorry if so....
So glad to have you here! Thanks for the kindness. Lol to answer your brother’s pointless question. I was baptized. As a kid but at an older age when i decided. I think i was 11. Id argue i knew more scripture then than most professing adults. Baptism is just an outward expression of faith. It doesn’t grant any powers. Now baptism of the holy spirit supposedly does. If your brother is the kind of believer who thinks that is proved by tongues i know exactly where he falls in his beliefs. These questions are so silly because despite whatever my answer is, it wouldnt change the issues with the religion. It doesnt all of a sudden make the bible valid, the history true, take away the moral and scientific issues etc. have fun with that one!
@@MindShift-Brandon wow, thank you for the response, and so quickly! And yes, he says something about speaking in tongues and Jesus tells him what it means, something like that.
@wakeupamerica2824 lol well thats not biblical. One should only ever speak in tongues when someone else with the gift of interpretation of tongues is present to translate.
@@MindShift-Brandon I'll let him know! Sure he will say it's Jesus
Nice
Thanks!
Funny how Esther had to do this herself as a woman where god was absent , didn’t give her no help no power no nothing just her doing it herself to help her people for men to write it in the Bible that god say we should help others, 😂😂😂 when god was dealing with men he give them power and wisdom, but with women he let them do all the work for him to take credit for it ,
Thats a really interesting point! No miracles of confusion here. Just good ol Esther willing to die.
You don't know what God did behind the scenes. God didn't give her no help? Spoken like a Yale man.
@20july1944 oh be quiet , God don't care for women, he just use them for marriage to sh1t out his sons that he plays favorite with, if a woman choose to aspire to gain wisdom and power for her own gain God is useless , But when its a man he is appears 🤣🤣 example
MOSES: God gave him power to turn water to blood and divide sea.
SOLOMON:, God unlimited wisodm
DAVID:God made him king
ELIJAH:gave him power to curse
SAMSON :God gave him super strength.
And so many more, 🤣
how many of them where women, Women are punished more or used In the FAVOR OF MEN , heck God even use Rape as punishment, it's in the Bible, when has God intervene in a woman's interest unless it isn't related to love and marriage AKA THE DESIRE OF A MAN IF HE BEGS GOD FOR, as if that all women wants some women seek wisdom and power, yet god hate that for them, WOMEN IN THE BIBLE IF THEY ARE EVER MENTIONED, are always related to being under a man, have no power of there own and God DO NOTHING FOR THEM. hence why I call the bible the man made book. AND WHEN WOMEN DO THE WORK FOR THEMSELVES, MEN TAKE FULL CREDIT AND ATTACH IT TO THEMSELVES OR FUNNY GOD... pathetic
Throughout the entire Bible, god intervenes. There is no shortage of passages highlighting the miracles he does for his people. Hardening hearts, confusing enemies, dropping food, rocks and flames, releasing the bears and so on. These god miracles are absent from this book; that’s why it’s viewed as an anomaly.
You sound silly asserting, “…you don’t know what god did behind the scenes…”, when the rest of the book consistently tells the reader what god DOES behind the scenes.
@@bobbydobalina Actually, that wasn't my point although it is true; this is a story from Jewish exile history and you have no basis for denying it could and did happen.
I don't care about the story either way.
I would have to wonder....could it be that Estate was actually the first book written, then all other texts were written to explain the Divine providence
Esther is believed to have been originally written as a Novel. It is entirely fiction. Using some minor historical truths that were consolidated withing the large time frame that they occured.
😊27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
I'm so looking forward to Job. It's my favorite book of the bible because it showcases god's awful character.
Same!
To me, this story, and several others in the OT, are object lessons in how to survive as a colonized/oppressed people. Sometimes you have to become the wife of a king, but if you can get into the oppressor's royal court, you can have some influence that just might save your people group. Also a bit of propaganda aimed towards the non-royal people in the oppressor's group: don't attack our group, you may get a counter-attack (with the king's blessing).
Not related to the video but it's something I'd love an answer for regardless. In 1 of your earlier videos you talked about how the church you went to performed faith healing, your mother spoke in touches etc.
I am very curious as to how you can explain that from a naturalistic world view. I understand all the rational arguments against God but when you witness a blind man see for the first time or someone disabled walk again its hard not to believe. I would love to hear your perspective of these things
Ill be doing videos on it for sure
@@MindShift-Brandon can't wait :)
I'm surprised you haven't seen any of the many videos about how these fake healers pull their deceptive stunts to fool the audience, there's plenty right here on UA-cam.
Let's just say for now that the blind man wasn't actually blind, and the disabled person could walk before the fake healer got near them.
The fake healers know they are getting money and adoration from fools, and hate it when they get exposed.
Wow just a lot of pro wrestling. Heymann, and even the kayfabe "battle " and or resistance after the first rule
Cant wait until you get to JOB
(Darth Vader Theme) I am Haman, the Prime Minister, you may think I am quite sinister, but I am really good, I'm just misunderstood, and I just want to hang Mordechai.
I like Abraham Lincoln Vampire Slayer 😁
Fair analysis of this Bible story that is obviously fictional but, is only a little violent and less misogynistic than most. I always wondered why it was in the Bible at all, too.
I think it still serves the jewish propaganda machine quite well. Underdog story. Vengeance on enemies, being special in the sight of kings etc. thanks for being here
What is obviously fiction about it? It's a story from the fertile crescent around 600 BC.
Tell me what's obviously fiction.
@@20july1944 Brandon covered that. You might want to listen again, assuming you listened in the first place.
@@MindShift-Brandon I totally agree with you on that! Your analysis helped to satisfy my bewilderment about its inclusion. Should have told you that!
So Mordecai didn't bow to Haman because he was a man and not God. Did Mordecai avoid bowing to the King also? I doubt.
Also, Kings don't hold random contest to choose the queen, maybe concubines. Kings usually marries a daughter of high ranking politicians or millitary officers to strengthen his authority. We see already in the story that men were planning a revolt, so it would be rationalbfor him to Marry a daughter of someone powerful, not a women he doesn't know, neither her family. Yeah this is fiction
good points for sure! Fiction all the way.
Kace: If a king is strong enough not worry about allies, he just evaluates women as sex objects.
You're right there are usually dynastic considerations, but maybe not in this case.
I can find out when I go to heaven IF God/heaven exists, but I won't bother asking because I honestly don't care.
@20july1944 check with Kat. She might take you on her next trip and you can ask God then😊
@@carlasmith9093 Choke on Brandon, Karen.
@@20july1944😅
Could we hear your thoughts on the Adam and Eve myth?
My view is that it doesn't make sense because if in Eden there is no sin, and it's not until they eat the apple that sin appears (through gaining knowledge of good and evil) then wouldn't the act of disobeying god (making the choice to eat the apple) not have been a sin because they made that choice prior to eating the apple?
If anything goes in Eden, then disobeying god should also be on the table. Right?
After eating the apple, the first time you sin, maybe you would be kicked out of Eden, but the act itself shouldn't have been a sin.
I mean, there's a lot of other things to unpack in this myth, but this seems like a big one to me.
Hey there. I do cover it in episode 1 and also in a video i did called rationalizing redemption. But perhaps ill make it its own little video. Thanks
@@MindShift-Brandon That would really be fantastic. I think it's such a big, important part of the faith, the whole idea of where we fell from and it just seems so ridiculous when you really bite into it. I think it would make a great deconstruction video. ;)
To add to it, if Adam (and Eve) sinned and caused death to enter the world, what was the purpose of the tree of life in the garden? Doesn't seem to make sense to have a tree of life if there's no death.
Kristi Burke does a good job of that IMO, you might want to check that out. She and Brandon make a nice combination (she's not as prolific as Brandon, though!)
Excellent points! After reading the Bible many times from front to back it became evident that all these books are simply just stories that have been passed down through the generations. So much is said but it doesn't ring as truth for the simple fact of how it's written. Each book is just a collection of stories. If you read all the apocrypha books it really becomes obvious because, it's like many of them were written to fill in the blanks of what was missing within other stories. All fictional with just enough truth sprinkled in here and there to ring true to those lacking in critical thinking skills.
Well said and thank you!
Yep, an insidious book.
A story can have value regardless of the historicity of it. You are asumming the all jewish and christian people take Esther as historical when a simple google search doesnt reveal that to be the case.
@@kettei7743 That is true, but my sense is that a lot of people here were brought up in the tradition of an inerrant bible -- that it has to be literally true, since it comes from god. So their comments come from that perspective. I was brought up in a different kind of church, but even though it was attached to a seminary, there was still a lot of glossing over about the supposed "history".
I have to laugh because this book's plot sounds like a comic book. I hear echoes of complaints about comic book movie plots in your criticism. 😄 And doesn't that odd decree that Jews could fight back (and them getting carried away) seem like an ancient version of the Purge movie? (Though I have never watched them, only know the concept)
They could have made this a separate book, I realized that when I read it, nothing about the imaginary sky daddy wizard, the could have just made the Esther chronicles or whatever, the writers of the Bible said, we won't give a woman that much credit, pretty insecure, so they made up a god, how it seems, but the story is interesting
It was ten sons that Haman had that were slain and hanged on the gallows, not nine, ,
And there is no record of Esther or Mordecai or any of the Jews taking part in any of the drinking ,
In Chapter 1 verse 8
It reads that the drinking was according to the law " none did compel " it was according to every man's
pleasure .
22:03 Evidence that Jewish is not a nationality. The same for Hebrew. Somehow Moses was not recognized as such for many years, but was thought to be Egyptian. Try not revealing the fact that you're Chinese, or Japanese, or Nigerian, or Brazilian, or Russian. Not very likely. Jewish and Hebrew apparently refer to a sect with a different set of beliefs or culture, as opposed to perhaps the popular majority. The Hebrew Scriptures don't cover a large portion of the world. People travel by feet and animals such as horses and donkeys.
Although yes, you are not trying to antisemitic. Nevertheless, my perspective is it's more about a lesson of divine intervention and preservation of Jewish identity and hope for the Jewish people. On the other hand , it should be noted that certain aspects were overly and unnecessarily embellished to emphasize a groups ' identity.
My goodness, I had a long comment here and I touched the backspace of my phone screen 😭
Anyways... So we have here the origin of Jewish celebration of Purim. There they read the book of Esther. It's about "adonay never abandons you"
Protestant Christians don't use old testaments
Catholic Apostolic and Roman then.. 🤔
Sooo... I expected a reference to The first epistle just after Acts of the apostles.
Romans.
Chapter one verse 1
I Paul, servant of... Etc. I name myself as an apostle, I was chosen..
When you get to chapter 8, there is a good reference for the importance of having Esther in the canon.
About how the law survives by the grace of god, so mordecai survived but not He-Man 😈 Haman
So you are going to Job... The Prosecutor bets Adonay the best of the best, Job, is part of the chosen people because he is super good at $$$ and everything.. So... Let's FLICK him to "TEST" Him...
I love Jonas book.. 🤔 😬 😅 Poor whale...
I hope people don't comment you are throwing hate to this book because you aren't. Very nice to see you using missionaries talents at knowing the word..
I don't understand why you didn't get the Judaism point of view here. How is this supposed to connect things for the future Messiah.. And that putting names and dates like Luke's gospel "mean they are historical"
*yawn* because Micah, Isaiah etc. were clearly talking about a political Messiah who would literally deliver the Northern Israelites/Jews from the brutal and oppressive Assyria. We don't understand Judaism? Well. ask most modern Jews and they will get angry at you for appropriating their Scripture texts to fit the Christian narrative. I mean, what an absolutely out of context prophecy it was when in Matthew 2 when Jesus and his family fled to Egypt, the gospel writer claimed that it was a fulfilled prophecy from Hosea 11:1 (the Hosea 11:2 said my son was rebellious.)
@@YeenMage oh yes man. They TELEPORTED there... They took a plane, like how in star wars episode 5 dagobah and Bespin seem to be very close to each other and to reach Bespin, the millenium falcon without hyperdrive got there pronto?
The yawn part was unnecessary 🥺😈🖖
The story is quiet good though if you discount this as a religious book. It's like a fairy tale, good vs bad like Disney's Snow White and reminds me of some Greek myth fables that I like. And the less god features in Old Testament books like in Ruth, the better the story becomes. IDK
Exactly! Couldn’t agree more.
Why wouldn't it be actual history? What is not credible to you?
@@20july1944 *sigh* I am not sure if I want to talk you out of your beliefs but anyways: Why? The same reason why you will most likely never believe that the Quran, the Mahabharta, the Ramayana, the Vedas, the Aeneid, the Deuterocanonicals (Apocryphas) etc. as historical - you will only believe what you want to believe which is the Bible, and draw your conclusions starting there instead of the other way around.
Also, I am was a Bible scholar so I have my scholarly reasons. I don't take any religious text at face value. You probably don't even know that each Bible books have their genre, so you might be completely missing what they are trying to say.
There is no solid evidence of an Esther becoming a queen to Ahasuerus (maybe Xerxes I) or his 3rd son Artaxerxes I which is damning enough. Such an very important event would appear many times in historical records - and I have more but this comment is too long now. Go ahead though, search online and you will find a couple of scholars forcefully insisting the traditional view.
Also, who said we aren't considering some parts of the Bible as historical (the general details of the Sack of Jerusalem, the Babylonian exile, the return of the Jews under Achaemenid Persia are considered historical)? You are the only one it seems who is attacking the strawman by telling yourself we all atheists are dismissive of the Bible. Us concerned just don't take a book at face value just like we are skeptical with the myth of Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus.
Also, were you born in 1944? If yes, then it's mostly impossible to change the mind of a man of that age so I cannot do anything to help you out.
@@YeenMage No, asshole, 20july1944 is a famous date from history.
If you're a Bible scholar, please tell me how you think Christianity actually started.
@@YeenMage Are you from Taiwan? Is that what "TW" means after your name?
It is weird that that monogamy is being promoted in the story.
I dont think it is. Hes still gonna have his concubines. He threw out his first wife for disobeying.
As someone from Bosnia, this story actually seems plausible to me. This sort of institutional plotting of hateful individuals against members of a race, religion, or ethnicity that they hate is the norm all around the world. There's plenty of history of it here in the US if you just scratch the surface. Look at Jim Crow laws and countless other examples of various groups being targeted.
Things are always the same. It's true.
The point about plausibility is the chosen people have lots of bad rulers (supposedly) with their names written down... 🤔
But stories like Esther's, they always seem to win...
Now that I remembered, i'm actually very interested in what you have to say in the book of Job!
Since while i'm personally very satisfied with the video Inspiring Philosophy did about it over 9 year ago and the one from the BibleProject, I'd stil like to hear your take✌
Esther and Ruth always amuse me because they get lauded as examples of God lifting women up and how they are as good, or better, than men because we’re *all* children of God. Except…it they did so specifically because of the Biblically sanctioned, patriarchal misogyny of the society AND knowing examples to immediately present by name to argue our traditional Biblical role immediately disproves the point. Can you name every example of a male championing God’s will or plan? There are too many to remember. But we got two women. God bless equality! 🤦🏻♀️
It reminds me of a Scheherazade from Arabian Nights.
Religion is propaganda.
Honestly I’m torn, you should stop making content and hike.
??????????????
lol, feel free to explain. I wish that was the decision before me. But since I cant be hiking all the time and have to sit in this office for work, I might as well pop out a few videos each week, ay?
Angry Christian?
@@MindShift-Brandon I was supposed to thru hike the AT this year and it’s on hold. Maybe next year. If you’re as happy and miserable hiking as much as I am well… who wants to make content on the Bible.
@@karenmiller6088no, atheist preacher
You aren't qualified to teach the Bible.
What does qualify one?
You do know he's spent the majority of his life as a Christian right? Going to Christian schools, and Christian college? Spending most of his time around Christian people and in Christian spaces? With a Christian family and friends? Attending church and learning the Bible cover to cover, as well as memorizing most of it. Not that he needs any of that to read a book and talk about it on the internet, but if that doesn't qualify someone to teach others about the Bible, I don't know what would.
@tiffanydoug5250 That wouldn't qualify anyone to teach the Bible. I spent most of my life pumping gas in my car and sniffing exhaust fumes. That qualifies me to teach automotive engineering.
Lol thats a really bad analogy. I also have a major in bible if that helps.
@@MindShift-Brandon "I also have a major in the Bible if that helps."
Are you sure it wasn't in Creative Lying?
❤( Jesus power ) Here the Proof.❤ ( Warning it is intense.). It will last 3 days to the second Or I'm lying an u won't feel a
Thanks!
Appreciate that! Thanks for the generosity