Esther's Feast

Introduction

Story format

Character development

Problem developed

Events leading up to the Climax

Climax of the story

Resolution of the problem

Happy Ending

Problem

Haman, using the King’s scribes, Name and Signet ring to write an edict to all providences of the empire for all the Jews in the empire to be killed on the 13th day of the 12th month.

Dialogue between Esther and Mordecai

The Idea of Mordecai

Esther 4:13–14 (ESV)

13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

The faith of Esther (4:15–17): Esther plans to visit the king after a three-day fast, even though it is against the law.

Esther 4:15–17 (ESV)

15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

After the time of Fasting and Prayer.

It is now time to go before the King.

The Fearlessness of Esther (5:1)

Esther 5:1 (ESV)

1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, in front of the king’s quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace.

“On the third day...”

After the 3 days of fasting, Esther is going to act on their decision

Esther puts on her royal apparel and stands in the inner court of the King’s palace in front of the King’s quarter.

King’s Palace/Quarters

“bayit is the most common term in the Old Testament for “house,” occurring over three thousand times. However, in a number of places bayit refers to the residence of a king, or a palace.” (Renn, Stephen D., ed. “Palace.” Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Word Studies for Key English Bible Words Based on the Hebrew and Greek Texts 2005: 712. Print.)

“tn Heb “the house of the king”; NASB “the king’s rooms”; NIV, NLT “the king’s hall.” This expression is used twice in this verse. In the first instance, it is apparently the larger palace complex that is in view, whereas in the second instance the expression seems to refer specifically to the quarters from which the king governed.” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)

The danger of entering the King’s court.

Esther 4:11 (ESV)

11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”

“IN CHAPTER 1, Vashti risked her life by refusing to appear before Xerxes when summoned (1:12). In another of the story’s ironies, Esther now risks her life by appearing before the same king unsummoned (cf. 4:11).” (Jobes, Karen H. Esther. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.)

Esther’s Humility and Honoring of the King.

In chapter 2, the author helped us understand the personality of Esther. She is a Jewish woman that is physically attractive with a wonderful personality. She is humble, submissive and people are drawn to her. She was seen with favor by the Eunuch, women in the harem, and the King. She is not portrait as manipulative, but a woman of integrity that was very attractive to others.

Esther is very calculative in how she goes before the King and her plan of how to address the issue of the edict. Personally, I believe that her goal is not manipulation of the King and Haman, but to show the King her personality by humbly showing honor to the King.

Memucan and Haman manipulated the King and used his authority to get what they wanted.

Esther continues in her integrity to honor the King to show him who she is.

Esther dressed in her royal attire and stands in the King’s palace in view of the King’s Quarters. She is humbly waiting for the King to notice her. She is honoring the King by humbly waiting for him to call her in rather than coming right up to the King.

The Favor of the King (5:2–3)

The King’s Golden Scepter (2)

Esther 5:2 (ESV)

2 And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

“She won favor in his sight...”

Favor - favor (feeling) n., a feeling of favorable regard (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Esther 2:16–17 (ESV)

16 And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign, 17 the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

King still loves Esther deeply.

Golden Scepter

Golden Scepter - a ceremonial or ornamental staff that was also a sign of authority or sovereignty (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Esther 4:11 “11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.””

The King on noticing Esther stretches out the golden Scepter to Esther to show his favor and acceptance of her.

“On the third day the Persian king, whose word was irrevocable law, extends the golden scepter to Esther, lest she die for coming into his presence unsummoned. Esther approaches the king and completes this gracious gesture by touching the tip of the scepter. Her safety in his presence is thereby guaranteed. This scene pictures a gracious act of a king who holds life-and-death power.” (Jobes, Karen H. Esther. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.)

The Kings Favor (3)

Esther 5:3 (ESV)

3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.”

“Idiom — An expression whose meaning cannot be deduced on the basis of its individual words or constituents. Modern Example: “He kicked the bucket.” The expression “kicked the bucket” is an idiom that means “to die”. This meaning is paired to the expression as a whole and cannot be deduced from any one part. Biblical Example: “He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw...” The idiom “a stone’s throw” means “a short distance”. This meaning is paired to the expression as a whole and cannot be deduced from any one part.” (“The Lexham Figurative Language of the New Testament Dataset.” Lexham Figurative Language of the Bible Glossary. Ed. Joshua R. Westbury et al. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016. Print.)

“This expression was an idiom commonly used by ancient royalty and was not intended to be taken literally. It simply meant that the king was disposed to be generous in meeting a request. Xerxes’ offer bodes well for the future of the Jews of Persia.” (Jobes, Karen H. Esther. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.)

The Feast of Esther (5:4–8)

Esther’s first request (5:4–5): Esther asks that the king and Haman attend a banquet she has prepared, and they do so.

Esther 5:4–5 (ESV)

4 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.” 5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared.

Invitation of Esther (4)

“I have prepared...”

Esther already has a banquet set-up. She has already thought through what she would do if the King accepts her with favor. She has the banquet set by the time she went to the King.

This does not necessarily mean that Esther knew she would be seen with favor, but was prepared for the possibility of being seen with favor.

King’s response (5)

Instantly, the King sends for Haman to join him for the banquet of Queen Esther.

They enjoy the feasting and drinking.

Esther’s second request (5:6–8): At the banquet Esther asks that the king and Haman attend another banquet the next day.

Esther 5:6–8 (ESV)

6 And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 7 Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”

King is pleased (6)

The King is pleased with Esther and the feast. He is in love with Esther and makes an offer again to grant her what she wants.

Again the King uses the Idiom to show her that he will be generous to answer her request.

Esther’s request (7-8)

Submissive - “If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request...”

This phase is used as a way of submitting to the authority of the King.

Honor - “let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”

Queen Esther is using this banquet to show the King honor and her personality. The King instantly sees Esther’s Beauty, Submissiveness, and why He picked her to be Queen. This will all play into the second Banquet.

Lesson from Esther

Integrity

“As a general concept, the quality or state of being whole or complete. As an ethical term, uprightness in character, authenticity; the situation in which outward conduct arises out of and coheres with sound, inwardly held moral principles. To act in accordance with such principles is to act with integrity. The Christian vision of integrity suggests that personal authenticity entails living in accordance with moral principles arising out of God’s intention for human existence, or acting in accordance with personal convictions that are based on an understanding of God’s purposes for creation, humankind and the person as a disciple of Jesus.” (Grenz, Stanley J., and Jay T. Smith. Pocket Dictionary of Ethics 2003: 61. Print. The IVP Pocket Reference Series.)

Esther acted with the King and this situation with integrity. She did not change the way she treated the King in order to get what she wanted. She acted in accordance to her convictions.

Do we seek to live our lives in conformity to the understanding and expectations of the Bible?

Proverbs 11:3 (ESV)

3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

Proverbs 19:1 (ESV)

1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.