Sermon Notes 20231210 Esther 1:1-22

Esther 1:1–22 NASB 2020

Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Cush over 127 provinces, in those days as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in Susa, in the third year of his reign he held a banquet for all his officials and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the officials of his provinces, in his presence. At that time he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days. When these days were finished, the king held a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the courtyard of the garden of the king’s palace. There were curtains of fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, and couches of gold and silver on a mosaic floor of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and mineral stones. Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful in proportion to the king’s bounty. But the drinking was done according to the royal law; there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household, that he was to do as each person pleased. Queen Vashti also held a banquet for the women in the palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus. On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was cheerful with wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal turban in order to display her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s order delivered by the eunuchs. So the king became very angry, and his wrath burned within him. Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times—for it was the custom of the king to speak this way before all who knew Persian law and justice and were close to him, namely, Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom— “According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, since she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” And in the presence of the king and the other officials, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women so as to make their own husbands despicable in their sight, when they say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded that Queen Vashti be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’ And this day the wives of the officials of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will talk about it to all the king’s officials, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger. If it pleases the king, let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she. When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout his kingdom, great as it is, then all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.” Now this word pleased the king and the officials, and the king did as Memucan proposed. So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man was to be the ruler in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.

Bible Study 20231211 Esther 1:1–22

#BibleStudy #Amen #Love #Christian #VictoryinJesus

 The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (Washington, DC: National Council of Churches of Christ, 1993),

  King Ahasuerus Deposes Queen Vashti

1 This happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the same Ahasuerus who ruled over one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia.a 2 In those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3 in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were present, 4 while he displayed the great wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and pomp of his majesty for many days, one hundred eighty days in all.

5 When these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in the citadel of Susa, both great and small, a banquet lasting for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were white cotton curtains and blue hangings tied with cords of fine linen and purple to silver ringsb and marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden goblets, goblets of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. 8 Drinking was by flagons, without restraint; for the king had given orders to all the officials of his palace to do as each one desired. 9 Furthermore, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the palace of King Ahasuerus.

10 On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who attended him, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing the royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the officials her beauty; for she was fair to behold. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command conveyed by the eunuchs. At this the king was enraged, and his anger burned within him.

13 Then the king consulted the sages who knew the lawsc (for this was the king’s procedure toward all who were versed in law and custom, 14 and those next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media, who had access to the king, and sat first in the kingdom): 15 “According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus conveyed by the eunuchs?” 16 Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only has Queen Vashti done wrong to the king, but also to all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For this deed of the queen will be made known to all women, causing them to look with contempt on their husbands, since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ 18 This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will rebel againstd the king’s officials, and there will be no end of contempt and wrath! 19 If it pleases the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be altered, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, vast as it is, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.”

21 This advice pleased the king and the officials, and the king did as Memucan proposed; 22 he sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, declaring that every man should be master in his own house.e 1

a a Or Nubia; Heb Cush

b b Or rods

c c Cn: Heb times

d d Cn: Heb will tell

e e Heb adds and speak according to the language of his people

1 The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (Washington, DC: National Council of Churches of Christ, 1993), Es 1:1–22.

Revelation From God

Author

The author of Esther is unknown, if you believe that this is a fictional tale. If you believe, as I believe, that is a true story that actually occurred, then the best guess at the Author would be Mordecai!!!!

Date

The exact date the book was written is unknown, however Xerxes reigned from 485-456 BCE, thus the Book of Esther has to have been written close to these dates.

History

The ‘Purim,’ from which the Festival of Deliverance comes from, which is the festival that occurs in Esther, for the casting of Lots, that sealed the fate of the Jews, the day in which they where to be massacred, Esther 3:6–7, but instead where delivered from, is an actual festival.

Theology

This is an inclusive story of a women that saves Israel, much like the story of Deborah in Judges 4:1-24, Judges 5:1-31. This is a story of the Queen Esther and how she saved the Jews from certain massacre. It is designed to show that all people are important in YHWH’s Kingdom, and that YHWH values all, or that Theophilus reigns supreme, Deut 10:18-19, Deut 11:1-32, Deut 13:3, 1 Sa 18:1-5, 2 Sam 9:1-13, John 3:16, John 13:34-35, Rom 5:8, Rom 13:8-10, 1 Co 13:1-13, Eph 5:1-21, 1 Jn 3:11-14, 1 Jn 4:1-21, 1 Jn 5:3!!!!

It is designed to shown all that when you Walk in the ways of YHWH Deut 8:6, Deut 10:12, Deut 30:1-20, 1 Ki 2:1-9, 1 Ki 8:58-61, 2 Ch 34:30-33, Enoch 92:1–5, Psa 19:1-4, Psa 84:5-12, Isa 48:17, Eze 36:26-27, Mic 6:8, Rom 8:1-17, Gal 5:16-26, Heb 13:15-21, Jas 3:1-18, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 Pe 3:1-22, 1 Jn 1:6-10, which is THEOPHILUS, GOD'S LOVE, Deut 10:18-19, Deut 11:1-32, Deut 13:3, 1 Sa 18:1-5, 2 Sam 9:1-13, John 3:16, John 13:34-35, Rom 5:8, Rom 13:8-10, 1 Co 13:1-13, Eph 5:1-21, 1 Jn 3:11-14, 1 Jn 4:1-21, 1 Jn 5:3, By Faith Enoch 99:10, Tobit 7:1-16, Judith 6:1-20, Judith 7:1-32, Eph 2:8-9, Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:1-26, Heb 11:1-40, Jas 2:14-26, and you declare YHWH as Lord Exo 20:1-21, Deut 6:4-8, Enoch 99:10, Tobit 13:4, Tobit 13:15, Judith 6:2, John 3:15-18, John 3:36, Rom 10:9-10, YHWH, Himself, will protect and keep you Enoch 100:5, 1 Pe 5:10, Deut 3:1-29, Deut 31:6, Psa 23:1-6, Psa 121:7-8, Isa 41:10, Isa 54:17, Rom 8:38-39, 1 Co 10:13, Eph 6:10-21, 2 Th 3:3-5, 2 Ti 4:18-20!!!!

Structure

This is a historical writing, that gives insight the Jewish and Persian Culture of 485-456 BCE!!!! Oddly though YHWH is never mentioned? YHWH is only mentioned in the additional writing the Apocrypha, as if it where added later to ensure YHWH was mentioned!!!!

Chapter (1) YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, Gen 1:1, Exo 3:14-17, Ex 20:1-11, Rev 1:8, Rev 22:13 !!!! It has (1) Periopce, (Theological Idea) YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, Deut 4:32-40, Deut 5:6-15, Deut 6:4-8, Deut 10:14-17, Deut 32:39-40!!!! There are (22) verses whose sum is (4) YHWH the Church, YHWH Qahal, Ecclesia 1 Sa 18:1-5, Eze 1:1-28, Eze 10:1-22, Eze 40:1-49!!!! (22) is the product of (2) YHWH the Son, YHWH Bane, Christ Jesus, YHWH Yeshua, Isa 9:6-7, Isa 53:5, John 1:1-5, Joh 1:14, times (11) Whose sum is (2), (1) YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, Gen 1:1, Rev 22:13, plus (1) YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, Ex 3:14-17, Ex 20:1-11, which equals (2) YHWH the Son, Christ Jesus, Yeshua, Gen 1:3, Rev 22:1-5!!!!

Purpose 

The purpose of Esther is to shown all, that YHWH includes all in His design and plans and no one is excluded, John 3:16, Matt 19:12 and when you Walk in the ways of YHWH Deut 8:6, Deut 10:12, Deut 30:1-20, 1 Ki 2:1-9, 1 Ki 8:58-61, 2 Ch 34:30-33, Enoch 92:1–5, Psa 19:1-4, Psa 84:5-12, Isa 48:17, Eze 36:26-27, Mic 6:8, Rom 8:1-17, Gal 5:16-26, Heb 13:15-21, Jas 3:1-18, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 Pe 3:1-22, 1 Jn 1:6-10, which is THEOPHILUS, GOD'S LOVE, Deut 10:18-19, Deut 11:1-32, Deut 13:3, 1 Sa 18:1-5, 2 Sam 9:1-13, John 3:16, John 13:34-35, Rom 5:8, Rom 13:8-10, 1 Co 13:1-13, Eph 5:1-21, 1 Jn 3:11-14, 1 Jn 4:1-21, 1 Jn 5:3, By Faith Enoch 99:10, Tobit 7:1-16, Judith 6:1-20, Judith 7:1-32, Eph 2:8-9, Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:1-26, Heb 11:1-40, Jas 2:14-26, and you declare YHWH as Lord Exo 20:1-21, Deut 6:4-8, Enoch 99:10, Tobit 13:4, Tobit 13:15, Judith 6:2, John 3:15-18, John 3:36, Rom 10:9-10, YHWH, Himself, will protect and keep us Enoch 100:5, 1 Pe 5:10, Deut 3:1-29, Deut 31:6, Psa 23:1-6, Psa 121:7-8, Isa 41:10, Isa 54:17, Rom 8:38-39, 1 Co 10:13, Eph 6:10-21, 2 Th 3:3-5, 2 Ti 4:18-20!!!!

The Purpose of Chapter (1) is to teach all to Walk in the ways of YHWH, Rom 8:1-17, Gal 5:16-26, Heb 13:15-21, Jas 3:1-18, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 Pe 3:1-22, 1 Jn 1:6-10, which is THEOPHILUS, GOD'S LOVE, Rom 5:8, Rom 13:8-10, 1 Co 13:1-13, Eph 5:1-21, by Faith, Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:1-26, Heb 11:1-40, Jas 2:14-26, that we are a Virtuous Woman Prov 3:15-18, Prov 4:1, Prov 11:16, Prov 31:10-26, like Queen Vashti, that we are fit to be The Bride of God and Christ Tobit 7:1-16, 2 Co 11:2, Eph 5:27, Rev 19:7, Rev 21:1-21!!!!

Exegesis / Hermeneutical

Virtuous Woman Esther 1:1-22 :

Periopce, (Theological Idea) YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, Deut 4:32-40, Deut 5:6-15, Deut 6:4-8, Deut 10:14-17, Deut 32:39-40!!!! There are (22) verses whose sum is (4) YHWH the Church, YHWH Qahal, Ecclesia 1 Sa 18:1-5, Eze 1:1-28, Eze 10:1-22, Eze 40:1-49!!!! (22) is the product of (2) YHWH the Son, YHWH Bane, Christ Jesus, YHWH Yeshua, Isa 9:6-7, Isa 53:5, John 1:1-5, Joh 1:14, times (11) Whose sum is (2), (1) YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, Gen 1:1, Rev 22:13, plus (1) YHWH the Father, YHWH Ab, Ex 3:14-17, Ex 20:1-11, which equals (2) YHWH the Son, Christ Jesus, Yeshua, Gen 1:3, Rev 22:1-5!!!!

Esther 1:1-10, Esther 1:13-22 : Xerxes is so prideful and vain that he is showing off all that he has. Look how much money I have and all the beautiful things I own, including my Wife, Queen Vashti, whom he wants to parade around naked in front of all. God tells us not to be boastful but to be humble as it is not anything we can do, it is all that God gives us. This is not a marriage built on Hesed or Theophilus and mutual respect. Wives are not property they are our partners and helpers. Just as we are theirs. We are to respect and love our wives and treat them as if they are Christ, because they are. All of us have Christ in us, so when we disrespect them we are disrespecting God. It is imperative that we treat all as if they are God, that we show them the love, grace, mercy and peace that God shows us as they are God, they are the image of God, Deut 10:18-19, Deut 11:1-32, Deut 13:3, 1 Sa 18:1-5, 2 Sam 9:1-13, John 3:16, John 13:34-35, Rom 5:8, Rom 13:8-10, 1 Co 13:1-13, Eph 5:1-21, 1 Jn 3:11-14, 1 Jn 4:1-21, 1 Jn 5:3 !!!!

Esther 1:11-12 : I love Queen Vashti for she teaches us all to Walk in the ways of YHWH, Rom 8:1-17, Gal 5:16-26, Heb 13:15-21, Jas 3:1-18, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 Pe 3:1-22, 1 Jn 1:6-10, which is THEOPHILUS, GOD'S LOVE, Rom 5:8, Rom 13:8-10, 1 Co 13:1-13, Eph 5:1-21, by Faith, Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:1-26, Heb 11:1-40, Jas 2:14-26, that we are a Virtuous Woman Prov 3:15-18, Prov 4:1, Prov 11:16, Prov 31:10-26, that we are fit to be The Bride of God and Christ Tobit 7:1-16, 2 Co 11:2, Eph 5:27, Rev 19:7, Rev 21:1-21!!!!

Conclusion

Chapter (1) teaches all to Walk in the ways of YHWH, Rom 8:1-17, Gal 5:16-26, Heb 13:15-21, Jas 3:1-18, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 Pe 3:1-22, 1 Jn 1:6-10, which is THEOPHILUS, GOD'S LOVE, Rom 5:8, Rom 13:8-10, 1 Co 13:1-13, Eph 5:1-21, by Faith, Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:1-26, Heb 11:1-40, Jas 2:14-26, that we are a Virtuous Woman Prov 3:15-18, Prov 4:1, Prov 11:16, Prov 31:10-26, like Queen Vashti, that we are fit to be The Bride of God and Christ Tobit 7:1-16, 2 Co 11:2, Eph 5:27, Rev 19:7, Rev 21:1-21!!!!

Bible Study Question

Are You a Virtuous Woman ?

YHWH clearly wants us to behave in a Godly Manner, be Holy as the Lord God almighty is Holy, Lev11:44-45, Lev 19:2, Lev 20:26, Num 15:39-41, thus we must Walk in the ways of YHWH, Rom 8:1-17, Gal 5:16-26, Heb 13:15-21, Jas 3:1-18, 1 Pe 1:13-25, 1 Pe 3:1-22, 1 Jn 1:6-10, which is THEOPHILUS, GOD'S LOVE, Rom 5:8, Rom 13:8-10, 1 Co 13:1-13, Eph 5:1-21, by Faith, Gal 2:15-21, Gal 3:1-29, Gal 5:1-26, Heb 11:1-40, Jas 2:14-26, that we are a Virtuous Woman Prov 3:15-18, Prov 4:1, Prov 11:16, Prov 31:10-26, like Queen Vashti, that we are fit to be The Bride of God and Christ Tobit 7:1-16, 2 Co 11:2, Eph 5:27, Rev 19:7, Rev 21:1-21!!!!