Esther 1 - 5
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Chapter 1 - 5 Review
Chapter 1 - 5 Review
Chapter 1
King Xerxes holds a banquet for all of his officials during which he calls for the queen who refuses to come. In his anger, he demotes he setting the
stage for the search for a replacement.
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Read and summarize
1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia), 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the citadel, 3 that in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants—the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him—
Overview Describes the kingdom which stretches from Modern Libya (Africa) to Pakistan
Cyrus Cyrus, grandfather of Xerxes, allowed the Jews to return home and rebuild the city
— Fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah (44:28) that he would come and allow them to rebuild
But many Jews stayed and did not go back with Company A, B, C
3 Waves Covers 110 Years
The Jews returned in three (3) waves
— Company “A” Zerubbabel (538 BC)
Temple Building — Esther - 483 - 473 BC
— Company “B” Ezra; rebuilt the temple (458 BC)
Wall Building — Company “C” Nehemiah; rebuilt the walls (445 BC)
Xerxes Xerxes is the Greek name
— His Persian name is Kasharasha
— Hebrew name is Akash Ravash
— English name is Ahasherus
Xerxes is the Grandson of Cyrus the great (Isaiah 45:1) who allowed the Jews to return to the Holy Land
— He dies by assassination (465 BC)
4 when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all. 5 And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars; and the couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black marble. 7 And they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance, according to the generosity of the king. 8 In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household, that they should do according to each man’s pleasure. 9 Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
Summit Xerxes holds a six-month planning summit at the fortified city of Shushan
— Same city that Nehemiah would serve as the cup bearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes (464 - 423 BC)
— Ezra, Nehemiah and Malachi come after Esther chronologically
— But Ezra & Nehemiah appears before Esther in our bible
Xerxes is holding a six month war summit and ends the summit with a seven (7) day banquet
Q: How would you describe the feast given by Ahasuerus? What does it say about him?
Great Pomp The most extravagant feast - went to a lot of work only to show the riches of the kingdom and to honor himself
Vessels All the golden vessels, each different (1:7)
Curtains, couches and fine linen
(1:8) the drinking was not compulsory
— if they drank too much it was their fault
— Getting people drunk robs men of their reason
— Not a good host to get people drunk and then send them home
Society Society says, Get them drunk, show them a good time
— Joe Nichols had a song - Tequila makes my clothes fall off
— The bible says woe to those who do that (Hab 2:15,16)
15 “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness! 16 You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also—drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised! The cup of the Lord’s right hand will be turned against you, And utter shame will be on your glory.
Vashti (1:9) Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus
— Counter programming
— Modesty
— Belshazzar’s wives and concubines drank with him (Dan 5:2)
— Herod’s party his daughter danced before him
Artaxerxes Vashti gave birth to the king’s 3rd son Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2:1)
— He succeeded his father Xerxes (King Ahasuerus) to the throne (464-423 BC)
— This is the same king for which Nehemiah was the cup bearer
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him. 13 Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times (for this was the king’s manner toward all who knew law and justice, 14 those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who had access to the king’s presence, and who ranked highest in the kingdom): 15 “What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs?” 16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen’s behavior will become known to all women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes, when they report, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’
Q: What is a Eunuch (1:12, 15)? Why did Vashti refuse to comply with the King’s wishes? Who was right? Why?
(1:12) But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command
The reason The reason is not recorded. Her appearance may have been lewd before drunken men
— She may have been pregnant with Artaxerxes
An unjust demand — It was against the customs of the Persians for women in appear in public
— Must have put a lot of pressure on her
The King was drunk
(1:10) the heart of the king was merry with wine
— King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine (NIV)
Matthew Henry
It was certainly the king's weakness to send for Vashti into his presence when he was drunk, and in company with abundance of gentlemen, many of whom, it is likely, were in the same condition. When his heart was merry with wine nothing would serve him but Vashti must come, well dressed as she was, with the crown on her head, that the princes and people might see what a handsome woman she was, v. 10, 11. Hereby, 1. He dishonoured himself as a husband, who ought to protect, but by no means expose, the modesty of his wife, who ought to be to her a covering of the eyes (Gen. xx. 16), not to uncover them.
Personal story
My father was an alcoholic and many times when he was “merry with wine” he would call for my mother in the same way
— He would not relent until she came
Contentious It is not God’s design to live with a contentious wife (Prov 19:13, 27:12, 21:9; 1 Peter 3:1; Eph 5:22)
— We are to submit to each other (Gal 3:28)
— Wife’s submission is not the husband’s to command but for the wife to willingly give
— As to the Lord, act out of obedience to the Lord.
— The husband provides, protects, loves his wife no matter what like Christ loved the church
18 This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king’s officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath. 19 If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 When the king’s decree which he will make is proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is great), all wives will honor their husbands, both great and small.” 21 And the reply pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan. 22 Then he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province in its own script, and to every people in their own language, that each man should be master in his own house, and speak in the language of his own people.
Divorces In his anger he divorces his wife the queen
(1:19) If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes,
so that it will not be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another
who is better than she
Providence God uses this for good
— The purposes of God are served even by the sinfulness of men
— A way was made for Esther to take the crown in order for her to be instrumental to stop Haman’s plot long before the plot was laid
Q: What is providence ?
Providence/Sovereignty
We observe and admire the vast riches of providence (Acts 15:18; Gen 50:20)
18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works.
20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Read and summarize
1 After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. 2 Then the king’s servants who attended him said: “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king; 3 and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the citadel, into the women’s quarters, under the custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them. 4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This thing pleased the king, and he did so.
Q: What do you think of beauty pageants? Of those who participate in them?
50 Million 50 Million people in the empire
— 25 Million women to pick from
5 In Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite. 6 Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
(2:6) Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah king of Judah
Jeremiah and Isaiah predicted the Babylonians would conquer Judah
— It happened in 586 BC (Jeremiah 22:24-26)
24 “As I live,” says the Lord, “though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet on My right hand, yet I would pluck you off; 25 and I will give you into the hand of those who seek your life, and into the hand of those whose face you fear—the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the hand of the Chaldeans. 26 So I will cast you out, and your mother who bore you, into another country where you were not born; and there you shall die.
Q: What does Jeremiah 22:22-24 say about Jeconiah? Wha is the connection between Mordecai the Agitate and Jeconiah ?
(2:6) Kish had been carried away by Nebuchadnezzar from Jerusalem with king Jeconiah of Judah (the Southern Kingdom)
Mordecai He was the son of Jai whose father was Shimei and his grandfather was Kish from the tribe of Benjamin
— Mordecai is the fourth (4th) generation of those carried away from Judah
— He has lived his entire life in Babylon
— He is the nephew of Esther’s Father and Esther is his cousin
(2:7) And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther
Esther She had neither father nor mother
— When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
— Esther is not her real name, her Hebrew name is Hadassah which means myrtle - the plan
— She was given a Persia name like Daniel and his three friends (Azariah, Mishael, Hananiah) were called:
— Meshach, Shadrach, Abednego (Persian Names)
— She was a virgin and very beautiful
(2:7) The young woman was lovely and beautiful
Q: What may have been the reasons that Esther and her cousin Modecai stayed in Persia when it seems that they might have had the opportunity to return to Jerusalem ?
Reasons Not sure but Nehemiah provided some reasons when he prayed
Nehemiah 1:7 There was indifference among the people; they had not kept God’s commandments
— Like today many who claim to be Christians but it is not enough to move them to attend church on Sunday
— Or to pray and read their bibles every day or spend time with God every day
Nehemiah 1:11 They desire to fear his name but in practice fall short, spiritual lethargy
8 So it was, when the king’s command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king’s palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women. 9 Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women.
Selected Esther was selected from among the 25M women to go to the harem and prepare for one year
— One year of skin and hair treatments, oils and fragrances
— She learned etiquette and royal protocol for the court
— Esther was already a beautiful women but all this was still required in order that they please a vain and carnal king
Josephus The Jewish historian Josephus says that King Xerxes was exceedingly grieved that it went this far and would have reconciled to Vashti
but according to Persian law his judgement was irrevocable
Q: Have you ever had the experience that maybe you went to far?
Skydiving I think people who jump out of plane and go skydiving might have that feeling
— Maybe the astronauts who blasted out into space for the first time thought that “What was I thinking? moment”
— Or the sailors who departed with Columbus to find the new world might have thought it was suicide mission
Providence
(2:9) Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor
— Points to God’s providential control
— The one women out of 25M happened to be Esther a Jew
10 Esther had not revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it. 11 And every day Mordecai paced in front of the court of the women’s quarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her.
Q: Why do you think that Esther not reveal that she was Jewish?
Hostility Possibly because of the hostility towards Jews (Ezra 4:6)
— Ezra wrote about the reign of Xerxes and the hostility towards Jews living in Jerusalem
— This hostility continued in Nehemiah’s day under Xerxes’ son Artaxerxes (464-423 B.C.)
— Hostility between Jews and Samaritans which was later aggravated when they built a temple on Mt. Gerizim (cf. John 4:9)
6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
12 Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women. 13 Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women’s quarters to the king’s palace. 14 In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who kept the concubines. She would not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name. 15 Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her. 16 So 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 other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the generosity of a king.
God’s Providence (2:15) Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter,
to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised.
And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her.
— She obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her
(2:17a) The King Loved her
(2:17c) He made her the queen
Unexpected A Jew, an Orphan who becomes Queen
— Who would have expected it?
— But sometimes God does raise the poor to become princes (1 Sam 2:8)
— God exalts Vashti (Ps 75:6-7)
8 He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And He has set the world upon them.
6 For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. 7 But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.
7th Year (2:16) So 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
— It has been 4 years since Vashti’s fall
— The king has been without a queen for 4 years
— He spent 2 years fighting the Greeks
19 When virgins were gathered together a second time, Mordecai sat within the king’s gate. 20 Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him. 21 In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name. 23 And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.
Q: What were the details of the plot to assassinate King Xerxes? How did Mordecai thwart the plot?
Discovered The treacherous plot is discovered by Mordecai
— Mordecai has access to the palace; able to go to places that are off-limits
(2:21) two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus
— Bigthan and Teresh hated the king and wanted to kill him
— They had motivation and they had means
— Xerxes is assassinated 14 years from now (465 B.C.)
(2:23) And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows;
and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king
— Mordecai’s good deed is recorded in the official chronicles
— Five years later this will be a turning point in the book of Esther (6:1,2)
No Reward No rewards or recognition is given Mordecai
— Imagine if someone had saved JFK’s life and was not rewarded, recognized?
Q: Are all of our works rewarded?
— Our works are not always rewarded in this lifetime
— We will have to wait until heaven
— But our works are not forgotten, God keeps an account (Heb 6:10)
10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Read and summarize
1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage. 3 Then the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s command?” 4 Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.
Q: Why do you think Mordecai would not bow down?
Feud The feud goes back 1,000 years. The Jews were attacked by the Amalek after they left Egypt (Ex 17:8-16)
— The passage in which two men held up Moses’s arms until the Jews defeated the enemy
— God curses Amalek and says one day you will be extinct (Ex 25)
8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; 16 for he said, “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
Saul Saul was instructed to kill Amalek 4 centuries later
— He was told to spare no one but instead demonstrated mercy (1 Sam 15:2,3)
— Read all of Samuel 15
2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”
Disobeyed But Saul disobeyed and all the people joined Saul in his disobedience (1 Sam 15:7-9)
— They were unwilling to follow the Lord
— They were covetous and thought, “Why let this go to waste?”
7 And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.
Lesson It is easy to obey when it costs you nothing
— Some people probably thought, “I’m glad that cooler heads prevailed”
— But the priests obeyed the Lord (1 Sam 15:32,33)
— Samuel hacked Agag to pieces
32 Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag king of the Amalekites here to me.” So Agag came to him cautiously. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” 33 But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.
Haman Haman still carried hostility towards the Jews
— More than 550 years since Agag and neither Mordecai nor
(3:1) Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite can forget
— Mordecai is from Kish from the tribe of Benjamin
— And to rub salt in the wound, Kish is a descendent of Saul
— More than 550 years and neither can forget their tribal feud
— Mordecai was not alone in his hostility towards the Jews. It was widespread (Ezra 4:6)
— The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin objected to the building of the Temple (Ezr 4:1) and eventually the wall
6 In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Mordecai Fear Mordecai had reason to fear
Tattle tales had gone to Hamon and told him that Mordecai was a Jew
(3:4) Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman,
to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew.
— Now everything falls into place, Haman is furious and he feels justified in his hatred towards Mordecai
Q: Isn’t this Mordecai’s fault? Wasn’t he obliged to follow the King’s command to honor Haman? Would everything that happened next have been avoided if Haman had not been disobedient? Civil Disobedience ?
Providence Yet, God can use our bad decisions for His Glory
Q: How did Haman try to determine a date to carry out his sinister murderous plan (3:7)?
7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
Nissan (3:7) In the first month, which is the month of Nisan
— March / April
(3:7) in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus
— 474 B.C.
— King Xerxes (486 -465); 486 - 12 = 474 BC
Adar (3:7) it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar
— Adar is Feb / March 11 months from now
— (3:7) Cast lots, dice
God’s Providence Prov 16:33; Jonah 1:7
33 The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.
7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
Q: Why don’t we use this method to make decisions today? What resources has God given us to know His will?
His Word God’s Word is sufficient
— His will is not hidden (2 Tim 3:16; James 1:5)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Psalm 119 Two Psalms that exalt God’s word
— Psalm 1 & 19
— The longest Psalm is 119
— The Mount Everest of Psalms exalts God’s Word (Psalm 119:97-105)
97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. 101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. 102 I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Haman’s murderous Plan (3:8-11)
8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.” 10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you.”
(3:9) If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed
— Let a decree be issued to destroy them (NIV)
Q: Anyone play chess? How many players? What is the most powerful piece?
Like Chess The book of Esther is like a chess game
— God and Satan moving real kings, queens, rooks and nobles
Non Revocable Haman gets the king to issue a non-revocable decree
— Satan says “Checkmate!”
— Satan has been fighting God since creation to disrupt God’s covenant promise to Israel and by extension to the church
Line of Judah Jesus was from the line of Judah
— The Messiah was predicted to come from the line of Judah
— The tribe was murdered and at one point only Joash was preserved
— Satan used a wicked women to attempt to destroy the house of David - the Messianic line (2 Chron 22:10-12)
10 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she did not kill him. 12 And he was hidden with them in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Herod Satan used Herod the slaughter infants
— Satan attempted to kill Jesus when he was just a baby, defenseless (Matt 2:16)
— Interesting to note we have a word for other people born in our generation
— Baby-Boomers (1940-1959)
— Generation X (1960-1979)
— Generation Y/Millennials (1980 - 1999)
— Generation Z (2000 - Present)
— Jesus probably had few peers his own age because they had all been murdered by Herod
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
Temptation Satan tempted Christ
— Denounce God and worship me (Matt 4:9)
9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
Peter The apostle Peter tried to prevent Calgary (Matt 16:22-23)
22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Judas Satan entered Judas
— Judas betrayed Christ to the Jews and the Romans (Luke 22:3-6)
3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. 4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.
Haman Here we have Satan using Haman to try to wipe out the Jews
(3:9) and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries
— Haman says on top of killing the Jews your enemy there is financial gain to be had
— A talent was a measure of weight not a coin, so a gold talent was worth more than a silver talent
— Haman says, I will pay ten thousand talents of silver
— A denarii was worth 1 day’s labor and talent was worth 6,000 denarii or 16 years of labor
— A talent = 1 Gold talent - $1,400,116 dollars; Silver $16,500
Q: Haman didn’t have that kind of money. Where was he going to get it?
Confiscate it Haman planned to take it from the Jews
— He would confiscate their wealth
— Ten-thousand talents was about 375 tons of Silver
Nazis April 26th 1938 the Nazis passed a law
— All Jews had to register all of their property valued at more than $5,000 Reichsmarks ($2,000 dollars at the time; $34,000 today)
— 700,000 Jews complied and registered their belongings
— 7 Billion in personal property was taken (artwork, jewelry, furniture, life insurance, stocks, nothing was immune)
— Six million Jews were slaughtered
10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you.” 12 Then the king’s scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded—to the king’s satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province according to its script, and to every people in their language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions.
Signet Ring (3:10) So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman
— The king’s seal made the decree irrevocable
Enemy #1 (3:10) Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews
— Haman is the number one enemy of the Jews, just in case you missed it
— 3:10; 8:1; 9:10; 9:24
Q: What did the king unwittingly do when he signed the law ?
Death Warrant He signed Esther’s death warrant
— Esther and every other Jews would be killed by the law that he signed
March 7, 473 BC Historians calculate this to be the date when the sentence was to be carried out
(3:13) And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews,
both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month,
which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions
— Spare no one!
— Sounds similar to 1 Sam 15:2-3 in which the Jews were supposed to kill all Amalek but Saul and the people disobeyed
14 A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went out, hastened by the king’s command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.
Celebrate (3:15) So the king and Haman sat down to drink
Haman must have felt smug
— He is good friends with the king
— He has him right where he wants and he is pulling all the strings
Q: Who was really pulling the strings?
Satan Satan was pulling the strings
— The king was abused, wickedness and evil was in the palace instead of justice (Eccl 3:16)
16 Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, Wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, Iniquity was there.
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Read and summarize
1 When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went as far as the front of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 And in every province where the king’s command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 So Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her, and the queen was deeply distressed. Then she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was. 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of the king’s gate. 7 And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries to destroy the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. 9 So Hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
Q: In a crises situation how do you typically respond (a) Become Hysterical (b) Immobilized by Fear (c) Pray (d) Run away (e) Something else?
Why do you think you act that way?
Mordecai’s Response (4:1) When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes
— Sackcloth and ashes were harsh, not soft
— An outward sign of distress
— Mordecai realized that his actions had prompted Haman to take this action
— Mordecai was the cause behind Haman’s actions
(4:2) He went as far as the front of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth
— Sackcloth and mourning clothes were not allowed before the king
— No harsh or rough clothes, only fine clothes were before the king (Matt 11:8)
8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
Maybe they regretted their decision to stay in Babylon
Regret Those who had shallow faith and lacked confidence in God, nor wanted to return might have now regretted their
decision to stay in Persia when Cyrus had given them permission to return to Jerusalem (Henry)
(4:8) He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction
The king’s wives were separated, cloistered
— You could not speak to the queen directly
— Protected, tended to by Eunuchs
Back & Forth Messages were carried back and forth by Hathach (4:6)
A reasonable plan (4:8) go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people
— Go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people (NIV)
— Expectation that king would realize his mistake and vacate the decree
— But this was putting Esther’s life in danger
10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.” 12 So they told Mordecai Esther’s words. 13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
(4:11) he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live
— You could not go tot the king unannounced
— Many threats and assassins in those days
— Only if you were recognized or called could you appear before the king
(4:11) Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days
— Esther was worried, she had not been called for 30 days!
— The king had a lot of women
No access Common folk could never approach the king; they had no access
— People could not approach the king to redress their grievances
— Solomon was a foreshadowing of Christ (Heb 4:15,16)
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We come boldly We come boldly before the King of Kings
— We come to the footstool of his throne of grace
— We come not only to the inner courts but the very holy of holies through the blood of Jesus (Heb 4:16)
Spared ? (4:13) Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews
— Do you think that you will be spared just because you are in the King’s palace?
(4:14) if you remain completely silent at this time, … you and your father’s house will perish
— If you go see the king you might die
— If you do nothing you will surly die (100%) and not just you but your father’s house
A call for courage
You fail to trust God (4:14) For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place
— Haman’s instruments may fail but God’ covenant will not
— You try to save your life by sin, running away, but you will end up destroying your family and your life
— And God will find another way to save the Jews
God’s Providence (4:14) Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
— Mordecai appeals to God’s providence
— We should all consider where God has placed us and when we have an opportunity to serve God
Q: Where has God put you? How can you serve God?
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” 17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.
Q: What did Mordecai convince Esther of (4:16)?
(4:16) if I perish, I perish!
— She wasn’t safe keeping quiet
— She would either die with all the Jews
— Or, she would die when she went to the king to plead for her people
Q: Have you ever fasted? Why?
(4:16) My maids and I will fast likewise
Prayer is not mentioned but prayer always accompanied fasting
— Daniel made it clear that fasting and prayer were linked (Dan 9:3)
3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
(4:16) After I have first sought God in this way (fasting and prayer) I will go and see the king
Summary Haman and the king are drinking at the end of Chapter 3
— The city is perplexed
— Mordecai and the rest of the Jews(assume) are in fear; sackcloth and ashes
— Esther is in tears, praying and fasting
Providence
Unsaved Deny it The unsaved deny providence
— Aristotle (385 B.C.) could not answer how the world began. He said it was eternal
— Epicurus (307 B.C.) denied providence
— Defined pleasure as the absence of fear and pain; shunned politics
— Does not deny gods but deny his involvement in the world
Q: Why do people deny providence?
Accountability Cicero (106 B.C.)
“If this is so you have yoked us to an eternal master, such as we would fear day and night.
For who would not be frightened of a prying busybody of a God who provides, plans and observes
and who considers that everything is his concern?”
Saints and Providence
Simeon He had long awaited the arrival of the Messiah
— It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had seen Christ (Luke 2:26)
— It was the spirit (Luke 2:27) that brought him into the temple at the exact time that baby Jesus was in the temple
Ana And Ana was also by God’s direction, providence in the temple (Luke 2:36-38)
Joseph Became lord of Egypt (Gen 39-50)
12 Steps 12 remarkable steps of providence
— If just one step had failed he would not have ascended
(1) Joseph has a dream that infuriates his brothers (Gen 37:5)
(2) Brothers plot to kill him but Reuben saves his life (Gen 37:21)
(3) Ishmaelites pass by and he is sold into Slavery and taken to Egypt (Gen 37:28)
(4) Taken by an influential officer by the name of Potiphar (Gen 39:1)
(5) Joseph is handsome (Gen 39:6)
(6) Joseph flees Potiphar’s wife but she holds on to a piece of his clothing (Gen 39:12-13)
(7) Baker and the Butler are also in prison (Gen 40:1)
(8) God brings Pharaoh a disturbing dream (Gen 41:1-3)
(9) Pharaoh appoints Joseph Governor of the land (Gen 41:40)
(10) God brings the famine and Joseph excels in leadership (Gen 41:54)
(11) Israel / Jacob sends his ten (10) sons to Egypt to buy food (Gen 42:2-3)
(12) God uses Egypt to raise up Jacob into a great nation and promises to bring them up from Egypt (Gen 46:3-4)
Providence (Gen 45:5) do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life
(Gen 45:7) God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance
(Gen 45:8) it was not you who sent me here, but God
(Gen 50:20) But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Q: If there is no providence how is it that strong and powerful means designed to destroy the saints are ineffective while weak, contemptible means employed for their defense are crowned with success?
Rules of Nature According to the rules of nature, the strong should prevail
— Providence crosses it hands as Jacob did when blessing the sons of Joseph (Gen 48:18-19) and orders contrary issues and events (Flavel)
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Read and summarize
1 Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. 2 So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter. 3 And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!” 4 So Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.” 5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6 At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!” 7 Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and request is this: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”
(5:1) on the third day
After the third day she wasted no time to see the king
Q: “What is intercession ? What does that word mean?
(5:3) And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!”
— Esther deferred her real wish until 7:2-3
— —up to half the kingdom! hyperbole
— c.f. Mark 6:22-23, Herodias’ daughter danced before the king
(5:4) let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him
— The first of two (5:4-8; 6:14-17)
— God would intervene between the two (6:1-2)
Read Exodus 32:7-14
7 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ ” 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! 10 Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.” 11 Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said: “Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” 14 So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.
Q: Why does Moses intercede for the people of Israel in this passage? What happened as a result?
Prayer/Intercession Most of don’t really pray until something terrible happens to us, a family member or someone we love
Q: How do we pray when something bad happens?
How we should pray We pray intently, specifically, persistently
Night and Day We should pray night and day (2 Tim 1:3)
— This is what Paul modelled to Timothy
13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
The believer and prayer
Esther The Believer
— She approached a proud and arrogant king — We come to a God of love and grace
— She was not called — We are called. The Spirit says come; The bride says come (Rev 22:17)
— She had a law against her — We have a promise. Ask and you shall receive (Matt 7:7)
— She had no friend or advocate — We have an advocate to the Father (1 John 2:1)
— The king’s friend Haman was her enemy — The Father’s friend is Jesus. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace (Heb 4:16)
9 So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. 12 Moreover Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. 13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” 14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made.
Q: How would you define pride? What is humble pie?
(5:11) Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children
— He had at least 10 sons (c.f. 9:13)
(5:13) Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate
— Despite being honored by the king and now Queen Esther
— Despite being blessed with many children, riches and family
— Haman was fixated on killing Mordecai
Q: Whose idea was it to build the gallows? (v14)
(5:14) Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high
— It was his wife’s idea and everyone agreed
— Fifty Cubits = 75 feet or 8 stones
— Would have really stood out and been visible from everywhere in the city
(5:14) And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made
Haman’s true character
— Proud, arrogant, angry, uncontrolled fury
— Described in Prov 21:24
— Behaves with insolent fury (NIV)
24 A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name; He acts with arrogant pride.
Puffed up with Pride Haman thinks that the Queen favors him
— Only he is invited to the banquet
— Self admirers and self-flatters are really self deceivers
— He thought that Esther would honor him in calling him to the banquet
— She was actually calling him to the bar of justice
— The pride of your heart has deceived you (Obadiah 1:3)
Builds the Gallows Right in front of his own door to feed his revenge
— As soon as he gets a warrant there will be no delay
— The king gave him permission to kill all the Jews
— It should be easy to kill one guy- Mordecai
Summary At the end of Chapter 4 - Haman is drinking with the King, Queen Esther is in tears, fasting and praying
Now, at the end of Chapter 5, Esther is smiled upon by the King, Haman is angry because he has been disrespected by Mordecai
and he is planning his revenge and setting up gallows in front of his door to feed his revenge
Additional Resources
Talent https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talent_(weight)
Smithsonian Magazine, Jews forced to register their wealth: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/1938-nazi-law-forced-jews-register-their-wealthmaking-it-easier-steal-180968894/
Was Daniel a contemporary of Esther: https://evidenceforchristianity.org/were-daniel-and-esther-contemporaries-a-question-about-darius/
Joseph and Providence: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/580a68595016e143bbc35fec/t/586fc9892e69cf728dbf0cfc/1483721103171/The+Plan+-+Study+Guide.pdf
Flavel, J. (2014). The Mystery of Providence. (n.p.): CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
The Mystery of Providence PDF: https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/flavel/The%20Mystery%20of%20Providence%20-%20John%20Flavel.pdf
