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ESTHER. Esther. Around the year 483 B.C. Xerxes was king 1:1-3 Ahasuerus is Hebraized form of his name Persian Empire from India to Ethiopia (made up of 127 satrapies) 1:1 P rinces and nobles invited to banquet 1:3 Lasted half a year 1:4 T o show off his riches 1:4
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Esther • Around the year 483 B.C. Xerxes was king 1:1-3 • Ahasuerus is Hebraized form of his name • Persian Empire from India to Ethiopia (made up of 127 satrapies)1:1 • Princes and nobles invited to banquet 1:3 • Lasted half a year 1:4 • Toshow off his riches 1:4 • Including his wife Vashti1:11 • After everyone was drunk 1:7-8,10
Esther • Vashtirefusedthe king’s summons 1:12; 1 Tim. 2:9 • The king became angry (he was a hot-head) • King sought advice from his wise men 1:13-15 • They claimed that the whole kingdom was wronged 1:16 • They advised him to banish Vashti and marry a replacement 1:19 • Their motive was to keep their own wives in subjection 1:17,20
Esther • Estherbecame the replacement 2:1-18 • Young, beautiful, Jewess raised in Persia by cousin Mordecaifrom the tribe of Benjamin (fifth generation from exile) 2:5-7 • Mordecai told her to keep her background secret2:10 • Respected by Hegai, in charge of palace women 2:8-9,15 givenspecialtreatment • Mordecaistayednear the gateto learn how she was2:11 • Esther was chosen by the king, and he gave a feast2:18
Esther • Mordecaisavedthe king’s life 2:19-23 • He overheard two doorkeepers plot to kill Xerxes 2:21 • He told Esther who told the king 2:22 • It was investigated and confirmed 2:23 • It was recordedthat Mordecai was the informant 2:23 • Esther’s ethnicity still kept secret 2:20
Haman • From a zone by Media 3:1 • Became royal vizier 3:1 • Mordecai refused to bow to him at the king’s gate 3:2-5 • Haman sought to kill all the Jews because of him 3:6 • Cast lots for the day to kill the Jews 3:7 • Then he went to Xerxes for authority to kill all the Jews in the empire 3:8-9 • Offered to pay the king 10,000 talents of silver for this law 3:9
Haman • He and the king sat down to drink3:15 • The city of Shushan was perplexed3:15 • The Jews, especially Mordecai, lamented4:1-3 • Esther hadn’t heard about it 4:5 • She sends a messenger to clothe him and find out why he is mourning 4:4-6 • Mordecai explains and asks for Esther to go and ask the king to save them 4:7-8 • Esther warns of the riskof approaching Xerxes uninvited 4:10-12
Faith and Providence • Mordecai expresses faith4:13-14 • He suggests providence4:14 • We should believe in God’s care 1 Peter 5:6 • Otherwise, prayer is in vain James 1:5-8 • We may not understandall the details Philemon 15 • Esther shows faith by asking for the prayersof the Jews withfasting4:15-16 • She was determined to do righteven if she were to die4:16
Esther’s Wisdom • Esther acts in faith 5:1-2 • Esther lays the groundwork in order to give a word “fitly spoken” 5:3-8 • Prepared a banquet for Xerxes and Haman 5:4 • Set up for banquet the following day 5:8 • She could not use her position to start a Jewish revolution • Remember Moses Acts 7:23-26 • Remember Vashti1:11-22
Haman • Haman is a proudman 5:11-12 • So he is jubilant that he was the onlyguest of Esther’s banquet5:9,12 • Just seeing Mordecai refusing to bow at the gate upsethim5:9 feelings are fleeting • Mordecai refused to showfear 5:9 • Hebragsto his family how he feels 5:10-12 • He complains to his family how he feels 5:13 • They suggest he hang Mordecai 5:14 • Make gallows, get king’s permission, hang Mordecai in the morning, be happy!
“Give a man enough rope…” • Haman went to Xerxes for permission to hang Mordecai 6:4-5 • Before he made his request, Xerxes asked him, “What shall be done for the man the king delights to honor?” 6:6 • Hamanassumesthe man had to be him6:6 • So he suggests truly royal treatment 6:7-9 • Xerxes says for himto do that for Mordecai 6:10 • Because he realized he hadn’t been rewarded • Now Haman’s family believes in providence 6:13
“Give a man enough rope…” • Now was time for the banquet 6:14 • Esther makes her request 7:1-4 • For her and her people to be saved • The king asks who would dare kill them 7:5 • Esther says, “This wicked Haman!”7:6 • Xerxes is furious and leaves the room 7:7 • Haman falls down to plead to Esther 7:7 • Xerxes concludes that he wants to assault her 7:8 • One of the eunuchs mentioned the gallows made by Haman for Mordecai, who was a good guy 7:9
Exaltation of Jews • Esther asked for salvation of Jews 8:3-6 • Obstacleof decree in king’s name 8:8 • Put Mordecai in place of Haman 8:1-2,7-8; 10:1-3 • Hisnew law gave Jews authority to defend themselves against those who still planned on attacking them with Haman’s law 8:11-14 • Many respected Jews, became Jews 8:17 • Jews killed their enemies that attacked 9:1-17 • Including ten sons of Haman 9:13 • Feast of Purim9:18-32