Memory Verse(s)
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?
Overview|Background
Esther may have been the last book accepted into the Old Testament canon. Jewish tradition indicates that the rabbis questioned Esther’s worth in part because, like the Song of Songs, God is not mentioned in the book. Also, many consider the story violent and vindictive. Thus, to some interpreters Esther appears to be more secular than sacred.
Why, then, was the book finally considered Scripture? No one knows for sure, but two reasons seem logical. First, Esther describes how Purim, which became a permanent Jewish festival, was instituted. Purim celebrates survival in the face of powerful enemies. Second, Esther demonstrates the terrors of exile. It shows how hatred for the Jews threatened to eliminate them. Such hatred and attempts at extermination have continued for centuries. The Holocaust is the most prominent recent example of this hatred. Esther reveals how God’s people can survive horrible times.
The author’s central purpose was to record the institution of the annual festival of Purim and to keep alive for later generations the memory of the great deliverance of the Jewish people during the reign of Xerxes. The book accounts for both the initiation of that observance and the obligation for its perpetual commemoration.
Key Passage(s)
Haman’s Plot
Esther 3:1-11
(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.
(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.
(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.”
The Plot Revealed
Esther 7:1-10
(1) So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther.
(2) And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!”
(3) Then Queen Esther answered and said, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.
(4) For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king’s loss.”
(5) So King Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing?”
(6) And Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!” So Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
(7) Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stood before Queen Esther, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king.
(8) When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?” As the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
(9) Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, “Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king’s behalf, is standing at the house of Haman.” Then the king said, “Hang him on it!”
(10) So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided.
Key Facts
Authorship & Time Period
The Book of Esther does not specifically name its author. The most popular traditions are Mordecai (a major character in the Book of Esther), Ezra, and Nehemiah (who would have been familiar with Persian customs). Full article: Who wrote the book of Esther? Who was the author of Esther?
The Book of Esther was likely written between 460 and 350 B.C. Full article: When was Esther written?
Type of literature
Historical narrative
Characters
MAJOR CHARACTERS: King Xerxes, Mordecai, Esther, and Haman.
KEY MINOR CHARACTERS: Queen Vashti, Haman’s wife, Haman’s friends, and Harbonah
The Story
Summary
Esther Was Not Her Hebrew Name…Esther is identified as “Hadassah, who is Esther.”2 Hadassah is Hebrew for “myrtle,” so that is simple enough. But what is Esther? Turns out it is a Persian name, related to the “morning star.” In Hebrew, it is related to the root word for “hidden,” as God’s intervention was hidden throughout the entire turn of events. On the surface, all one sees is a dramatic tale of palace intrigue, but behind the scenes every development was intimately guided by His hand.
The Book of Esther can be divided into three main sections. Chapters 1:1-2:18 – Esther replaces Vashti; 2:19-7:10 – Mordecai overcomes Haman; 8:1-10:3 – Israel survives Haman’s attempt to destroy them. The noble Esther risked her own death as she realized what was at stake. She willingly did what could have been a deadly maneuver and took on the second-in-command of her husband‘s kingdom, Haman. She proved a wise and most worthy opponent, all the while remaining humble and respectful of the position of her husband-king.
Major Events
- The institution of Purim
Themes
- Israel’s survival in exile
- The downfall of the wicked
Outline of Esther
Where Do We See Christ?
We, have Jesus, a better Esther, so to speak.
The book of Hebrews talks about Jesus being a great high priest. The role of the high priest was to intercede for the sins of the people. They were qualified by God to stand before God and plead with Him. Jesus came into our world and took our place in His life, death, and resurrection.
Hebrews 2:17 says that He was made like us in every respect so that He could empathize with our situation. Jesus sees us on our way to deserved death, and has compassion. Because He is also God Himself, Jesus can stand before God and beg for our lives. Hebrews 7 says that Jesus always lives to intercede for those who draw near to Him. Like Esther, Jesus saves the people of God by going to the King on their behalf, through intercession.
What makes Jesus better than Esther, however, is that He allows us to approach God ourselves. Hebrews 4:16 says that because of the intercession of Jesus Christ, we can approach “the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Christ’s favor with God not only extends to us on the outside, He actually brings us inside the family of God. Jesus Himself stands beside us as He intercedes for us.
Point of Application
How can we apply this to our lives today?
The Book of Esther shows the choice we make between seeing the hand of God in our circumstances in life and seeing things as merely coincidence. God is the sovereign Ruler of the universe and we can be assured that His plans will not be moved by the actions of mere evil men. Although His name is not mentioned in the book, His providential care for His people, both individuals and the nation, is evident throughout. For instance, we cannot fail to see the Almighty exerting influence over King Xerxes’ timely insomnia. Through the example of Mordecai and Esther, the silent love language our Father often uses to communicate directly to our spirits is shown in this book.
Discussion Questions
- Can you think of a place in your life where God has had or would have you take a stand?
- Thinking about the spheres of influence you have in your life right now…how has God uniquely positioned you to influence people in your “kingdom” for the Kingdom?
Closing Prayer
Lord, teach us to be salt and light in our spheres of influence and may we be unafraid to stand for what You call us to when times get difficult.
Current Prayer Requests:
Doc – renewed vigor to join us on Saturdays
Richard Brooks – faith and courage during the next stage of his journey in Christ
Andrew McKinney – employment provision
Bob & Gaynelle – mother’s hospitalization (from Mike Arras)
Julia (Arras) – health
Jim Allen, friend of Daryl, heart issue, VLAP operation
Jim Sachs – job situation, improvement, wisdom for interaction with leadership
Daryl’s employee Tara – ill (possible tumor) in Cambodia
Daryl’s Grandson, Mack and Mack’s parents Jonathan and Lizz. Healing for Mack, comfort for Jonathan and Lizz
Tom and Jeanice – Divine Healing and Peace in their spirit
Becky and Lee Davidson, health and healing
Jim & Melissa, father-in-law’s heart condition and spiritual health, marital closeness
Mike Arras’ daughter, mental and spiritual health
Mike Arras’ son, Trevor – employment
Mike Allen – sister Adele and brother
Joe & Deb – safe travel, peace, and healing for Deb’s Dad
Additional Content
FOR GREATER HISTORICAL UNDERSTANDING: THE REIGN OF XERXES I
Xerxes I (c. 487–465 BC) inherited a great kingdom from his father Darius the Great (c. 522–487 BC). Xerxes ruled territory from northwest India to northern Africa.5 Susa was Xerxes’s winter capital. He moved north to Ecbatana during the summer.6 His reign began successfully. He suppressed revolts in Egypt in 485 and in Babylon in 484, then he sought to extend the Persian Empire (c. 539–331 BC) into Europe by defeating Greece.7 This goal required massive preparations, which included raising funds, raising armies, and building ships.8 Xerxes marched to battle by 481 BC.9 Greece devastated Persia’s fleet at the battle of Salamis in c. 479 BC, and Xerxes returned home.10 Despite this significant setback, Xerxes was able to maintain control of Egypt, Babylon, and his holdings in Asia.11
Much of the information modern historians have about Xerxes’s wars with Greece comes from the Greek writer Herodotus’s Histories (c. 445 BC).12 His account breaks off after the battle of Salamis. There is less information available on Xerxes’s later years.
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