Esther
I. Introduction
A. Esther: a great example of faith
B. Dire challenges for Israel
1. Jews consigned to death!
2. Esther has the opportunity to save her people
3. What shall she do?
C. Let us consider the book
II. Esther: The Details
A. Authorship
1. Author unknown
2. Book sometimes questioned as inspired since it does not have
the name of God within it, no NT attestation
3. Nevertheless, hand of God present throughout the book
4. Greek Septuagint includes additions to Esther, parts of book
in Greek not found in Hebrew manuscripts-- rather redundant,
mentioned here not because they are inspired, but for
information's sake
B. Dating
1. Book covers events in times of Xerxes king of Persia
(ca. 485 BCE)
2. Book written sometime after events
C. Audience
1. The audience represents the returned exiles in the Persian
period
2. We can gain much also
D. Purpose
1. To describe Israel's deliverance from Haman's plot
2. To explain the origins of the feast of Purim
3. To set forth the example of Esther
III. Esther: The Story
A. Main Sections
1. Esther's Ascension (Esther 1-2)
2. Haman's Plot (Esther 3-7)
3. Vindication (Esther 8-10)
B. Xerxes and Vashti (Esther 1)
1. [Greek apocryphal addition: Mordecai's dream, discovery of
plot (A:1-17)]
2. Xerxes (Ahasuerus) has great feast in Susa; its opulence
(Esther 1:1-8)
3. Queen Vashti also has feast; Xerxes summons her; she does not
come (Esther 1:9-12)
4. Wise men advise Xerxes to depose her lest husbands be held in
contempt by wives throughout the empire; done (Esther 1:13-22)
C. Esther and Mordecai (Esther 2)
1. Xerxes seeks virgins to find next queen (Esther 2:1-4)
2. Mordecai, relative of King Saul through Shimei
(cf. 2 Samuel 16, 19), has raised niece Hadassah (Esther);
very fair (Esther 2:5-7)
3. Mordecai gets Esther in as one of the virgins; Esther pleasant
to chief eunuch, given place of prominence; her Jewish
identity not known (Esther 2:8-11)
4. After year of preparation, Esther gets her chance; Xerxes
loves Esther, makes her chief queen in Vashti's place
(Esther 2:12-20)
5. Mordecai in gate; hears of plot of eunuchs against Xerxes;
Esther tells Xerxes in Mordecai's name; written in annals of
king (Esther 2:21-23)
D. Haman and His Plot (Esther 3)
1. Haman the Agagite elevated in kingdom; Mordecai refuses to bow
to him; greatly angers Haman (Esther 3:1-5)
2. Haman conspires to wipe Jews out of empire; convinces Xerxes
to go along with it; decreed (Esther 3:6-13)
3. [Greek apocryphal addition: decree of Xerxes (B:1-7)]
4. All things in place (Esther 3:14-15)
E. Esther's Test of Faith (Esther 4-5)
1. Mordecai mourns; Esther hears of it, communicates with him
via Hathach her eunuch; given copy of decree, instructions
(Esther 4:1-9)
2. Esther concerned; not called to see the king; to enter king's
presence without summons means death unless the king spares
her (Esther 4:10-12)
3. Mordecai encourages Esther to take the risk for her own life
and the life of the Jews; all this communication through
Hathach (Esther 4:13-14)
4. Esther tells Mordecai to have Jews fast on her behalf and she
will go in three days (Esther 4:15-17)
5. [Greek apocryphal addition: prayer of Mordecai; Esther mourns,
her prayer (C:1-30)]
6. [Greek apocryphal addition: Esther comes in to see king; king
described in superlative terms; she faints twice, is pardoned
(D:1-16)]
7. Esther before Xerxes; he lifts scepter toward her, pardoning
her; she requests Xerxes and Haman to come to a feast
(Esther 5:1-4)
8. Haman, Xerxes come to feast; she requests that they come back
the next day for another feast (Esther 5:5-8)
9. Haman exultant at his fortune, despite seeing Mordecai;
describes to his wife all the things the king has given him
and the feast he enjoyed; soul vexed by Mordecai; commissions
gallows to be erected to hang Mordecai (Esther 5:9-14)
F. Haman Undone (Esther 6-7)
1. King unable to sleep; has records read to him; account of
Mordecai and the uncovering of the plot read (Esther 6:1-2)
2. Xerxes wants to know if anything has been done; told no;
Haman enters at this time (Esther 6:3-4)
3. Xerxes asks Haman what should be given to the one in whom the
king delights; thinking it refers to himself, he talks about
all these grandiose honors; Xerxes tells him to bestow them
on Mordecai (Esther 6:5-11)
4. Haman and wife recognize his situation; Haman goes to Esther's
banquet (Esther 6:12-14)
5. Feast; Xerxes again asks what Esther wants; she reveals that
she and people are to be killed; he wants to know how this
happened (Esther 7:1-5)
6. Esther identifies Haman; Xerxes in anger goes to garden;
Haman pleads for life; Xerxes thinks he is assaulting queen,
Haman is seized (Esther 7:6-8)
7. Xerxes informed of gallows Haman made for Mordecai; commands
Haman to be hung on it (Esther 7:9-10)
G. Vindication (Esther 8-10)
1. Mordecai given Haman's place, honor; Esther again speaks to
king to reverse Haman's decree (Esther 8:1-6)
2. Authority granted to Mordecai and Esther to have new decree
written up; new one written giving Jews authority to kill
enemies; dispatched quickly by king's horses and horsemen
(Esther 8:7-12)
3. [Greek apocryphal addition: copy of decree (E:1-24)]
4. Jews rejoice, have feast and holiday; Mordecai in royal robes
(Esther 8:13-17)
5. On appointed day, Jews obtain vengeance on enemies, assisted
by royal officials fearing Mordecai; 500 killed in Susa, and
10 sons of Haman (Esther 9:1-12)
6. Xerxes has edict of second day of vengeance; sons of Haman
hung; 300 more killed in Susa; 75000 in the provinces
(Esther 9:13-16)
7. 14th day of the month of Adar set aside for feasting; Mordecai
and Esther make it a perpetual holiday to commemorate the
defeat of Haman and God's deliverance; called Purim
(Esther 9:17-32)
8. Mordecai in the court, next to Xerxes; took care of Jews and
their interests (Esther 10:1-3)
9. [Greek apocryphal addition: Mordecai explains his dream from
A as it relates to story of Esther, himself, and Haman;
validity of events and purpose for Purim demonstrated in
Ptolemaic period (F:1-11)]
IV. Esther: Important Passages
A. Esther 1:13-17
1. Concern might seem odd to us
2. Demonstration of need for respect of wives for husbands
B. Esther 4:11
1. Decorum in court of king
2. Nature of coming before a superior-- you follow his rules,
or else
3. Is this not the same with the King of Kings?
C. Esther 4:14
1. Mordecai suggests to Esther that God's providential hand has
placed her where she is so that she can deliver Israel
2. Encouragement to us: even without direct words from God, we
perhaps are placed in circumstances where we can present God's
truths by His providential care!
V. Conclusion
A. Esther: a great story of faith
1. Difficult times and circumstances
2. Esther and Mordecai save the day
B. God's providence clearly present
C. Let us take opportunities we have to promote God's purposes!
D. Invitation/songbook