Old Testament Survey: The Book of Esther

1
Old Testament Survey The Book of Esther

• 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? Esther 414

2
Background

• Third year of the reign of King Ahasuerus
  (Persia)
• Six-month banquet for his army andofficers
• Followed by a seven-day banquet for all in the
  capital--Shushan
• After much drinking, the king commanded Queen
  Vashti to come and parade her beauty
• Vashti refused to obey the kings command!

3
Background

• The king became enraged he sought counsel from
  his wise men.
• They said the queen must set an example for the
  other wives. Therefore, Queen Vashti should be
  removed!
• Beautiful virgins were brought to the kings
  harem so he could choose a new queen.
• One year of preparation for each maiden
• Each spent one night with the king.
• If not called again by the king, she spent the
  rest of her life in a different harem.

4
Esther Is Chosen

• A Jewess who lived with her cousin, Mordecai
• The king chose her to be the new queen.
• Esther kept her nationality a secret.
• One day, Mordecai overheard two men plotting to
  assassinate the king.
• He told Esther, and she gave the message to the
  kings officials.
• The two men were hanged, and the event was
  recorded in the kings chronicles.

5
Haman

• Ahasuerus made Haman second in commandall were
  to bow and pay him homage.
• Mordecai refused to bow before Haman.
• Haman became so angry, he determined to destroy
  all the Jews in the kings provinces.
• Haman told the king the Jews did not follow his
  law. He offered 10,000 talents of silver to
  enrich the kings treasury if he would sign a
  decree to put all Jews to death.
• The decree was determined and stamped with the
  kings signet ring.

6
Mordecais Request

• Mordecai went into mourning.
• A copy of the edict was given to Queen Esther.
• Mordecai asked Esther to go to the king and
  intercede for her people.
• At first, fearful of being put to death, she was
  reluctant.
• 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! Esther 416

7
Golden Scepter

• When Esther went before the king, he held out his
  scepter.
• Esther requested that the king and Haman attend a
  banquet for the king.
• When asked what she desired, she said that she
  would tell them tomorrow at another special
  banquet for the king and Haman.
• Haman was elated, but seeing Mordecai at the
  kings gate caused him to lose his joy.
• Intending to hand Mordecai the next day, Haman
  commanded that a gallows 75 feet high be built!

8
A Sleepless King

• That night the king could not sleep. So one was
  commanded to bring the book of the records of the
  chronicles and they were read before the king.
  And it was found written that Mordecai had told
  of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's
  eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay
  hands on King Ahasuerus. Esther 61,2

• He asked what reward the man received?
• No reward had been given.
• Haman was in the court, so the king asked his
  advice.
• Mordecai placed on the kings horse, in a royal
  robe. All honored him with a parade led by Haman!

9
Esther Reveals the Plot

• 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.
  Esther 74

10
Esther Reveals the Plot

• 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?
  And Esther said, the adversary and enemy is this
  wicked Haman! So Haman was terrified before the
  king and queen. Esther 75,6

11
Haman Is Hanged on His Own Gallows

• ... 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! So they
  hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared
  for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath subsided.
  Esther 79,10

12
Mordecai Is Promoted

• So the king took off his signet ring, which he
  had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai
  and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of
  Haman. Esther 82

13
The Kings New Edict

• By these letters the king permitted the Jews who
  were in every city to gather together and protect
  their lives-to destroy, kill, and annihilate all
  the forces of any people or province that would
  assault them, both little children and women, and
  to plunder their possessions. Esther 811

14
The Feast of Purim

• Mordecai sent a decree setting aside an annual
  holiday for the Jews.
• Called the Days of Purim
• Celebrated in the last days of February
• Commemorates how Esther saved her people from
  destruction

15
Lessons From Esther

• 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. 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. Esther 110,11

• Queen Vashtis modesty
• Refused to parade before drunken, lustful men
• A challenge to learn the beauty of holiness

16
Lessons From Esther

• 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! Esther 416

• Always be ready to serve.
• Unwavering dedication to God
• Be willing to risk your own life.

17
Lessons From Esther

• 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? Esther 414

• Gods sovereignty
• Gods will always to be done
• Esther and Mordecais faith helped deliver Gods
  people.