May 17, 2025
Why is Esther significant in the history of God's people?
Esther 6-10
Ross Bridwell
Big Book Idea
God will use those we least expect to demonstrate courage and spark change.
Key Verse | Esther 7:3-4
Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king."
Esther 6-10
Chapter 6
The King Honors Mordecai
1 On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana 1 6:2 Bigthana is an alternate spelling of Bigthan (see 2:21) and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king's young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” 4 And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows 2 6:4 Or wooden beam (see note on 2:23) that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king's young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” 7 And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown 3 6:8 Or headdress is set. 9 And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’” 10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” 11 So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”
12 Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. 13 And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”
Esther Reveals Haman's Plot
14 While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.
Chapter 7
1 So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. 2 And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. 4 For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” 5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared 4 7:5 Hebrew whose heart has filled him to do this?” 6 And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
Haman Is Hanged
7 And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king. 8 And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?” As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face. 9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Moreover, the gallows 5 7:9 Or wooden beam; also verse 10 (see note on 2:23) that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits 6 7:9 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters high.” And the king said, “Hang him on that.” 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.
Chapter 8
Esther Saves the Jews
1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her. 2 And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3 Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. 4 When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king. 5 And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. 6 For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, 7 8:7 Or wooden beam (see note on 2:23) because he intended to lay hands on the Jews. 8 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.”
9 The king's scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. 10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud, 11 saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods, 12 on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 13 A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies. 14 So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.
15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown 8 8:15 Or headdress and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 16 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. 17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.
Chapter 9
The Jews Destroy Their Enemies
1 Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them. 2 The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples. 3 All the officials of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew more and more powerful. 5 The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them. 6 In Susa the citadel itself the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men, 7 and also killed Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha 8 and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha 9 and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vaizatha, 10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they laid no hand on the plunder.
11 That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.” 13 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day's edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.” 9 9:13 Or wooden beam; also verse 25 (see note on 2:23) 14 So the king commanded this to be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged. 15 The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed 300 men in Susa, but they laid no hands on the plunder.
16 Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder. 17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness. 18 But the Jews who were in Susa gathered on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the rural towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and as a day on which they send gifts of food to one another.
The Feast of Purim Inaugurated
20 And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, 22 as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
23 So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 24 For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them. 25 But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, 27 the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year, 28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.
29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim. 30 Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth, 31 that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to their fasts and their lamenting. 32 The command of Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.
Chapter 10
The Greatness of Mordecai
1 King Ahasuerus imposed tax on the land and on the coastlands of the sea. 2 And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.
Footnotes
[1] 6:2 Bigthana is an alternate spelling of Bigthan (see 2:21)[2] 6:4 Or wooden beam (see note on 2:23)
[3] 6:8 Or headdress
[4] 7:5 Hebrew whose heart has filled him
[5] 7:9 Or wooden beam; also verse 10 (see note on 2:23)
[6] 7:9 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
[7] 8:7 Or wooden beam (see note on 2:23)
[8] 8:15 Or headdress
[9] 9:13 Or wooden beam; also verse 25 (see note on 2:23)
Table of Contents
Introduction to Esther
Timeline
Author and Date
Like many OT books, Esther is an anonymous work. It is possible that the author was someone like Mordecai, who had access to historical documents (2:23; 6:1) and an interest in Jewish affairs.
Esther belongs to the period after the Babylonian exile, when Persia had replaced Babylon as the ruling power. The story is set in Susa, one of the Persian capitals, during the reign of King Ahasuerus, better known by his Greek name, Xerxes I (486–464 B.C.). Some Jews had returned to Jerusalem, where they enjoyed a reasonable amount of control over their own affairs. Others, like Esther and Mordecai, were still in exile. As a minority group, the Jews were viewed with suspicion and sometimes faced threats to their existence.
Overview and Purpose
The book of Esther tells how a Jewish girl became the queen of Persia and saved her people from a plot to destroy them. She is assisted in this by Mordecai, her cousin and guardian.
Esther was written to explain the origin of the Feast of Purim and to ensure that it would be observed by all future generations of the Jewish people (9:28). It has clearly achieved this purpose, since Jews have continued to observe Purim to the present day. The book of Esther is read as part of the celebration of Purim.
Esther is part of a much larger story that runs all the way from Abraham to Christ and, through him, to the church. If Haman had succeeded, the Jewish people as a whole would have been destroyed, and the story of God’s saving work in and through Abraham’s descendants would have come to an end. There would have been no fulfillment in Christ, and therefore no gospel and no Christian church. Christians should read the book of Esther, not just as a story about the Jews but as part of their own heritage. Christians are not obliged to observe the Feast of Purim, but they are to take to heart the truth that God providentially watches over his own (Rom. 8:28).
Key Themes
Esther is an entertaining historical story that also reveals important truths about how and why the Jews survived such an overwhelming threat:
- Divine providence. God is not mentioned by name in the book of Esther. But it shows clearly that, even when God is most hidden, he is still working to protect his chosen people.
- Human responsibility. Esther and Mordecai show great initiative and courage. Their actions are obviously significant. The providence of God does not negate the responsibility of people to act with courage and resolve when circumstances require it.
- The absurdity of wickedness. Ahasuerus and Haman were important people who had considerable power. But the story of Esther often causes laughter at their expense. The proud people of this world are not nearly as powerful as they think they are. When they oppose God’s people they bring about their own destruction. God laughs at such people (Ps. 2:4). The story of Esther invites us to laugh with him.
Outline
The Persian Empire at the Time of Esther
c. 479 B.C.
Long before Esther’s time, the people of Israel and Judah (later called Jews) had been dispersed throughout the Near East by the Assyrians and the Babylonians. Eventually the Persians absorbed nearly all of these lands into their empire, which reached its greatest extent during the time of Esther. Thus Haman’s plot to exterminate all Jews throughout the Persian Empire would have annihilated virtually all of the Jewish people, and Esther’s daring actions saved the whole nation from complete destruction.
Fact: The invisible God
The invisible God. The book of Esther does not directly mention God, but his providential hand was clearly at work, as remains the case today all around the world.
Fact: Delivering the mail in Persia
Delivering the mail in Persia. The Persian Empire may have had the world’s first postal service. Carriers rode on horseback to various stations throughout the empire, where they would deliver messages to other waiting carriers (8:14).
Fact: How is the festival of Purim related to Esther?
How is the festival of Purim related to Esther? Today, the Jewish festival of Purim celebrates the Jews’ deliverance from Haman’s plot to kill them. His plot involved casting lots (“purim”) to gain the guidance of idols.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Chronology in Esther
The events of Esther unfold over a period of 10 years.
| Reference | Event | Month | Day | Year of Ahasuerus’s Reign | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:3 | Ahasuerus holds his banquets | 3 | 483 B.C. | ||
| 2:16 | Esther goes to Ahasuerus | 10 | 7 | 479 | |
| 3:7 | Haman casts his lots | 1 | 12 | 474 | |
| 3:12 | Haman issues his decree | 1 | 13 | 12 | 474 |
| 3:13 | Date planned for annihilation of the Jews | 12 | 13 | 13 | 473 |
| 8:9 | Mordecai issues his decree | 3 | 23 | 13 | 473 |
| 8:12; 9:1 | Day upon which Jews could defend themselves from attack | 12 | 13 | 13 | 473 |
| 9:6–10, 20–22 | Ten sons of Haman executed; Feast of Purim celebrated | 12 | 14, 15 | 13 | 473 |
Mordecai
Mordecai was a Jew living in exile in Persia. When Mordecai’s cousin Esther became an orphan he took her as his own child. Eventually Esther became queen, and Mordecai became a royal official. One day, while serving King Ahasuerus, Mordecai discovered and reported a plot to kill the king, thus saving the king’s life. Later, when Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, who was second in command to the king, Haman persuaded the king to call for the death of all Jews. With the help of Queen Esther, Mordecai saved the Jews of Persia from this death sentence. Haman was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, and Mordecai replaced Haman as second in command to the king. (Esther 9:4)
Est. 6:1 that night the king could not sleep. The perfect timing of the king’s insomnia strongly suggests that God in his providence is guiding the circumstances and events, rather than their being mere coincidence or chance (compare Dan. 6:18). the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles. A record of significant events in the king’s reign (see Est. 2:23; compare 1 Kings 14:29).
Est. 6:6–11 What should be done to the man . . . the king delights to honor? Neither Ahasuerus nor Haman is aware of the irony in the question. Haman’s response shows both the extent of his vanity and his total unawareness of the trap he is walking into: do so to Mordecai the Jew.
Est. 6:13 If Mordecai . . . is of the Jewish people, you . . . will surely fall before him. Even Haman’s wife and advisers sense that an irresistible power or person protects the Jewish people.
Est. 7:4 I and my people. Esther reveals that she is a Jew and that Ahasuerus has been tricked into ordering the death of the queen he loves. we have been sold. Haman had “bought” the king’s agreement to his plan (3:9). our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king. With this exaggerated comparison, Esther, like Haman, appeals to the king’s self-interest: If he were to make the Jews his slaves, he would at least have their free labor. By killing them, he will lose a valuable asset.
Est. 7:8 falling on the couch. Haman was probably kneeling, perhaps with his hands or arms on the couch, probably seeking mercy from Esther. But the king takes Haman’s move as an assault on Esther. they covered Haman’s face. Covering the head of a condemned prisoner is a well-known custom.
Est. 8:1–2 Ahasuerus gave . . . Esther the house of Haman. The property of condemned criminals was forfeited to the crown. his signet ring. See note on 3:10–11.
Est. 8:3–8 Haman was dead, but the decree he had issued with the king’s authority was still in force, for an edict . . . cannot be revoked (v. 8; compare Dan. 6:8). The way to counter the edict was to issue another one that made it difficult or impossible to carry out the first one.
Est. 8:9 Sivan. The third month of the Jewish religious calendar, in late spring.
Est. 8:11 any armed force. The Jews are permitted to defend themselves only by destroying armed enemies who attack them, including any children and women who participate in the attack.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Chronology in Esther
The events of Esther unfold over a period of 10 years.
| Reference | Event | Month | Day | Year of Ahasuerus’s Reign | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:3 | Ahasuerus holds his banquets | 3 | 483 B.C. | ||
| 2:16 | Esther goes to Ahasuerus | 10 | 7 | 479 | |
| 3:7 | Haman casts his lots | 1 | 12 | 474 | |
| 3:12 | Haman issues his decree | 1 | 13 | 12 | 474 |
| 3:13 | Date planned for annihilation of the Jews | 12 | 13 | 13 | 473 |
| 8:9 | Mordecai issues his decree | 3 | 23 | 13 | 473 |
| 8:12; 9:1 | Day upon which Jews could defend themselves from attack | 12 | 13 | 13 | 473 |
| 9:6–10, 20–22 | Ten sons of Haman executed; Feast of Purim celebrated | 12 | 14, 15 | 13 | 473 |
Fact: Delivering the mail in Persia
Delivering the mail in Persia. The Persian Empire may have had the world’s first postal service. Carriers rode on horseback to various stations throughout the empire, where they would deliver messages to other waiting carriers (8:14).
Est. 8:15–16 Susa . . . rejoiced (see 3:15). Further evidence that many of the Persian people did not share Haman’s hatred toward the Jews. The Jews had . . . honor. Probably because people saw that the king himself now favored them.
Est. 9:1–10 The Jews . . . did as they pleased (v. 5). They took full advantage of the opportunity to defeat their attackers, as they were allowed to do (see notes on 8:11; 9:11–15). laid no hand on the plunder (also in vv. 15–16). They had been given permission to take the property of those whom they conquered (8:11), but they did only what was necessary to defend themselves.
Est. 9:11–15 tomorrow also. Probably because there were still armed men in Susa committed to carrying out the first edict. the ten sons of Haman were hanged. In keeping with Persian royal practice, the king wipes out the conspirator’s family publicly, to prevent further trouble.
Est. 3:1–9:19 Main Action. The plot to destroy the Jews (3:1–15) is foiled by the courageous actions of Esther and Mordecai (4:1–8:17), resulting in a complete victory for the Jews (9:1–19).
Est. 9:16–19 Two different dates arose for celebrating the deliverance of the Jews. In rural areas the fighting was completed on the thirteenth day of Adar, so they celebrated on the fourteenth. But in Susa it did not finish until the fourteenth, so they celebrated on the fifteenth. The celebration was still occurring on this date when Esther was written (v. 19).
Est. 9:20–21 fourteenth . . . also the fifteenth. (see note on vv. 16–19).
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Chronology in Esther
The events of Esther unfold over a period of 10 years.
| Reference | Event | Month | Day | Year of Ahasuerus’s Reign | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:3 | Ahasuerus holds his banquets | 3 | 483 B.C. | ||
| 2:16 | Esther goes to Ahasuerus | 10 | 7 | 479 | |
| 3:7 | Haman casts his lots | 1 | 12 | 474 | |
| 3:12 | Haman issues his decree | 1 | 13 | 12 | 474 |
| 3:13 | Date planned for annihilation of the Jews | 12 | 13 | 13 | 473 |
| 8:9 | Mordecai issues his decree | 3 | 23 | 13 | 473 |
| 8:12; 9:1 | Day upon which Jews could defend themselves from attack | 12 | 13 | 13 | 473 |
| 9:6–10, 20–22 | Ten sons of Haman executed; Feast of Purim celebrated | 12 | 14, 15 | 13 | 473 |
Fact: How is the festival of Purim related to Esther?
How is the festival of Purim related to Esther? Today, the Jewish festival of Purim celebrates the Jews’ deliverance from Haman’s plot to kill them. His plot involved casting lots (“purim”) to gain the guidance of idols.
Est. 9:23–32 Purim. The Hebrew plural of Pur (see note on 3:7). Jews still keep the Feast of Purim today. This second letter suggests that the differences between rural and urban Jews (9:9–16) had persisted to some extent in spite of the first letter (vv. 20–22). Both letters were distributed in the form of many letters, carried by many messengers but with the same basic content.
Est. 9:20–10:3 Conclusion. At the high point of the story, the tables are completely turned and the enemies of the Jews get what they deserve.
Est. 10:3 second in rank to King Ahasuerus. Similar to Joseph (see Gen. 41:40). brothers. Fellow Jews.
Introduction to Esther
Timeline
Author and Date
Like many OT books, Esther is an anonymous work. It is possible that the author was someone like Mordecai, who had access to historical documents (2:23; 6:1) and an interest in Jewish affairs.
Esther belongs to the period after the Babylonian exile, when Persia had replaced Babylon as the ruling power. The story is set in Susa, one of the Persian capitals, during the reign of King Ahasuerus, better known by his Greek name, Xerxes I (486–464 B.C.). Some Jews had returned to Jerusalem, where they enjoyed a reasonable amount of control over their own affairs. Others, like Esther and Mordecai, were still in exile. As a minority group, the Jews were viewed with suspicion and sometimes faced threats to their existence.
Overview and Purpose
The book of Esther tells how a Jewish girl became the queen of Persia and saved her people from a plot to destroy them. She is assisted in this by Mordecai, her cousin and guardian.
Esther was written to explain the origin of the Feast of Purim and to ensure that it would be observed by all future generations of the Jewish people (9:28). It has clearly achieved this purpose, since Jews have continued to observe Purim to the present day. The book of Esther is read as part of the celebration of Purim.
Esther is part of a much larger story that runs all the way from Abraham to Christ and, through him, to the church. If Haman had succeeded, the Jewish people as a whole would have been destroyed, and the story of God’s saving work in and through Abraham’s descendants would have come to an end. There would have been no fulfillment in Christ, and therefore no gospel and no Christian church. Christians should read the book of Esther, not just as a story about the Jews but as part of their own heritage. Christians are not obliged to observe the Feast of Purim, but they are to take to heart the truth that God providentially watches over his own (Rom. 8:28).
Key Themes
Esther is an entertaining historical story that also reveals important truths about how and why the Jews survived such an overwhelming threat:
- Divine providence. God is not mentioned by name in the book of Esther. But it shows clearly that, even when God is most hidden, he is still working to protect his chosen people.
- Human responsibility. Esther and Mordecai show great initiative and courage. Their actions are obviously significant. The providence of God does not negate the responsibility of people to act with courage and resolve when circumstances require it.
- The absurdity of wickedness. Ahasuerus and Haman were important people who had considerable power. But the story of Esther often causes laughter at their expense. The proud people of this world are not nearly as powerful as they think they are. When they oppose God’s people they bring about their own destruction. God laughs at such people (Ps. 2:4). The story of Esther invites us to laugh with him.
Outline
The Persian Empire at the Time of Esther
c. 479 B.C.
Long before Esther’s time, the people of Israel and Judah (later called Jews) had been dispersed throughout the Near East by the Assyrians and the Babylonians. Eventually the Persians absorbed nearly all of these lands into their empire, which reached its greatest extent during the time of Esther. Thus Haman’s plot to exterminate all Jews throughout the Persian Empire would have annihilated virtually all of the Jewish people, and Esther’s daring actions saved the whole nation from complete destruction.
Fact: The invisible God
The invisible God. The book of Esther does not directly mention God, but his providential hand was clearly at work, as remains the case today all around the world.
Mordecai
Mordecai was a Jew living in exile in Persia. When Mordecai’s cousin Esther became an orphan he took her as his own child. Eventually Esther became queen, and Mordecai became a royal official. One day, while serving King Ahasuerus, Mordecai discovered and reported a plot to kill the king, thus saving the king’s life. Later, when Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, who was second in command to the king, Haman persuaded the king to call for the death of all Jews. With the help of Queen Esther, Mordecai saved the Jews of Persia from this death sentence. Haman was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, and Mordecai replaced Haman as second in command to the king. (Esther 9:4)
How do we understand God's providence in the book of Esther?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Esther 6-10
In this passage we see Haman's plot to destroy the Jews revealed by Esther to the king. This took enormous courage from someone we would least expect to take bold action. It reminds me that we should not question or doubt who God can use to bring about change for His glory (2 Corinthians 4:5-7). It also reminds me that even when all seems lost, God is at work and moving in our midst. What seems like a hopeless situation turns to joy and celebration of the rescue by God through Esther and Mordecai (Esther 8:16-17).
We often see God use the people we least expect to overcome adversity for His glory. Esther is one of these people. Sometimes it is easy to think we are insignificant in this big world. At times, I let my own insecurities about not being the loudest in the room keep me from standing up for others or sharing the truth like I should. However, this passage provides encouragement that God is using us daily to share the gospel, advocate for our brothers and sisters who live in persecution, and stand firm in our faith. These are tall tasks that require courage and strength that can only come from the Lord (Psalm 121:1-2). Esther is a reminder that God uses us when we least expect it and that we should have a posture of reverence and obedience toward Him.
Although God's name is not mentioned in this book of the Bible, He is very present and near to Esther, Mordecai, and the Jewish people. We should not overlook the magnitude of this story. The Persian empire at this time was massive, spanning from India to Ethiopia with the majority of the Jews living within its borders (Esther 8:9). If Haman's plan had succeeded, the entire Jewish people would have been annihilated, and we would not have had a Messiah or gospel story today. The story of Esther demonstrates God's ability to save His people and points to the bigger story of rescue and redemption through Jesus.
This month's memory verse
"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
– Job 1:21b
Discussion Questions
1. Are there things in your life that God is calling you to (share the gospel, have a difficult conversation, stand up for the persecuted) that you have been running from? What are faithful steps you can do to take action?
2. How does the magnitude of God's rescue of His people through Esther, and later Jesus, impact your life today?
3. Read Romans 8:28. How have you seen this verse play out in your life? Have there been circumstances that have seemed hopeless and yet God has turned them to His glory?