The book of Esther, which can be found in the Old Testament, is a particularly impressive piece of biblical writing. It narrates the narrative of a Jewish girl named Esther who becomes the queen of Persia and, with the assistance of her cousin Mordecai, rescues her people from extermination. The story takes place in the Persian Empire during the reign of King Xerxes, who is known in Hebrew by his Hebrew name, Ahasuerus.
The Book of Esther is unique among the books of the Bible since it does not make any direct references to God and it does not contain any prayers; despite this, it is full of messages about having trust, having courage, and having divine providence. During this Bible study, we are going to investigate the most important aspects of the book of Esther, delve into Esther’s thought process, and glean important life lessons from her story.
I. A Brief Historical and Cultural Introduction
Before we can properly comprehend the Book of Esther, we need to have a solid understanding of the historical and cultural milieu in which it is placed. The events of the novel take place during the time of the Persian Empire, which had its capital in Susa and stretched all the way from India to Ethiopia. This enormous empire included Jews who had been exiled from Judah among its many different cultural groups.
A. The Departure of the Jews into Exile
The Babylonian Exile: In 586 BC, when the Babylonians had defeated the Kingdom of Judah, they sent a large number of Jewish captives to Babylon.
The Persian Empire: In 539 B.C., the Persians were successful in their conquest of Babylon, and it was during this time that Cyrus the Great granted permission for the Jews to return to their country and construct the Temple in Jerusalem. On the other hand, not all Jews made the decision to go back, and some of them remained in Persia.
B. King Xerxes, also known as Ahasuerus
During his reign, which lasted from 486 BC until 465 BC, Xerxes amassed a vast and strong empire.
He is notorious for his lavish dinners and his erratic demeanor, both of which play a crucial part in the events that transpire throughout the book of Esther.
Quick Overview of Each Chapter of “Esther”
Chapter 1: Vashti’s Deposition
- Esther 1:19 – “Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also, let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.”
Chapter 2: Esther Becomes Queen 2. Esther 2:17 – “Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.”
Chapter 3: Haman’s Plot 3. Esther 3:8 – “Then Haman said to King Xerxes, ‘There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.'”
Chapter 4: Esther’s Decision 4. Esther 4:14 – “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Chapter 5: Esther’s Banquet 5. Esther 5:2 – “When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.”
Chapter 6: Haman’s Downfall 6. Esther 6:6 – “When Haman entered, the king asked him, ‘What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?’ Now Haman thought to himself, ‘Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?'”
Chapter 7: Esther Reveals the Plot 7. Esther 7:3 – “Then Queen Esther answered, ‘If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request.'”
Chapter 8: The Decree to Save the Jews 8. Esther 8:17 – “In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.”
Chapter 9: The Jews Triumph 9. Esther 9:22 – “As the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, 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.”
Chapter 10: Mordecai’s Greatness 10. Esther 10:3 – “For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.”
These selected verses provide an overview of the Book of Esther’s main events, key characters, and the central themes of deliverance, courage, and divine providence.
2. The Most Important Ideas Contained in the Book of Esther
A. The Feast and the Removing of Queen Vashti from Her Position (Esther 1)
A feast lasting 180 days is held by monarch Xerxes, during which Queen Vashti declines to appear before the monarch and is consequently removed from her position as queen.
This prepares the reader for Esther’s arrival at this point in the narrative.
B. Esther Arises to Her Royal Position (Esther 2)
Esther, a Jewish orphan girl who was raised by her cousin Mordecai, earns the favor of King Ahasuerus and is elevated to the position of queen.
Because Mordecai wants it that way, her Jewish heritage is a closely guarded secret.
C. Haman’s Evil Plan to Exterminate the Jews (Chapter 3 of Esther)
Mordecai’s refusal to submit to Haman’s authority causes Haman, a high-ranking official, to get furious.
Haman hatches a plan to wipe out all of the Jews living in Persia and succeeds in persuading the monarch to issue a decree to that effect.
The Request That Mordecai Made to Esther (Chapter 4)
Esther is urged by Mordecai to make a petition to King Ahasuerus in order to save her people.
Esther is uncertain about what to do because she is afraid for her life if she approaches the king without first receiving an invitation.
The Daring Acts of Esther and the Feast (Esther Chapters 5-7)
Esther makes the decision to put her life in danger by going up to the king without being invited and inviting both him and Haman to a feast.
She blows the whistle on Haman’s scheme and discloses her Jewish origin at the feast, which ultimately leads to Haman’s downfall.
The Deliverance of the Jewish People (Esther Chapters 8–10)
The Jews are given permission by King Xerxes to defend themselves against their adversaries.
The Jews achieve victory over their foes, and Haman is put to death as a result.
It is decided to celebrate the Jewish people’s deliverance on the holiday of Purim, which is also named after Mordecai.
3. Delving Into Esther’s Thought Process
The Conflict Between Esther’s Fear and Her Courage
The fact that Esther was initially hesitant to approach the king illustrates the fact that she genuinely feared for her life.
Her eventual willingness to risk everything for the sake of her people reveals an extraordinary amount of faith and resolve.
B. Her Perception of Who She Is
The conflict that exists between assimilation and the preservation of one’s faith and heritage is brought to light by Esther’s decision to hide her Jewish heritage.
In the end, she comes to terms with who she is and employs that awareness to save her people.
C. Put your faith in the providence of God
Even though God is not specifically acknowledged in the Book of Esther, it is clear that He is providing for His people throughout the entire book.
It appears that supernatural intervention was at work, as evidenced by Esther’s ascension to the throne, Mordecai’s timely discovery of the murder plot, and the events leading to Haman’s downfall.
Lessons to be Learned from the Book of Esther
A. Bravery in the Confrontation of Fear
The example set by Esther teaches us to face our concerns and take action when we are confronted with hardship, while maintaining faith that God is with us.
B. The Influence that Fasting and Prayer Can Have
Although prayer and fasting are not specifically stated in the text, it is likely that Esther utilized these spiritual disciplines as part of her strategy for gaining God’s direction.
This should serve as a reminder to us of the significance of seeking the guidance and strength of God in our own lives via prayer and fasting.
Taking Ownership of Our Identity
The lesson that we can learn from Esther’s decision to declare her Jewish identity is how important it is to accept who we are and to stand up for our convictions, no matter how difficult it may be.
Providence bestowed by God
The book of Esther serves as a reminder to us that even when it appears that God is not there, He is still at work behind the scenes, directing events for the benefit of His people.
The Book of Esther is a story that challenges the protagonists’ identities and ideals by placing them in a historical and cultural setting that forces them to confront their faith, courage, and the providence of God. It is made clear to us, through the deeds of Esther and Mordecai, as well as by the progression of events, how God can work through seemingly insignificant people to accomplish remarkable things.
May we find the inspiration to trust God, tackle our anxieties, accept our identities, and recognize His providential care in our own lives as we reflect on the lessons from this book. May we also discover that inspiration.
The story of Esther is being told today because it is such a striking illustration of the evergreen themes of having faith and being courageous in the face of hardship.
45 Quotes From The Book Of Esther
1. “If it pleases the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be altered, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus.” – Esther 1:19
2. “Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14
3. “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” – Esther 4:16
4. “For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated.” – Esther 7:4
5. “The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.” – Esther 8:16
6. “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.” – Esther 9:27
7. “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.” – Esther 9:4
8. “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.” – Esther 7:3
9. “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.” – Esther 7:10
10. “And the king said again to Esther on the second day as they drank wine, ‘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.'” – Esther 7:2
11. “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?” – Esther 8:6
12. “The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.” – Esther 8:16
13. “The king’s scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day.” – Esther 8:9
14. “So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.” – Esther 9:23
15. “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.” – Esther 8:17
16. “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?” – Esther 10:2
17. “On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace.” – Esther 5:1
18. “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14
19. “Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, ‘All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.'” – Esther 4:10-11
20. “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.” – Esther 7:10
21. “This is my command to you: come to the king’s palace, and visit me in the evening. From morning until evening, I fast. After that, I will go to the king, even if it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” – Esther 4:16
22. “So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.” – Esther 8:15
23. “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.'” – Esther 7:3
24. “Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.” – Esther 5:1
25. “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath abated.” – Esther 7:10
26. “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” – Esther 4:16
27. “When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry.” – Esther 4:1
28. “The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.” – Esther 8:16
29. “He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which had been given at Susa, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people.” – Esther 4:8
30. “And the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther.” – Esther 3:15
31. “Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was.” – Esther 4:5
32. “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.” – Esther 7:10
33. “The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.” – Esther 8:16
34. “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.” – Esther 8:17
35. “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.” – Esther 9:27
36. “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.” – Esther 8:17
37. “And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far.” – Esther 9:20
38. “The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.” – Esther 8:16
39. “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.” – Esther 10:3
40. “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.” – Esther 10:3
41. “The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.” – Esther 8:16
42. “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.” – Esther 9:18
43. “Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.” – Esther 5:1
44. “And the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther.” – Esther 3:15
45. “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.” – Esther 7:10
These verses provide a representative sample of the Book of Esther and its key moments.
