Esther

This is a book that would make a great movie. Not only is there great drama here, but there is also great comedy. I will point out to you two scenes that I would love to see on You Tube. I think they would be hilarious. 

The setting of this book is Persia. The time is about 15 years before Ezra returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Here is the cast of characters:

Queen Vashti, granddaughter of Nebuchadnezzar, daughter of Belshazaar, the last of the Babylonian kings. He was the one who hosted a banquet and God’s hand appeared to send him a message of doom (Dan 5). When the Persians and Medes invaded, Vashti was the only survivor. King Darius discovered her during fall of Jerusalem and took pity on her and betrothed her to his son, Xerxes.

King Xerxes (also known as Ahasuerus), banishes Queen Vashti.

Mordecai, a Jew and older cousin of Esther.

Esther, a Jewish girl who helped save the Jews from genocide.

Haman, the villain of this story. When you read his name, feel free to hiss, boo and stomp your feet. I will explain why later on. He is identified by some as Memucan, one of the princes who had access to the king (Esther 1:14). Haman was an astrologer and a direct descendant of Agag, an Amalekite, and longtime enemies of Israel. The attacked them on numerous times (Ex 17:8, Deut 25:17-18, Judges 3:13, 6:2-5). God commanded Saul to kill them, including their king (I Sam 15:2-3). They were finally killed (I Chron 4:43).

Esther 1:5, 7 King Xerxes of Persia hosts a seven day feast where the “royal wine was abundant.”

This feast was for all of the nobles and officials. Anyone who was anyone was there. To not be invited probably meant that your career was on the downhill slide.

Esther 1:10-11 When the King was “high in spirits from wine,” he commanded Queen Vashti to come and display her beauty to his guests. She was to wear her

crown. Some commentators suggest that the crown was the only thing she was to wear. She was “lovely to look at.” 

The queen wanted nothing to do with this drunken debauchery and she refused the kings “request.” When the king “asks” or “suggests” that someone do something, it is much as it is in the military today. When the General “suggests” or “asks” it mean it is an order. Kings and Generals do not like to be told “NO!” by anyone. The queen said “NO” to her husband and this created a crisis.

The King consulted with his princes to decide which “course of action” he should take (1:15). Memucan, who might be Haman, suggested that if the king’s wife disobeys him, all of our wives would do the same. You must put her in her place, they suggested.

The decision was made that the queen would never again enter the presence of King Xerxes. Now I don’t know exactly what this meant. Was she sent off into exile? Did she remain in the area, “under house arrest”? Was she executed? Tradition says that she was executed.

It’s time to find the king a new queen. There is a nationwide beauty contest and guess who becomes the next queen? Yes, it’s Esther (2:17). The other contestants lived out their lives as widows.

Esther 2:21 Mordecai overhears talk of a conspiracy to assassinate the king and reveals this information to Esther, who passes it onto the king. The two conspirators were hanged.

Esther 3 Haman, a high government official, sought a decree from the king to have all of the Jews killed. His argument before the king was that the Jews were different, not to be trusted and besides, they didn’t obey the king. Why would Haman want to have the Jews killed? Besides being an Amalekite, it was because Mordecai would not bow down to him in public. Haman was an astrologer and had idolatrous images embroidered on his garments. Mordecai would not bow down to these. As an incentive for everyone to participate in this genocide, those who killed Jews could plunder their belongings (v 14).

When Mordecai heard of this decree he put together a plan to protect his people. 

Esther 4 Mordecai urges Esther, the new Queen, to break protocol and approach the king concerning the edict that was issued allowing for the murder of all Jews. In that day you could not approach the king on your own. You had to be summoned by the king. If you came uninvited, you could be executed. So Esther is in a difficult position. Should she approach the king and risk her life in doing so?

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 royal position for such a time as this?”

Esther is pulled between obeying her cousin or the king.

Do you ever wonder why certain things have happened in your life and where you are going? Perhaps what God allowed to happen to you in your life will be used to position you to be used by God in some way.

Esther 5 finds Esther not only approaching the king, but she hosts a banquet

Esther 6 The king couldn’t sleep so he started to read a book on Persian history. There he was reminded of the time Mordecai revealed to him the assassination plot against him. Haman enters the room and is asked, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Haman thought that he was referring to him. So Haman suggests that the person be given a robe, a horse and have him led through the streets to be cheered by the crowds. The king liked his idea and ordered him to bring Mordecai the Jew to be so honored. Imagine the shock on Haman’s face. About then he probably wished that he had suggested that the person to be honored should get a “Certificate of Appreciation” rather than such elaborate, public honors. So Haman had to lead the procession through the street that honored Mordecai. Can you imagine the look on Haman’s face? This is a comedic scene that I would want to see on You Tube.

Esther 7 The king and Haman came to dine with the queen. There she asked that her people be spared from the planned genocide. The king asks, “Who came up with such a crazy idea?” The queen pointed at Haman and said, “The adversary and enemy is the vile Haman (v 6). The king is shocked. He steps outside to the patio to get a breath of fresh air and to think about what he has just heard. While he

is outside Haman begins to beg Esther for his life. In the process he stumbles over the coffee table or rug and land on top of the Queen, sitting on the couch. This happens just as the king returns to the room and he declares, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”

Haman is taken out to the gallows, the very same gallows that he had built to kill Mordecai, and he was hanged (v 10).

Esther 9:18 the holiday of Purim was established to celebrate the deliverance of the Jews from the Holocaust planned for them by Haman.

Purim is a holiday that emphasizes being drunk with happiness. Traditionally Jews drink a bit more wine they usually do. In some ways Purim is a second birth of for the Jewish people. During Purim gifts are sent to one another. People get dressed up in costumes. The Book of Esther is read. Whenever Haman’s name is read the people hiss, boo and stomp their feet. Some write the name “Haman” on the bottom of their shoes. One of the traditional pastries is called “Haman’s Ears.”

The term Purim is sometimes used to refer to any “special deliverance” by the Lord. What is the greatest Purim of all? It is when Jesus sacrificed himself to deliver us from our sins. Haman is a type of Anti-Christ and the second coming is the final Purim (Rev 19:11-16).

Esther 10:3 “Mordecai . . . is 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.”