Click Arrow To Start Audio

THE BOOK OF ESTHER – LESSON ONE

I. QUEEN VASHTI DEPOSED (1:1-22).

A. The royal feast at Shushan – promoting the glorious kingdom (v. 1-9)

1. For the nobles and princes of the provinces – feasting for 180 days

2. Another feast for great and small – seven days

3. Beautiful tapestry accompanied with drinking according to one’s pleasure.

B. Divorce of Vashti (v. 10-22)

1. Vashti refuses the King’s summons to come before him – to flaunt her beauty before the king and princes of the land – the King made merry with wine.

2. Memucan, one of the King’s wise men, reflects on Vashti’s refusal to the King in terms of what influence it will have among all the women – “make their husbands contemptible in their eyes” (v. 16-17).

3. Royal decree encouraged to not allow Vashti to ever come before the King and give her royal estate to another.

4. Decree established and published throughout the kingdom

QUESTIONS:

1. How extensive was the Kingdom of Persia under the rule of Ahasuerus?

2. Why do you think the author has to explain … “this is Ahasuerus…”

3. Where was the king’s palace located?

4. Was the feast one continuous six-month feast – 180 days?

5. Describe what you might have seen at the feast where DRINKING was “according to the law – none could compel”?

6. Was Queen Vashti’s refusal of her king-husband justified?  Explain you answer.

7. Why did something have to be done regarding Vashti according to the king’s wise men?

8. What was the two-fold purpose of the letter to all the provinces backed by the royal decree?