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THE BOOK OF ESTHER – LESSON FOUR

I. THE EVENTS SURROUNDING THE SECOND BANQUET PREPARED BY QUEEEN ESTHER (Chapters 6-7)

A. The king has the book of records of the chronicles read to him on a sleepless night before the banquet (6:1-3).

1. The reading reported the history of Mordecai revealing the plot of Bigthana and Teresh to lay hold on the king.

2. The king learns that Mordecai had not been honored for his loyalty.

 

B. Haman is present in the morning to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai (6:4-9).

1. Before Haman could give his request, the king asks Haman what should be done to the one in whom the king honors (v. 4-6).  

    a. Haman thinks the honor is for himself.

2. Haman’s response (v. 7-9)

    a. One should be clothed with the king’s royal apparel.

    b. One should ride on the king’s horse.

    c. The horse should wear a royal crown.

    d. One on the horse should be led by one of the king’s most noble princes through the streets who makes         proclamation before the honored one.

C. King commands Haman to bestow this honor upon Mordecai (6:10-12).

            1. Mordecai, after being honored, returns to the king’s gate.

                        2. Haman returns to his house in mourning.

D. Haman recounts to this wife Zeresh and his friends the things than had befallen him (6:13-14).

            1. They see that Haman will not prevail.

2. The chamberlains interrupt with the summons for Haman to come to Queen Esther’s banquet.

E. Esther tells the king her petition – request that her life and the life of her people be spared (7:1-4).

F. Esther identifies the enemy who desires to kill her people: Haman (7:5-6).

 

G. Haman pleads to Esther for his life before an angry king (7:7-8).

            1. King in anger leaves and enters the garden.

2. King returns only to find Haman on the Queen’s couch pleading for his life.

3. The king interprets Haman’s actions as one trying to make sexual advances on his wife.

H. King issues the command to hang Haman on the gallows Haman prepared for Mordecai (7:9-10).

            1. Haman hanged on the gallows prepared for Mordecai

            2. King’s wrath pacified   

   

 QUESTIONS:

1. What made the king think about the past actions of Mordecai?

2. How confident was Haman in his position with the king?

3. What humiliation did Haman experience in obeying the king that is reflected in how he entered his own house?

4. What wisdom was being conveyed in Haman’s household when he told them the events of the day?

5. What was Esther’s request of the king?

6. What event regarding her people would have caused Esther not to make a request of the king?

7. What event moved the angry king to command the death of Haman?

8. What picture should be in our minds regarding Haman “hanging” on the “gallows”

9. What can you point to in these two chapters which illustrates the providence of God at work?

10. What “irony” fills the pages of these two chapters?

THE BOOK OF ESTHER – LESSON FIVE

I. EVENTS SURROUNDING MORDECAI, ESTHER AND THE JEWS FOLLOWING HAMAN’S DEATH (Chapters 8-10)

           A. Mordecai is promoted and presents an edict in behalf of the Jews (8:1-17).

   1. Mordecai is given the king’s ring and set over the house of Haman                           (v. 1-2).

   2. Esther gains the ear of the king for him to change the previous edict to destroy the Jews (v. 3-8).

   3. Scribes write out edict authored by Mordecai with the authority of the king for Jews to defend themselves against the        enemy (v. 9-13).

   4. The post to Jews sent by swift horses to all the provinces causing joy among the Jews (v. 14-17)

  

B. Two days of vengeance for the Jews (9:1-19)

    1. On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (Adar), the Jews smite their enemies with the sword.

        a. 500 men slain in Shushan

        b. Haman’s ten sons slain

        c. 75,000 slain in the provinces

    2. King grants Esther’s request for Jews in Shushan to be able to do on the fourteenth day what they have done on the thirteenth day.

        a. 300 slain in Shushan

        b. Haman’s ten sons are hanged on the gallows.

    3. Shushan (walled cities) make fifteenth day a day of feasting and gladness while the other cities celebrate on the fourteenth day.

 

            C. The feast of Purim (v. 20-32)

                1. Mordecai writes that the two days (fourteenth and fifteen) day of Adar should be celebrated for the Jews having rest                     from the enemies who were set on destroying them.

                2. Pur (Purim) were cast to destroy them, now feast days known as Purim – Haman’s wicked device turned upon his                       own head.

D. Mordecai’s greatness remembered (10:1-3).

 

   

 QUESTIONS:

1. Mordecai received whose ring?

2. What is meant by the fact that Mordecai was “over the house of Haman?”

3. What respect did Esther manifest to the king in pleading her case to save her people?

4. What authority did Mordecai’s edict to the Jews carry?

5. Mordecai’s edict addressed:

 a. the enemies of the Jews to not carry out the plan to destroy the Jews.

 b. the Jews to fight and plunder those who would destroy them.

 c. both parties to be at peace with one another.

6. What was the means of spreading the edict “fast” throughout the provinces of the Persian Empire?

7. What was a two-fold response to Mordecai’s edict?

8. The ten sons of Haman were killed by hanging on the gallows. (T) (F)

9. Why are two days to be celebrated by the Jews instead of the one day in which they were to be destroyed according to Haman’s plan?

10. Why is the feast commemorating this deliverance from destruction called “Purim?”

11. How does the Book of Esther exalt Mordecai?