Thursday
Evening Bible Study
July
18, 2013
Introduction
The book of Esther takes place during the time when Persia ruled the world
(539-331 BC).
The events in the book extend over a decade, from 483 BC to 473 BC.
Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel
preached? Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk
– Meat – Manna Preach for a decision Is the church loved?
The book of Esther gives us the historical background to the Jewish Feast
of Purim. Purim is still celebrated by
the Jews and almost looks a little like Halloween because the children all
dress up in costumes.
This year, Purim fell on February 24, 25. Next year it falls on March 16, 17.
Part of the modern celebration
involves baking special cookies called a “hamantasch” or, “Haman’s Ear”, which
is a crust filled with a sesame seed filling.
The little girls dress up like Esther and the boys get to play
the part of evil Haman. The story of
Esther is told and whenever the name “Esther” or “Mordecai” is read, everyone
cheers, while everyone “boos” when the name “Haman” is read.
More than just background to Purim, the book of Esther is a testimony of
how God watches over the nation of Israel.
We’ve seen in the book of Daniel (esp. chapter 10) that there are angelic
forces at war, trying to destroy God’s chosen people, Israel.
We’re going to see how one such plot to destroy Israel was foiled.
We aren’t told who the author is,
but some think that it might have been written by Mordecai, Esther’s
cousin. Others think it may have been
written by Ezra.
Some have thought that the book of Esther shouldn’t have been included in
the Bible because the name “God” is not used.
Perhaps this is why the ancient Essene community didn’t include any
copies of Esther in what we call the “Dead Sea Scrolls”. Yet even though you won’t see the word “God”
used, you will see God’s fingerprints all through the book.
Sometimes we think that unless a person is carrying a King James Bible,
telling you about hell, and mentioning the name of Jesus in every sentence,
they can’t be used by God.
The truth is, God may not always work in the way
you expect Him to.
The beginning chapters of the book give a background of the main
story. They record events that will take
place years before the actual crisis occurs.
If we stopped after just reading the opening chapters, we might be quite
disturbed to think that a good Jewish girl has become part of the king’s harem.
Yet God is going to use every detail and work it towards the good.
1:1-9 Persia Parties
:1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus
(this was the Ahasuerus who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven
provinces, from India to Ethiopia),
:1 in the days of Ahasuerus
Ahasuerus – ‘Achashverowsh – “I will be silent and
poor”
He lived from 519-465 BC.
He was known in history as Xerxes I, and ruled from 486-465 BC.
Xerxes was not a believer in Yahweh.
As best we can determine, he followed Zoroastrianism, which still exists
today. Zorastrians
believe in one God and in a resurrection, but there’s little else that is close
to the worship of the True God.
Be careful not to form too romantic an idea about Ahasuerus/Xerxes.
This is a pagan man. In the movies
he’s portrayed like this, in ancient Persian reliefs he looks like this, others
see him like this.
:1 India to Ethiopia
The area known as “India” is known today as Pakistan. See map.
:2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the
throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan
the citadel,
:2 Shushan
We became acquainted with Shushan back in Daniel
8 when Daniel received his vision about Persia and Greece a hundred years
earlier…
Play “Susa” map clip
Also known as “Susa”.
Prior to Daniel’s day, Susa had been known as the capital of the Elamites. They had
ruled the area for over a thousand years before Daniel’s day.
In Daniel’s day, Susa had become part of the Babylonian empire. In ten years (540BC), Belshazzar’s father, Nabonidus, would flee from Susa as Cyrus the Great began to
conquer bits and pieces of the Babylonian empire.
After the Persians conquered Susa, Darius the Great would build a great
palace there. It was in that palace the
next Persian king, Xerxes (Ahasuerus), would host the great feast in the book
of Esther. It was in this palace the
Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the next Persian king, Artaxerxes.
:3 that in the third year of his reign he made a
feast for all his officials and servants—the powers of Persia and Media, the
nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him—
:4 when he showed the riches of his glorious
kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred
and eighty days in all.
:3 the third year of his reign
It’s 483 BC. Ahasuerus is 36 years
old.
:4 showed the riches of his glorious
kingdom
One of the things happening in the background historically is the coming
battle with Greece and Ahasuerus will be trying to expand his empire. Ten years earlier (490 BC) his father had
suffered a great, humiliating defeat at a place called Marathon in Greece, and
Ahasuerus wants revenge.
It has been suggested that during this 180 days, Ahasuerus has gathered all
his nobles and military leaders to prepare for his coming invasion of Greece,
which will occur in 480 BC.
:5 And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven
days for all the people who were present in Shushan
the citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king’s
palace.
:5 the king made a feast
After a six month long “feast”, Ahasuerus throws a seven day drinking party
in Shushan.
:6 There were white and blue linen curtains
fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars;
and the couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic
pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black marble.
It must have been incredibly beautiful.
Perhaps like this …
:7 And they served drinks in golden vessels, each
vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance, according
to the generosity of the king.
:8 In accordance with the law, the drinking was
not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household,
that they should do according to each man’s pleasure.
:8 drinking was not compulsory
No one was forced to drink. No one
was forced to stop drinking.
Josephus records:
He also gave order to the servants,
that they should not force them to drink by bringing them wine continually, as
is the practice of the Persians, but to permit every one of the guests to enjoy
himself according to his own inclination.[1]
:9 Queen Vashti also
made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to
King Ahasuerus.
:9 Vashti
– “beautiful”
While Ahasuerus is hosting his party for the men, Vashti
hosts a party for the women. We have now
discovered it was a Tupperware party … J
1:10-12 Vashti says no
:10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king
was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs
who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,
:11 to bring Queen Vashti
before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to
the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold.
:12 But Queen Vashti
refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs;
therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him.
:11 to show her beauty
It may be that Ahasuerus was simply trying to have his wife give a fashion
show.
Some of the Jewish scholars suggest that he was asking her to show up
wearing nothing but her crown.
Either way, she doesn’t want to be humiliated in front of a bunch of
drunks.
:10 merry with wine
Lesson
Stupid Drunken People
Ahasuerus’ marriage is going to fall apart because of his drunken request.
(Pr 31:4–5 NKJV) —4 It is not for
kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink
wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; 5 Lest they drink
and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.
You may not be a “king”, but alcohol affects you just like it affects
kings.
It makes you forget what’s really important. It makes you “forget” the “law”.
Josephus records:
But she, out of
regard to the laws of the Persians, which forbid the wives to be seen by
strangers, did not go to the king; and though he oftentimes sent the eunuchs to
her, she did nevertheless stay away, and refused to come[2]
Isn’t it interesting to think
that Vashti was the one who was actually obeying
Persian law, while her husband wasn’t.
Drinking makes Ahasuerus ask his wife to do something humiliating.
It makes him respond with anger instead of an apology.
1:13-22 Royal Divorce
:13 Then the king said to the wise men who
understood the times (for this was the king’s manner toward all who knew
law and justice,
:14 those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who had
access to the king’s presence, and who ranked highest in the kingdom):
:15 “What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the
command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs?”
:16 And Memucan answered
before the king and the princes: “Queen Vashti has
not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people who are
in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
:17 For the queen’s behavior will become known to
all women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes, when they
report, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’
:18 This very day the noble ladies of
Persia and Media will say to all the king’s officials that they have heard of
the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and
wrath.
:18 ladies of Persia and Media will say
…
Memucan is afraid that Vashti
is setting a bad example. All the wives
will revolt.
I wonder if Memucan was having trouble at home
himself.
Perhaps he’s tired of landing in the “dog house”.
Note to husbands: Buying diamonds
isn’t what keeps you out of the doghouse.
Marriage is more than just buying the right gifts. But perhaps if he wasn’t so drunk, he might
have done better.
:19 If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it
be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be
altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King
Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better
than she.
:20 When the king’s decree which he will make is
proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is great), all wives will honor
their husbands, both great and small.”
:21 And the reply pleased the king and the
princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.
:22 Then he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province in
its own script, and to every people in their own language, that each man should
be master in his own house, and speak in the language of his own people.
:21 the reply pleased the king
Lesson
Marriage Advice
It’s kind of important to be thinking about where you are going to get
marriage advice.
Are you getting advice from ungodly people?
Ahasuerus was having a bit of difficulty with his wife, so he asked his
counselors for advice:
“What shall we do to Queen Vashti…” (vs. 15)
They gave Ahasuerus advice based on what seemed good in their days – to be
tough on the woman, show her whose boss.
Their counsel was really based on what they wanted in their own marriage –
they were afraid that Vashti was going to set the
wrong example for their own wives and give their own wives an excuse to say
“no” to their husbands.
The advice that some people give you is going to be based
on their own biases, and sometimes on selfish motives.
Some people want you to give up on your marriage so they
will have an excuse to give up on their marriage.
Be careful about getting advice from the wrong counselors.
David wrote,
(Ps
1:1–3 NKJV) —1 Blessed is
the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of
sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the
law of the Lord, And in His law
he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also
shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
Are you getting advice from God’s ideas on marriage?
One of the examples we have of marriage from the Scriptures is the very first
marriage, between Adam and Eve.
Jesus referred to Adam and Eve when He was asked about
marriage.
(Mt
19:3–6 NKJV) —3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is
it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” 4 And He
answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at
the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For
this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh’ ? 6 So then, they are no longer two
but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Jesus implies that God’s plan did not include divorce. Of course God will allow men to divorce
because of the “hardness” of their hearts, but that was not God’s original
plan.
Jesus held up Adam and Eve as the pattern for marriage.
Another lesson on marriage from Adam and Eve:
(Ge 2:25 NKJV) And they
were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Ahasuerus might have wanted his wife to be “naked” in
front of more than just himself, but in front of the whole world.
God wants nakedness to be between a husband and wife.
I think the lesson goes beyond clothing - the goal for
marriage is complete openness between a man and a woman. God wants marriage to be a place where there
are no secrets, and as you learn to open up to the other person, you are loved
and accepted for who you are.
2:1-4 Beauty Contest Proposal
:1 After these things, when the wrath of King
Ahasuerus subsided, he remembered Vashti, what she
had done, and what had been decreed against her.
:1 After these things
This next act of the story is going to take place four years later, in the
seventh year of Ahasuerus’ reign. (vs. 16)
This first chapter took place in the third year of Ahasuerus, as he was
preparing to march against Greece. His
war with Greece would start preparations in 483 BC. By 480 BC he was ready to march into Greece,
including the famous battle at Thermopylae where he was held off for three days
by 300 Spartans led by King Leonides.
If Xerxes seems a bit creepy in that clip, perhaps that’s not a bad thing.
Even though Ahasuerus would win at Thermopylae, it was later that year that
he would be defeated by the Greeks at the naval battle of Salamis. He would then withdraw from Greece.
It’s in the light of these defeats, after having
returned home, that Ahasuerus begins to miss Vashti.
:2 Then the king’s servants who attended him said:
“Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king;
:2 beautiful young virgins
The servants don’t want to suggest that Vashti
come back, she might put them to death.
So they suggest that another wife be sought.
:3 and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom,
that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan
the citadel, into the women’s quarters, under the custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch, custodian of the women. And let
beauty preparations be given them.
:3 the king’s eunuch
Castrated men were the choice of kings to be in charge of the harems.
:4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king
be queen instead of Vashti.” This thing pleased the
king, and he did so.
2:5-7 Mordecai and Esther
:5 In Shushan the
citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son
of Kish, a Benjamite.
:5 Jew – Y@huwdiy – Jew; a form of “Judah”.
This is the first time this word is used in the Old Testament.
:5 Mordecai – Mord@kay – “little man”
:5 the son of Shimei
It seems that Mordecai is a descendant of a man named Shimei,
of the line of King Saul. Saul was the
son of Kish.
(2 Sa 16:5–7 NKJV) —5 Now when King
David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the
family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei
the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he
came. 6 And he
threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people
and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You
bloodthirsty man, you rogue!
Shimei would cause some trouble to David. David initially showed grace to Shimei, but eventually Solomon would have him put to death
for the difficulty he caused his father.
If this is the same Shimei, this could be a cool
picture of restoration. God hasn’t given
up on the family of Shimei, or Saul.
We’re also going to see another connection with Saul’s day when Mordecai is
going to face an old enemy of Saul, a descendant of Agag,
king of the Amalekites. Saul did not
obey God when he spared Agag’s life, but God will use
Mordecai to thwart Agag’s descendant.
:6 Kish had been carried away from
Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah
king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
:6 Kish had been carried away
The family of Kish had been hauled off to Babylon in the second captivity
of 597 BC with King Jeconiah. This was the captivity that Ezekiel had been
carried off in.
:7 And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah,
that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor
mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and
mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
:7 Hadassah – Hadaccah – “myrtle”
This is Esther’s Hebrew name.
:7 Esther – ‘Ecter – “star”
This is a Persian name.
:7 uncle’s daughter
Esther is Mordecai’s cousin, but he would raise her as a daughter.
:8-11 Esther joins the pageant
:8 So it was, when the king’s command and decree were heard, and when many
young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under
the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to
the king’s palace, into the care of Hegai the
custodian of the women.
:8 into the care of Hegai
It doesn’t seem that Mordecai made a choice to have Esther “apply” for the
job, but it seems that he had no choice in the matter.
Was it wrong for Mordecai to allow Esther to take part in this “beauty
pageant”?
I’m not sure we can say whether it was right or wrong. It just happened. It seems to be a given.
Mordecai might not have had a choice in the matter. It just happened.
Sometimes we can be a big condemning of believers who find themselves in
awkward or strange positions. We need to
be careful because we don’t always know all the facts.
It will turn out that her taking part in this pageant will be an important
thing. It will lead to her nation’s
deliverance.
:9 Now the young woman pleased him, and she
obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her
allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king’s
palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the
house of the women.
:10 Esther had not revealed her people or family,
for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it.
:10 Esther had not revealed her people
For some reason, Mordecai doesn’t want Esther to be known as “a Jew”. At least not yet.
It could be that he wants to protect her from the racism that is rampant at
that time.
Keep in mind that Mordecai is open about his own Jewishness. He doesn’t hide the fact that he is a Jew.
Also – initially it will not be a commonly known fact that Esther is
related to Mordecai. Apparently only a
few will know they are related.
:11 And every day Mordecai paced in front of the
court of the women’s quarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare and what was
happening to her.
:11 to learn of Esther’s welfare
He’s keeping an eye on Esther. He
may not be allowed in to see her, but he does his best to keep track of her.
8:12-14 The competition begins
:12 Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King
Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the
regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation
apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and
preparations for beautifying women.
:12
six months with oil of myrrh
Some have suggested that this is six months of drawing out the impurities
in the gals’ skin.
:12 six months with perfumes
Six months to soak her with sweet fragrances.
:13 Thus prepared, each young woman
went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from
the women’s quarters to the king’s palace.
:14 In the evening she went, and in the morning she
returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who kept the concubines. She
would not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and called
for her by name.
:14 the evening … the morning
Does this imply that the king slept with each woman? It probably does.
:14 concubines
This sounds like there was contract with the king and these women. Yet they were not considered full “wives”,
only concubines.
This is a Persian king’s harem.
Remember, this is a pagan, Persian society.
This isn’t a practice we should copy!!!
8:15-20 Esther wins
:15 Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail
the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king,
she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s
eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the
sight of all who saw her.
:15 what Hegai
… advised
She lets Hegai choose her wardrobe and guide her
appearance.
Lesson
Listen to advice
Hegai knows what works. She pays attention.
(Pr 12:15 NKJV) The way of
a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who
heeds counsel is wise.
:16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into
his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
:16 the month of Tebeth
The Babylonian month that falls near December and January
:16 the seventh year of his reign
It has been four years since the divorce from Vashti
(Est. 1:3). It has been one year since
Ahasuerus’ defeat at Salamis.
It is 479 BC.
:17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she
obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the
royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
:17 loved – ‘ahab –
to love; human love for another, includes family, and sexual
:17 grace – chen – favor, grace, charm; acceptance
:17 favor – checed – goodness, kindness, faithfulness
:17 queen
Does this mean that Ahasuerus gets rid of the harem? I don’t think so. It just means that Esther is higher than all
the other “wives”.
:18 Then the king made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his
officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave
gifts according to the generosity of a king.
The king throws a party for his new bride.
2:19-23 Mordecai saves Ahasuerus
:19 When virgins were gathered together a second
time, Mordecai sat within the king’s gate.
:20 Now Esther had not revealed her family
and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command
of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him.
:19 virgins were gathered together a
second time
Ahasuerus is adding to his harem again.
He’s not a guy to emulate. This
guy belongs in the dog house.
Some guys think that a gift allows them to be obnoxious and fix
things. Not so. Only change really fixes things.
:19 Mordecai sat within the king’s gate
Mordecai is considered a “judge”.
The courts are located at the city gates.
He’s not a “judge” because of his relationship with Esther. He has earned it on his own. Most people don’t know he’s related to her,
not yet.
:21 In those days, while Mordecai sat within the
king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands
on King Ahasuerus.
:21 Bigthan – Bigthan
– “in their wine-press”.
I wonder if he was given that name
because when his mother saw him, she said to the lady in the hospital bed next
to her, “My baby is Bigger-than your baby”. J
:21 Teresh – Teresh
– “strictness”
:21 sought to lay hands on King
Ahasuerus
They are planning to assassinate the king.
:22 So the matter became known to Mordecai, who
told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.
:23 And when an inquiry was made into the matter,
it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the
book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.
:23 hanged on a gallows
This was not hanging on a rope by the neck.
This was being impaled on a stake or a pole. It was the Persians who invented crucifixion.
:23 written in the book
One more important fact for later in the story.
We are setting the stage for an incredible story of God’s deliverance for
His people.
They are going to be facing one of the most wicked, evil enemies in the
history of Judaism.
And yet if you look closely, God is laying the groundwork for an amazing
deliverance.
When the Jews are delivered, it’s going to seem like an amazing set of “coincidences”,
and yet it is God quietly at work behind the scenes.
God’s name may not be in this book, but He’s there none the less.
When we are in the middle of the hardest of times, we don’t always see
it.
(Ro 8:28 NKJV) And we
know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who
are the called according to His purpose.
We don’t always know how any “good” can come from our trouble. But God knows what He’s doing.