Esther Chapter Two

What are some of the characteristics of king Xerxes that we saw last week?

Queen Vashti was caught between a rock and a hard place and her decision caused her to be excommunicated from the king. 

So now, when did the king remember Vashti and the situation with her? vs1  

Persian laws could not be reversed once they were legally implemented.  Do you remember how long he had Queen Vashti sent out of his presence for?  (chapter 1:19)

 

He is probably having remorse about his actions because what do his attendants propose? Vs2 

 

How would this be done? Vs3 

 

Then what would happen? Vs4 

How did the king feel about this proposal? 

 

Who is there, in the Citadel of Susa and what do we learn about him? vs5 

How did he get to this place? Vs6 

Who is Hadassah? Vs7 

What other name is she known by? 

What is she like? 

What had Mordecai done when she lost her parents?  .

 

What happened to Esther when the king’s order had been proclaimed? Vs8 

 

What took place immediately? Vs9 

What special accommodations did she get? 

 

What hadn’t Esther done and why? Vs10 

 

Remember where Mordecai was employed (vs5).  Because of this what was he able to do? vs11 

What did a woman have to complete before she went before the king? Vs12 

What could a woman take with her when she went before the king in the palace? Vs13 

When did a woman go to the king when it was her turn? Vs14 

When would she return? 

Where would she return? 

When would she return to the king? 

When Esther’s turn came to go to the palace and be with the king, what did she take with her? vs15 

Who’s favor did Esther win? 

 

When did Esther’s turn come? Vs16 

 

How did the king feel about Esther? Vs17 

What did he do because of this? 

Then what did the king do? vs18 

 

While all of this is going on in the palace, what is Mordecai doing? Vs19 

 

Esther continued to follow his instructions, which one in particular? Vs20 

One day when Mordecai was working at the king’s gate, what were two of the king’s Eunuch’s doing? Vs21 

What were their positions; how close were they to the king? 

What did Mordecai over hear? Vs22 

What did he do with the information? 

Then what happened?  .

An investigation took place and what was found? Vs23 

What happened to the 2 Eunuchs? 

Where do you see God in this chapter? 

Esther Chapter One

Welcome to a study of the Old Testament book of Esther.

In 586bc Israel was invaded by Babylon.  Jerusalem was destroyed and captives were taken to Babylon under the direction of Nebuchadnezzer.  The prophet Daniel was one of those captives taken to Babylon. 

In 539bc (approx. 50 years later) Babylon is overthrown by the Persian king, Cyrus.  Under his reign, a group of exiled Israelites return to Jerusalem. (See Book of Ezra)  After living there for so long, there were many Israelites that may have decided not to make the trip but instead stayed in the Babylonian/Persian region.  It could be that they had made a home there and decided to stay where it was comfortable instead of returning to the unknown of a country that was in ruin.  Many were aging and the young may have only remembered their current home.  Or it may be that the first ones were sent to begin the rebuilding and prepare for the others to one day return.    These Israelites lived under the Persian rule of King Cyrus.

In 486bc (100 years after Israel was taken into captivity) Xerxes became king over Persia.  He was said to be impulsive and with an ego.  He had a winter palace in Susa, the southern part of the Medo-Persian Empire; east of Babylon. It is here that the events of this book take place.  They begin approximately 480 years before Jesus was born.

What are we going to read about in the following verses? Vs1 

Where is this king ruling from?  Vs2 

What happened in the third year of his reign? Vs3 

What could this be compared to in our time? 

What did the king do for 180 days prior to this event? Vs4 

When the 180 days ended, what took place and where? Vs5 

History reveals that he was preparing to invade Greece and the 180 days was for planning battle strategies and for providing confidence that he had the wealth and strength to carry out his plans.  It was said that Persian kings loved to show off their wealth, wearing lots of gemstones and even adorning gold jewelry in battle.

How would you describe the decorations for this banquet? Vs6 

How was the wine served for this large gathering? Vs7 

How much royal wine was there? 

How mch were the guests allowed to drink for 7 days? Vs8 

What was the Queen’s name?  vs9 

What was she doing during this time? 

How was the king feeling on the 7^th day of celebration? Vs10 

He is about to command something; of who is he going to command?

Eunuchs were men in the king’s service that helped out with the kings women.  They were castrated men.  this was done so there wouldn’t be any male urges as they worked so closely with the women and so they would be completely devoted to the king and no one else.  (there was nothing to get in the way  of their service to the king or their loyalty to him – no wife, no children, no urges)

What did the king command? Vs11 

Why did he want to do this? 

What did the Queen do at this command? Vs12 

How did the king feel about that? 

What was customary in these types of matters? Vs13 

So what did the king do? 

What is noted about these men? vs14 

What did the king ask? Vs15 

Who spoke up and what did he say? Vs16 

What was the big deal to them? Vs17-18 

What do the wise men suggest that the king do about his wife? vs19 

What do they say will happen when this decree is proclaimed throughout the vast realm? Vs20 

How do all the men feel about this? Vs21 

So what did the king do? 

What news did the king send out all over his kingdom? Vs22 

Thank you for completing the study of Matthew along with me. 
I hope you will come back and join me in a study of the Old Testament book of Esther. 
That study will begin on September 19. 
The Book of Esther is ten chapters in length but we will complete it in nine weeks.  God is never mentioned in the book and yet His hand print is throughout it.   Even if you have read this book before, I think you will see things in it that you may not have seen before, through this style of studying each verse in itself. 

Matthew Chapter Twenty Eight

Wow, we have reached the final chapter of Matthew.   Time to finish strong. 

What day does this chapter open with? Vs1   

Who went to look at Jesus tomb?   

Why do you think they went to look at the tomb?  (see Mark 16:1-3)   

What happened there? Vs2   

What was the angel’s appearance like? Vs3   

How does this compare to John’s vision in Revelation 1:16?   

Also, don’t forget Matthew’s description of the transfigured Jesus in Matthew 17:2. 

Who could this angel have been?     

What does this scripture tell us about the guards?  Vs4   

What did the angel say to the women? Vs5   

What else did the angel say? Vs6     

What message were the women to bring to the disciples? Vs7   

What did the women do? Vs8   

How do they feel?   

Why do you think they would feel this way?   

Who met them on their way? Vs9   

What did the women do?   

What message did He give them? Vs10   

Let’s explore these events further by looking at the other gospels. 

Mark 16:1-8.   Where did the women meet, or find, the angel?   

Read Luke 24:1-12.  How many angels does Luke say there were?   

Read John 20:1-18.

Write what you think are the Main points of this scripture. 

Now check to see if they vary or are the same in all 4 gospels. 

While the women run to tell the disciples, what else was taking place? Vs11   

What did the chief priests do? Vs12   

What did the chief priests instruct the soldiers? Vs13     

What if this report gets to the Governor? Vs14   

What did the soldiers do? Vs15   

How far did this lie get?    

From this point Matthew skips to Jesus ascension.  But there were other events that took place for 40 days before Jesus left earth.  To see the other events, read Luke 24:13-49, John 20:19-31 and John 21:1-25. 

John 20:19.  Where were the disciples that night?   

What were they afraid of?   

Here is an interesting thing that I don’t want us to miss… Look at Luke 24:44-45.  Jesus reminded the disciples of what He had said previously, then what did he open and for what purpose?   

What does this tell us that we need to do before we read or study the Bible?   

Back to Matthew 28. 

Where did the disciples go and why? Vs16   

How many disciples went?   

What did they see there? Vs17   

What did they do?   

Did everyone believe it was Him?   

What did Jesus say to them? Vs18   

How much power had been put in Jesus hands?   

Because of this, what did he instruct the disciples to do? Vs19   

What else were they instructed to do? Vs20   

What final encouragement did He give them?   

Read Luke 24:46-49.

What additional information does this gospel give us?   

Read Luke 24:50-51. 

What happened after His final words?   

Read Revelation 1:1, 1:12-18, & 5:1-6.

Where is Jesus now?   

Congratulations for staying with this Bible study and persevering to the end. 

I hope that you have learned more about God and have drawn closer to Him through it. 

I bless and encourage you to continue your journey through the scriptures and to grow deeper in your faith.

In order to be well-rounded believers, we must understand the whole counsel of God.  Therefore after spending a long time in the New Testament through Matthew’s Gospel, I am going further back and beginning a study of the Old Testament Book of Esther. 

I hope you will join me once again.  This new study will begin on September 19.