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Class Six- 10.3.18
~Discussion
Esther Chapter 1 & 2
Esther Chapter 1 opens in 483BC, 103 years after King Nebuchadnezzar had overthrown Jerusalem, destroyed the first temple and took most of the Jews captive to Babylon(586BC). Set 54 years after Cyrus the Great allowed the captives to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel (538BC). It reports on a decade of the activities of those Jews who chose to remain in Persia rather than return to the Promised Land of Judah.
Why didn’t all the Jews want to return to Jerusalem? The book of Ezra begins with King Cyrus of Persia offering Jews the freedom to return to Jerusalem.(Ezra 1:5-6) “Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. All their neighbors assisted them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuable gifts, in addition to all the freewill offerings.”
But not all the Jews went back home. Some of them took advantage of Cyrus’ decree and left Babylon, while others stayed in Babylon and helped by donating gold, silver, and other resources.
Several factors were involved in the decision to remain in Babylon. Some Jews would have been too old to return. It had been 70 years since the destruction of Jerusalem, and there were many who would have been unable to endure the journey of approximately 900 miles. The same would have been true for families with young children and those who were sick or disabled.
Some of the Jews probably refused to move due to the comforts of Babylon. Many of them had been born in Babylon during the exile, and they knew nothing else. Many Jews had attained significant status in the community during the reign of Cyrus. They were comfortable where they were.
Another reason some Jews would not have returned was a concern for personal safety. The road to Jerusalem and the land of Judea itself was dangerous. In fact, Ezra led those going with him in a time of prayer and fasting for safety on their long, four month journey (Ezra 8:24–36). Verse 31 notes, “The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way.”
Unfortunately, some Jews were living in disobedience to God at this time. As a result, they would not have sensed the need to return to Jerusalem. Finally, another reason some of the Jews elected not to return was the amount of work it would take to reestablish the nation there. Jerusalem would have to be rebuilt. It was not an easy challenge to rebuild an entire city, including the city wall. However the Jews who chose to remain in Persia later faced their own troubles, as detailed in the book of Esther.
Just like our previous study of Ruth, the book of Esther is named after its heroine. Esther is the account of a beautiful Hebrew young woman who by the Providential actions of God became the Queen of Persia and used her position to deliver of her people from extinction at the hand of the evil anti-Semite Haman. Even though God’s name is never mentioned in the book of Esther, we the reader, are keenly aware of God working behind the scenes to accomplish His Divine purposes through ordinary events using ordinary people. Esther is a great lesson for us to recognize that even when we feel God is absent or silent in our lives (as He seemed to be in the lives of the Jews remaining in Persia) we are shown that He is orchestrating circumstances in the natural world to perfectly choreograph His Sovereign plans and purposes. Just because we do not witness a miracle, does not mean that He isn’t at work accomplishing His will. Esther shows the choice we make between seeing the hand of God in our circumstances in life and seeing things as merely coincidence. God is the sovereign Ruler of the universe and we can be assured that His plans will not be moved by the actions of mere evil men. Although His name is not mentioned in the book, His providential care for his people, both individuals and the nation, is evident throughout.
The book was likely written to the Jews still in diaspora between 460-350BC— and was intended to be read during the Feast of Purim (lots) to commemorate the great deliverance of the Jewish nation brought about by God through Esther. Jews today still read Esther during Purim. Esther does not specifically name its author, however the most popular traditions are Mordecai, Ezra or Nehemiah (who would have been very familiar with Persian customs).
Chapter 1
- Esther opens with a banquet/meeting taking place in the Persian city of Susa, the summer resort palace, where King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) was ruling over a massive empire that extended from India to Ethiopia and northward through Turkey and parts of Europe..The “India” referred to is West Pakistan today. Ethiopia was the country south of Egypt, now part of the Northern Sudan, not modern Ethiopia.
- Three years into his reign, Xerxes throws a huge banquet, showing off his wealth and might to all of the different governors and military officials in his kingdom. It’s a monumental feast that goes on for one hundred and eighty days, likely to garner support for his plan to amass a mighty army to war against Greece with the intent to avenge his father, King Darius, embarrassing loss in the Battle of Marathon.
- At the end of the 180 days, he throws another banquet for all the people living in his citadel, perhaps to thank them for their work on his behalf during the previous 6 month party. It lasts for seven days and all the men of Susa are included. The excessive luxury is on full display and described in detail and he generously provides ample wine for his guests in individual golden goblets. They are allowed to drink as much as they want.
- His queen, Vashti, also entertains at a separate banquet for all the women in the kingdom.
- On the seventh day, a very tipsy Xerxes, orders Vashti to appear before him so that he can show off her beauty to all the men in the kingdom. She is to wear her crown, with the implication being nothing else.
- But the queen refuses to parade herself before the drunken King and his guests.
- A furious and embarrassed King Xerxes goes into a rage and asks his closest advisers what to do about this
- They tell him that the queen has not only wronged the king but all the men in the kingdom too, since she’s setting a disobedient example for all their wives. They tell him he needs to get rid of Vashti.
- So the king divorces Vashti, strips her of her title, and orders her never to come before him again.
- He also writes letters to each of his provinces declaring men should be the masters of their houses.
Chapter 2
- Approximately 4 years pass, Xerxes has waged an unsuccessful war against Greece and is now back in Susa, depressed, humiliated and lonely. He begins to miss Vashti, so his servants hatch a plan to distract him with a draft of all the beautiful young women in the kingdom who will try out to be the next Queen.
- Under the watchful eye of the head eunuch, Hegai, 400 virgins are brought to the king’s harem, subjected to a year long regime of extensive hygiene and beauty treatments in preparation for a one night tryout with the King. The plan is that he will choose one of these nubile young things as his new spouse.
- Meanwhile, we are introduced to a good, virtuous Jewish man named Mordecai. He is a descendant of the Jews who were kidnapped and brought east by Babylonian King Mordecai has been raising his orphaned cousin Esther as his own child.
- Soon Esther impresses the chief eunuch Hegai, with her humility and kindness as well as her beauty. As her favorite, he orders extra cosmetic treatments and food rations and provides her with seven handmaids and the best room in the harem.. She quickly rises to the top position of all the harem girls.
- But she hasn’t revealed that she’s Jewish. She’s being obedient to Mordecai who told her not to tell. He continues to hang out near the palace gates so he can keep an eye on Esther at the harem.
- Esther still hasn’t met the king yet, but after twelve months of cosmetic treatments and special harem-girl training, at last the night arrives.
- Each woman will spend a night with the king and receive whatever gift she asks for, to bring back to the harem’s quarters.
- When Esther’s turn comes, she cautiously decides to only ask for whatever gift Hegai suggests.
- Come morning, she’s now the king’s favorite as well. He decides to make her his new queen, permanently replacing Vashti. He throws a big banquet in her honor. There is much celebration and many gifts given to the different provinces.
- A little while before Esther was made queen, Mordecai happened to be sitting near the palace gates (probably waiting to get news from Esther) when he heard two of the king’s eunuchs talking about assassinating the king.
- Mordecai tells Esther about it and in turn she tells the king—not forgetting to mention that the news came from Mordecai. The eunuchs are executed by hanging and Mordecai’s good deed is recorded in the king’s annals, however, the King does nothing to reward Mordecai for his loyalty is disclosing the assassination plot.
- Esther still has not revealed to Xerxes that she is a Jew.
~Class Six Homework
Read Chapter 6 of “For Such a Time as This” and answer workbook’s questions.
*if you need to purchase a book for this study and you are local you can purchase a book at the Women’s Ministry at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. If you want to purchase the book online click here.
