Key Themes (Esther)
The book of Esther is a historical narrative in the Old Testament that tells the story of Esther, a Jewish woman who becomes queen of Persia and plays a crucial role in saving her people from destruction. The book is notable for its absence of direct mention of God, yet His providence is evident throughout the narrative. The key themes include:
- Divine Providence: Although God is not explicitly mentioned in the book of Esther, His providence is a central theme. The unfolding events, from Esther's rise to queenship to the eventual deliverance of the Jewish people, suggest a divine orchestration behind the scenes. The book illustrates how God works through seemingly ordinary circumstances and people to fulfill His purposes.
- Courage and Risk: Esther demonstrates great courage in the face of danger, risking her life to approach King Xerxes and plead for the salvation of her people. This theme emphasizes the importance of bravery and the willingness to take risks for the greater good, even when the outcome is uncertain.
- The Reversal of Fortunes: The book of Esther is filled with dramatic reversals, where the plans of the wicked are turned against them, and the oppressed are lifted up. Haman, the antagonist who plots to destroy the Jews, ultimately faces the same fate he intended for others. This theme highlights the justice and eventual triumph of good over evil.
- Identity and Solidarity: The story underscores the importance of identity and solidarity within the Jewish community. Esther’s initial hesitation to reveal her Jewish identity is overcome as she recognizes her responsibility to her people. The theme stresses the significance of standing together as a community, especially in times of crisis.
- The Role of Women: Esther is portrayed as a strong, intelligent, and resourceful woman who plays a pivotal role in the survival of her people. The book challenges the traditional roles of women in its cultural context, showcasing how women can influence significant events and contribute to God's plans.
- Feasts and Remembrance: The establishment of the Feast of Purim is a key outcome of the events in Esther. This theme emphasizes the importance of remembrance and celebration in the life of the Jewish community. The feast serves as an enduring reminder of God’s deliverance and the resilience of the Jewish people.
The book of Esther is a compelling narrative of divine providence, courage, and the reversal of fortunes, where ordinary people are called to extraordinary acts of faith and bravery. It encourages readers to recognize God's hand in the events of life, even when He seems hidden, and to act with courage and solidarity in the face of challenges.
What I Noticed Today (Esther 1-5)
There is a short introduction available for the book of Esther. You can read it here.
Note: Esther and Ruth are the only two books in the Bible named for women. Ruth was a Gentile who married a Jew and helped save the nation Israel. And Esther was a Jewess who married a Gentile and saved the nation from extermination.
Note: Esther is the only book of the Bible that never mentions God, yet it is clear that the hand of God is on the Jewish people throughout Esther’s story.
Note: The events of Esther take place in the time period between Ezra chapters 6-7.
Esther 1
In verse 1, the king of Persia, Xerxes (most translations use ‘Ahasuerus’, which is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek ‘Xerxes’), was in Suza, one of the three capitals of Persia.
Note: Xerxes, king of the Persian empire, ruled 21 years from 486-465 B.C.
In verses 3-4, in the third year of his reign (483 B.C.), Xerxes threw a party for the citizens of Suza that lasted 180 days.
In verses 5-12, at the end of this time, Xerxes held a week-long banquet.
- At the same time, Queen Vashti threw a party for the women.
- Xerxes commanded Vashti to come to him, but she refused.
In verses 10-22, Queen Vashti was deposed:
- After consulting experts in the law and justice, Xerxes decided to banish Vashti from the royal household and replace her with a new queen.
- Following the advice of Memucan, Xerxes sent letters to all the provinces stating that every man should be master of his own house.
Esther 2
In verses 1-4, searching for a new queen, Xerxes issued a command to bring beautiful young virgins into the capital and placed in his harem to undergo a year of beauty treatments.
Esther 1:5-7 is a flashback in the story to introduce Mordecai, a Benjamite, who was Esther’s uncle. Esther’s parents had died. Mordecai adopted Esther and raised her as his own daughter.
In verses 8-14, along with other young women, Esther was brought to the king’s harem and placed under the care of Hegai (a eunuch who was in charge of the king’s harem).
- Hegai assigned seven servants to care for Esther and moved her to the best quarters in the harem.
- Esther hid her ethnic background while in the harem.
- Mordecai walked by the harem courtyard every day to learn how Esther was doing.
- After six-months of beauty treatments, a young woman would be brought to the king, and the next day returned to a different harem. She would not see the king again unless he called her by name.
In verses 15-20, Esther was called to be with Xerxes
- Esther was taken to Xerxes in the tenth month of the seventh year of his reign (4-years after the party when Vashti refused to come to Xerxes).
- Esther pleased Xerxes, so he made her queen in place of Vashti.
- Xerxes threw a banquet in her honor.
- Esther had still not revealed her ethnic background, just as Mordecai had instructed her.
In verses 21-23, one day, when Mordecai was by the King’s gate, he overheard a plot by two of the king’s eunuchs to kill the king.
- He reported it to Queen Esther, and she told Xerxes.
- The men were investigated, the report verified, and they were hanged.
Note: The men were probably not hanged the way we think of hanging today. In the Persian empire, the usual form of “hanging” was to be impaled on a stake.
Esther 3
In verses 1-4, Xerxes promoted Haman to second in command to the king.
- The king had commanded that the people bow down to Haman to pay homage to his position, but day after day, Mordecai refused to bow down.
- When questioned by the royal guards, Mordecai only told them that he was a Jew.
Note: We don’t know for sure why Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman since there was no Jewish law prohibiting him from doing so. One possibility is that Haman was an Amalekite. The Amalekites had been at war with the Jewish people since the Exodus. God had promised war with the Amalekites from generation to generation (Exodus 17:16).
In verses 5-6, when Haman learned about Mordecai’s refusal to bow down to him and that he was a Jew, he decided to kill not just Mordecai but to exterminate all Jews from the Persian empire; men, women, and children.
In verses 7-15, in the first month of the twelfth year of Xerxes (474 B.C.) Haman convinced Xerxes to allow him to exterminate all the Jews:
- Haman went to the king saying that the Jews followed their own laws, and did not obey the king’s laws.
- Therefore, he said, it was in the king’s best interest to kill them all.
- Haman even offered to pay 10,000 talents of silver (750,000 pounds) for the extermination of the Jews himself.
- The amount he offered was the equivalent of 2/3 of the entire kingdom’s annual income.
- The king agreed and issued the decree that all the Jews were to be killed on the thirteenth of Adar, 11 months later.
Note: The population of the ancient Persian empire was slightly over 49 million people, of which the Jews represented approximately 20%. So, Haman planned to annihilate some 10 million men, women, and children.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- God’s hand is clearly at work in the lives of Mordecai and Esther. Out of all the women in the kingdom, Xerxes selected Esther to be the new queen. Mordecai is at the city gate at just the right time to foil an attempt to assassinate the king. Both events were part of God’s plan to save His people.
Esther 4
Haman plans to annihilate all the Jews in the Persian empire.
In verses 1-3, when Mordecai learned about the king’s decree, he mourned in sackcloth and ashes, as did many of the Jews throughout the Persian empire.
In verses 4-9, news of Mordecai’s mourning reached Esther, who sent her servant Hathach to Mordecai to find out why he was mourning.
- Returning from Mordecai, Hathach told Esther about the king’s decree to annihilate all the Jews in the empire.
- Mordecai asked Esther to beg the king to spare the people’s lives
In verses 10-17, Esther explained to Mordecai that she had not been summoned to the king for 30 days.
- Mordecai warned her that even she would not be safe.
- Esther agreed to try to see the king but asked that the people pray and fast with her for three days, and then she would attempt to see the king.
Esther 5-7
Haman’s plot to annihilate the Jews is exposed by Esther.
Esther 5
In verses 1-8, on the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the outer court.
- The king allowed her in, asking what she wanted.
- Esther invited the king and Haman to a banquet.
- At the banquet, the king asked her what she wanted, and she asked for the king and Haman to return the next day for a second banquet when she would make her request known.
In verses 9-14, on the way home, Haman went by Mordecai, who refused to bow down to him, and this infuriated Haman.
- When he got home, Haman consulted friends and his wife, who advised him to build a gallows 75-feet high and ask the king for permission to hang Mordecai.
- So Haman issued an order for the construction of the gallows.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
