A Study of Esther Session - 02

Here is an outline and brief commentary of Esther

I. Esther Replaces Vashti (1:1–2:18)

A. Vashti’s Insubordination (1:1–22) - Vashti was Xerxes' wife. She refused to appear at a banquet given by Xerxes and he became enraged. He banished her from his presence.

B. Esther’s Coronation (2:1–18) - King Exerxes was smitten with the Jewish girl, Esther and, at the urging of his advisers, put her in Vashti's former place as his wife and queen. She never told Xerxes that she was a Jew.

II. Mordecai Overcomes Haman (2:19–7:10)

A. Mordecai’s Loyalty (2:19–23) - Mordecai, of the House of Benjamin, who had brought up Esther, was loyal to Queen Esther. 

B. Haman’s Promotion and Decree (3:1–15) - Haman was an Agagite and was second in command to Xerxes. He ordered that everyone should bow to him (Haman). Mordecai refused to bow to Haman. Haman gets angry and plots to kill Mordecai. (While he was at it, he wanted all of the Jews wiped from the face of the earth. (Does that sound familiar?)

C. Esther’s Intervention (4:1–5:14) - Queen Ester went uninvited to the King. Approaching the king without permission was strictly forbidden. She asks for a banquet.

D. Mordecai’s Recognition (6:1–13) - Xerxes, unable to sleep, reads the record of Mordecai revealing the plot for his assassination and seeks to reward him in a special manner. 

E. Haman’s Fall (6:14–7:10) - Haman is forced to adorn Mordecai with special honors, which really was awkward. Esther reveals that her people had been set up for destruction, The king asks who did it and Esther points to Haman. Haman kneels before Esther to beg mercy but the king thinks he is making advances toward his wife. He orders Haman hanged.

III. Israel Survives Haman’s Genocide Attempt (8:1–10:3)

A. Esther and Mordecai’s Advocacy (8:1–17) - Esther and Mordecai urge the king to spare the lives of the Jews by giving them the right to defend themselves in future conflicts.

B. The Jews’ Victory (9:1–19) - The Jews successfully defended themselves when their enemies attacked them. 

C. Purim’s Beginning (9:20–23) - Purim is from the Hebrew word for “lots” because Haman had cast lots to determine the day on which he would exterminate the Jews. to this day, a two-day holiday of feasting, rejoicing, food sharing, gift giving, memorial feasting as the Jews celebrate the fact that they were delivered from being exterminated.

D. Mordecai’s Fame (10:1–3) - Mordecai the Jew was second to King Xerxes and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.”

So, although God is not mentioned in the book of Esther, we know He was the deliverer of His people the Jews. If he had not delivered them, we would not have had Jesus.