Esther | nazareneisrael2house

Esther – A brave Hebrew woman.

The account of Esther, as recorded in the book of Esther, took place during the time of the Persian Empire. The Persian Empire succeeded the Babylonian Empire. It was during the reign of Cyrus the king of Persia that a royal decree was issued allowing the Jews who were taken into captivity into Babylon, to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. The decree was issued 70 years after the Jews were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon. However, some of the Jewish families living in Babylon and other parts of the Persian Empire chose to remain there.

As we see in verse 1 of the book of Esther Chapter 1, Esther lived in Persia during the reign of king Ahasuerus. His kingdom stretched from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces. We read in verse 2 that king Ahasuerus sat on his throne which was in the city of Susa (Shushan). In the third year of his reign king Ahasuerus gave a special banquet for all the high ranking officials in his kingdom. The banquet was to last for seven days ending with a six month display of all the kings’ riches and the splendor of his majesty. The guests feasted in the courtyard of the palace for seven days. There were hangings of fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, and couches of gold and silver on the mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful and the guests could drink as they desired.

At the same time queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the woman in the palaces of king Ahasuerus. On the seventh day of the king’s banquet, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he commanded his servants to bring queen Vashti to him that he might show her beauty to the people. But, queen Vashti refused to come before the king and his guests. King Ahasuerus was absolutely furious to hear that. He called his council of wise men together for advice on how to handle the situation with the queen. One of the king’s top advisors, named Memucan, answered as we read in Esther 1: 16 - 19 as follows: “Queen Vashti has wronged not only 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 conduct will become known to all the women causing them to look with contempt on their husbands by saying, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded queen Vashti to be brought in his presence, but she did not come.’ (18) And this day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s conduct will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger. (19) If it pleases the king, let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti should come no more into the presence of king Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she.”

Memucan’s advice pleased the king and the princes. The king therefore wrote a decree to all his provinces informing them that queen Vashti was dethroned. The decree also stated that every man should rule his own house. After a while king Ahasuerus remembered what he had done to the queen and he became lonely. King Ahasuerus’ servants gave him a plan. They advised that he appoint officers in every province, to gather together the most beautiful young virgins. They were to be assembled at the palace in Susa where the king would select a new queen, from one of them.

We read in Esther 2: 5 that there was a Jew called Mordecai, who lived in Susa. He was the great-grandson of Kish who was one of many captives that Nebuchadnezzar carried away when he conquered Jerusalem. When Mordecai’s uncle died He took his uncle’s daughter and reared her as his own. The girl’s name was Hadassah (in Hebrew). But, she was also known as Esther. Esther grew up to be a beautiful young woman and was one of the young women, taken by king Ahasuerus’ servants to present herself before the king in the palace at Susa. Prior to leaving, her uncle warned her not to reveal her nationality to anyone. Esther was put under the care of Hegai who took custody of all the woman. Hegai liked Esther and gave her seven maids to serve her. In addition he gave her the best apartment in the women’s quarters.

Each of the young woman spent twelve months preparing herself to meet with the king. They purified themselves with costly ointments and when the time came for the woman to meet with the king they took with them whatever they thought might impress the king. When it was Esther’s turn to appear before the king, she did not request anything, except what Hegai suggested she takes with her. She took his advice and went in to meet the king. Esther obtained favor with king Ahasuerus and he was delighted to crown her as his new queen. The king prepared a special feast to celebrate his marriage and Queen Esther’s coronation and gave away many royal gifts. Esther was a loyal queen, but even after she became queen, she kept her nationality secret, as her uncle Mordegai told her to do. Whilst Mordegai was sitting in the kings gate in those days, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the kings officials of those who guarded the gate, became angry and wanted to lay hands on the king. Mordegai overheard their plot and informed Queen Esther, who in turn informed the king. The king had the plot investigated and when it was found to be true, these men were both hanged. The fact that Mordegai saved the king’s life was duly recorded in the court diary, which was kept in the king’s court.

After these events King Ahasuerus appointed Haman above all the other princes of the court. All the king’s servant bowed before Haman, except for Mordegai. The other servants did not understand why Mordegai refused to bow before Haman, as the king commanded. These servants told Haman about it and Haman started watching Mordegai, to see if the report was true. Haman asked the king’s servants more questions about Mordegai and so found out that he was a Jew. Haman was so angry that he sought to destroy Mordegai and all Jews. However, he was careful naming the Jews, when he told the king about them in Esther 3: 8 & 9, saying: “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of all other people, and they do not observe the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain. (9) If it is pleasing to the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry on the king’s business to put into the king’s treasuries.” The king agreed to this and told Haman to do whatever he wanted with the people and their wealth. A decree was soon written and sealed with the king’s signet ring to make it official. The decree was sent out to all parts of the empire on the thirteenth day of the first month. The decree stated that the Jews would be killed on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month; a date determined by the casting of lots.

When Mordegai learnt about the decree he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes and went into the city wailing loudly and bitterly. Jews throughout the empire mourned and fasted when they heard the news. Esther was totally unaware of the decree, until she learnt about it from one of her servants. She immediately sent out one of her servants to Mordegai, to learn more about the decree. Mordegai sent a copy of the decree to Esther. He also told Esther’s servant to tell her to go before the king to plead for her people’s lives. Esther was afraid to go before the king and she told her servant to inform Mordegai, reminding him of the Persian law; that is strictly enforced. We read in Esther 4: 11 that this law states that anyone who goes before the king, without being called, will be killed immediately, unless the king holds out his golden scepter. Esther asked: ‘And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.’ When Mordegai heard her answer, he reminded her that she will not escape this decree, even though she is the queen. He also encouraged her saying in verse 14 of Esther 4: “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

When Ester heard Mordegai’s words, she decided to risk her life to save her people. We read what Esther told Mordegai in verse 16 of chapter 4, as follows: “Go assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.” This showed that Esther loved her uncle and her people to the point where she was willing to risk her life to save them. We read what Yahshua said about this type of love in John 15: 13, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” The people fasted for three days, after which Esther put on her royal robe and went before the king. She stood in the inner court of the king’s palace from where he could see her. The king was very pleased to see Esther and immediately held out the golden scepter to her. Esther was relieved, for this meant that she found favor in the king’s sight.

We read in Esther 5: 3, ‘Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you Queen Esther? And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it will be given to you.” Esther immediately put her plan into action and said to the king in verse 4 of chapter 5: “If it please the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.” The king wishing to please his queen, agreed to come to the banquet and send for Haman to attend with him. It was during the banquet that king Ahasuerus again told Esther that she could have whatever she desired. Queen Esther replied that she would be happy if the king and Haman would attend another private banquet the next day. She politely added that she will make her request known to the king at this banquet. Haman went out with a glad heart, but when he saw Mordegai he was filled with anger. That evening Haman bragged to his family and friends about the honor he received to be invited to two private royal banquets. He also told his family and friends that even though he is happy with these invites, it does not satisfy him, because every time he sees Mordegai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.

Haman’s wife Zeresh and friends, in trying to console him said in verse 14 of Esther 5, ‘“Have a gallows fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordegai hanged on it, then go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.’ During this same night king Ahasuerus could not sleep, so he ordered his servants to read to him from the royal diary. When his servants came to the account where Mordegai saved the king’s life, the king wanted to know if Mordegai had been honored for this deed. When his servants told the king that nothing has been done for Mordegai, he asked them for suggestions as to what can be done to honor Mordegai. Next we see Haman who arrived early standing outside the king’s court. The king’s servant told the king to let Haman come before him. Haman came in and the king said to him as is recorded in Esther 6: 6 - 9: ‘“What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king like to honor more than me?” (7) Then Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor, (8) let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed; (9) and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble princes and let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.’”

The king then told Haman to take his robe and crown and to get the king’s personal horse and put it on Mordegai, and lead him through the city square. Haman was absolutely shocked, when he realized that the king was talking about Mordegai and not him. Haman had no choice but to obey the king’s order. After Mordegai was honored and returned to his duties, Haman rushed home. He felt shamed and was absolutely disgusted. He mourned and also shaved his head. We read in Proverb 16: 18 what happened to Haman: “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.” As Haman, his wife and friends were talking about the unexpected turn of events, the king’s servant came to escort him to attend Esther’s second banquet.

King Ahasuerus again asked Queen Esther at the second banquet, what she wanted as a gift from him. We read Esther’s answer in verses 3 & 4 of chapter 7: “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request; (4) for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king.” The king immediately asked Queen Esther in verse 5 of Esther 7: “Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus.” In verse 6 of chapter 7 Esther said: “A foe and an enemy, is this wicked Haman!” The king was absolutely furious and stormed out into the garden. Haman, fearing for his life fell beside the queen and pleaded for his life. This is when the king returned from the garden. Haman’s closeness to the queen made him even more furious and he said in verse 8: “Will he even assault the queen with me in the house?” We read that as the king’s words left him the servants arrested Haman. One of the servants suggested that he be hung on the large gallows built at his own house. Next the king commanded in verse 9: “Hang him on it.” And they hanged Haman on the gallows that he prepared for Mordegai.

In addition the king commanded that Haman’s house and possessions be confiscated and given to Queen Esther. Esther then set her uncle Mordegai over Haman’s property. Mordegai was promoted to a very high position in the Empire and the king gave him the royal ring. However, because of the law of the Persian’s, Haman’s decree against the Jews was still in force. But, Esther asked the king to reverse the law. Ahasuerus could not repeal the law, since no law of the Medes and the Persians could ever be changed. Nevertheless, the king told Mordegai to write another law, permitting the Jews to fight back against those who tried to kill them. The new law sealed with the king’s ring, was drawn up on the 23 day of the 3rd month, and sent throughout the empire.

When finally the day that Haman chose to have the Jews killed arrived, the Jews were all armed and ready to defend themselves. They killed all those who tried to harm them. They killed hundreds of enemies in Susa alone, as well as the 10 sons of Haman. Haman and those who sought to kill the Jews ended up being killed themselves. The triumph of the Jews was so great that a two day feast was proclaimed. They decided to celebrate this occasion every year to commemorate deliverance from their enemies. This celebration is known as the Feast of Esther or Purim. The word Purim is derived from the Hebrew word ‘pur’, which means ‘lot’. This name was used because Haman had cast lots to determine the day the Jews were to be killed.

To conclude we read in Esther 9: 27 that those of us who are not Jewish, but who allied ourselves with them, should also celebrate these two days at the appointed time, as follows: ‘the Jews established and made a custom for themselves, and for their descendants, and for all those who allied themselves with them, so that they should not fail to celebrate these two days according to their regulation, and according to their appointed time annually.’