Week 7: Queen Esther

Week 7: Esther 1-5

Objective: 

• The King Dethrones Queen Vashti

• Esther Becomes Queen

• Haman’s Conspiracy Against the Jews

• Esther Agrees to Help her People

• Haman’s Plot Against Mordecai

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)

Reading:

• Esther 1:1-20
• Esther 2:1-23
• Esther 3:1-11
• Esther 4:10-17
• Esther 5:1-9

Key verse(s):

“The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins.”  Esther 2:17

Comments:

• The story of Queen Esther takes place during the Persian kingdom between the return of the first and second waves to Jerusalem by Zerubbabel and Ezra.
• King Ahasuerus made a feast for seven days. He was drinking a lot and did not make wise decisions. He asked for his wife, Queen Vashti, to come so he could show off his beautiful wife. She refused to go.
• The king's counselors told him he couldn't accept this because all men in the kingdom would get disrespected and humiliated by their wives.
• When the king was sad, one of his counselors suggested bringing all the beautiful girls into the kingdom so the king could choose a wife.
• Estehr's Jewish name was Hadassah. She was raised by her uncle Mordecai. Mordecai learned about the plot against the king and informed the king about it. When the king realized that Mordecai saved his life, he honored him to be at his palace.
• Haman was a descendant of King Agag whom King Saul did not kill. He got promoted and was loved by King Ahasuerus. Haman wanted to kill all the Jews because Mordecai did not bow to him. Mordecai only worships the One and True God.
• Mordecai asks Esther to intercede for her people to the king to save them from Haman's evil plan. Esther found grace and favor in the king's eyes and was able to save the Jews.

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

1. King Ahasuerus held a great feast and he summoned his queen because he wanted:
   a) to display her beauty b) he wanted her to dance c) he wanted to deport her
2. What happened to Queen Vashti when she refused the king's command to come to him?
   a) she was beheaded b) she was dethroned c) she was imprisoned
   
3. Who raised Esther?
   a) her father, Abihail b) her maid, Dinah c) her cousin, Mordecai
4. Who wanted to lay hand on the king?
   a) Esther b) Mordecai c) Bigthan and Teresh
5. Haman was angry because Mordecai refused to:
   a) pay him taxes b) bow to the king c) bow to Haman
6. Haman wanted the Jews to be destroyed. How did the king respond?
   a) granted Haman's request b) ordered Haman to make peace c) refused Haman request
7. What did Mordecai request from Esther?
   a) have Haman poisoned b) flee with the Jews c) ask the king to spare Esther's people
8. Esther asked the Jews to:
   a)fast for three days b) offer a sacrifice c) appear in sackcloth
9. When Esther went before the king, what did she request?
   a) the presence of the king and Haman at a banquet b) the Jews' safe exit from the land c) the protection of the king's guard

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. Why did the king command that Queen Vashti be brought to him?
2. What was worrying Memucan in regards to Vashti's behavior?
3. How did Hegai treat Esther? (Esther 2:9) 2. How did the king celebrate Esther as a queen? (Esther 2:18)
4. Show how Haman was an important man. (Esther 3:1-2)
5. What did Haman suggest to the king concerning the Jews? (Esther 3:9)
6. What is the law concerning who goes into the inner court of the king without invitation? (Esther 4:11
7. Why did Esther ask the Jews to fast? (Esther 4:15)
8. What did the king offer Esther even before knowing her request? (Esther 5:3)