Week 9: Completion of Esther

Week 9: Esther 11-16

Objective: 

• The King Honors Mordecai
• Haman Hanged Instead of Mordecai
• Esther Saves the Jews
• The Feast of Purim
• Mordecai’s Advancement

Resources:

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

Reading:

• Esther 11:1-12
• Esther 12:1-6
• Esther 13: Skip
• Esther 14: Prayed as a group prayer
• Esther 15:1-19 
• Esther 16:1-24

Key verse(s):

“And that they be children of the most high and most mighty living God, who hath ordered the kingdom both unto us and to our progenitors in the most excellent manner.”  Esther 16:16

Comments:

• The story is the same as in chapter 2. This chapter is more detailed.
• The chapter mentions that this story happened during the time of Cleopatra.
• It is mentioned in chapter 11 that Mordecai was taken into captivity during the reign of King Jeconiah. Jeconiah is the same as King Jehoiachin mentioned in 2 Kings 24. Mordecai was taken to captivity during the second wave of captivity.
• Mordecai had a dream about two great dragons that represent the good and the evil which symbolize God and the devil. The devil seems to be strong and mighty at the beginning but after that a little fountain which is Esther comes out and overflows.
  
• Chapter 12 continues the story. Mordecai told the king and saved his life. The king ordered to honor Mordecai.
• It appears from Esther 12:6, that Haman was the one behind this conspiracy. Haman wanted to kill the king so he was not happy with Mordecai.
• Esther 13 talks about Mordecai's prayer that he prayed after Haman's evil decree.
• Esther 14 is Esther's prayer
• Esther 15 talks about the conversation between Mordecai and Esther before she goes and talks with the king. He is reminding her of her past time at his house and what she learned about God. He is reminding her of her Godly upbringing.
• The king was angry because Esther walked in on him without a notice or calling her. God gave Esther grace and switched his anger into gentleness. He comforted her and listened to her concerns. It seems that Esther was very scared and off-balanced but the king didn’t ignore her. This story continues with more details in chapters 7 and 8.
• Esther 16 talks about the king's decree after all that happened. It was a public official decree to the entire kingdom that also shows God's work. He also confessed and believed in the Jews' God in Esther 16:16
• Esther 16:14: "The Macedonians" at the time was used as a humiliation since the Macedonians were poor and primitive countries.
• The day that the Jewes were getting killed became a feast day.

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

1. Where did Mordecai serve?
   a) in the fields b) in the court of the king c) in the temple
2. Where did the great river come from?
   a) the high mountains b) the nearby country c) the cry of the people
3. The two eunuchs were planning to:
   a) lay hand on the king b) lay hand on Mordecai c) go to war
4. Haman wanted Mordecai to bow down:
   a) to him b) to God c) to the king
5. Who did Esther take with her to the king?
   a) Mordecai b) Haman c) two maids
6. What was the king’s reaction when he saw Esther?
   a) very happy b) afraid c) angry

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. Who brought Mordecai from Jerusalem?
2. What was the purpose of Mordecai's dream?
3. How did Mordecai know about the eunuchs’ plot?
4. How did the king repay Mordecai?
5. Did the king love Esther? Give proof.
6. Why was Esther frozen with fear?