Bible Biographies: Esther

SCRIPTURE: The Book Of Esther.

BIOGRAPHY

Esther was descended from Benjamin. She was adopted by her cousin Mordecai on the death of her parents (Esther 2:5-7). Her name means Star after the Persian name of the goddess Ishtar. Her Jewish name Hadassah means Myrtle. Mordecai was a descendant of Kish who had been carried by Nebuchadnezzar into captivity.

Haman, who was conspiring to massacre the Jews, was an Agagite (Esther 3:1-10) descended from Agag who had been spared by Saul (1 Samuel 15). Mordecai, like Saul, was a Benjamite (Esther 2:5; cf. 1 Samuel 9:1). Saul failed to deal with Agag whilst Mordecai eliminated Haman. Mordecai succeeded Haman.

Esther was chosen out of many women who resided in the royal court of Xerxes 1 (486-465 BC) to succeed Vashti as queen. She initially hid her Jewishness and asked her countrymen to pray for her with fasting (Esther 4:15-17). Eventually she confronted Xerxes successfully with the problems which Haman posed.

SUMMARY

a) Ahasuerus deposes his wife, Vashti for refusing to attend a banquet (Esther 1:1-22).

b) Esther, a Jew, is chosen in Vashti's place (Esther 2:1-18).

c) Mordecai tells Esther of a plot to kill the King (Esther 2:19-23).

d) Mordecai refuses to bow to Haman the King's favourite who sets a date to massacre the Jews (Esther 3:1-15).

e) Mordecai persuades Esther to intercede for the Jews with the King (Esther 4:1-17).

f) Esther invites the King and Haman to a banquet (Esther 5:1-9).

g) The King rewards Mordecai for revealing the plot against him (Esther 6:1-14).

h) At a second banquet Esther reveals the plot against the King (Esther 7:1-6a).

i) Haman is convicted and hanged (Esther 7:6b-10).

j) The King, knowing that he cannot revoke the edict to kill Jews, sends out a second edict (Esther 3:12-15, 8:8-14).

k) The Jews use this to kill their enemies (Esther 8:1-17).

l) The deliverance is commemorated at the feast of Purim (Esther 9:20-32).

m) Mordecai is placed in a position of authority (Esther 10:1 -3).

LIFE LESSONS

a) God is in charge of history (Proverbs 8:15,16).

b) God promotes and demotes (Psalm 113:7,8).

c) God will protect His chosen people even when they are under foreign domination (Psalm 118:6-14).

d) Everyone has the opportunity to serve the Lord at certain times during their lives (Romans 1:20).

e) Problems that are not faced may cause major difficulties to your descendants (Exodus 20:5).

f) Your actions, to be effective, must be led by the Lord (Psalm 127:1,2).

g) Anti-Semitism is always condemned by God (Genesis 12:3).

h) The battle is the Lord's (1 Samuel 17:47).

i) The believer should always put God's plan first (Matthew 6:33).

j) Fasting and prayer is a bona fide support for those in leadership positions (1 Timothy 2:1,2).

k) Faithfulness in the Lord's work brings honor to His name (2 Thessalonians 1:11,12).

l) In desperate times moral courage is needed (Ezra 10:4).

m) Unimportant people with no great lineage can play a central role in God's plan (1 Corinthians 1:26-28).

n) Plotting against others can backfire (Proverbs 26:27).