DBG - June 3 - Esther 1-5

The Book of Esther is the remarkable story of God’s providence in delivering the Jews from destruction.  While you cannot possibly read this story without witnessing the hand of God at work, the name of God is never mentioned.  There is some debate about the exact time when this story occurs.  It is certainly during the days of the Persian Empire.  The name of the king, Ahasuerus, is a title meaning roughly “chief king”.   I believe this is Xerxes I and will point out my reasons as we go through the book.

A few quick facts about Esther:

In this chapter the king, angered at his queen’s actions, seeks a new queen.

vs. 1-4 – The description of the king fits Xerxes I.  HIs father Darius the Great had expanded the empire into India.  One of the first actions Xerxes took as king was to quell a rebellion in Egypt, which is north of Ethiopia (Kush).  We do not have sufficient records to know about the 126 provinces, but the vast administrative bureaucracy of the Persians makes that plausible.  The scene opens in the third year of his reign with a 180-day celebration throughout his empire.   The purpose of this is not stated, but according to history this would be in conjunction with preparations for the famous invasion of Greece. 

vs. 5-9 – This 7-day celebration followed the 180-day feast but was local to the capital at Shushan.  The descriptions of its opulence are surprising.  It is marked by freely flowing wine and drunkenness.  Xerxes’s queen Vashti held a corresponding celebration for the women.  Such precautions were in place to protect the queen and his other wives from the drunk men at the palace. 

vs. 10-12 – Near the close of the revelry, Xerxes makes an impertinent request.  He summoned Vashti to come to the palace so that he could show off her beauty.  Such a thing was extraordinary in these Eastern cultures, where wives were protected and hidden away from the gaze of men.  Vashti refuses to answer the summons and frankly is probably right for doing so.

vs. 13-22 – Xerxes is infuriated and takes Vashti’s actions as an insult.  He asks his advisors what should be done to her.  It is suggested that she set a bad example for all women in the empire and should she should be removed from being queen.  Xerxes follows this advice and also sends out a decree reasserting male domination over the women of the empire.

In this chapter Esther is made queen and Mordecai saves the king.

vs. 1-4 – Whether days or years have passed is difficult to say.  It is likely that this occurs after Xerxes’s return from his ill-fated expedition against Greece.  This would make it 479 B.C. when the plan is made to hold a beauty contest to find the next queen.

vs. 5-7 – We meet our heroes.  Mordecai (not a Hebrew name, likely based on the name of the Babylonian god Marduk) was an elderly Jew who had raised his orphan niece Hadassah (“myrtle tree”).  That is her Hebrew name.  Her Persian name is Esther (“a star”).  She is probably a teenager since she is yet unmarried.

vs. 8-11 – Esther is rounded up by the Persian officials seeking the most beautiful women in the empire.  Mordecai warned her not to reveal her nationality, fearing it would bring danger to her.  Her beauty and behavior immediately make her one of the favorites.

vs. 12-18 – The women that were gathered all go through a year-long beauty treatment before seeing the king.  They are presented in turn to the king each night.  The king would consummate their relationship, and the woman would be placed among his many concubines.  It was out of their control if they ever saw the king again as he would have to summon them.  It is very probably that most of these women lived out their days in luxury among the concubines and never interacted with the king again.  It is the tenth month (Tebeth, our December-January) in the seventh year of his reign (478 B.C.) when Esther is presented to him.  God grants Esther favor yet again and the king selects her as the new queen. 

vs. 19-23 – It appears the Xerces enjoyed the first round up of women so much that he did it again.  Such is the morality of the Eastern despot.  It is during this time that Mordecai learns of an assassination plot against the king.  He reports it to Esther who warns the king.  It is quite revealing of Esther’s character that she, as queen of the empire, still respected the counsel of her adoptive father.  I would also like to think that this further solidified Xerxes’s trust in her.

In this chapter Haman tricks the king into authorizing his evil scheme.

vs. 1-6 –  We meet Haman (“magnificent”),  He is described as an “Agagite”, which is believed to mean that he is descended from king Agag of the Amalekites who Saul refused to kill in I Samuel 15:3.  Haman is raised to a very high position in the court.  His pride is hurt when Mordecai refuses to bow to him. That spark of anger leads to a desire to kill all the Jews.

vs. 7-11 – It is now the 12^th year of Xerxes’ reign (474 B.C.).  Haman is determined to destroy the Jews.  He casts lots, in this case a form of divination, to determine the best time for the attack.  The lot falls on Adar, our March-April.  Haman spins a story about a conspiracy against the king from an enemy within the empire.  He offers 10,000 talents of silver ($930,000,000) to help finance the eradication of this enemy.  The king refuses the money but authorizes Haman to enact his evil plot.

vs. 12-15 – Haman’s plot is made law.  Copies are sent throughout the empire.  On the 13^th of Adar the Jews were to be destroyed and their possessions taken as spoil.  The people were greatly confused by this command.

In this chapter Esther and Mordecai react to Haman’s plot.

vs. 1-3 – The reaction of the Jews is despair.  Mordecai very publicly goes about mourning and crying out to God.  They could not understand why the decree was made or what they could do about it.

vs. 4-9 – Esther finds out about the decree.  She immediately tries to contact Mordecai.  Unfortunately, he was still mourning in sackcloth and was not allowed to enter the palace. He refused her offer of clothes and stayed in mourning.  A servant is sent to speak to Mordecai, who reports to Esther of the situation.  He tells her she needs to reveal her true identity to the king to try to stop these evil machinations.

vs. 10-12 – Esther explains her situation.  She has not seen the king in the last month.  She cannot approach the king without risking her life.  Only those the king summoned were allowed to enter safely.  If someone showed up unexpectedly, they could be killed for their impudence.  Only the king’s favor could save them.

vs. 13-14 – Mordecai’s beautiful response is that it was up to Esther to act and that God had put her where she is for a purpose.  That purpose was to save the Jews from Haman’s plot.

vs. 15-17 – Esther calls for a three-day fast in which prayers would be lifted up on her behalf.  She would go see the king, even if it meant her death.

In this chapter Esther approaches the king and Haman plots Mordecai’s death.

vs. 1-8 – Esther makes her appearance in the throne room.  She was not summoned, and the king could have her killed for her impudence.  But she finds favor in the eyes of the king.  He extends his scepter, the symbol of his power, and Esther touches it.  She is signaling that she is requesting something in his power to do.  The king offers her up to half the kingdom.  She puts off giving her request, and for the time being asks that the king and Haman attend a banquet she has prepared.  At that time, she would reveal her request. The king and Haman attend the first day of the feast but Esther did not reveal her request yet.

vs. 9-14 – Haman wrongly believed that his summons to dine with the king and queen and is elated.  That is, until again Mordecai refused to bow to him.  There is an echo here of the pouting Ahab, pining for Naboth’s vineyard, and Jezebel suggesting a murderous solution.  Here Haman is pouting and his wife Zeresh (“gold”) and their friends suggest that he look forward to murdering Mordecai.  They tell him to build a gallows 50 cubits (75 feet) high upon which to hang Mordecai.

One of my favorite phrases in Scripture is from Mordecai’s challenge to Esther in Chapter 4: “for such a time as this”.  God had providentially placed Esther where she could do what no other could do to save her people.  That did not just happen by accident.  I believe we all have these “such a times” in our lives were God puts us in the right place at the right time.  It may not be as dramatic as saving the nation of Israel.  It could be the smile of encouragement or words of comfort you give.  God has prepared you for a special purpose.  Let Him use you.

Today’s hymn was originally written in German by Wolfgang Cristoph Dessler and translated into English by John Wesley.  It often appears under the heading, “The Scepter of His Love”.  It makes a parallel to our going before the throne of Christ to Esther approaching Xerxes.

Jesus, whose glory’s streaming rays,
Though duteous to thy high command,
Not seraphs view with open face,
But veil’d before they presence stand!

How shall weak eyes of flesh, weigh’d down
With sin, and dim with error’s night,
Dare to behold  they awful throne,
Or view thy unapproached light?

Restore my sight: let thy free grace
An entrance to the holiest give!
Open mine eyes of faith: - thy face
So shall I see; yet seeing live.

They golden scepter from above
Reach forth; lo! My whole heart I bow;
Say to my soul; “Thou art my love;
My chosen ‘midst ten thousand, thou.”

O Jesus, full of grace! The sighs
Of a sick heart with pity view!
Hark! How my silence speaks, and cries,
“Mercy, thou God of mercy show!”

I know thou canst no but be good!
How should’st thou, Lord, thy grace restrain?
Thou, Ord, whose blood so freely flow’d,
To save me from all guilt and pain.