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THE BOOK OF ESTHER – LESSON FIVE

I. EVENTS SURROUNDING MORDECAI, ESTHER AND THE JEWS FOLLOWING HAMAN’S DEATH (Chapters 8-10)

           A. Mordecai is promoted and presents an edict in behalf of the Jews (8:1-17).

   1. Mordecai is given the king’s ring and set over the house of Haman                           (v. 1-2).

   2. Esther gains the ear of the king for him to change the previous edict to destroy the Jews (v. 3-8).

   3. Scribes write out edict authored by Mordecai with the authority of the king for Jews to defend themselves against the        enemy (v. 9-13).

   4. The post to Jews sent by swift horses to all the provinces causing joy among the Jews (v. 14-17)

  

B. Two days of vengeance for the Jews (9:1-19)

    1. On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (Adar), the Jews smite their enemies with the sword.

        a. 500 men slain in Shushan

        b. Haman’s ten sons slain

        c. 75,000 slain in the provinces

    2. King grants Esther’s request for Jews in Shushan to be able to do on the fourteenth day what they have done on the thirteenth day.

        a. 300 slain in Shushan

        b. Haman’s ten sons are hanged on the gallows.

    3. Shushan (walled cities) make fifteenth day a day of feasting and gladness while the other cities celebrate on the fourteenth day.

 

            C. The feast of Purim (v. 20-32)

                1. Mordecai writes that the two days (fourteenth and fifteen) day of Adar should be celebrated for the Jews having rest                     from the enemies who were set on destroying them.

                2. Pur (Purim) were cast to destroy them, now feast days known as Purim – Haman’s wicked device turned upon his                       own head.

D. Mordecai’s greatness remembered (10:1-3).

 

   

 QUESTIONS:

1. Mordecai received whose ring?

2. What is meant by the fact that Mordecai was “over the house of Haman?”

3. What respect did Esther manifest to the king in pleading her case to save her people?

4. What authority did Mordecai’s edict to the Jews carry?

5. Mordecai’s edict addressed:

 a. the enemies of the Jews to not carry out the plan to destroy the Jews.

 b. the Jews to fight and plunder those who would destroy them.

 c. both parties to be at peace with one another.

6. What was the means of spreading the edict “fast” throughout the provinces of the Persian Empire?

7. What was a two-fold response to Mordecai’s edict?

8. The ten sons of Haman were killed by hanging on the gallows. (T) (F)

9. Why are two days to be celebrated by the Jews instead of the one day in which they were to be destroyed according to Haman’s plan?

10. Why is the feast commemorating this deliverance from destruction called “Purim?”

11. How does the Book of Esther exalt Mordecai?