Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern USA
Esther
Beginner Level
Chapter 1
1. a) to display her beauty
2. b) She was dethroned
Chapter 2
1. c) Her cousin, Mordecai
2. c) Bigthan and Teresh
Chapter 3
1. c) bow to Haman
2. a) Granted Haman's request
Chapter 4
1. c)Ask the king to spare Esther's people
2. a)Fast for three days
Chapter 5
1. a) The presence of the king and Haman at a banquet
2. b) build gallows to hang Mordecai
Chapter 6
1. c) gave Mordecai great wealth
2. b) Mordecai
Chapter 7
1. a) Begged Esther for his life
2. b) he was hung on the gallows
Chapter 8
1. c) Mordecai
2. d) all of these
Chapter 9
1. d) 10
2. c) Purim
Chapter 10
1. a) In the book of Chronicles
2. b) he seeks the good of his people
Chapter 11
1. b) in the court of the king
2. c) the cry of the people
Chapter 12
1. c) watchmen
2. a) lay hand on the king
Chapter 13
1. a) the Lord
2. a) to him
Chapter 14
1. a) ashes and dung
2. c) Haman’s table
Chapter 15
1. c) two maids
2. c) angry
Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern USA
Esther
Intermediate Level Name:
Chapter 1
1. All his officials and servants; the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces
- Seven
Chapter 2
1. His uncle's daughter,
2. They were hanged on a gallows
Chapter 3
1. So the king had commanded concerning him (v3).
2. Ten thousand talents of silver (v9)
Chapter 4
1. There was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
2. The king holds out the golden scepter
Chapter 5
1. The king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand.
2. "Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it;
Chapter 6
1. The book of the records of the chronicles;
2. Mordecai
Chapter 7
1. Pleading for his life,
2. They hanged Haman on the gallows
Chapter 8
1. The house of Haman
2. By couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds.
Chapter 9
1. 10
2. Purim
Chapter 10
1. In the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia
2. Seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.
Chapter 11
1. Nebuchadnezzar
2. The cry of the people
Chapter 12
1. Kept watch in the courtyard
2. To lay hands upon the king
Chapter 13
1. The king Artaxerxes
2. He was willing to kiss the soles of Haman’s feet
Chapter 14
- With ashes and dung
- Haman’s table
Chapter 15
- Two maids
- Fierce anger
Chapter 16
- To the rulers of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven satrapies, and to those who are loyal to our government
- To those who plot against the king
Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern USA
Esther
Advanced Level
Chapter 1
- In order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold.
- "For the queen's behavior will become known to all women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes,
Chapter 2
- She obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king's palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women. (v9)
- The king made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the generosity of a king.(v 18)
Chapter 3
- King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. And all the king's servants who were within the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him.(v1-2)
- "If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries."(v9)
Chapter 4
- Any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live.
- So I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"
Chapter 5
- Up to half the kingdom
- To tell them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.
Chapter 6
- "For the man whom the king delights to honor, "let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. "Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: 'Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!'" (v7-9)
- Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.
Chapter 7
- Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
- To be hanged on the gallows
Chapter 8
- To gather together and protect their lives; to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province that would assault them, both little children and women, and to plunder their possessions, on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. (v11-12)
- The Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. (v17)
Chapter 9
- For Mordecai was great in the king's palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent. (v4)
- They rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness. (v17)
Chapter 10
- In the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia
- Seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.
Chapter 11
- They feared the evils that threatened them
- From a dream
Chapter 12
- The conversation of two eunuchs and inquired into their purposes, and learned that they were preparing to lay hands upon Artaxerxes the king;
- Haman agreed with the plot of the two eunuchs and was upset when Mordecai exposed them
Chapter 13
- I have determined to settle the lives of my subjects in lasting tranquility and, in order to make my kingdom peaceable and open to travel throughout all its extent, to re-establish the peace which all men desire.
- That he excels among us in sound judgment, and is distinguished for his unchanging good will and steadfast fidelity,
Chapter 14
- She took off her splendid apparel and put on the garments of distress and mourning, and instead of costly perfumes she covered her head with ashes and dung, and she utterly humbled her body, and every part that she loved to adorn she covered with her tangled hair.
2. Lord, do not surrender thy scepter to what has no being; and do not let them mock at our downfall; but turn their plan against themselves, and make an example of the man who began this against us Remember, O Lord; make thyself known in this time of our affliction, and give me courage, O King of the gods and Master of all dominion! Put eloquent speech in my mouth before the lion, and turn his heart to hate the man who is fighting against us, so that there may be an end of him and those who agree with him. (v11-13)
Chapter 15
1. She looked at the king and he was most terrifying and he looked at her in fierce anger
2. God changed the spirit of the king to gentleness, and in alarm he sprang from his throne and took her in his arms until she came to herself.
Chapter 16
1. He enjoyed the good will that we have for every nation that he was called our father and was continually bowed down to by all as the person second to the royal throne.
- "Every city and country, without exception, which does not act accordingly, shall be destroyed in wrath with spear and fire. It shall be made not only impassable for men, but also most hateful for all time to beasts and birds.
Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern USA
Esther
Expert Level
Chapter 1
1. The usual Persian custom was that people at a banquet were required to drink each time the king raised his cup. The king here ordered here that guests could drink as much or as little as they pleased.
2. The queen knew that the king and his guests had a lot to drink and that he called her to show her off to his guests not for her company
Chapter 2
1. Hadassah is a Hebrew name that means Myrtle. Esther is a Persian name that means star. Jewish people in antiquity customarily had two names when they lived in regions distant from Israel
2. The Jews had no rights and little access to the king, so it was better for Esther not to reveal her identity. Moerdecai did not bid her deny her country, nor tell a lie to conceal her parentage; if he had told her to do so, she must not have done it. But he only told her not to proclaim her country. All truths are not to be spoken at all times, though an untruth is not to be spoken at any time.
Chapter 3
1. Haman was an Agagite a descendant of Agag the king of the Amalekites. The Amalekites were ancient enemies of the Israelites. Haman’s hatred was directed not just at Mordecai but at all the Jews. As second in command Haman loved his power and authority and the reverence shown him but The Jews however looked to God as their final authority
2. Mordecai’s determination came from his faith in God. He had the courage to stand alone. Doing what is right will not always make is popular. Those who do right will be in the minority but to obey God is more important then to obey people
Chapter 4
1. Mordecai had confidence that relief and deliverance would come from another place was strongly asserting his faith in God and His promised protection of the Jewish people. All that happens in His world and would intervene with or without Esther.
- Verse 3, 15,16
Chapter 5
- He offered her up to half his kingdom. A similar promise was given to the daughter of Herodias by king Herod in Mark 6:23
2. He bragged to his wife and friends about his wealth, his sons and his status in the kingdom. It was considered a great blessing to have many sons.
Chapter 6
1. This is the official record of the events of the Persian Empire. Apparently the chronicles were read before the king for an extended period.
2. In his arrogance Haman presumed that the king desired to honor him. He suggested the action that he would most enjoy, a royal parade through the city plaza so that everyone could see and hear about the king’s delight in him. The king however was planning the reward foe a man Haman regarded as his enemy. Worst of all it was Haman who has to lead Mordecai through the square and proclaim the king’s pleasure in Mordecai.
Chapter 7
1. She is referring to the bribe Haman offered to the king in chapter 3:9
2. Haman died on the same gallows that he ordered to be built to hand Mordecai on them
Chapter 8
1. In the Persian Empire, a royal decree could not be altered, but a second one could invalidate it. Thus the king instructed Mordecai and Esther to write a second decree
2. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.
Chapter 9
1. For Mordecai was great in the king's palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent.
2. Purim is derived from the word “Pur” meaning lot, the lot that was cast to determine the day of the Jewish people’s death. Purim reminds the Jews of God’s deliverance from their day of destruction.
Chapter 10
1. Mordecai was seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.
2. V 6; 9
Chapter 11
1. Nebuchadnezzar
2. God reassured him that he was with him and his people
Chapter 12
- Mordecai took his rest in the courtyard with Gabatha and Tharra, the two eunuchs of the king who kept watch in the courtyard. He overheard their conversation and inquired into their purposes, and learned that they were preparing to lay hands upon Artaxerxes the king;
2. Mordecai to serve in the court and rewarded him for these things.
Chapter 13
1. They are hostile people, who have laws contrary to those of every nation and continually disregard the ordinances of the kings, so that the unifying of the kingdom which we honorably intend cannot be brought about. We understand that this people, and it alone, stands constantly in opposition to all men, perversely following a strange manner of life and laws, and is ill-disposed to our government, doing all the harm they can so that our kingdom may not attain stability.