Unit 10 Notes: ESTHER
8th Bible: Old Testament Studies
1. WHERE IS GOD IN THIS BOOK?
- Who is directing all these events? Though God’s name is not mentioned, His hand directs every event.
- Listed below are a few examples of God’s providence in the book:
i. Esther was chosen above all the other possible candidates.
ii. Mordecai overheard the assassination plot.
iii. A record of Mordecai’s report of the assassination plans was written in the royal chronicles.
iv. Esther had concealed her identity.
v. The King was willing to see her without calling her.
vi. The King could not sleep on that night.
vii. The King asked to have the records read.
viii. That the scribe read from the incident several years earlier concerning Mordecai.
ix. That the King was wide enough awake to enquire whether he had rewarded Mordecai.
2. IMPORTANT VERSES:
a. Esther 9:24-25 “Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.”
· Compare these verses with Genesis 3:15.
· What had been devised against the seed of the women returns upon the enemy’s own head.
b. Esther 4:14 “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou are come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
· Mordecai is convinced that relief and deliverance shall arise to the Jews.
· This verse shows God’s providence in leading Esther to the kingdom at this time.
c. Esther 6:13b “If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt utterly fall before him.”
· Haman’s wife said this to Haman. Consider what Pilate’s wife said to Pilate.
d. Esther 9:22 “As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.”
· The very day that was to be for the Jews a day of destruction and sorrow was turned to joy. (Sorrow turned to joy.)
· Consider the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus – The disciples deep sorrow was turned to great joy: “we had hoped” to “rejoicing”.
e. Esther 10:3 “For Mordecai the Jew was next unto the king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his bretheren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.”
· Consider Joseph: Mordecai went, as it were, from the dungeon to being second in the kingdom; and in this way to keep many alive.
· Haman had meant it for evil but God meant it for good.