Esther – The Hidden Providence of God
Dec. 9, 2023, Oct. 6, 2024 version
What would you think about a man who got so angry that he ordered his soldiers to whip the sea because a big storm destroyed his fleet and bridge. Then he “chained the sea” by driving some stakes into the shallow seabed and putting chains on them. He also beheaded the men who built the bridge between Asia Minor and Greece, because the fierce storm destroyed it. Ladies, meet your future husband! Anyway, joking aside, this was the cruel world Esther lived in, and the type of man she would have to marry. Should she run? Should she scar herself, or instead, should she ask, how can I serve God in the situation He has placed me?
Esther is the last one of the five O.T. books called the Megilloth, which were read at festivals. Esther 10:2 indicates that Ahasuerus had died, so that would date the book being written after 465 B.C. The book of Esther was read during the last festival of the year, the Feast of Purim. (Purim means “lot”.) The Book of Esther provides insight and help in at least five ways.
Historically, the book explains the origin of the Jewish feast of Purim, and why they especially should praise God for His deliverance at that time.
The immediate effect of the book would be to encourage the Jews who returned to Palestine. There was strong opposition to rebuilding the Temple, and this book would show God’s protection of the Jews.
Chance also is under God’s sovereignty is an important lesson. God has a purpose for everything as Esther 2:1-18 shows. Vashti/Esther, the plot and Mordecai’s delayed recognition, Haman’s plot and delayed punishment, Esther’s bravery and Haman’s blunder, and the Jews deliverance all show slightly difference aspects of how God uses what only appears to be random chance.
Aspects of God’s character are shown here. God can cause historical events to happen through pious people, but that is not the point of Esther. God used two people who were not particularly pious, and seemingly chance coincidences, to restrain and control history, and prevent a catastrophe from occurring. As Proverbs 16:33 says, the lot is cast into the lap, but its decision is from the Lord.
We can learn not only to be grateful to God for what we see Him do, but also to be grateful for what He prevents from happening.
Providence is a term that has both the positive aspect of God moving to cause things to occur, and the negative aspect of God preventing things from occurring. The Believer’s Bible Commentary p.495 has a wonderful paragraph on our attitude towards God’s control. “A Soviet Jew was recently asked by a Westerner what he thought would be the outcome if the USSR stepped up its anti-Semitic policies. “Oh, probably a feast!” Asked for an explanation, the Jewish man said, ‘Pharaoh tried to wipe out the Hebrews and the result was Passover; Haman tried to exterminate our people and the result was Purim; Antiochus Epiphanes tried to do us in, and the result was Hanukkah!’” Of course, when Christ comes again and destroys His enemies, and there will be a great marriage feast of the lamb in Revelation 19:7.
Some consider Esther a “type” of the church according to 1001 Bible Questions Answered p.316.
See The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.776 and the Believer’s Bible Commentary p.497 for more info.
Acceptance of Esther in the canon:
In the time of Jesus, groups Jews all over the world believed the book of Esther to be a part of God’s word, and Jesus validated the Bible of the Jews. While Ethiopian Jews, probably originating in Solomon’s time, did not celebrate the festival of Purim, they knew of the Book of Esther and celebrated the “Feast of Esther” instead.
There were a number of exceptions though. One exception were the Sadducees, who only accepted the first five books as Scripture, and the rest of the Old Testament as of lesser importance. Jesus rebuked them for knowing neither Scripture nor the power of God in Matthew 22:29.
The Dead Sea Scrolls contain not only many copies of the Old Testament scriptures, but some apocryphal books and many other writings as well. However, there are no copies of the book of Esther.
The liberal Anchor Bible Dictionary volume 2 p.635 says there is no evidence that Esther was validated at the Jewish Council of Jamnia (c.90 A.D.), though it was debated there (When Critics Ask p.219-220).
In the early church, 1 Clement (written in 96-98 A.D.) chapter 55 mentions Esther. However, right before that, 1 Clement referred to Holofernes in the apocryphal book of Judith too. The Stromata (193-202 A.D.) of Clement of Alexandria (4:19) and The Constitutions of the Holy Apostles (c.380 A.D.) also mention Esther. According to the liberal Anchor Bible Dictionary volume 2 p.635, Origen (185?-254 A.D.), Epiphanius (315-403 A.D.), Cyril of Jerusalem (d.386 A.D.), Hilary (355-367/368 A.D.), Rufinus (345-410 A.D.), Augustine (354-430 A.D.), the Council of Hippo (393 A.D.), and the Council of Carthage (397 A.D.) accepted Esther as part of the Bible. The Council of Carthage also accepted many apocryphal books. The Anchor Bible Dictionary also points out that the following denied that Esther was Scripture: Melito of Sardis (c.167 A.D.), Athanasius of Nicene Creed fame (295-373 A.D.), Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390 A.D.), and Theodore of Mopsuestia (350?-428 A.D.).
Luther accepted Esther as Scripture. According to the Anchor Bible Dictionary volume 2 p.635, Luther said he did not like it. (WA 3:302).
Extra-biblical evidence of some of the people in Esther.
Xerxes I (486-465 B.C.) is the Greek (and modern) name given to kings the Persians knew as “Khshayarsha”, (meaning ruling man) or shortened to Kshy’rsh in the Persian Elephantine Papyrii, which is similar to Xerxes. He is also mentioned in Ezra 4:6 and Daniel 9:1.87
. In Hebrew this was Ahashwerosh, which in our Bibles is “Ahasuerus”. Dropping the Kh in front of the SH and putting an A at the beginning is basically what the Hebrew did. After putting down revolts in Babylon and Egypt at the start of his reign, Xerxes I ruled over the Persian Empire at its height of 127 provinces. Subject from modern Pakistan to northern Ethiopia were paying tribute to the Persian king. Xerxes ruled for 21 years, from 485 to 465 B.C. and Esther 10:2 indicates the book was written after that. Xerxes tried to reconquer Greece but his fleet and army were defeated at the Battle of Salamis in 480 B.C., and the Battle of Platea in 479 B.C. After his embarrassing retreat, the historians Herodotus, Aeschylus, and Juvenal tell us that after his defeat he “consoled himself” with his harem, and mention his partying, generous gives and hot temper. When he commanded Vashti to be brought out, it showed an inordinate desire to impress others, Apparently he was prone to tell how great his empire was too. One inscription says Xerces was “the great King, the King of Kings, the King of the lands occupied by many races, the King of this great world.” Like almost all kings, Xerxes had a bodyguard. However, his bodyguard was 2,000 horsemen, 2,000 lancers, and 10,000 infantry according to Herodotus book 7.40.. They did things big in Persia. It was not enough though; eventually Xerxes was murdered by his vizier Artabanus in his bedroom, who put Artaxerxes I on the throne.
See the Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.306-307,322 for more info.
Queen Vashti is probably the same queen that the Greek historian Herodotus knew as Amestris, if some phonetic modifications are assumed. Or Vashti might have been a title, like first-lady, because in Old Persian vahista means the highest, according to the Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.327. According to Persia and the Bible p.230-232 Vashti was influential and vengeful. When Xerxes gave a robe that Amestris made to the daughter of his brother’s wife, Amestris was angry. At a banquet, when Xerxes agreed to grant any request of hers, Amestris had that woman killed and later her mother mutilated. Xerxes was OK with that. As an act of religious devotion Amestris had fourteen men buried alive. We are not sure when this feast was, but it was after 483 B.C., when Amestris gave birth Artaxerxes, the heir to the throne.
Mordecai, a name derived from the Babylonian god Marduk, has appeared in Aramaic letters, though this is not the same Mordecai. There were probably at least four officials named Mordecai during this period. A “Marduka” is mentioned in a tablet from Borsippa, in modern Iraq. He was an accountant who made an inspection tour of Susa during the last years of Darius or the early years of Xerxes, as The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.791, the liberal Anchor Bible Dictionary volume 2 p.638 and Persia and the Bible p.235 both say. It is possible that it could be the Mordecai in the Bible. There are more than 30 discovered tablets, dating between 505 and 499 B.C., with the name “Marduka” or “Marduku”, which may refer to up to four individuals. (Some of these are PF 81, 412, 489, 790, 863, 941, 942, 991, 1183, 1236,1581, 1858, PT1, 84). In 2 Maccabees 15:36 Purim is called “The Day of Mordecai”.
Esther means “star” in Persian. Her Hebrew name, Hadaseh, mean “myrtle”.
Other names are found on various inscriptions. The Anchor Bible Dictionary p.638-639 mentions Haman’s son Pharshandatha (Psrndt). Persia and the Bible p.238 mention the following names having parallels in Elamite Persepolis texts: the eunuchs Mehuman, Bigtha, Carcas, Hathach, the advisors Meres, Marsena, and Memukan, Haman’s father Hammedatha, and Aridai, and Aridatah/Aridatath the sons of Haman. The name Haman is probably related to Human, an Elamite god, and Vashti to Mashti, an Elamite goddess.
The ai in Vaizatha, Haman’s son in Esther 9:9, would be pronounced as “ai” prior to Xerxes’ reign, and “e” in the reign of Artaxerxes his son, and this dates Esther rather precisely. See Persia and the Bible p.238 for more info.
The citadel at Susa was burned down during the time of Xerxes’ son, according to an inscription. The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.702 mentions that a later writer probably would not have known about this citadel.
See The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament p.702 for more info.
Where did the Jews live: About 50,000 Jews returned in Judah in 538 B.C. under Cyrus I. Many others stayed within the Persian Empire such as Esther and Mordecai. Other Jews had fled to Egypt before the exile. The Persians sent other Jews, mercenaries loyal to Persia, to Elephantine Island at the southern border of Egypt to guard against an invasion by Ethiopians. Other Jews went farther west. There were Jews in Asia Minor, Greece, Italy, and southern France. There is a tribe in India, with about 15,000 people today, called the Bene Israel. They claim to be descended from Jacob. Others say they were not, but were early converts to Judaism. See 1001 Bible Questions Answered p.147 for more info on the Bene Israel. There have been black people of the Jewish faith in Ethiopia for over 2,000 years, but they are converts to Judaism.
Background on Susa: Susa, or Shushan in Hebrew, is a well-excavated city, with modern work starting in 1851.
Geographically, Susa is in a fertile plain watered by two rivers. It is 150 miles north of the Persian Gulf. The climate is pleasant most of the year, but during the July and August the temperature can reach up to 140 degrees F. Lizards and snakes crossing the desert in the middle of the day are burned to death. Elam is fairly large, at 42,000 square miles, about the size of Denmark. A number of tribes lived there, includes Elamites, Semites, Messabatae, Cissi (Kassi), Mardians, and later the Persians.
Archaeologists tell us that Susa was inhabited from about 3500 B.C., making it as old as the Sumerian civilization.
Militarily, Susa was the capital of Elam.
2700 B.C. Enmebargesi of Kish defeats Elam.
2400 B.C. Eannatum of Lagash attacks Elam.
2350 B.C. Sargon of Agade conquers Elam.
2280 B.C. Elam invades Babylonia, and there is a treaty between Elam and Naram-Sin of Agade. (oldest known state treaty)
2067 B.C. The city-state of Ur defeats Elam.
2004 B.C. The Elamites destroy Ur, within 50 years after Abram left it.
1764 B.C. Hammurabi of Babylon defeats Elam.
c1330 B.C. The Kassites conquer Elam.
1160 B.C. The Elamites defeat the Kassites in Babylon, taking Hammurabi’s Law code.
1120 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar I raids Susa.
720 B.C. At Yamutbal, Elamites and Babylonians combine to fight the Assyrians. Both sides claim victory.
704 B.C. At Kis, the Assyrians defeat the Babylonians and Elamites.
695/694 B.C. An Assyrian fleet attacks Elam.
695/694-689 B.C. The Elamites and Babylonians combine to fight the Assyrians. 34 Elamite cities were destroyed.
645/640 B.C. The Assyrians for the first time control Elam, as Ashurbanipal of Assyria sacks Susa. Susa is nearly deserted.
The Persians gradually moved into this area and mixed with the original Elamites. Susa became one of the capitals of the Persian Empire. There was more than one capital, as the Emperors would not want to remain in Susa during the summer.
331 B.C. Alexander captured Susa and took its treasure. He found 9,000 talents (270 tons) of gold and 40,000 talents (1,200 tons) of silver just piled away.
Ethnically, Elamites originally were not Semites. However, from the time of Sargon onward, Semites settled in Elam, and it became “Semitized”. Many Elamites left their homeland, being exiled to Samaria in Palestine. After the Persians ruled Susa, the Susianians revolted, but they later were assimilated by the Persians.
For more info, see Persia and the Bible p.279-303, The Wycliffe Bible Dictionary p.1586, The New International Dictionary of the Bible p.299-300, 969-970, the Encyclopedia Britannica (1956) volume 8 p.118-119 and volume 21 p.618-619, and The Anchor Bible Dictionary volume 2 p.423-428 and volume 6 p.242-245.
Scheide Papyrii 1 contains Ezekiel, Daniel, and Esther. It is dated the early third century A.D. It originally had 118 leaves, of which 109 survive today. For more info and a photograph of it see Manuscripts of the Greek Bible p.70-71.
Vaticanus (325-350 A.D.) has preserved all of Esther.
Sinaiticus (340-350 A.D.) has preserved all of Esther.
Pre-Nicene writers who referred to Esther.
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Jewish Baraitha gloss of Baba Bathra 2nd century B.C. |
Origen (225-254 A.D.) |
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The Jewish Council of Jamnia (70 A.D.) |
Eusebius of Caesarea (318-325 A.D.) |
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The Jewish writer Josephus (90 A.D.) alludes to Esther |
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1 Clement (96-98 A.D.) |
Aphrahat the Syrian (337-345 A.D.) |
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X Melito of Sardis (170-177/180 A.D.) |
X Athanasius (367,325-373 A.D.) considered it good to read, but not scripture. |
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Polycarp (c.150 A.D.) |
Ambrose of Milan (370-390 A.D.) |
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Clement of Alexandria (193-202 A.D.) |
X Gregory of Nanzianus (330-391 A.D.) |
Earliest manuscripts of Esther
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None among the Dead Sea scrolls |
Sinaiticus (Si) (340-350 A.D.) |
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Scheide Papyrii I (early 3rd century A.D.) |
Alexandrinus (=A) (c.450 A.D.) |
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Vaticanus (B) (325-350 A.D.) |
The Greek Septuagint had Esther |
Yes it is, but in a hidden form. At four crucial points in the narrative, (1:20, 5:4; 5:13; 7:7) YHWH is there in acrostic form, twice forward and twice backward.
For another example for a word acrostic, the famous acrostic “Icthyus” is found in an early Christian writing, the Sibylline Oracles 8:217-50. See the Anchor Bible Dictionary volume 1 p.59 for more info.
Here is another example. The Instructions of Commodianus ch.80 p.218 says, “I cannot comprehend all things in a little treatise; the curiosity of the learned men shall find my name in this.” The footnote says that if we read the initials of the words backward, the name Commodianus Mendicus Christi is found.
See When Critics Ask p.219-220 for more info. The Believer’s Bible Commentary p.495 also mentions this and gives two examples similar to Esther using “Lord” in English. In any language, this is difficult to do without it appearing stilted. “Due Respect Our Ladies, all Shall give their husbands, great and small. (1:20), and IlL tO feaR decreeD I find, Toward me in the monarch’s mind” (7:7) (taken originally from Arthur T. Pierson). Here are to other examples: “Let Our Reigning Dear King and Haman comes to the banquet I have prepared. (5:4) “Yet remains my mooD faR toO fouL, as long as Mordecai the Jew sits at the King’s gate.” (5:13).
As Hard Sayings of the Bible p.253-254 observes, Esther 4:14 this is a veiled reference to God. In other words, it would be most natural to put the word “God” here, yet the author apparently refrained from doing so.
Outlines of the Book of Esther
A: There are at least four ways to outline Esther:
By twos: 1:1-2:20, 2:21-4:3, 4:4-9:19, and 9:20-32; 10 Two battles
Four banquets: The first outline centers around four banquets: 1) Vashti’s exit, 2) in honor of Esther, 3) Esther prepares, 4) Purim. On a lighter note, at the beginning, Vashti did not want to be an appetizer, Haman got steaming mad, the Jews were in hot water, and finally Haman got his just deserts.
Chiastic: (Banquet, Vashti, Esther, Banquet), (plot, Mordecai, Haman, Esther, Esther, Haman, Mordecai, Jews) the Old Testament is filled with chiasms.
Chapter-based: 1-2, 3-4,5-7, 8-10
Combining the first two ways of organizing Esther, here is an outline.
1-2:18 The two queens
- 1 The Drunken Feast: Vashti Removed for Refusing
- 2:1-18 The Feast of Esther’s Choosing
2:10-3 The two men with their two plans
- 2:19-23 Mordecai foils a plot
- 3 Haman promoted; planned extermination of the Jews
4-9:19 It’s down to Haman’s strategy vs. God’s
- 4 Esther’s brave request
- 5:1-8 Esther’s feasts
- 5:9-14 Haman’s gallows
- 6 Mordecai honored and Haman humiliated
- 7 The executor gets executed
- 8 Esther’s last ditch plea
9-10 The two battles
- 9-10 The Feast of Purim: the Jews Triumph
Esther 1-2 – Vashti’s refusal and Esther’s opportunity
1. In Esth 1:3-8, is there any extra-Biblical evidence for this feast?
2. In Esth 1:8, what does the phrase, “according to the law” mean here?
3. In Esth 1:11-12, why did the king want to have Vashti come out?
4. In Esth 1:11-22, what is the difference between the king’s view of a husband’s leadership over a wife, and the Bible’s teaching?
5. In Esth 1:20, what was the population of the Persian Empire?
6. In Esth 2:2-3, what should a Christian’s attitude be toward beauty pageants?
7. In Esth 2:6, was Mordecai the one who was carried away in captivity from Jerusalem, 70 years
8. In Esth 2:7, what do the names in the book mean?
9. In Esth 2:7-8, was Esther right to participate in this?
10. In Esth 2:10, was Mordecai right to command Esther not to reveal her identity?
11. In Esth 2:17, how did the king love Esther above all women, since he later did not see her for 30 days in Esth 4:11?
12. In Esth 2:21-23, when should Christians reveal plots and crimes to secular authorities?
Esther 3 – Haman’s Hateful Plot
2. In Esth 3:1, how could a non-Persian rise to power in the Persian Empire?
3. In Esth 3:2-3, 4:2, and 5:9, what does it mean that Mordecai and others were at the King’s Gate?
4. In Esth 3:2, was Mordecai right to refuse to bow?
5. In Esth 3:2, what is inconsistent about Mordecai here?
6. In Esth 3:2,6, if Mordecai just went somewhere else, would not that have avoided the whole problem?
7. In Esth 3:6-7. have there been other mass slaughters in ancient times?
8. In Esth 3:6-9, why is it that some have such hatred toward an entire people?
9. In Esth 3:6-9, why do some, who do not hate an entire people, tolerate such hatred and acquiesce toward the killing?
10. In Esth 3:7, what three purposes could casting lots serve for Haman?
11. In Esth 3:9, how could Haman promise to give the king so much money?
12. In Esth 3:10, what does this say about Ahasuerus?
13. Esth 3:11, what is the significance of the people and money being given to Haman?
14. In Esth 3:11, what does it mean, “the money and the people are given to you”?
Esther 4-5 – Mordecai’s dangerous request and Esther’s plan
1. In Esth 4:8, why did Mordecai give Esther an actual copy of the decree?
2. In Esth 4:11, what other evidence do we have for this law, that none can come unbidden before the king unless the king holds out his scepter?
3. In Esth 4:14, what is the proper translation of the last part?
4. In Esth 4:14, what is the point of this verse?
5. In Esth 4:14, are there times where you thought you had God’s will figured out for your life, and you got it all wrong?
6. In Esth 4:15-16, who took the initiative here in planning to escape this danger?
7. In Esth 4:16, was Esther’s attitude good here?
8. In Esth 4:16, have you ever been in a situation where pleasing God might mean that your job, relationship, or something you value might perish? How did you / would you handle it?
9. In Esth 4:16, was Esther disobeying government laws when she went to see the king?
10. In Esth 5:3,6, why was the Persian king willing to grant even half of his kingdom?
11. In Esth 5:4, why would Esther invite Haman to come to the banquet too?
12. In Esth 5:4,7-8, why didn’t Esther just immediately tell King Xerxes what she wanted directly?
13. In Esth 5:11; 9:7-10,12, what is the importance of Haman having ten sons?
14. In Esth 5:14, why was the gallows 75 feet high?
Esther 6-7 – Haman reaps what he sowed
1. In Esth 6:1-3, what good principle can we learn from the king’s example?
2. In Esth 6:7-9, is there any extra-Biblical evidence of this reward of riding in the chariot like a king?
3. In Esth 6:6-12, how do some people today live for reputation?
4. In Esth 6:13, how did the view of Haman’s wife differ from the Biblical doctrine of God’s Sovereignty?
5. In Esth 7:4, what does it mean that the king would suffer loss if the Jews were destroyed?
6. In Esth 7:8, what happened with Haman and Esther in this verse?
7. In Esth 7:9, why would Harbonah bring up Haman’s gallows?
8. In Esth 7:14, should Esther have forgiven Haman and asked the king to let him go?
Esther 8-10 – Just war in the Old Testament
1. In Esth 8:2.7, why did Esther give Haman’s estate to Mordecai to manage?
2. In Esth 8:3, why did Esther fall at the king’s feet?
3. In Esth 8:10, what are dromedaries?
4. In Esth 8:11, why were the Jews permitted to kill women and children?
5. In Esth 9:1-10, why did the Jews and government officials kill their enemies?
6. In Esth 9:2-3, when should believers fight in a “just war”?
7. In Esth 9:10, why didn’t the Jews lay their hands on the plunder?
8. In Esth 9:19, what are some examples today of opportunities to make more money that you are best to let slip away?
9. In Esth 9:18-32, was it OK for the Jews to celebrate the festival of Purim and the festival of Hanukkah, since these were not feasts mentioned in the Torah?
10. In Esth 10:3, 9:4, could Artabanus, the vizier or else chief of the bodyguards, who later assassinated king Xerxes in 465 B.C., be the same person as Mordecai?
Esther 1-2 – Vashti’s refusal and Esther’s opportunity - some brief answers
1. In Esth 1:3-8, is there any extra-Biblical evidence for this feast?
A: Yes. Xerxes in general was a partying, drinking type of ruler. Esther 1:3 specifically says this was in the third year of his reign. This was the same time Xerxes assembled his leaders for a “planning party for the invasion of Greece. Xerxes left Susa in April, 481 B.C. Esther 3:1 indicates considerable time had passed, and Esther 3:7 is in the twelfth year of Ahasuerus. Xerxes was in the field until his seventh year, after his defeat at Salamis and Plataea.
The Greek historian Herodotus, not too charitably, claims that the Persian were noted for making decisions while drunk. (Herodotus 1.135). Various guests might come and go as they had other responsibilities, but imagine a king being present at the party for 180 days! Herodotus records that Xerxes took four years to plan the invasion of Greece.
For a much earlier party, in Assyria in the ninth century B.C., there were 69,574 guests (Fuerst p.45) in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.789. The historian Ctesias said the Persians entertained 15,000 at one time in a later banquet. (ibid p.798.)
See the New International Bible Dictionary p.513,1077, the Believer’s Bible Commentary p.499, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.798, the Evangelical Commentary on the Bible p.328, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary p.478, and The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.702 for more info.
2. In Esth 1:8, what does the phrase, “according to the law” mean here?
A: This means the law of the Medes and Persians. The Persian king would not be expected to know and obey the Jewish law, which did not mention this.
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3. In Esth 1:11-12, why did the king want to have Vashti come out?
A: Persian custom might have women and men at the same party, but here the women had a separate party from the men. Apparently Xerxes wanted to show other men his “prize”. Xerxes I apparently did not have much respect for Vashti. He showed off all his other possessions that he owned, why not show off her too? However, Persian customs said that women should be veiled in public, and Vashti did not want to obey the drunken king and show off her beauty before drunken men.
See the Believer’s Bible Commentary p.498, Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.328, and The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.702 for more info.
4. In Esth 1:11-22, what is the difference between the king’s view of a husband’s leadership over a wife, and the Bible’s teaching?
A: First the king’s view, and then the Bible’s teaching.
The king believed his wife should be subject to him and obey him in all things, good or bad.
The Bible in Ephesians 5:24 also shows that wives should be subject to their husbands. Wives should obey their husbands “in the Lord”. In other words, God’s word is higher than their husbands’ word. Thus if a husband asks or commands his wife to do something contrary to what God commands, the godly wife must disobey her husband on this. If you are a wife in this situation, it is good to explain to your husband exactly why, and to mention that you will not disobey him on everything, only this and other things that are against God. If the husband is still unreasonable, the wife should contact others in the church for support.
5. In Esth 1:20, what was the population of the Persian Empire?
A: While one source says 100 million people, a better estimate is 50-80 million people. There were about 2-3 million Jews.
See the Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.308 for more info.
6. In Esth 2:2-3, what should a Christian’s attitude be toward beauty pageants?
A: Physical beauty itself is not evil, as Job 42:15 and Genesis 12:11 prove. However, Job 31:1 and Matthew 5:28 shows that lusting with the eyes is sin. A woman parading in front of men in such a way that they lust is a sin of causing others to stumble.
However, Esther was not a part of a public beauty pageant. Rather, the king was using a selection process for adding to his harem and choosing a new queen.
7. In Esth 2:6, was Mordecai the one who was carried away in captivity from Jerusalem, 70 years prior to this, as the skeptical Asimov’s Guide to the Bible p.467 asserts?
A: No. While the language is ambiguous, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.703 points out that it is better understood that Kish, Mordecai’s great grandfather, was the one who was exiled to Babylon 70 years ago.
Persia and the Bible p.236 is more precise on this. It says the relative pronoun ‘aser should not be associated with Mordecai (the first name in the list), but the Kish, the last name in the list).
8. In Esth 2:7, what do the names in the book mean?
A: There are a number of interesting things here.
Esther: The Anchor Bible Dictionary p.633 says there are three views for the origin of this name.
1. Esther is the Akkadian word istar or Ishtar, the fierce Babylonian goddess of love. The skeptical Asimov’s Guide to the Bible p.467 also agrees this is clearly the case.
2. Esther comes from the Persian word stara meaning “star”. The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.703 presents this view.
3. Esther comes from the Median word astra, meaning “myrtle”.
Hadassah is the Hebrew name that probably means “myrtle” according to the New International Dictionary of the Bible p.326, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.703, and 1001 Bible Questions Answered p.316. So, it might seem the Median origin of Esther is most likely. However, Persia and the Bible p.233 also says that Hadassah is usually derived from the word for “myrtle”, but that other origins have been suggested.
Mordecai was a Babylonian name derived from the Babylonian war-god Marduk. It is similar to the New Testament name “Mark” meaning “of Mars”, and Mars was the Roman god of war. Over 30 tablets in Susa, and 1 tablet in Borsippa mention up to four Persian officials named “Marduku” or “Marduka”.
The Elamites had a chief god named Humman, whose wife was Kirisha. An Elamite goddess was named “Mashti”. (The Encyclopedia Britannica 1956 volume 8 p.118 says the chief god was In-Susinak, though.) Asimov’s Guide to the Bible p.467 and others mentioned by The Anchor Bible Dictionary volume 2 p.637 see a strong parallel between the Elamite gods, the Babylonian gods Marduk and Ishtar, and the story of Esther.
9. In Esth 2:7-8, was Esther right to participate in this?
A: King Xerxes might have regretted his irrevocable decision to send Vashti away, but he had made an unalterable decree.
As Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties p.234 and When Critics Ask p.220 point out, Scripture does not say if she had any choice, and it does not say she had to do anything immoral. Furthermore, as 735 Baffling Bible Questions Answered p.143-144 observes, Scripture does not portray Esther and Mordecai as special examples of piety. For example, Esther apparently did not have any qualms about the Persian food, unlike Daniel.
See The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.704, the New International Bible Commentary p.514 and the Believer’s Bible Commentary p.498 for more info.
10. In Esth 2:10, was Mordecai right to command Esther not to reveal her identity?
A: The Bible does not give all the surrounding details, and it neither approves nor disapproves of Mordecai’s command here. In general though, during times of ethnic and religious persecution, sometimes it is best not to reveal too much, and that is OK.
11. In Esth 2:17, how did the king love Esther above all women, since he later did not see her for 30 days in Esth 4:11?
A: Feelings of love can be capricious, and the events in Esther 4:11 were four or five years after the king chose her. This scripture is merely observing that at that instant, the king demonstrated that he loved Esther more than all other women by making her his queen.
12. In Esth 2:21-23, when should Christians reveal plots and crimes to secular authorities?
A: In general Christians should always reveal evil criminal activity to the authorities. The only exceptions are where the law is wrong. We should not assist the authorities in religious persecution (of anyone), or unjust laws that contradict what God says in the Scriptures.
Bigthana and Teresh in Esther 2:21 were not high officials, but they were eunuchs (i.e. with intimate access to all the palace) and doorkeepers, so they would have been in a position to assassinate him. In 465 B.C., Xerxes was murdered by his vizier/chiliarch Artabanus in his bedroom.
See The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.810 for more info.
Notice that Haman built the gallows first, and only afterwards told the king. Haman was pretty confident here.
See Persia and the Bible p.233, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.704-705, the Evangelical Commentary on the Bible p.331, and The New Geneva Study Bible p.690 for more info.
Esther 3 – Haman’s Hateful Plot - some brief answers
A: It says that Haman was an Agagite. We are not certain if Agag was the same as the Amalekite king (or hereditary title) in 1 Samuel 15:8. So Haman was a non-Persian, and it is probable that he was an Amalekite. The Amalekites were enemies of the Jews, according to 1 Samuel 15; Deuteronomy 25:17-19; Numbers 31:1-12; and Exodus 17:8-16. Also, after these things” might indicate at five year or so interval after Esther 2.
Another view: On the other hand, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.705 says that an Asyrian inscription under Sargon was uncovered that shows “Agag” was also the name of a district in Persia. The Anchor Bible Dictionary volume 3 p.33 says that “Agazi” was a Mesopotamian tribe in Sargon’s records (though a consonant shift of the second “g” to “z” would be unusual).
See the Believer’s Bible Commentary p.499, the New International Bible Commentary p.514, the Evangelical Commentary on the Bible p.329, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.811, and The Tony Evans Bible Commentary p.480 for more info.
2. In Esth 3:1, how could a non-Persian rise to power in the Persian Empire?
A: Haman was likely not a Persian, but Mordecai was definitely not a Persian. As to how they could be in power, I suppose you could ask Daniel in Daniel 2:48 and Nehemiah in Nehemiah 1:11. Also, archaeologists have found tablets from the time of Artaxerxes I and Darius II with over 100 Jewish names who had offices in the kingdom. Just as in the time of Joseph and later times of Armenian officials under the Ottoman Turks, there are advantages of placing a foreigner in a high position. The ruler will know that if the foreigner tried to rebel, the people would not follow a foreigner.
See The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.790-791 for more info.
3. In Esth 3:2-3, 4:2, and 5:9, what does it mean that Mordecai and others were at the King’s Gate?
A: Esther 3:2-3 says this is where other nobles were too. Mordecai was not some type of “beggar” outside of a gate. Rather, this is where the high officials were.
4. In Esth 3:2, was Mordecai right to refuse to bow?
A: Abraham bowed before kings, and so Mordecai could have bowed. Unlike other kings, Persian kings were never worshipped as gods, so this would not have been interpreted as an act of worship. Mordecai got the Jews in deep trouble by not bowing. We do not know his reasons, but they could have been no respect for Haman, national pride, or other factors.
5. In Esth 3:2, what is inconsistent about Mordecai here?
A: Mordecai told Esther not to reveal her ethnic background. Esther probably dressed like a Persian, ate like a Persian, breaking Mosaic dietary laws, and not been a witness of the One True God here. Yet, Mordecai revealed his ethnic background when he refused to bow before Haman because Mordecai was a Jew. Actually it was not against the Mosaic Law for Mordecai to bow, since there was no hint that anyone that the Haman, an official, was a god. Abraham bowed to the Hittites in Genesis 23:7. Jacob bowed down to Esau in Genesis 33:3,7. In Genesis 37:7,9 Joseph had dream where his brothers bowed down to him. David bowed to Saul in 1 Samuel 24:8; 1 Kings 1:16. A woman bowed to David in 2 Samuel 14:4. David allowed the soldier Ahimaaz to bow before him in 2 Samuel 18:28. So it was probably out of despising Haman, not a religious conviction, that Mordecai did not bow to him, as the New International Bible Commentary p.514-515 says. Similarly, the Spartans would not bow down to King Xerxes, according to Herodotus’ History 7.136.
One might think that the Jews got into this danger because of Mordecai not bowing. But on the other hand, perhaps the character and hatred that Haman had would have led to this result anyway.
See The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.705, the New International Bible Commentary p.514-515, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.812, and the Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.343-344 for more info.
6. In Esth 3:2,6, if Mordecai just went somewhere else, would not that have avoided the whole problem?
A: After Mordecai initially refused to bow, leaving might not have helped. Haman developed not just a hatred of Mordecai, but a hatred of all Jews. It is not clear whether Haman developed a hatred for all Jews just then, or more probably if he had a hatred for a long time, and it just became visible now.
7. In Esth 3:6-7. have there been other mass slaughters in ancient times?
A: Unfortunately it happened all the time. In 90 B.C., King Mithradates of Pontus ordered all Romans in Pontus killed on a particular date. Over 80K were killed.
Muslim Sultans have killed 10’s of thousands of Druze, Selim the Grim killed many ‘Alawites. In more recent times, the king of France killed 80,000 French Protestants, who were loyal to him, in St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre on April 23, 1572. The Spanish drove the Moors out of Spain. So sure, many rulers have killed large numbers of their subjects.
In recent times, Hitler killed many German Jews, taking their property, and in other countries there have been killings of wealthy people of other ethnic backgrounds to enrich themselves.
There is even a term for this: democide. This means people dying by their own government, but NOT by war. Rudolph Rummel examined over 8,000 cases of democide, and estimated there have been 262 million people killed in the twentieth century, which is six times more than people who died in battle. So a typical person had six times more to fear from their own government than from enemy soldiers.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democide, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.789 and the Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.307 for more info.
8. In Esth 3:6-9, why is it that some have such hatred toward an entire people?
A: We do not know why a person could hate an entire people. Here are four characteristics of the attitude we should have towards people:
Cherish people because they are creations of God, made in His image, and are of great worth (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:14; Isaiah 43:7).
Understand that every race and ethnic group are made equally in the image of God (Galatians 3:28).
Valuing human life follows what the Bible teaches (Genesis 9:6; Deuteronomy 5:17; Romans 13:4; etc.).
Know that we are not intrinsically any better than others (Philippians 2:3; Romans 12:3).
9. In Esth 3:6-9, why do some, who do not hate an entire people, tolerate such hatred and acquiesce toward the killing?
A: Many times if an evil is being done, others do not speak up against it for several reasons:
1. They might profit financially by the evil, as in Esther 3:9.
2. Speaking up might be financially risky or possibly dangerous.
3. They think that speaking up would not work, so there is no point in trying.
4. They do not care about the oppressed.
5. They do not know about the situation. Sometimes ignorance is “innocent”, and sometimes people do not know because they do not believe what they think are “rumors”, and they do not take the time to find out.
As Christians, we should defend the oppressed, regardless of whether the oppressed are Christians or not.
10. In Esth 3:7, what three purposes could casting lots serve for Haman?
A: There are at least three purposes.
If Haman was superstitious, it would show him the best time to kill the Jews. If it was some time out in the future, as it was, the Jews would be able to just leave the Persian Empire.
Persian kings were superstitious too. The kings frequently resorted to casting lots according to Herodotus 3.128 and Cyrop. 1.6.46. (Strabo). The Babylonians thought the gods met at the start of every year to decide people’s fate, and so the lot was likely cast around then.
Legitimacy: Whatever time the lot fell, it would seem that the gods would favor exterminating the Jews at this time. Note however, there was no chance for the lot to fall in the place of “don’t do this at all”. Of course, Xerxes treasury would be low after his failed invasion of Greece, and Haman offering to put so much money in the treasury might need only the flimsiest excuse for legitimacy. He propped up the Jews as dangerous enemies of the kingdom, but there is no indication that the Jews were anything but loyal to the Persians.
See the Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.306-307,345, the Believer’s Bible Commentary p.500, and the New International Bible Commentary p.515 for more info.
11. In Esth 3:9, how could Haman promise to give the king so much money?
A: Two things to note about this.
1. This is a lot of wealth. The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.706 estimates that this was 750,000 pounds of silver. The New Geneva Study Bible p.691 says this was about two-thirds of the annual revenue of the Persian Empire under Darius later. This might make the king suspicious as to how this high official got all this wealth.
2. The Believer’s Bible Commentary p.500 and 735 Baffling Bible Questions Answered p.144 suggest that perhaps Haman would get that money from looting the Jews.
12. In Esth 3:10, what does this say about Ahasuerus?
A: We have no indication that Xerxes had any ill feelings towards the Jews whatsoever. Yet even without any personal reasons for doing so, Xerxes was so callous and without feeling towards others that he was fine with having all of them exterminated because of the whim of an official towards one person. There are people whom you have never done anything to oppose them, and they have nothing against you, yet they don’t care if you live or die.
Sometimes, when you are around a lot of Christians, you can almost get the feeling that everyone in the world is nice, loving, and considerate towards others. Being with some non-Christians can be a rude awakening.
13. Esth 3:11, what is the significance of the people and money being given to Haman?
A: While Haman would pay 10,000 talents of silver into the treasury, which would be about 375 tons or 750,000 pounds, According to Herodotus, the annual revenue of the Persian Empire was 14,500 talents. When Alexander the Great captured Susa, the booty was 49,000 talents. So how could Haman have that kind of money? Perhaps he did not at that time. However, Haman might even come out ahead financially on this. The Jews were given a long time or warning. Many might want to leave the Persian Empire, leaving their houses and much of their goods behind. The people plundering the Jews would get that, and presumably give a cut to Haman.
See the Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.348-349, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.706, the New International Bible Commentary p.515, and The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.813 for more info.
14. In Esth 3:11, what does it mean, “the money and the people are given to you”?
A: It means King Xerxes gave power to Haman over the Jews lives and wealth. It means “their money is given to you”, not “you can keep the money you offered”. It does not mean the last phrase because a) the king would really need that money for the treasury, b) Mordecai said that Haman had promised to pay it in Esther 4:7, and c) Esther said that her people were “sold in Esther 7:4.
See the New International Bible Commentary p.515 for more info.
Esther 4-5 – Mordecai’s dangerous request and Esther’s plan - some brief answers
1. In Esth 4:8, why did Mordecai give Esther an actual copy of the decree?
A: Perhaps by Esther seeing it for herself, Esther would be more prone to believe that Mordecai was not mistaken or exaggerating. Also, she might have needed someone to translate it for her. Sometimes it is better for us to give something firsthand, rather than just having the person trust us.
2. In Esth 4:11, what other evidence do we have for this law, that none can come unbidden before the king unless the king holds out his scepter?
A: The Persians used to be subjects of the Medes, and apparently this started with the first Median king, Deioces, according to Herodotus History book 1 ch.9.. Also the Greek historian Herodotus in in History book 3 ch.118 p.114 also alludes that a person (except for seven specific Persians) coming before the king without being first bidden to do so would be executed, unless the king extended his scepter. One having to be bidden to come to the king can come an announce themselves as is also shown in Herodotus’ History book 3 ch.140 and Cornelius Nepos Conon. 3. Herodotus also tells when a person could send a letter to the king requesting the king to ask him to come. Esther might not have wanted to use a letter anyway, due to the urgency of the impending massacre.
See The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.817, the New International Bible Commentary p.516, and the Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.352 for more info.
3. In Esth 4:14, what is the proper translation of the last part?
A: This saying is a figure of speech called an “aposiopesis” or “sudden silence”. It is a sudden breaking off of what was said in order to emphasize what is left unsaid. It could be translated as “… whether you have not for this attained royalty?”.
See Hard Sayings of the Bible p.253-254 and the Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.353 for more info.
4. In Esth 4:14, what is the point of this verse?
A: Esther had a duty to risk her life and act. God would still protect the Jews regardless of her obedience, though. However, the safety of her and her family would be in greater jeopardy if she “played cautiously”, than if she acted boldly.
5. In Esth 4:14, are there times where you thought you had God’s will figured out for your life, and you got it all wrong?
A: Before this, Esther might have thought she became queen only because she got lucky. Or she might have though she was only queen because God was blessing her for being faithful to Him. But it turned out to be none of the above. God purposely had her become queen to accomplish His purpose in thwarting Haman. Maybe we don’t need to worry too much about trying to figure out the reason(s) why God does something in our lives, because, like Job’s three friends, we are very likely to get it wrong anyway.
6. In Esth 4:15-16, who took the initiative here in planning to escape this danger?
A: While Mordecai initially told Esther of the great danger, Mordecai left it to Esther to plan what to do. Mordecai was smart to do so. Mordecai would not know the details and relationships of the king and harem life as Esther would, so Mordecai wisely left it to Esther to come up with the best plan.
When something important needs to be done, sometimes the wisest thing we can do is to tell someone who is more familiar with the details and delegate it off to them. Sometimes people foolishly have the idea that “if it’s to be it’s up to me”, and start assuming they individually have the experience and knowledge of details to do something alone, not passing the lead to someone who is more qualified.
7. In Esth 4:16, was Esther’s attitude good here?
A: Yes. First, let’s understand the situation. As an example of his cruelty, when Xerxes was traveling with his army to Greece, a rich Lydian named Pythius entertained the Persian army and gave great amounts of money to pay part of the cost for the army. When Xerxes retreated from Greece, and Pythius requested that his oldest of five sons could be released from army service to stay with him in his old age, Xerxes responded by cutting the son’s body in half and having his army march between it. I guess that is how Xerxes would say no.
So anyway, Esther was going to enter his presence uninvited, and the penalty for that was death, unless the king accepted her.
See the Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.306-307 for more on this.
So Esther was going to do the best she could, but she was content to leave the results to God. Her attitude that looks like contentment or resignation is not due to a lack of caring, but a realization that the results could not be trusted to anybody else. She did not know if her plan would work or not. But she was OK with giving it her best shot, not knowing the outcome.
Adapting what C.A. Moore said, the rash person acts without fear, the brave person in spite of it. Esther. AB (New York, 1971).
Other people who have acted bravely include Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, Daniel in the lion’s den, Paul, Peter, John, and the other apostles.
See The Tony Evans Bible Commentary p.482 for more info.
8. In Esth 4:16, have you ever been in a situation where pleasing God might mean that your job, relationship, or something you value might perish? How did you / would you handle it?
A: Sometimes you can basically be ordered or coerced to commit a sin yourselves. Other times you could be ordered to coerced to help someone else sin. It could be negative coercion, or else positive encouragement.
When we are in a situation like that, we need to “count the cost.” Is the job, friendship, or whatever is in jeopardy really more important than pleasing God? Also, God might do something to change the situation. God is not hold us accountable for the results; He holds us accountable for being faithful to Him.
9. In Esth 4:16, was Esther disobeying government laws when she went to see the king?
A: Four points to consider in the answer.
1. The Bible never says that Esther even thought about the morality of this. However, there was nothing wrong, as the next points show.
2. The New Testament commands to obey all governing authorities and honor the king (Romans 13:1-4, 1 Peter 2:13-15, Titus 3:1) were not written yet, and Esther did not disobey any command that had been written.
3. While Esther 4:16 says she was doing this “not according to law” or “breaking the law”, but it was permitted if (and only if) the king extended his royal scepter to her.
4. Even if the New Testament had been written before then, and even if this were breaking the law, obeying God is a higher law than human laws. Certainly pleading for the life of all the Jews is higher than observing a human law.
See When Critics Ask p.220-221 for more info.
10. In Esth 5:3,6, why was the Persian king willing to grant even half of his kingdom?
A: Xerxes probably recognized that Esther’s request was extremely important to her, for her to come to the king unbidden. This was a feigned expression of the king’s great generosity. Of course, you would not want to actually ask for half the kingdom, because the king also had power to kill anyone at any time for any reason. King Herod Antipas said a similar thing in Mark 6:22-28.
See Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.356, the Believer’s Bible Commentary p.501, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.819, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.708, the New International Bible Commentary p.516, and the Evangelical Commentary on the Bible p.331 for more info.
11. In Esth 5:4, why would Esther invite Haman to come to the banquet too?
A: The reason is not given but it might have been so that the king could see Haman’s immediate reaction.
See the New International Bible Commentary p.516 for a different answer.
12. In Esth 5:4,7-8, why didn’t Esther just immediately tell King Xerxes what she wanted directly?
A: First of all the king might be more likely to grant a request if he was in good spirits from wine, but that does not explain why she had two banquets. Scripture does not say why she did this, but commentators have five different opinions here.
a) She had not seen the king for 30 days, and wanted to both test the waters and renew being on good terms before making her request. In other words, this was deliberately planned.
b) She lost her courage before the king. In other words, this was a sudden change due to being fearful.
c) In the throne room and at the first banquet she felt it was not the right time to bring it up.
d) She wanted to build up suspense and the importance of the matter to the king.
e) She wanted to build up Haman, so that by his sudden surprised reaction the king could see what a cold-hearted murderer he was.
A very important thing that Esther had no clue about, was that during that two-day delay God would have Xerxes hear again of Mordecai uncovering that plot, and deciding to honor Mordecai.
See the Believer’s Bible Commentary p.501-502, the Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.256, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.708, the Evangelical Commentary on the Bible p.331, and The Tony Evans Commentary on the Bible p.483 for more info.
13. In Esth 5:11; 9:7-10,12, what is the importance of Haman having ten sons?
A: Like the Jews, the Persians regarded having many sons as a blessing. In factor, Herodotus’ History book 1 ch.136 says the Persian king gave a present to the noble who had the most sons. Haman had it all, at least in this life, and he could have continued if he had not focused on Mordecai and the Jews.
See the Keil-Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.357 and the New International Bible Commentary p.516 for more info.
14. In Esth 5:14, why was the gallows 75 feet high?
A: There was no need for a gallows to be 75 feet high. Even though it was on Haman’s property, all of the city would see it at that height, and understand they should never cross Haman. It is interesting that the Hebrew verb in 5:14 is not just “ask the king” but could also be “tell the king”. The great height would only be so that people far and wide could see the death of the one on it. Haman was highly exalted among the Persians, but Haman could just not get enough. Haman wanted everyone to see Mordecai’s death, but instead, Haman would be “highly exalted again”, courtesy of the gallows.
Psalm 9:15 says that not just that the nations that oppose God will be sunk down into a pit, but rather they will be sink down in a pit that they themselves had made, presumably for others. Psalm 10:2 has a similar teaching.
See The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.820-821, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.708, the Evangelical Commentary on the Bible p.331 and the Believer’s Bible Commentary p.559 for more info.
Esther 6-7 – Haman reaps what he sowed - some brief answers
1. In Esth 6:1-3, what good principle can we learn from the king’s example?
A: This king felt an obligation to repay, with good things, those who did good to him. Though Ahasuerus was not a believer, we can still learn from his example on this point. If somebody does something good for us, why not return the favor. If somebody does work for us, or gives us something, and through some quirk of the law we don’t have to pay them, we should pay them fairly anyway
See The Tony Evans Bible Commentary p.484 for more info.
2. In Esth 6:7-9, is there any extra-Biblical evidence of this reward of riding in the chariot like a king?
A: Yes. Persia and the Bible p.233 says that Plutarch in Themistocles 29 records the request of the exiled Spartan king Damaratus, who chose to be allowed to ride in state through Sardis, wearing his tiara upright just like the Persian kings.
Both Assyrian and Persian reliefs (pictures in stone) and sculptures showed horses wearing crests on their heads according to Bardtke p.348 and the Keil-Delitzsch commentary on the Old Testament vol.3 p.360-361.
A second example is similar. Herodotus’s History book 7 15-17 says that Xerxes commanded his uncle Artabanus to put on royal robes, sit on the throne, and sleep on the royal bed.
See the New International Bible Commentary p.517, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.823, and 735 Baffling Bible Questions Answered p.144.
3. In Esth 6:6-12, how do some people today live for reputation?
A: Look at social media influencers today. Someone people want reputation as a means to get wealth or position. But others egotistically just want the reputation, as though their self-worth is dependent on others thinking highly of them.
See the Evangelical Commentary on the Bible p.331 for more info.
4. In Esth 6:13, how did the view of Haman’s wife differ from the Biblical doctrine of God’s Sovereignty?
A: There are different forms of fatalism (impersonal and personal). Regardless, Haman’s wife believed that Haman’s fate was inevitable, and there was no point in putting in any effort to change. A better view might be for Haman to repent to God and make peace with Mordecai, but apparently it never occurred to Haman to stop his plan and repent. Zeresh was not consistent though, because apparently she had forgotten that in Esther 5:14 Zeresh and Haman’s friends had urged Haman to build a gallows.
A Biblical view of God’s sovereignty says that:
Everything God decrees will happen (Isaiah 43:13).
Nothing God forbids will happen (Job 1:10,12; 2:6; John 19:11).
God permits people, within limits, to do things they are responsible for, even things that break God’s heart (Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5; 32:35; Ezekiel 13:19; Luke 23:28-31).
God knows all the future, including what everyone will choose to do (Psalm 139:16; Isaiah 42:9; 44:7).
All things are worked together into God’s plan (Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:28; Proverbs 16:4).
As Tony Evans says, “When circumstance look their bleakest, God can connect what doesn’t seem connectable. He can cause roads to intersect that look like they could never meet.” The Tony Evans Bible Commentary p.484.
See The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.824 for more info.
5. In Esth 7:4, what does it mean that the king would suffer loss if the Jews were destroyed?
As a side note, Persia and the Bible p.244-245 mentions that there was a Jewish military garrison, serving under the Persians on Elephantine Island in Southern Egypt.
See The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.826 and The Tony Evans Bible Commentary p.484 for more info.
6. In Esth 7:8, what happened with Haman and Esther in this verse?
A: In Esther 6:10-11, Haman, who had wanted to humiliate Mordecai, was forced to honor him. Here, Haman, who wanted to kill all the Jews, was begging a Jew for his life. The king came in and falsely assumed that Haman was assaulting Esther. There may have been guards and others in the room. The king could have asked them about this if he wished, but Ahasuerus did not want to know more. As far as he was concerned, Haman’s fate was already sealed before this. Proverbs 28:10 says that a person who leads someone into an evil trap will fall into it himself.
See The Tony Evans Bible Commentary p.484 and The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.710 for more info.
7. In Esth 7:9, why would Harbonah bring up Haman’s gallows?
A: Anyone could see that Haman was building a gallows, and apparently Haman had already told others who it was for. Harbonah though the king would want to know this, and it might also have been for sympathy to Esther. However, it is far more likely due to hatred of Haman. Haman would not at all be pleased with Harbonah’s “helpfulness”. Remember, with arrogance comes enemies.
See The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.711, the Evangelical Commentary on the Bible p.332, and The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.826-827 for more info.
8. In Esth 7:14, should Esther have forgiven Haman and asked the king to let him go?
A: If Esther had done so, who would know how soon Haman might have plotted again to kill them. Haman was sorrowful that he was about to be executed, but there is no indication that he was at all remorseful for trying to kill Mordecai and the Jews. It someone is not sorry for what they did or were planning to do, they will likely try to do it again.
See the New International Bible Commentary p.517 for more info.
Esther 8-10 – Just war in the Old Testament - some brief answers
1. In Esth 8:2.7, why did Esther give Haman’s estate to Mordecai to manage?
A: When Haman was about to be executed as a traitor, he forfeited all his property. The state could take the property of a condemned criminal according to Herodotus History book 3 no.128-129, and Josephus’ Antiquities of th Jews book 11 ch.17.i.3. So the king gave all of Haman’s property to Esther, and Esther gave it to Mordecai to manage. Whether Esther or Mordecai owned and managed the property did not really matter, since they were a family. Proverbs 13:22f says, “…But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.”
See The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.828, the New International Bible Commentary p.517, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary p.485, and The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.711 for more info.
2. In Esth 8:3, why did Esther fall at the king’s feet?
A: This was not worship, but emotional. Secondarily it was expressing gratitude and respect, but primarily it was allowing the Jews to defend themselves. It appears that Haman is the sole villain here. Let’s just forget that King Xerxes was the one who approved the decree in the first place.
See the New International Bible Commentary p.517-518 and The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.829 for more info.
3. In Esth 8:10, what are dromedaries?
A: These are one-humped camels. Dromedary camels are used in Africa and most of the Mideast. Two-humped Bactrian camels are in most of Iran and the rest of Asia. As a side note, an ancient writer would probably never make this distinction unless he lived in a land, such as Persia, where one was familiar with both kinds of camels.
As the skeptical Asimov’s Guide to the Bible p.465 observes, Esther 1:1 is the only place in the Bible where India is mentioned.
4. In Esth 8:11, why were the Jews permitted to kill women and children?
A: That is what the Persian king decreed, and ancient kings demonstrated they were not particularly kind. However, note that the Jews were not obligated to do everything the king decreed, and it never says the Jews killed the women and children. In fact, Esther 9:6,12,15 only says that the Jews killed the men.
See Hard Sayings of the Bible p.254-255 for more info.
5. In Esth 9:1-10, why did the Jews and government officials kill their enemies?
A: This was done for self-defense. In addition, as 735 Baffling Bible Questions Answered p.144 also points out, the Old Testament law said that one who falsely accused another was to be put to death. The Jews not taking the loot showed that the killings were not mere revenge, but “judicial in nature.”
The Wycliffe Bible Dictionary p.551 points out that since the Persian Empire had a total population of about 10-15 million, 2-3 million Israelites/Jews killing 75,000 was not an excessive number, especially since Esther 9:3 also records that government officials helped.
6. In Esth 9:2-3, when should believers fight in a “just war”?
A: In this case, when their enemies were going to kill the Jewish men, woman, and children, it was approved for them to attack them. If they had been merciful to people who had no intention of repenting of their actions, and would likely kill them later if they had the opportunity, it would have been “merciless” to their own families not to fight and kill them.
7. In Esth 9:10, why didn’t the Jews lay their hands on the plunder?
A: In Esther 8:10-11 it said that they were allowed to seize the goods as plunder. However, it might have been problematic if they did so, because they could be open to the charge of killing people who were rich, claiming they were against the Jews, just for their wealth. Also, they wanted to make the point that this was about their survival, not about profiting off the wickedness of others.
See The Bible Knowledge Commentary : Old Testament p.712 and The Expositor’s Bible Commentary vol.4 p.833 for more info.
8. In Esth 9:19, what are some examples today of opportunities to make more money that you are best to let slip away?
A: The Jews could have taken all the plunder, but they might have gotten a lot of trouble along with it. Investing in something that is a gray area of the law might be more trouble than the money you could make. One way for a business to go under is for a bank to give them a large loan, which the business uses, and then suddenly demand that all the loan be repaid now. If the business cannot quickly find another bank to loan them money, then they go bankrupt and the bank might have just acquired a new business.
9. In Esth 9:18-32, was it OK for the Jews to celebrate the festival of Purim and the festival of Hanukkah, since these were not feasts mentioned in the Torah?
A: Sure. In John 10:22 Jesus celebrated Hanukkah. Hanukkah is the Feast of Dedication of the temple by Judas Maccabaeus in December 165 B.C. It is interesting that people who followed the Jewish religion on Ethiopia and nearby in Africa did not celebrate Purim; apparently their ancestors never got the letter.
10. In Esth 10:3, 9:4, could Artabanus, the vizier or else chief of the bodyguards, who later assassinated king Xerxes in 465 B.C., be the same person as Mordecai?
A: No. According to ancient historians, Artabanus was from Hyrcania, on the southeast shore of the Caspian Sea. He was either the vizier or the head of the bodyguard of the king. Artabanus killed the king’s son, and then he killed the king in his bedroom before the king could find out who did it. Artabanus took control of Persia as Vizier for about seven months, until he too was killed.
We don’t know how long Mordecai and Esther lived and were favorites in the court. Perhaps Mordecai died before 465 B.C.
See the New International Bible Commentary p.519 for more info.
If you think you might have trouble getting along with difficult people, you have got no problems compared to Esther.
by Steven M. Morrison, PhD.
At the center of the joyous Jewish festival of Purim, the Book of Esther is read. The name of Haman is mocked, and in parallel the name of Amalek is mocked. The Qur’an claims that Haman &&&
See the Evangelical Commentary on the Bible p.328 for more info.
A second possible reason Vashti might not have wanted to appear was speculates is that since Artaxerxes was born in 483, perhaps Vashti was pregnant with Artaxerxes at this time.