Esther - Lesson 1A

• There are many reasons some people choose not to study the Book of Esther.

  • The book of Esther is one of two Old Testament (OT) books named after a woman, the other is Ruth.

  • It is one of two OT books that does not mention God directly, the other being Song of Solomon.

  • It is one of two books of the Bible that deals specifically with persecution of the Jewish people, the other being Exodus.

  • Esther is the only OT book in which the entire narrative takes place in Persia.

  • There is nothing quoted or referred to in the New Testament (NT) from the book of Esther.

  • Esther is the only OT book that was not found among the recovered Dead Sea scrolls at Qumran. This discovery was made in 1947 where a full copy of section of every OT book was found with the exception of Esther.

  • Esther contains the account of the origin of the Feast of Purim, one of two festivals celebrated in the Jewish community not found in the Mosaic law, the other being Hanukkah.

  • There appear to be moral and ethical decisions by the Jewish characters of the story that seem difficult to justify. We will discuss those as they come up in the study.

• With this impressive list of potential problems surrounding the book of Esther, why would anyone take time and effort to study this particular book?

• The Council of Hippo in A.D. 393 and the Council of Carthage in 397 both included Esther in the Canon. We study Esther because it is preserved by God in His Word and we trust He will direct us to all He has for us to learn as we are guided by the Holy Spirit. 2 Tim. 3:16-17:

2Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
2Tim. 3:17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Esth. 1:1 Now it took place in the days of Ahasuerus (A-Haus-ur-us), the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,
Esth. 1:2 in those days as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in Susa,
Esth. 1:3 in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence.
Esth. 1:4 And he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.
Esth. 1:5 When these days were completed, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.
Esth. 1:6 There were hangings of fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, and couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.
Esth. 1:7 Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful according to the king’s bounty.
Esth. 1:8 The drinking was done according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person.

• Verse 1 reveals when the story took place in history by identifying it took place in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces.

  • This was a ruler of an expansive kingdom geographically with the detail of it extending from India to Ethiopia.

  • The Persian name Khshayarsha (shay-r-ja) was translated Ahasuerus in Hebrew. The Greek translation is Xerxes.

  • It is important to know this ruler can be referred to by multiple names when reading through varied historical accounts of this king in secular history.

• How this man became king and what the circumstances were surrounding his transition to power historically are important to understand what is revealed next in the biblical narrative of Esther.

  • Ahasuerus was the son of Darius I of Persia, son of Hystaspes (Hi-stap-cees) and Atossa, daughter of Cyrus the Great. Darius I also known as Darius the Great ruled from 521- 486 B.C. about 36 years. Darius I selected Ahasuerus as his heir before preparations were made for a journey. This was the expectation of the rulers of this time, and he was to leave in (487-486 BC). His failing health prevented him from leaving, and he died in October 486 BC.

  • Ahasuerus was crowned in late 486 BC. He was about 36 years old.

• King Darius I had established his expanded kingdom through marriage alliances, great building projects, and military dominance.

  • He separated the kingdom into provinces and assigned governors to oversee them.

  • He established Aramaic as the official language, introduced a single monetary system, and connected the kingdom by building an intertwining road system.

• In biblical importance King Darius I supported the rebuilding of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.

Ezra 6:14 And the elders of the Jews were successful in building through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
Ezra 6:15 This temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

• The decree to allow the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem was initiated by Cyrus the Great, and it was again acknowledged to be enforced during the reign of Darius I.

  • The temple was completed during the reign of Darius I.

  • From the scripture reference the notable king missing in chronological order is King Ahasuerus, but then continues with his son Artaxerxes.

  • The building that continued under Artaxerxes was of the walls and city, as recorded in the book of Ezra and Nehemiah.

• The book of Esther provides us with the importance of King Ahssuerus in the history of the Jews.

• Verse 2 established the royal throne to be in the citadel of Susa.

  • The capital city of Elam was Susa and had been rebuilt by Darius I as one of his capital cities. The citadel at Susa was elevated above the city and heavily fortified to protect the king.

• In verse 3 the narrative begins in the third year of his reign. It is critical to understand the history of what preceded Ahasuerus’s ascension to the throne and what transpired during his initial transition to power.

  • This is important in understanding what takes place during the first years of his reign and how that influences the events revealed in the book of Esther.

• King Ahasuerus dealt with revolts from two major powers that had been going on a year before he ascended to the throne in Egypt and Babylon.

• Many historians agree that the taxation for the building projects and military campaigns that took place under Darius I was a major reason for these uprisings.

  • The appointment of Ahasuerus to succeed Darius I was not welcomed in all parts of the kingdom because he was seen as one who would continue to rule as his father had, and there were many who wanted a change in leadership style to be less domineering and aggressive in expansion.

• After putting an end to the revolt in Egypt, he appointed his brother Achaemenes as governor (satrap).

  • During this same time he had to deal with the revolt ongoing in Babylon.

• In Babylon there was a custom in acceptance of the right to be considered the King of Babylon where on New Year’s Day whoever was considered the rightful king would clasp the hands of the statue of Bel.

  • This would have been seen as a sign of acceptance of power from this worshipped entity. (imagine if a U.S. president had to travel to each state and do something in that state before the state would acknowledge him/her as their rightful president)

• Ahasuerus defied this tradition and instead captured the gold statue and had it melted down. This prevented anyone from practicing this tradition and subsequently challenging his rule as the King of Babylon.

  • This infuriated the men of influence in Babylon, especially those who gained their power through the religious worship of Bel.

• He also did not acknowledge the title of ‘King of Babylon’ but instead insisted he was the King of Persia and Media, or king of all, and did not need to add king of each region to his title.

  • This was a significant insult to the subjects of Babylon.

  • This contributed to the revolts in both 484 BC and 482 BC.

• This is a very simplified description of what took place in the transition of Ahasuerus to leadership from his father Darius I in regard to these two specific revolts to his authority.

• Once these areas of immediate concerns where handled, Ahasuerus focused his attention on settling unresolved issues with the Greeks.

  • Ionia had begun a revolt to the rule of Darius I and sought support from the Greeks, which they provided.

• Working together, they burned the city of Sardis but then had to retreat suffering heavy losses.

  • This attack on Sardis could not go unpunished and Darius I swore he would punish the offenders by burning down their capital cities of Athens and Eretia.

  • This also encouraged Darius I to decide to subjugate the Greeks and add them to his vast kingdom.

  • This attempt ended in what is known as the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. The Greeks were victorious in defeating the Persian forces advances.

• Darius I took several years in preparation for the next attempt to deal with the Greeks and to carry out his intention of burning Athens and Eretia, however he died before he could finish this endeavor.

• As Ahasuerus was dealing with the uprisings in Egypt and Babylon he also was preparing to finish what his father had intended to do against the Greeks. The ancient historian Herodotus recorded that Ahasuerus continued the preparations begun by Darius I for another four years after he became the king.

Herodotus, The Histories
A. D. Godley, Ed.
"For full four years after the conquest of Egypt he was equipping his force and preparing all that was needed for it; before the fifth year was completed, he set forth on his march with the might of a great multitude."

• Now returning to the book of Esther.

  • We are three years after Ahasuerus’s ascension to the throne (483 B.C) with one year left before the great battle is to be waged against the Greeks (484 B.C).

  • The scene is set in the city of Susa which served as one of several capitals of the Persian empire during this time; the other locations were Ecbatana, Babylon, and Persepolis.

• In verse 3 we learn Ahasuerus gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence.

• The princes would be referring to those from the royal family line.

  • The sons born to Darius 1 and others in the family.

• The attendants would be those who serve the king and the royal family in close personal service.

  • It was an honor to be serving the royal family.

• Next in the list of those invited were the army officers of Persia and Media and this would clearly being talking about the military leaders of his kingdom.

• Finally the nobles and the princes of his provinces were invited.

  • The number of provinces in this kingdom was defined back in verse 1 as 127 provinces.

  • These would be those who were current leaders of the provinces and those who were connected to these leaders as successors.

• Since we have established the king was intent on waging a massive battle with the Greeks not long after his father, Darius 1 suffered a humiliating defeat and the specific makeup of the invited people it would seem logical to assume Ahasuerus would be encouraging their collective support to be successful in whatever endeavor he wants to pursue next.

• Verse 4 describes one of the ways the king intends to garner their needed support as he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.

• Throughout history leaders of nations have put on display their might and wealth to encourage those who support them as well as an efforts and to intimidate those who might stand in opposition.

• Picture modern nations like North Korea, China or the Soviet Union and their massive parades with scores of armed marching soldiers, lines of tanks and trucks displaying aircraft and hardware.

  • This becomes more effective as the invention of television allowed these images to be seen by larger audiences than can be gathered in a capitol city.

• King Ahasuerus brings together the leaders from the far reaches of his kingdom over 180 days or over a six month time period.

• It does not make sense to have this extensive list of people that included all the military leaders and all the governing leaders from all the 127 provinces in Susa for the full six months.

  • It is not realistic to pull everyone out of their governing responsibilities at the same time for an extended period of time as this would have left his kingdom vulnerable at a very fragile time.

• It makes more sense that all of these individuals would have been invited to Susa for some part of the six months.

  • The king’s goal would be to gain political, military and financial support for a large scale military operation.

• He would be asking for money to support this endeavor as well as soldiers from each province and physical supplies. (ships, soldiers, food, weapons, etc..)

  • These are the same people his father would have pulled support from and had recently suffered great loss.

• Verse 5 says when these days were completed, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.

• At the end of the six month political maneuvering there is a week long event held in Susa.

  • There is a declaration made that this was for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa.

  • What is a citadel?

  • Wikipedia: 2020 – A citadel is the core fortified area of a town or city. It may be a castle, fortress, or fortified center. The term is a diminutive of "city" and thus means "little city", so called because it is a smaller part of the city of which it is the defensive core.

• We can ask who would have been staying at the citadel of the capital city where the king’s palace was being used as his residence?

  • Most likely representatives from all parts of the kingdom would spend time here.

  • We might compare them to current day ambassadors.

  • Those left from the providences who would represent the provinces to the kings court.

• Verse 5 clarifies this invitation was from the greatest to the least.

• The group has already been defined as those present in the citadel.

  • It would appear each of the representatives would be invited no matter the size of the province they represented, or the title they held. (Like in the U.S. senate where the representatives have an equal vote no matter the population size of the state they represent)

• The seven day banquet was specifically held in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.

• Verse 6 gives visual details regarding the lavishness of this banquet as there were hangings of fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, and couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.

  • Each detail given is a vision of extreme opulence.

  • Hugh linens of white draped everywhere, not commonly found as we have in our day.

  • The purple linen was to highlight the royal setting, as purple was a very costly color to acquire.

  • The sparkling gold and silver couches would have been ladened with comfortable cushions.

  • The mosaic floors everywhere would be reflective of any lighting provided.

  • Close your eyes for a moment and picture this extravagant scene.

  • This presentation was to impress all.

• These details would give a strong indication the author was actually present as an eyewitness to the events being recorded.

• Verse 7 continues to describe the lavishness poured out on those attending as drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful according to the king’s bounty.

• The Persians were known for their artistry and it was displayed in the creation of beautiful golden vessels demonstrating the spender of this King’s court.

• There are some writers who like to assert these may have been vessels removed from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar but this would not lineup with historical events as these had been returned to Jerusalem by King Cyrus.

Ezra 5:13 ‘However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God.
Ezra 5:14 ‘Also the gold and silver utensils of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, and brought them to the temple of Babylon, these King Cyrus took from the temple of Babylon and they were given to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor.

• Verse 7 also indicates the royal wine was plentiful.

  • Not your ‘table’ wine but wine to impress and the volume of wine was significant.

  • All of the details describing a extravagant banquet.

• Verse 8 gives an interesting detail that the drinking was done according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person.

• According to the law there was to be no compulsion to drink.

• There are known customs of this time that compelled guests to drink according to established traditions.

  • Guest were often obliged to drink whenever the host drank.

  • This would guarantee the host would not have more than the attendees.

• The fact the scripture records specifically there was no compulsion to drink would support this was how drinking was to be practiced at this particular banquet vs. how this was practiced at other times.

• The scriptures say for this event the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person.

  • Those serving were to honor the wishes of the guests attending.

• Keep in mind the vast reaches of this kingdom and all the cultures that would have been represented here.

  • This was done to honor each culture’s tradition and not force what may have been the norm in this king’s court to mandate drinking.

• In the first 8 verses of Esther we have been introduced to the historical time placement of events, 483 B.C.

  • We have identified one of the main characters of the narrative know historically as Ahasuerus or Xerxes depending on what historical records you may be reading.

  • The location of the events transpire at the citadel at Susa.

  • With these details and are able to understand with more clarity the remainder of the events that will follow as we study the book of Esther.

  • In our contextual study of the time period we know of the political intrigue happening, like the revolts to the transition of the newly appointed king, the recent history of war against the Greeks waged by Darius I.

  • We also have the benefit of hind site as we know what takes place a year from these happenings, the war that is waged again against the Greek.

  • This is the backdrop to give us the foundation for understanding the book of Esther in a historical context.

• As we continue our study of the people included in this narrative given in Esther we will have a better understanding of the events surrounding them and the impact of their decisions and actions.

  • We can glean from their responses to circumstances a model for how we might be led to respond to our own circumstances.

  • The overriding theme of the book of Esther will lead us back to a beautiful picture of the sovereignty of God throughout history.

  • How God uses world events to continue revealing His perfect plan for His purposes and to bring Him glory.