Today we begin the final two chapters of Esther. This is a book, which in itself, is a final chapter in the ongoing centuries of conflict between Israel and the Amalekites (represented by Haman).
In the Intro to Esther taken from the NIV Study Bible you read, “Haman’s edict was the final, major effort in the O.T. period to destroy God’s chosen people.” Had the story continued in the direction it began – under the worldly and incompetent King Xerxes and his evil advisor, Haman – and without God’s providential intervention – the ancestors of Jesus would have been destroyed. The “battle” between evil Haman and the Jews in Persia was another battle in God’s holy war against evil. From the first battle in Genesis until Jesus died on the cross – God’s wars were about the survival of the Messiah’s race.
Upon reading Esther’s story we discover it is one more example of how God continued to honor the covenant promises He made to Abraham generations earlier through the protection of the Jews in Persia in the 5th century BC.
ASSIGNMENT:
READ Gen. 12:2-3 – as a reminder of those covenant promises.
1. What are the 7 promises in this covenant?
2. Which of the 7 promises do we see being played out in the story of Esther?
READ Esther 9:1-15
3. :1 What is significant about the date of Adar 13th?
4. Who were these “enemies of the Jews” and “those who hated them?”
5. :5 The author writes that the Jews struck down all their enemies …. And “did what they pleased to those who hated them.” READ Deut. 7:2 and comment on this possible cruelty in Persia in light of God’s commandment to Israel in earlier times.
6. :13 Mordecai and Esther’s “counter” edict (8:11-12) allowed for the Jews to kill only those who might attack them on Adar 13th. What does Esther request of Xerxes? (Her request appears to us to be downright barbaric.) Any comments?
Karen Jobes, author of The NIV Application Commentary on Esther, pointed out that it is not unusual to reveal the “darker side of God’s chosen leaders – often just at their shining moment.” King David’s adultery is such an example.
She continued, “Perhaps Esther’s request shows that she had begun to feel the heady intoxication of the power she had so remarkably attained.” However, other commentators think that Esther’s reasons may have been legit – albeit unknown to the author.
7. Note the differences in the bargaining between Esther & Xerxes in 9:12-14 compared to 8:3-8.
What conclusions can you draw from comparing these two conversations – regarding the attitude of Esther? Of Xerxes?
