')'(OUTH

BIBLE
Esther-A Brave and Courageous Woman
LEVEL?
LESSON?
ESTHER A BRAVE
AND COURAGEOUS
WOMAN
Photo Courtesy E. F. Schmidt
W
hen the nation of Judah was conquered
by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon,
the Babylonian Empire was the
greatest and most powerful kingdom on earth.
During Nebuchadnezzar's reign, God
revealed that the Babylonian Empire was the
first of a series of empires that would rule over
many nations and peoples. These world-ruling
empires were pictured by a great image that
appeared to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream. (For
a detailed description of the image and its
meaning, be sure to review Lesson 5 and read
Daniel 2.)
The Persian Empire (pictured by the image's
breast and arms of silver) succeeded the
Babylonian Empire (the head of gold). It was
during the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia, that a
royal decree was issued. It permitted the Jews,
many of whom were living in Babylon, to
return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple.
The decree was issued seventy years after the
Jews had been taken captive by Nebuchadnez-
zar. Some families, however, chose to remain in
Babylon and in other parts of the empire.
In this lesson, we will learn about a young
Jewish girl named Esther. Her story, which is
recorded in the book of Esther, takes place
during the time of the Persian Empire. We will
learn how she became queen and later, through
her courage, loyalty and trust in God, helped
save her people from a plot to destroy them.
ABOUT OUR COVER . . .
After thousands of years, all that remains of ancient
Shushan, a capital city of the Persian Empire, is a
large mound of rubble.
2
A ROYAL BANQUET
King Ahasuerus, ruler of the Persian Empire
during the days of Esther, lived about 500
years before Christ. His kingdom stretched
from India to Ethiopia and included 127
provinces. His magnificent palace was in the
city of Shushan.
In the third year of his reign, Ahasuerus
decided to give a special feast for the
high-ranking officials in his kingdom. It was to
last seven days, and would be the culmination
of a six-month's exhibition of the king's
fabulous wealth.
For seven days the assembled guests feasted
with wine in the spacious courtyard of the
palace, overlooking the royal gardens. The
courtyard was lavishly decorated. There were
white and blue linen curtains fastened with
cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and
marble pillars. The guests sat on gold and silver
couches, and drank from golden goblets. Each
goblet was specially decorated, and no two
were the same.
While the feasting continued in the king's
palace, the queen, whose name was Vashti,
held a separate feast for the wives. It was a
custom that men and women of the court did
not eat together in public feasts. They did eat
together in private banquets, however.
After seven days of feasting and drinking,
the king commanded his servants to bring
Queen Vashti to him so that he might show the
people and princes her extraordinary beauty.
However, Vashti defied his order and refused
to come. Ahasuerus became furious.
Illustrations by Basil Wolverton
THE QUEEN IS DETHRONED
Outraged at Vashti's refusal to obey him, the
king called his wise men together for advice on
how to handle the matter. "What shall I do
with Vashti?" the king inquired.
Mernucan, one of the king's seven top
advisors, answered, "Vashti the queen has
wronged not only the king, but also the princes
and all the people in the provinces. If it please
the king, let him put Vashti away and give her
royal position to another."
Memucan reasoned that when other women
in the provinces heard what Vashti had done,
they might feel free to treat their husbands
disrespectfully also. "If the king will publish a
decree that Vashti will no longer be queen,"
advised Memucan, "all the wives would be
certain to honor their husbands."
Mernucan's words pleased the king and the
princes. So the king had a decree written and
sent to all the provinces, informing them that
Vashti had been dethroned. The decree also
stated that every man should rule his own
house.
In time, when his anger had subsided,
Ahasuerus remembered Vashti, what she had
done, and what had been decreed against her.
He had no queen, and perhaps was now feeling
lonely.
The king's servants went to him with a plan
they hoped would please him. "Appoint officers
in every province to gather together the most
beautiful young virgins," they advised. "Have
them sent to your palace in Shushan and then
choose as the new queen the one who pleases
you most." Ahasuerus liked the idea, and went
ahead with the plan.
ESTHER BECOMES THE NEW QUEEN
Living in the city of Shushan was a Jewish
man named Mordecai. His great-grandfather,
Kish, was one of the many captives Nebuchad-
nezzar had carried away when he conquered
Jerusalem.
When his uncle died, Mordecai took the
dead uncle's daughter and reared her as his
own. This young girl's name was Hadassah
(her Hebrew name). She was also called
Esther.
Esther grew up to be a beautiful and
gracious young woman. She eventually was
taken by the king's officers to the palace at
Shushan with the other beautiful young
women. Before she left, Mordecai warned her
not to reveal her nationality to anyone.
When she arrived at the palace, Esther was
put under the care of Hegai, who took custody
of all the women. Hegai especially liked Esther,
and put seven maids at her service. He also
gave her the best apartment in the women's
quarters.
Each young woman spent twelve months
preparing to meet with the king. Each purified
herself with costly ointments. When a woman
was ready to meet the king, she took with her
whatever she thought might favorably impress
him.
When Esther's turn came to appear before
the king, she asked Hegai what he thought she
should take with her. She followed his advice,
and soon went in to meet the king.
A lovely and beautiful young woman, Esther
obtained favor from all those who saw her,
including the king. Ahasuerus loved her more
than all the other women he had seen. He was
delighted to crown her the new queen.
Ahasuerus celebrated his marriage to Esther
and her coronation by preparing a special feast
for all his princes and servants. He also gave
away many royal gifts.
MORDECAI DISCOVERS A PLOT
AGAINST THE KING
Esther was a beautiful and loyal queen. Even
after becoming queen, she kept her nationality
a secret, as Mordecai had told her to do.
As Mordecai went about his business at the
king's gate, he occasionally overheard informa-
tion important to the king. One day, he became
aware of a plot by two men of the royal
bodyguard to put the king to death.
3
What would you have done if you had
learned of the plot? Would you have been
afraid and kept silent? After all, suppose you
reported the information and no one believed
you. You might lose your job. Or, the
attempted assassins might want to hurt you out
of revenge.
Write a short paragraph describing what you
would have done in this situation. _
4
Now let's read Esther 2:22 and find out what
Mordecai did. "And the thing was
______ to Mordecai, who _
it unto the queen; and
[informed]
the thereof in Mordecai's
name."
After an investigation was made, the
conspirators were hanged. Officials recorded
Mordecai's deed of saving the king in the book
of the chronicles, the court diary, which was
kept in the presence of the king. It did not
matter that Mordecai was not rewarded for his
deed, for he knew that he had done the right
thing.
HAMAN PLOTS AGAINST THE JEWS
One day, King Ahasuerus promoted one of
his officials, named Haman, above all the other
princes of the court. The promotion was a great
honor. All the king's servants bowed before
Haman and reverenced him, except for
Mordecai.
None of the servants and officials under-
stood why Mordecai would not bow to
Haman, as the king had commanded. These
officials told Haman about the matter.
Haman watched Mordecai to verify their
report. When he found it to be true, he was
furious! He asked the king's servants further
questions about Mordecai, and soon learned
that he was a Jew.
Haman's anger was so great that he sought
to destroy Mordecai and all Jews living within
the Persian Empire! He thought of a plan
which he hoped Ahasuerus would approve.
Haman then went in to see the king.
Very careful to avoid naming the Jews,
Haman said, "There are certain people
scattered throughout your provinces who have
their own laws, and do not keep the king's laws.
If it please you, 0 King, make a law to have
them all killed. I will pay ten thousand talents
of silver [about 20 million U.S. dollars] into
your treasury."
The king agreed to the law. He told Haman
to do whatever he wished with the people and
the wealth they possessed.
A decree was soon written and sealed with
the king's ring to make it official. It was sent to
all parts of the empire on the thirteenth day of
the first month.
The decree stated that on the thirteenth day
of the twelfth month, all Jews were to be killed,
including babies, women and the elderly. Their
property would then be confiscated.
The day this was to occur had been
determined by casting lots. Haman, who
supervised the casting of the lots, did not
realize that God was and is in charge of
everything in the universe, including the
casting of lots.
When the lots were cast, God made sure the
day thus determined was far enough in advance
so that He could work out a plan to save the
Jews from destruction by their enemies.
When Mordecai and the Jews in Shushan
heard of the decree, they tore their clothes
and put on sackcloth with ashes, a sign of
great distress. Jews throughout the empire
mourned, wailed and fasted when they heard
the news.
ESTHER AGREES TO INTERVENE
Esther, who was living in the palace, was
unaware of the decree until she learned of it
from her servants. She was exceedingly
grieved. She sent one of her servants to speak
with Mordecai to learn more about it.
Mordecai related the details to the servant,
and gave him a copy of the decree to show
Esther. Mordecai then told the servant to tell
Esther that she must go before the king and
plead for her life and for the lives of her
people.
The servant soon returned and related what
Mordecai had said. Esther then told the
servant, "Go and tell Mordecai that 1 am
afraid to go before the king. Remind him of the
Persian law that is strictly enforced.
"This law states that anyone who goes before
the king without being sent for will be killed
instantly unless the king holds out his golden
sceptre.
"How can 1 go and speak with Ahasuerus?
He hasn't sent for me in the last thirty days!"
Upon hearing the message, Mordecai
answered sternly, "Don't think you will escape
simply because you are queen." He then
encouraged her by saying, "Who knows but
that you have come to a royal position for such
a time as this?"
Upon hearing these words, Esther decided to
risk her life to save her people. She devised a
clever plan. "I will go before the king," she told
(Continued on page 8)
The royal decree, written by Haman, stated that all
Jews within the Persian Empire were to be killed.
5
THE PERSIAN EMPIRE
T
he Persian Empire (558-330 B.C.), often
called the Medo-Persian Empire, was the
second great world empire represented in the
dream of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. This
dual monarchy, composed of the Medes and
Persians, was symbolized by the breast and two
arms of silver (Daniel 2:32). The Persian Empire
was inferior in excellence to Nebuchadnezzar's
6
Chaldean or Babylonian Empire (head of gold),
just as silver is inferior to gold. However, it was
stronger militarily, as silver is stronger than gold.
CYRUS THE GREAT
In 549 B.C. a Persian named Cyrus the Great
became king of the Persian Empire. Cyrus
conquered the area known as Babylonia in 539
,
---
,
I
o I
,
Persej
B.C. as prophesied by Isaiah over 150 years
before (Isaiah 44:28; 45: 1).
Until the reign of Cyrus, the people of Judah,
who had been taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar,
were still in Babylonian slavery. To reduce the
chances of a Jewish rebellion in Judah, Nebu-
chadnezzar had ordered three deportations of the
Jews that began about 604 B.C. (The people of
THE REIGN OF AHASUERUS
KEY TO MAP
~
I I
.... ----- ...
... _---_ ....
Assyr ian Empire
Babylonian Empire
Persian Empire
RIVERS CITIES SEAS REGIONS
Nile River
Shushan Red Sea Arabia
Tigris River
(Susa)
Persian Gulf Macedonia
Euphrates
Asshur
Black Sea Judah
River
Babylon
Caspian Sea Israel
Jerusalem
Arabian Sea Egypt
Memphis
Libya
Athens
Greece
Samaria
PLACES IN PERSIA
the northern kingdomof Israel had previously been
taken captive by the Assyrians in 721-718 B.C.)
Then, in 538 B.C., Cyrus issued a decree
allowing the Jews to return to the land of
Palestine.
Following the death of Cyrus the Great, his son
Cambyses ruled the empire and later died in 522
B.C. Darius I, a Mede, began his rule after the
death of Cambyses. When Darius I died, his son
Ahasuerus (or Xerxes) became king of the
Persian Empire. His reign began in 486 B.C.
The story of Esther takes place in the time of
Ahasuerus, king of Persia, whose empire ex-
tended from Ethiopia to India. During his reign,
many of the Jews who did not return to Palestine
lived within the 127 provinces of the Persian
Empire.
DIRECTIONS
Using the list of rivers, cities, seas and regions below, write
the correct name in the proper place on the map. You may
use an atlas if you need help.
1J)
OJ
Ol
-g
:r:
OJ
o
2
lD
>-
D
a.
eo
....._...::;:
Inset map shows the
route of conquest taken
by Nebuchadnezzar when
he conquered the nation
of Judah. Heavy
arrows on large map
represent deportation
of Jewish captives
to area of
Babylonia.
, .
rolls
r
7
Mordecai. "But first, I want you to gather
together all the Jews in Shushan and fast three
days for me. My maids and I will also fast.
Then I will go before the king, which is not
according to the law. And if I perish, I
perish."
Esther must have greatly loved Mordecai
and her people to be willing to risk her life to
save them. Read what Christ said about this
kind of love in John 15:13. Write out this verse
on the following lines. _
After hearing of the decree to kill the Jews,
Mordecai put on sackcloth and sat in ashes, a sign
of great distress.
8
On the third day, Esther put on her royal
apparel and went in to see the king. She stood
in the inner court of the king's palace where
Ahasuerus could see her.
When the king saw Esther standing in the
court, he was very pleased. He immediately
held out the golden sceptre to her. Esther was
greatly relieved, for this meant that she had
obtained favor in his sight.
"Esther, what is it you desire?" Ahasuerus
inquired. "I will give you whatever you request
- up to half my kingdom!"
Immediately putting her plan into action,
Esther said, "I have prepared a banquet today
for you and Haman. Please come!"
ESTHER'S ROYAL BANQUETS
Wishing to please Esther, the king agreed
and quickly sent for Haman. Haman soon
arrived and both went to the royal banquet
Esther had prepared for them.
During the banquet, Ahasuerus again told
Esther she could have whatever she desired -
up to half the kingdom. She replied that she
would be very happy if he and Haman would
attend another private banquet the following
day. "At that time I will make my request,"
she politely told the king.
Ahasuerus knew Esther must have wanted a
special favor when she asked that he and
Haman attend another banquet.
Haman was delighted at the invitation! It
would be quite an honor to dine in private with
the king and queen two days in a row.
That evening, following the first banquet,
Haman bragged to his family and friends about
how honored he was to be invited to two private
royal banquets. "Yet," Haman sighed as he
remembered Mordecai, "as long as he lives, I
will never be truly happy." Haman was filled
with intense anger and hatred against Morde-
cai!
Haman's wife, Zeresh, and his friends tried
to console him. "Why don't you build a huge
gallows and tomorrow ask the king to hang
Mordecai? Then you can go merrily to the
banquet and forget about him."
Haman was pleased with the idea. So,
through the night, his servants built the gallows
in the court of his home.
THE KING HONORS MORDECAI
The same night, King Ahasuerus could not
sleep. He ordered his servants to read to him
from the royal diary. Eventually they came to
the story of Mordecai having saved the king's
life.
"Has Mordecai been honored for this
service?" asked the king the next morning.
"No, nothing has been done for Mordecai,"
the servants answered.
"I would like some suggestions about what
should be done for him," the king said. "Find a
prince out in the court and send him in."
Now Haman, who had come early to request
permission of the king to hang Mordecai, was
in the court waiting. The servants ushered him
in before the king.
Before Haman could speak of Mordecai, the
king said, "What shall be done for the man
whom the king wishes to honor?"
Haman, in his great conceit and pride,
thought the king was speaking about him.
"What man would the king delight in honoring
more than me?" he thought.
"Put your royal robes and crown on the man
you wish to honor and set him on your horse,"
Haman eagerly advised the king. "Then have
one of your most noble princes lead the man
through the streets of the city, shouting to the
people, 'Thus shall it be done to the man whom
the king delights to honor.' "
"I like your suggestion," the king said.
"Take these robes and my crown and get my
personal horse. Then do as you have said to
Mordecai. "
This surprising turn of events shocked
Haman! He had no choice but to obey the
king's order.
The following verses, which show what
happens to those who are filled with pride,
were about to be fulfilled in Haman's life. Be
Expecting himself to be led through the streets on
the king's horse, Haman was shocked when told that
Mordecai would receive this honor.
sure to write out these verses on the following
lines.
(Proverbs 16:5, 18) _
(Proverbs 11:2) _
After Mordecai was honored and returned to
his duties at the king's gate, Haman hurried
home. He felt such great disgust and shame
that he mourned and shaved his head.
As Haman, his wife and friends were
9
discussing the unexpected turn of events, the
king's servants arrived to escort Haman to
Esther's second banquet.
HAMAN'S PLOT BACKFIRES!
At the banquet, Ahasuerus again asked
Esther, "What do you want? I will give you up
to half my kingdom."
"If I have found favor in your sight, 0 King,
and if it pleases you, give me my life and the
lives of my people, for we face death," Esther
pleaded.
Ahasuerus roared in anger. "Who is he who
would dare think of doing such a thing?"
"The adversary and enemy is this wicked
Haman!" Esther said. Shocked by this sudden
revelation, the king rose in anger and stormed
out into the palace garden to think.
Haman, fearing for his life, threw himself
beside the queen and pleaded for his life.
When the king returned from the garden,
Haman's closeness to Esther only made him
more furious. "Do you now dare to touch the
queen and dishonor me in my own house?"
Ahasuerus demanded.
As the words left the king's mouth, servants
immediately arrested Haman. One of them
said, "There is a large gallows at Haman's
house where he had planned to hang Morde-
cai. "
"Hang Haman there," the king com-
manded.
Ahasuerus then commanded that Haman's
house and possessions be confiscated and given
to Esther, who then set Mordecai in charge of
them. The king then promoted Mordecai to a
very high position within the Persian Empire
and gave him the royal ring. Esther then put
Mordecai in charge of Haman's house.
Haman's downfall occurred largely because
To commemorate their deliverance, the Jews had a two-day celebration, called the Feast of Purim.
10
of his great pride and conceit. In Proverbs
15:25, God shows what happens to the house of
the proud. He says, "The will
______ the of the
"
THE JEWS ARE SAVED
Haman's decree against the Jews was still in
force, however. Esther bowed before the king
and requested him to reverse the decree.
Ahasuerus could not repeal the law because
no law of the Medes and Persians could ever be
changed. But the king did have an idea. He
told Mordecai to write another law, which
would permit the Jews to fight back against
those who tried to harm them.
This new law, sealed with the king's ring,
was drawn up on the twenty-third day of the
third month, and sent to every province in the
empire.
When the day Haman had chosen to kill the
Jews arrived, they were armed and ready to
defend themselves. They destroyed all those
who tried to harm them. In Shushan alone,
hundreds of their enemies, as well as the ten
sons of Haman, were killed.
The wicked who plot against the lives of
others often end up suffering the same fate
themselves. This is shown in Psalms 9: 16. "The
IS known by the
which he
_______: the IS
in the work of _
"
Haman, who had conspired against the Jews
and sought to hang Mordecai on the gallows,
ended up being hanged himself. And those who
sought to slaughter the Jews were themselves
killed.
THE FEAST OF PURIM
The triumph of the Jews was so great that a
two-day celebration of feasting and sending
gifts was proclaimed. They decided to celebrate
this occasion every year to commemorate their
deliverance from their enemies.
This celebration is called the Feast of Purim.
Purim is derived from the Hebrew word pur
which means "lot." This was the name chosen
for the festival because Haman had cast lots to
determine the day the Jews were to be killed.
The Feast of Purim is still observed by many of
the Jews to this day.
Do You Remember?
1. Who was the brave queen who loved her
people enough to risk her own life?
2. Who was the queen who refused to obey
Ahasuerus? _
3. What kingdom did Ahasuerus rule? __
4. What was so special about the laws of the
Medes and Persians? _
5. What was the law Haman pursuaded the
king to decree? _
6. What does God say He will do to the house
of the proud? _
7. How did the king later honor Mordecai for
reporting the information that saved his
life? _
8. What was the special request Esther made
to the king during the second royal
banquet? _
9. What does the word pur mean?
10. What does the Feast of Purim represent?
11
"PHONEY" PUZZLE
The numbers listed directly below in sentence form stand for the letters on a telephone. and
can be decoded by substituting letters for numbers. When decoded, this sentence will reveal
instructions for the second part of the puzzle. It looks easy, but remember that a number can
stand for more than one letter. Example: 2229566 = B A B Y LON.
33247437 843 365569464 5478 63 62637 636846633
---,
46 8447 537766, 8436 97483 2 74678 782836368
22688 3224 66 2 73727283 74338 63 72737.
NUMBER CODES DECODED NAMES
378437
------
242783787
---------
827484
------
[]ffi[!J
6368226
-------
66733224

--------
5474

----
42327724
--------
43424
-----
42626
-----