DIVINE PROVIDENCE

AS ILLUSTRATED IN THE BOOK OF ESTHER

Est 1:1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto
Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
According to J. W. McGarvey, all the Jews at this time lived within the kingdom ruled by Ahasuerus.
“His kingdom extended over one hundred and twenty provinces, including the whole of Asia that was then
known, reaching out to the vicinity of modern China; and within that dominion at that time lived all the
Jews, every one of them.”

Est 1:10-12 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman,
Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence
of Ahasuerus the king, To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and
the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's
commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
By her virtuous behavior, Vashti set in motion events that saved the Jews.
Est 1:19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws
of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let
the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

Est 2:2,4 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the
king: And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king;
and he did so.
A place was opened for Esther.
Est 2:5,7: Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the
son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter:
for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and
mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

Est 2:17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more
than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
By coincidence (?), Mordecai saved Ahasuerus through the connection provided by Esther.
Est 2:21-23 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and
Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the thing
was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's
name. And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a
tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
By coincidence(?), Mordecai’s deed was recorded.
Est 3:1-6 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite [Note-cy:
He is called an "Agagite," which seems to denote that he was descended from the royal family of the Amalekites, the
bitterest enemies of the Jews 1 Sam 15:1-28], and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were
with him. And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king
had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. Then the king's
servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to
see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. And when Haman saw
that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay
hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to
destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
 Which would be all Jews.
Est 3:8-10 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed
among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep
they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written
that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the
charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave
it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
Permission is given and the decree is made.
Est 4:3-4
3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great
mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4 So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and
she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.
Mordecai wants to save his people.
Est 4:13-14 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the
king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there
enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be
destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Coincidence?
Est 5:2-8 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in
his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and
touched the top of the sceptre. Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy
request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the
king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. Then the king said,
Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet
that Esther had prepared. And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it
shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; If I have found favour in the sight of the king,
and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the
banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king hath said.
Esther sets the trap for Haman.
Est 5:9-14
9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's
gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and
Zeresh his wife.
11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein
the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she
had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.
13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and
tomorrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king
unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
Haman devises his own method of death.
By coincidence (?), the king cannot sleep.
Est 6:1-10
1 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and
they were read before the king.
2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the
keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's
servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to
speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5 And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come
in.
6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to
honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,
8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the
crown royal which is set upon his head:
9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may
array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the
city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even
so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou has spoken.
Ahasuerus is reminded that he owes his life to Mordecai. Haman is humiliated.
Est 7
1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen
Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the
kingdom.
3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king,
let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for
bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.
5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst
presume in his heart to do so?
6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and
the queen.
7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up
to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the
king.
8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen
upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As
the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high,
which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman.
Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath
pacified.
Justice is served to Haman; he falls ingloriously.
Est 8:1-2
1 On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And
Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.
2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set
Mordecai over the house of Haman.
Justice is served toward Mordecai; he is elevated.
Est 8:3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to
put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
Esther is in a position to ask for the salvation of her people.
Est 8:9-13
9 Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and
twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the
lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty
and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their
language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on
horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for
their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault
them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month,
which is the month Adar.
13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people,
and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
The original decree of the king is counterbalanced.
Est 9:3-5
3 And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the
Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
4 For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man
Mordecai waxed greater and greater.
5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did
what they would unto those that hated them.
The Jews and their descendants are saved.

NOTE: It has been said that the name of God does not appear in the book of Esther. His name is there but
hidden in acrostic form.

“This is a complex design, far beyond mere coincidence. (There is actually an ancient manuscript of the
Hebrew Bible that highlights the key letters in God's hidden name.) It is a creative way of illustrating an
important truth. Many years before, the Lord had warned Moses that when Israel drifted away from Him
He was going to hide His face from them (Deut. 31:16-18). Here the author reminds us that though God is
hidden He is still active in sovereign grace on behalf of His children. God may not have been revealing His
presence among His people as of old, but He was still acting to fulfil His promises to them. The problem for the
English reader is that the acrostics occur in Hebrew, and are difficult to reproduce in English. Here is a bit of a
paraphrase of the key verses to show how it was done.

1) In Esther 1:20, the first acrostic spells the Lord's name backwards. "Due Respect Our Ladies shall give to
their husbands both great and small." It is this discussion that eventually results in Esther replacing Vashti as
queen. [In Hebrew, JHVH reversed.]

2) In Esther 5:4, the second acrostic gives us the Lord's name spelled in the normal way. "Let Our Royal Dinner
this day be graced by the king and Haman." This speech begins Esther's clever plot to ensnare Haman, and put
the king in such a state of curiosity and anticipation that he is eager to grant her wish.

3) In Esther 5:13, the third acrostic has the Lord's name spelled backwards with the last letter of a series of
words. "Yet I am saD, foR nO avaiL is all this to me." Haman's bitter words when Mordecai refuses to bow in
his presence--words that lead to the construction of the gallows on which he himself will be executed!

4) In Esther 7:7, the fourth acrostic presents the name of the Lord in the normal way once more--again using the
last letter of the words rather than the first. "He saw that there was eviL tO feaR determineD against him by the
king." Haman's sense of doom marks this comment by the story-teller.
5) In Esther 7:5, the "I AM" name of God is found. The Hebrew word could be rendered with the English letters
EHYH (pronounced hayah). The Lord told Moses that this was His name (Exod. 3:14-15). In this last acrostic,
the "I AM" name of God is spelled forward, using the final letters of a series of words. "WherE dwelletH the-
enemY that-daretH presume in his heart to do this thing?" Little did this heathen king [Ahasuerus] know, in his
question he has uttered the name of the God who has been active all along protecting His people from evil.”
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There exists an old Hebrew manuscript which has these acrostics accented to demonstrate their existence.

God was there, hidden, but saving His people.

NOTE: The influence of Queen Esther may have been the force which compelled Artaxerxes and Darius to
support the completion of the temple and the walls of Jerusalem.