Grace Institute: The Writings : Esther Part 2

Esther Survey of the Old Testament: The Writings Fall 2006

The Story

The Queen Deposed (Chapter 1)

After a 6 month long party, in which the king is showing off his wealth and power, he decides to show off another example of his greatness by commanding the queen to present herself and her beauty to the party guests. The queen refuses the request. We do not know why Vashti refused. There is nothing in the text that suggests that there was anything sexual in the king’s request, so it was not a moral issue. She may have not wanted to be considered just another of the kings possessions. Nonetheless, the king is humiliated, and so that the example of Vashti doesn’t inspire rebellion in households throughout the empire, the queen is removed from her position as queen.

Esther Becomes Queen (Chapter 2)

The king’s advisers suggest and empire wide contest to find a new queen. Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin suggests that his ward, Esther, enter the contest. She does so, gaining the favor of the eunuch in charge of the concubines. However, she does so by hiding her Jewish heritage.

The contestants go through a 12 month beauty treatment and training session. Then each contestant is given one night with the king to demonstrate her beauty and skill at pleasing the king. There is no mistaking that the contest is based purely how much the king enjoys having sex with them, for after their one night with the king, the contestants are moved from the house of the virgins to the house of the concubines.

Esther, this young Jewish woman, has been prepared in the Persian way for 12 months. Contrast Esther’s training in the king’s court with Daniel’s training in Daniel 1. In the midst of his training, he keeps the Torah and wins the favor by his courageous acts of faith. Esther wins her favor by blending in and hiding whatever faith she might have.

Esther spends her one night with the queen demonstrating to him her sexual skills. The king is evidently pleased, for he makes her his queen. So here is our story’s heroine. Esther wins the favor of the king through her moral character or her deep devotion to God. She wins the favor of the king by violating the Torah, hiding her heritage, and being the best at pleasing the king sexually.

Meanwhile, our hero Mordecai has been encouraging and providing advise to his niece as to how to win this contest. Good old uncle Mordecai has sold his niece into sexual slavery for the king.

Haman’s Plot Against the Jews (Chapter 3)

Haman becomes the king’s prime minister. Mordecai, however, refuses to bow down before Haman. Mordecai’s refusal, however, is not a statement of faith. Mordecai was not avoiding idolatry, but was deliberately snubbing Haman.

The profound hatred between Mordecai and Haman is not just a political rivalry, but a long standing blood feud between their two peoples[1]. In 1 Samuel 15, King Saul was commanded by God through Samuel to destroy the Agagites. However, Saul failed to do so, and as a result of his disobedience, God took the kingdom from Saul. Mordecai is an Benjamite, the same tribe as Saul. Haman is an Agagite.

All of the problems of the Jews in the book of Esther stem from Mordecai’s hatred and disrespect for Haman[2]. If Mordecai had shown proper respect to the prime minister, then Haman would have no reason to annihilate the Jews and Esther would have had no reason to come before the king.

The crises of Esther are not due to unfair persecution resulting from the profound faith of God’s people, but is a result of the sinful pride of Mordecai, a long standing hatred of the Benjamites for the Agagites, and the willingness of Esther to marry a Gentile.

Esther Learns of the Plot (Chapter 4)

Haman, with the kings blessing, issues a command that all the Jews are to be slaughtered and their property taken. Mordecai tells Esther of the plot and tells her that she must confront the king and get his help in this critical issue. But, according to Persian law, Esther can not approach the king unless the kings calls for her. To do so would be to put her life into jeopardy. Esther is therefore hesitant to go before the king.

Mordecai tells Esther, though, that if she doesn’t go before the king, she will not escape the upcoming slaughter. Why would Esther be slaughtered if no one in the court knows she is a Jew? This is actually a threat that Mordecai is making. If she does not go to the king, Mordecai is going to reveal that she is a Jew. In essence he is blackmailing Esther into going before the king.

Esther, therefore, decides to talk to the king, not because of her great courage, but because either way she is going to die. If she remains quiet Mordecai will reveal her heritage and she will be subject to Haman’s genocide. If she speaks up, the king can have her killed for coming without being summoned. Her resignation is made obvious in her comment in 4:16: “if I perish, I perish.”

Esther Throws a Banquet (Chapter 5)

Esther goes to the king, and the king graciously agrees to see her rather than have her killed. However, rather than bring up the issue at this point, she invites the king and Haman to a banquet.

Meanwhile, Haman is becoming even more enraged at Mordecai’s disrespect, and he builds a 50 foot tall gallows to execute Mordecai.

Haman Forced to Honor Mordecai (Chapter 6)

One day, the king is unable to sleep and he just so happens to pick up a chronicle in which it is revealed that Mordecai once saved the king’s life by revealing a plot against him. The king decides to honor Mordecai. So, in one of the greatest ironic moments in the bible, the king asks Haman how best to honor someone who has been such a great help to the king. Haman, thinking the king is referring to him, suggests a big parade and a grand announcement. The king likes the idea and tells Haman to lead the parade honoring Mordecai. This further infuriates Haman’s hatred of Mordecai.

Esther Reveals Haman’s Plot (Chapter 7)

Meanwhile. Esther throws a large banquet for Haman and the King. At that banquet, Esther gets the king a little drunk and gets him to promise to do whatever she asks. She reveals to the king that Haman has plotted against her and her people. The king becomes greatly angry and commands tha Haman be hung on the same gallows he had built for Mordecai.

Mordecai Promoted. Proclamiation Issued (Chapter 8)

Mordecai is then promoted to Haman’s position as prime minister. However, neither Mordecai nor the king are able to revoke Haman’s plot against the Jews. Persian law prevented a king from revoking a command. So instead, Mordecai suggests that the Jews be given the right to defend themselves when the day comes for them to be slaughtered. The king agrees and the proclamation is issued.

Jews Defend Themselves (Chapter 9)

When the day comes, the Jews indeed defend themselves, slaughtering over 75,000. At the end of the slaughter, Esther and Mordecai institute a festival to celebrate the deliverance of the Jewish people. This celebration becomes the festival of Purim.

Mordecai Praised by the King (Chapter 10)

The book ends with the King praising Mordecai.

[Next: The Challenge]