Esther - Chapter 8

The Jews are saved…
…again…this time, anyway.

Esther – Chapter 8

Review

1. History Review
1. When : Time – Some say 486-465 B.C or 464-415 B.C.  Few say 135-104 B.C., during Maccabean period, but that disclaims/discredits the historical value of the story and assumes it’s an allegorical story.
2. When : Relative to Daniel – After.  Daniel was Babylonian to the start of Persian Empires. Esther is entirely within Persian Empire.
3. Who : about – Esther.  A Jewish girl.
4. Who: wrote it – Unknown.  A palace slave?  Mordacai?  Nehemiah?  Jew or Gentile?  Probably Jewish.  Probably Nehemiah.
2. Chapter 1
1. Potential sympathy for Vashti
2. No deep OBVIOUS theological message in Chapter 1 (yet).
3. Chapter 2
1. More character traits of King X.  See Esther move into the scene.
2. No deep OBVIOUS theological message in Chapter 2 (yet).  But maybe there’s a lesson about God works even when it’s not obvious to us that He’s working – like in Esther.
4. Chapter 3
1. Mort rebels against bowing to Haman and the other gate-visitors turn Mort in.
2. Death sentence for Jews
3. King X still a dope.
5. Chapter 4
1. Mort mourning is a concern for Esther.
2. Mort scolds Esther.
3. Esther is reluctant, but agrees with Mort’s request.
6. Chapter 5
1. Haman’s pride will be his downfall
2. Friends and family can be a powerful influence.
7. Chapter 6
1. God controls, even Haman.
2. Haman’s friends turn out not to be too friendly
8. Chapter 7
1. God gets His justice against Haman…but Jews aren’t safe yet.

Introduction

1. How did you all do this week reading Esther?
2. What’s your opinion of Esther (thus far)?  Easy, hard, straightforward, confusing, basic, advanced, etc?  Compare it to Daniel or Romans, etc as well as your impression of it on its own.
3. What is your opinion of this chapter?  Easy or lots of questions, difficult and convoluted?
4. Can you group any of these chapters together?

Lesson

1. vv. 1-2 [READ – Est 8:1-2] Mort Promoted
1. When?  THE SAME DAY.  On the spot, perhaps, king Xerxes started making a few things right:

                                                               i.      Gave house of Haman to Esther.  Why?  Would she want it?

1.       It was likely QUITE a house.  He had been #2 for some time and had likely build up his own palace/compound.

2.       May be similar to a spoils-of-war concept.  Esther foiled Haman, so she gets his stuff.

3.       Why did she give it (v. 2) to Mort?  Probably just as a gift, so he could live in (relative) luxury.

                                                             ii.      Gave signet ring to Mort.  (hopefully he removed Haman’s finger from it first).  What does this signify?

1.       Mort was, as Haman was, number 2 in command and a valued confidant and leader with the king.

2.       Symbolizes the acceptance of the Jews by the king.

3.        

2. Esther also disclosed the relationship between her and Mort.  Is this significant?

                                                               i.      Sure.  For starters, she hid it for so long.

                                                             ii.      Secondly, both she and Mort were valued by the king.  They, and their people, were to be destroyed.  Both of them together lend additional seriousness to the sentence of the Jews.

                                                            iii.      I believe there’s an irony/message in Esther and Mort getting the possessions of Haman, their persecutor.  The Bible is full of examples where the persecuted will get the reward (Christians in general, Jews, Beatitudes, etc)

2. vv. 3-6 [READ – Est 8:3-6] Esther’s plea
1. All of v 1 and 2 is great, all of Ch 7 is great too, but neither fixes the Jews’ problem of being killed in a matter of months.  So, Esther attempts to rectify it.
2. She again, seemingly, appears before the king uninvited, because the king must extend his scepter to her.  Is she risking her life again?  Yes, but likely not to the degree as before.  She probably knew the outcome a little better this time.
3. In v 5, do you believe that this is the first time that King Xerxes drew the connection between the edict that Haman issued (in the King’s name) and the heritage/lineage of Esther (and now Mort)?  Remember, before, Haman did not specify that his edict was against the Jews.  He discussed that group only in the terms of the “infractions” they made.
3. vv. 7-14 [READ – Est 8:7-14] The plan to save the Jews
1. What does v 7 mean?  I believe the king is saying that “I’ve given you everything Haman had (his house, his power and position), so fix it”.
2. King Xerxes STILL doesn’t write his own letters.  Lazy bum.
3. Why did the King (well, really Mort) create an edict that the Jews could “assemble and defend themselves”?  Why didn’t he just revoke the old edict?

                                                               i.      See v 8.  He’s already reminded us that an edict cannot be revoked.

4. (Side Note: “stud” (as in, “royal stud”) in v 10 does not refer to any known individual in this class, contrary to whatever comments some of you may make.)
3. vv. 15-17 [READ – Est 8:15-17] It’s a good day for the Jews.
1. Mort went out in his purple, blue, and white duds and crown.  So what?

                                                               i.      This was an indication of royalty.  It was a visible marker to those, especially the Jews, that Mort was part of the King’s court AND the power he now wielded.

                                                             ii.      Him being in public as this is in stark contrast to how he might have presented if they were not able to remedy the plight of the Jews.  That is, Mort, as we’ve seen in previous chapters is not afraid to put on sackcloth and ashes and mourn publicly.  If their situation was still grim, that’s likely how he would have presented – certainly not in royal garb.

2. Jews had:

                                                               i.      Light

                                                             ii.      Gladness

                                                            iii.      Joy

1.       Why?  Their lives had been spared.  2 Jews were in high positions with the King.

                                                            iv.      Honor

1.       as above with Mort and Esther being in high places…

                                                             v.      Feast & Holiday

1.       We’ll get to this in the next chapter, but an official Holy Day (as opposed to a High Holy Day), Purim or Feast of Esther/ Fast of Esther is instituted in Esther.

                                                            vi.      Many conversions to Judaism

1.       Why?

3. What does “dread of the Jews” mean?

                                                               i.      The book of Esther (the story these people are living) is an example of how (from the pagan’s viewpoint) the Jewish God will deliver His people.  In Ch 7, not only is the God of the Jews still behind them, now they (Jews) have the right to fight back.  The non-Jews don’t want any part of that.

4. How does this impact your view of the conversions?

                                                               i.      Personally, it makes me skeptical.  Are they true converts?  Do they love, fear, honor, respect the ONE, TRUE God of, not only the Jews, but the Universe?  Discuss…  :)

Summary

1. What’s your key verse? V 6
2. Try keeping a list of where God is acting in this story.  What can you add to that list?  Where do you see God in Ch. 8?
3. How do WE feel about our kindred, our people and the calamity they face?  Do you know people that are sentenced to doom (Hell)?  Are you willing to risk everything, as Esther did by appearing before the king, to avoid their perishing?

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