Daily Truthbase: Esther

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Esther 6-10 The Invisible Hand Helps His People

Psalm 69:1-21 Delivered From Deep Trouble

Ps 69:1 “Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck! 2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. 3 I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking for my God. 4 Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I didn’t take away. 5 God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren’t hidden from you. 6 Don’t let those who wait for you be shamed through me, Lord Yahweh of Armies. Don’t let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, God of Israel. 7 Because for your sake, I have borne reproach/scorn. Shame has covered my face. 8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s children. 9 For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproach/scornes/scorn of those who reproach/scorn you have fallen on me. 10 When I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach/scorn. 11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. 12 Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards.

13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your hesed/loyal love, answer me in the faithfulness of your salvation. 14 Deliver me out of the mire, and don’t let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters. 15 Don’t let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Don’t let the pit shut its mouth on me. 16 Answer me, Yahweh, for your hesed/loyal love is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me. 17 Don’t hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily! 18 Draw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies. 19 You know my reproach/scorn, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries are all before you. 20 reproach/scorn has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none. 21 They also gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink...”

Observations: 69:1-4 God's choice servant, David, is once again under attack, both because of his relationship with God and because he is not altogether blameless. In the NT this psalm also describes a zealous but totally blameless servant of God in similar circumstances.

69:5-6 David confesses his folly and sin, and is concerned that if God doesn't answer his prayer, others who hope in God will be discouraged from trusting Him. Not many folks have that other-centered perspective on their sin.

69:7-12 David suffers for his loyalty to God – best kind of suffering on the planet.

69:13-21 On the basis of God's mercy and covenantal loyalty to him, David continues to plead for God's protection, because there is no help from anyone else. The rest of the Psalm describes God gracious provision and David's praise (future post).

Application: Even when in deep trouble because of both our sin and others' oppression, we can confidently call to the God who is loyal to those who are loyal to Him.

Prayer: God who answers prayer, pities, comforts and protects His servants, help! I only have You to rescue me. Amen.

Proverbs 18:6-8 Watch Your Mouth

Pr 18:6 "A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings. 7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul. 8 The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person's innermost parts."

Observations: A fool's mouth causes more pain than his feet. Earlier in 18:2 it was revealed that a fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion. The wiser and less painful course of action would be to seek to understand rather than speak, and only speak what is beneficial to others (like the flowing brook of 18:4).

Application: As James 1:19 teaches: be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.

Prayer: Lord, set a guard over my lips so I only speak what You want me to speak. Amen.

Esther 6-10 The salvation of the Jews hangs on such seemingly insignificant events as the sleepless night of the king, and an overheard conversation. God orchestrates the events, through the risky obedience of Esther and persuasive counsel of Mordecai, to turn the problem into prosperity, punishing the wicked, and prospering His people. In the process, people from all nations come to trust in Him, which was His original plan in calling Abraham.

Esther 6 Inspired Insomnia

6:1 "On that night, the king couldn’t sleep. He commanded the book of records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the king. 2 It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus. 3 The king said, "What honor and dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" Then the king’s servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."

4 The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had come into the outer court of the king’s house, to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 The king’s servants said to him, "Behold, Haman stands in the court." The king said, "Let him come in." 6 So Haman came in. The king said to him, "What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?" Now Haman said in his heart, "Who would the king delight to honor more than myself?" 7 Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let royal clothing be brought which the king uses to wear, and the horse that the king rides on, and on the head of which a crown royal is set. 9 Let the clothing and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man whom the king delights to honor with them, and have him ride on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’" 10 Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry and take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Let nothing fail of all that you have spoken." 11 Then Haman took the clothing and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and had him ride through the city square, and proclaimed before him, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!"

12 Mordecai came back to the king’s gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered. 13 Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before him." 14 While they were yet talking with him, the king’s eunuchs came, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared."

Observations: 6:1-3 This first verse is the center of the book, chiastically and theologically. At the end of the last chapter, Haman, number three in the world, had determined Mordecai's death for the next day. He just needed the king's OK. In the providence of God, the king can't sleep and requests the chronicles to be read to him. The passage read is that of Mordecai saving the king's life. What a lucky coincidence! Note that Mordecai didn't get recognized nor rewarded, nor bitter.

6:4-11 In an ironic twist of fate, poetic justice is done, as Haman has to honor Mordecai, the man he wanted to murder.

6:12-14 Haman's wife and wise men add to his woes by predicting that because Mordecai is Jewish, Haman won't prevail, but will perish (foreshadowing the rest of the book).

Application: God providentially protects His people, even when they are not aware of His presence and the particulars.

Prayer: God, thanks that You are in control, and can turn problems into prosperity for Your people. Amen.

Esther 7 Executive Pardon and Punishment

7:1 "So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 2 The king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, "What is your petition, queen Esther? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed." 3 Then Esther the queen answered, "If I have found favor in your 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 bondservants and bondmaids, I would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king’s loss." 5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, "Who is he, and where is he who dared presume in his heart to do so?" 6 Esther said, "An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman!" Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

7 The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden. 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 had fallen on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, "Will he even assault the queen in front of me in the house?" As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were with the king said, "Behold, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman has made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, is standing at Haman’s house." The king said, "Hang him on it!" 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath was pacified."

Observations: 7:1-6 At the second banquet, Esther begs the king for her life and that of her people, to escape the plot of wicked Haman. The king's response/question in verse 5 has an acrostic of God's name as revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:14) when Pharaoh was seeking to destroy the nation, “I AM.” Verse 7 contains the fourth acrostic of the name Yahweh. See Digging Deeper under last post or Bullinger's Appendix #60 in the Companion Bible.

7:7-10 Haman has the ill fortune to fall on the queen while begging for his life, and seals his fate in the eyes of the king. Harbonah helpfully notes that Haman had conveniently constructed a gallows for Mordecai, who had saved the king's life. So not only has Haman had to honor his enemy, but endure the fate he had planned for Mordecai.

Application: God specializes in reversal of fortune, exalting the righteous and destroying the wicked.

Prayer: God of justice and might, nothing is too difficult for You. You can change or reverse any difficulty in my life, creatively and decisively. Thanks that I can totally trust You. Amen.

Esther 8 Reversal of Fortune

8:1 "On that day, King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the Jews’ enemy, to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her. 2 The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king. 5 She said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right to the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I endure to see the evil that would come to my people? How can I endure to see the destruction of my relatives?" 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, "See, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the Jews. 8 Write also to the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring; for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may not be reversed by any man." 9 Then the king’s scribes were called...and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia...10 He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bread from swift steeds. 11 In those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to defend their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions, 12 on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. 13 A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. The decree was given out in the citadel of Susa.

15 Mordecai went out of the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and was glad. 16 The Jews had light, gladness, joy, and honor. 17 In every province, and in every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness, joy, a feast, and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen on them."

Observations: 8:1-2 Mordecai is given Haman's house and position. God honored him for his defense of His people, in persuading Esther to intervene.

8:3-14 Esther again begs the king to reverse the murderous scheme of Haman, and he grants the Jews the right to defend themselves and destroy those who would attack them. Mordecai writes the decree just as Haman did.

8:15-17 Mordecai joins the ranks of Joseph, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel in being blessed by God in the service of a foreign king. Through this event, many peoples of the land became Jews. In the providence of God, through the working of His invisible hand, the Jews were accomplishing their intended purpose of drawing people to Yahweh, in spite of their captivity. It would have been more pleasant for them to have served their purpose by triumphing in the land of milk and honey, but God gave them the choice of obeying or not.

Application: The God who can raise up children of Abraham from stones (Matthew 3:9) is able to fulfill His plan to bless through any means, but would prefer to use the obedience of His people.

Prayer: God, I'd like to fulfill Your purposes for me by obediently serving You in freedom, rather than by being rescued from discipline, if it's all the same to You. Amen.

Esther 9 Remembering Our Victories

6 In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. 7 They killed...10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jew’s enemy, but they didn't lay their hand on the plunder. 11 On that day, the number of those who were slain in the citadel of Susa was brought before the king. 12 The king said to Esther the queen, "The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in the citadel of Susa, including the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now what is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your further request? It shall be done." 13 Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows." 14 The king commanded this to be done. A decree was given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons. 15 The Jews who were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and killed three hundred men in Shushan; but they didn’t lay their hand on the spoil. 16 The other Jews who were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, defended their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they didn't lay their hand on the plunder.

20 Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month Adar yearly, 22 as the days in which the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending presents of food to one another, and gifts to the needy. 23 The Jews accepted the custom that they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them; 24 because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast "Pur," that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; 25 but when this became known to the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 Therefore they called these days "Purim," from the word "Pur." Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come to them, 27 the Jews established, and imposed on themselves, and on their descendants, and on all those who joined themselves to them, so that it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to what was written, and according to its appointed time, every year; 28 and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor their memory perish from their seed. 32 The commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book."

Esther 10 Seek Good, Become Great

10:1 "King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land, and on the islands of the sea. 2 All the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 For Mordecai the Jew was next to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted by the multitude of his brothers, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his descendants."

Observations: 9:1-5 The fear of the Jews and Mordecai cause the officials to help the Jews who struck and destroyed all who hated them.

9:6-19 Esther is granted yet another request, that the slaughtered sons of Haman be hung on the gallows as an example. The Jews killed 75,000 of their enemies, yet the text stresses they took none of the plunder, to show that greed wasn't motivating them. Interestingly Saul lost the kingship by taking the plunder of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15).

9:20-32 Mordecai and Esther institute the Feast of Purim as a reminder of the historic event.

10:1-3 The book ends with an emphasis on the greatness of Mordecai, because he sought the good of God's people.

Application: It's good to seek the good of God's people, and to remember how God has given us victories over sin and enemies.

Prayer: God, You are totally in control of the events and circumstances of my life in ways I may never grasp; but help me keep focused on being loyal to You, since You will be so loyal to me and Your promised purposes. Thanks. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God works through the seemingly insignificant details, like sleepless kings, and obedient nieces, in working out His vital and crucial purposes. He is committed to using Israel to fulfill His plan to bless the entire world, as covenanted to Abraham. He sometimes uses unbelieving governmental authorities to protect and exalt His people. He will never forsake the nation as a whole, but will let select individuals and generations reap the consequences of their actions. He can easily execute justice in turning problems into prosperity, and exalts those who seek the welfare of His people.

Us in a nutshell: When we are committed to advancing God's agenda, we will encounter scary opposition, but can expect God to save us. In a day, we can go from the gallows to glory (and the other way around), reaping the consequences of our previous actions. While other people might not recognize nor appreciate what we do, God does, and will always bless righteousness (though sometimes not until the future). We need to do our job (seek, trust and obey God) in order to experience the full benefit of His workings.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Esther 6-10 (complete text)

Esther 6

6:1 "On that night, the king couldn't sleep. He commanded the book of records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the king. 2 It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus. 3 The king said, "What honor and dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" Then the king’s servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."

Esther 7

7:1 "So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 2 The king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, "What is your petition, queen Esther? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed." 3 Then Esther the queen answered, "If I have found favour in your 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 bondservants and bondmaids, I would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king’s loss." 5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, "Who is he, and where is he who dared presume in his heart to do so?" 6 Esther said, "An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman!" Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

Esther 8

3 Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king. 5 She said, "If it pleases the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right to the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I endure to see the evil that would come to my people? How can I endure to see the destruction of my relatives?" 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, "See, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the Jews. 8 Write also to the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring; for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may not be reversed by any man." 9 Then the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month Sivan, on the twenty-third day of the month; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing, and in their language. 10 He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bread from swift steeds. 11 In those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to defend their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions, 12 on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. 13 A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. 14 So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. The decree was given out in the citadel of Susa.

Esther 9

9:1 "Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the month, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to conquer them, (but it was turned out the opposite happened, that the Jews conquered those who hated them), 2 the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus, to lay hands on those who wanted to harm them. No one could withstand them, because the fear of them had fallen on all the people. 3 All the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and those who did the king’s business helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai grew greater and greater. 5 The Jews struck all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they wanted to those who hated them. 6 In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. 7 They killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha, 10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jew’s enemy, but they didn’t lay their hand on the plunder. 11 On that day, the number of those who were slain in the citadel of Susa was brought before the king. 12 The king said to Esther the queen, "The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in the citadel of Susa, including the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now what is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your further request? It shall be done." 13 Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows." 14 The king commanded this to be done. A decree was given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons. 15 The Jews who were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and killed three hundred men in Shushan; but they didn’t lay their hand on the spoil. 16 The other Jews who were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, defended their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they didn’t lay their hand on the plunder. 17 This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of that month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 18 But the Jews who were in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth and on the fourteenth days of the month; and on the fifteenth day of that month, they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, a good day, and a day of sending presents of food to one another.

20 Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21 to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month Adar yearly, 22 as the days in which the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending presents of food to one another, and gifts to the needy. 23 The Jews accepted the custom that they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them; 24 because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast "Pur," that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; 25 but when this became known to the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 26 Therefore they called these days "Purim," from the word "Pur." Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come to them, 27 the Jews established, and imposed on themselves, and on their descendants, and on all those who joined themselves to them, so that it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to what was written, and according to its appointed time, every year; 28 and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor their memory perish from their seed. 29 Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim. 30 He sent letters to all the Jews, to the hundred twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, 31 to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had decreed, and as they had imposed upon themselves and their descendants, in the matter of the fastings and their cry. 32 The commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book."

Esther 10

Esther 1-5 The Hidden Hand of God

Psalm 68:15-31 The Ascended King

Ps 68:15 ““The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged. 16 Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, Yahweh will dwell there forever. 17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary. 18 You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among men, yes, among the rebellious also, that Yah God might dwell there. 19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation. Selah. 20 God is to us a God of deliverance. To Yahweh, the Lord, belongs escape from death. 21 But God will strike through the head of his enemies, the hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.

22 The Lord said, "I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea; 23 That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies." 24 They have seen your processions, God, even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary. 25 The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, in the midst of the ladies playing with tambourines, 26 "Bless God in the congregations, even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!" 27 There is little Benjamin, their ruler, the princes of Judah, their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. 28 Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us. 29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings shall bring presents to you. 30 Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Being humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations that delight in war. 31 Princes shall come out of Egypt. Ethiopia shall hurry to stretch out her hands to God.

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord! Selah. 33 To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice. 34 Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over Israel, his strength is in the skies. 35 You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God!"

Observations: 68:1-14 See post on Judges 17 for vv 1-14, in which the righteous rejoice when God acts and scatters their enemies.

68:15-21 The last part of the psalm might have been prompted by the bringing of the ark to Jerusalem, but goes beyond that to envisioning the enthronement of God in the sanctuary in Jerusalem and the Messiah's permanent rule in Jerusalem. The scope broadens beyond a mere victory of God over the enemies of Israel to the ascension of the Messiah to the throne and establishment of Israel as the pre-eminent nation. At no time in Israel's history have millions of chariots been in Jerusalem so it is most likely a reference to the angels. When an emperor would return from a victory, he would receive gifts and servants from his vassals, and give gifts to his faithful (see how this is used in Ephesians 4).

68:22-35 The nation is regathered (from Bashan, symbol of mighty nations, and the sea) and becomes strengthened to rule over the nations. Some see the wild bull as a reference to the anti-Christ, others a reference to Egypt or another foreign power. God's people and the kingdoms of the earth will sing praises to the Lord, whose awesome strength will be displayed not just over Israel, but all the skies. The God of Israel blesses His people with strength and power.

Application: The awesome God who will rule over the earth has strength to bear our daily burdens, so trust Him to do so, by asking Him to strengthen you and carry the concerns you face today.

Prayer: Awesome and victorious God, thanks that You save and bless Your people, and offer to carry my burdens today; here are the things that concern me...... Amen.

Proverbs 18:1-5 Are You A Friendly Fountain?

Pr 18:1 “An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment. 2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion. 3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace. 4 The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook. 5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.”

Observation: 18:1 A unfriendly, selfish person has no relationship with God, in which He meets their needs. Therefore they think only of themselves, and not of loving (meeting the needs of) others. They wind up lonely and without friends. Crazy.

18:2 A fool doesn't delight in understanding and knowing others, but can only shout “Look at me!” as a means of building a scrap heap of self-worth. Tragic.

18:4 The words of the wise refresh and meet the needs of others.

18:5 A worth-less person will sacrifice principle and purity for a pat on the back by equally worthless people. What they get is contempt, shame and disgrace. “Pity the fool.” - Mr. T.

Application: In order to be a friend of others, we must first be a friend of God.

See: Summary of Biblical Friendships in TOYL, and Relationship/Friendship Series on Truthbase.net.

James 2:23 "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God. 4:4...don't you know that friendship with the world is hostility with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Prayer: Dear God, thanks that in knowing You my needs are met, and I'm free to meet the needs of others as a true friend. Amen.

Esther 1-5 The Book of Esther is unique in that it doesn't mention the name of God, but His fingerprints are all over it. (See under Digging Deeper for the five times in the book God's name is hidden in an acrostic.) The nation had disobeyed God, and were reaping discipline in exile, yet God had not totally abandoned them. He protects them from Satan's attempt to exterminate them, and prospers them in the process. The book also gives insight into the world of the Ancient Near East, and provides a glimmer of the reign of the Messiah. From an historical perspective, many commentators think Esther occurs somewhere in the middle of the events described in Ezra. It gives the background to the Feast of Purim, which was instituted to commemorate the events of the book.

Esther 1 Reward of Rebellion

1:1 "In the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces), 2 when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, 3 in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him. 4 He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days. 5 When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were hangings of white, green, and blue material, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, white, yellow, and black marble. 7 They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king. 8 In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure. 9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded...the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 11 to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful. 12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for it was the king’s custom to consult those who knew law and judgment; 14 and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom), 15 "What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?" 16 Memucan answered before the king and the princes, "Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus. 17 For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands, when it is reported, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn’t come.’ 18 Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s deed will tell all the king’s princes. This will cause much contempt and wrath. 19 "If it please the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she. 20 When the king’s decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give their husbands honor, both great and small." 21 This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan: 22 for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, that every man should rule his own house, speaking in the language of his own people."

Observations: 1:1-3 Welcome to the world of the Ancient Near East. Most folks are clueless about history and the real world outside their neighborhood. The Judeo-Christian ethic has been the historic champion of human rights, forming the impetus and basis for abolition of slavery, woman's suffrage, and civil rights. For understanding of the Biblical roles in a marriage relationship, see Truthbase.net: Marriage Feast or Famine gives the framework, and How to be the Wife of a Happy Husband gives some elaboration.

1:4-9 The details of the banquet and rule of Ahasuerus give some insight into the future glorious reign of the Messiah.

1:10-12 Like Israel, Queen Vashti exerted her independence and rebelled against her king, and the law.

1:13-22 The King consults his counselors to determined the legal response, which was deprivation of her estates and banishment from the presence of the king. This is what Israel was experiencing, and what modern believers reap, who rebel against God's will.

Application: Enjoying the favor of our King is dependent upon doing whatever He wants.

Prayer: My King and my God, remind me that I exist to do Your will, and my enjoyment of Your presence is dependent upon so doing, so I won't live independently of Your desires. Amen.

Esther 2 Reward of Submission

5 There was a certain Jew in the citadel of Susa, whose name was Mordecai...a Benjamite, 6...whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter. 8...Esther was taken into the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 9 The maiden pleased him, and she obtained hesed from him. He quickly gave her cosmetics and her portions of food, and the seven choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king’s house. He moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women’s house. 10 Esther had not made known her people nor her relatives, because Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known. 11 Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women’s house, to find out how Esther was doing, and what would become of her. 12 Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women). 13 The young woman then came to the king like this: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the women’s house to the king’s house. 14 In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women’s house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name. 15 Now when the turn of Esther...came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her. 16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal house...

17 The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favor and hesed in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces, and gave gifts according to the king’s bounty. 19 When the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate. 20 Esther had not yet made known her relatives nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, like she did when she was brought up by him.

21 In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, who were doorkeepers, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus. 22 This thing became known to Mordecai, who informed Esther the queen; and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name. 23 When this matter was investigated, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the king’s presence."

Observations: 2:1-4 The king starts missing Vashti, but orders of Persian kings couldn't be rescinded, so his advisers start an empire wide search for Persia's Prettiest.

2:5-16 Little orphan Esther follows the advise of her uncle Mordecai and that of Hegai, the keeper of women, and wins the “contest.” Listening to advice wasn't Israel's strong suit, nor Vashti's. The king chose Esther and called her by name.

Isaiah 43:1 But now thus says Yahweh who created you...who formed you, Israel: "Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are Mine. 45:4...Israel My chosen, I have called you by your name...”

2:9 Here is one of the few uses of hesed that doesn't specifically relate to loyalty to a specific covenant, but the favor and protection that one would show in a covenantal relationship, particularly in advancing the interests of the other party to the covenant. Esther 2:17 has another use of hesed, indicating the loyalty aspect as well.

2:17-23 A great feast is thrown for the new “bride.” Her obedience to Mordecai is stressed, which saves the kings life when Mordecai tells her to tell the king “in Mordecai's name” of a plot against the king. Her exact obedience prevents fatal consequences for the nation.

Application: Following wise counsel results in exaltation.

Prayer: Lord may my ear be attuned to Your voice, both in Your word, and through those You've put in my life. Amen.

Esther 3 A Pernicious Plot

3:1 "After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2 All the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate bowed down, and paid homage/worship to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn't bow down nor worship him. 3 Then the king’s servants, who were in the king’s gate, said to Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king’s commandment?" 4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he didn't listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai didn't bow down, nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath. 6 But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai’s people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even Mordecai’s people.

7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, and chose the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. 8 Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different than other people’s. They don’t keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not for the king’s profit to allow them to remain. 9 If it pleases the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who are in charge of the king’s business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries." 10 The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. 11 The king said to Haman, "The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you." 12 Then the king’s scribes were called in and all that Haman commanded was written to...the princes of every people...in the name of King Ahasuerus, and it was sealed with the king’s ring. 13 Letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day...and to plunder their possessions.15 The couriers went forth in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed."

Observations: 3:1-7 Haman was a descendant of Agag, the Amalekite king in 1 Samuel 15, of the people Israel was ordered to destroy because they had unjustly attacked Israel when they came out of Egypt (Exodus 17:14-18). Mordecai refused to bow down and “worship” which probably went beyond civil homage to religious worship. As a result, Haman sought to destroy all the seed of the Jews, a satanically inspired plot.

3:8-15 Haman cast lots to determine an auspicious time to carry out his scheme, and offers silver to compensate the king's treasury for the economic loss resulting from eliminating the Jewish subjects.

Application: Standing up for what's right can cause problems (that God can turn to profit).

Prayer: God, may I stand for Your truth, regardless of the consequences, and trust You to protect me. Amen.

Esther 4 If I Perish, I Perish

4:1 Now when Mordecai found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and wailed loudly and a bitterly. 3 In every province, wherever 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 Esther’s maidens and her eunuchs came and told her this, and the queen was exceedingly grieved. She sent clothing to Mordecai, to replace his sackcloth; but he didn’t receive it.

10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a message to Mordecai: 11 "All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, know, that whoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without being called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king might hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live. I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days." 12 They told to Mordecai Esther’s words. 13 Then Mordecai asked them return answer to Esther, "Don’t think to yourself that you will escape in the king’s house any more than all the Jews. 14 For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" 15 Then Esther asked them to answer Mordecai,

16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish." 17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

Observations: 4:1-9 When word of Haman's plan is published, people lament.

4:10-15 Mordecai asks Esther to appeal to the king, but she is concerned for her own safety for appearing uninvited. Mordecai warns her that she won't escape death, and God might have brought her into her position “for such a time as this.” If she doesn't use her position for the benefit of her people, help will come from another place, and she would not only have lost out on the opportunity to help, and her father's house would be judged.

4:11-17 Esther asks for the people to fast for her, prayer not being mentioned but seeking God's help was the purpose of fasting. She develops the correct perspective that her life is not for her preservation and pleasure.

Application: Don't spend all your time building a platform/credibility, use it to speak for God's purposes.

Prayer: Gracious God, I acknowledge that all You've given me, from abilities to opportunities, are blessings to be used for Your purposes and Your glory; may I never hold onto them for my own selfish reasons. Amen.

Esther 5 Doomsday Dinner Invitation

5:1 Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, next to the king’s house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house. 2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther came near, and touched the top of the sceptre. 3 Then the king asked her, "What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom." 4 Esther said, "If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him." 5 Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly, so that it may be done as Esther has said." So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6 The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, "What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed." 7 Then Esther answered and said, "My petition and my request is this. 8 If I have found favor 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 will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said."

9 Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he didn’t stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home. There, he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife. 11 Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12 Haman also said, "Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together with the king. 13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate." 14 Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet." This pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.

Observations: 5:1-8 Esther risks her pretty neck to be seen by the king uninvited, but he is pleased to see her and offers to bless her. She refrains from asking outright, but instead invites him and Haman to a dinner at her place. The reason for the delay in asking her petition is not given, but the next chapter reveals it fits in perfectly with Somebody's plan.

5:4 and 13 have Yahweh's name hidden in an acrostic. See Digging Deeper.

5:9-14 Haman is thrilled to be invited to dinner with the two most significant people on earth, but can't enjoy it because he sees Mordecai and is reminded that he himself is a mere mortal. His wife, like Jezebel has a solution: Hang 'em high, and have a happy time. Haman is cheered by the thought and has the gallows made for Mordecai.

Application: Even those on the top of the world can have the enjoyment of their position ruined if they have a bitter and wicked heart.

Prayer: All wise and knowing God, please direct my steps and words for Your purposes. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

In Deuteronomy 31:18 God said He would hide his face from His people if they broke His covenant. “And I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods.” Just like the princes in submission to the king saw his face, and Vashti was banished from his presence, so the Jews in captivity are not seeing the face and experiencing the favor of God. Five times the God's name is hidden in an ACROSTIC, using the first or last letters of sequential words (in the original Hebrew). Those occurrences are 1:20; 5:4, 13; 7:5, 7.

Appendix 60 of Bullinger's Companion Bible gives an elaboration and analysis of the acrostics that is amazing, and demonstrates how much more one can find in the Scriptures by sweating and digging deeper in Bible Study. Bullinger's ability to see patterns might at first seem like Russell Crowe's portrayal of John Nash in “A Beautiful Mind,” but after you see them yourself, and their theological significance, you will have an other useful tool to consider in interpreting the Scriptures. Some of the scribes who copied the Scriptures first saw the patterns, using upper case or capital letters for the acrostic. If you want more information about how the scribes made marginal notes in the Hebrew text (like a Study Bible), Bullinger has an appendix for that too (The Massorah #30).

God in a nutshell: God superintends the events of our world for His purposes. He arranges the discipline or protection of His people (even when they are not fully obeying Him), using the personal choices of individuals who do and don't know Him. He lets the future look bleak so people will depend upon Him. He puts people in positions of influence so they can use their position for His purposes, not their pleasures. God blesses us, so we can use what He's given us to bless others.

Us in a nutshell: We reap the consequences of our actions, for good or bad. Submissive, dependent obedience yields better rewards than proud independence. Those who exalt themselves are setting themselves up for a fall. Those who render good, even to “enemies” do the right thing, and eventually reap reward. If we don't use what God has given us for the benefit of others, we will lose it. If we don't step up to serve when the occasion warrants it, God will find another to do His will, and we will not only miss out on the opportunity, but will lose what we sought to preserve.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Marriage Feast or Famine gives the framework

How to be the Wife of a Happy Husband gives some elaboration

Esther complete text

Esther 1

1:1 "Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces), 2 that in those days, when the King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, 3 in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him. 4 He displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days. 5 When these days were fulfilled, the king made a seven day feast for all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were hangings of white, green, and blue material, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. The couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, white, yellow, and black marble. 7 They gave them drinks in golden vessels of various kinds, including royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king. 8 In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure. 9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to King Ahasuerus.

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, 11 to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful. 12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him. 13 Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for it was the king’s custom to consult those who knew law and judgment; 14 and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom), 15 "What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?" 16 Memucan answered before the king and the princes, "Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus. 17 For this deed of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to show contempt for their husbands, when it is reported, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn’t come.’ 18 Today, the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s deed will tell all the king’s princes. This will cause much contempt and wrath. 19 "If it please the king, let a royal commandment go from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it cannot be altered, that Vashti may never again come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she. 20 When the king’s decree which he shall make is published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give their husbands honour, both great and small." 21 This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan: 22 for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, that every man should rule his own house, speaking in the language of his own people."

Esther 2

2:1 "After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. 2 Then the king’s servants who served him said, "Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king. 3 Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel of Susa, to the women’s house, to the custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch, keeper of the women. Let cosmetics be given them; 4 and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." The thing pleased the king, and he did so. 5 There was a certain Jew in the citadel of Susa, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, 6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter. 8 So it happened, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to the citadel of Susa, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. 9 The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. He quickly gave her cosmetics and her portions of food, and the seven choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king’s house. He moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women’s house. 10 Esther had not made known her people nor her relatives, because Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known. 11 Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women’s house, to find out how Esther was doing, and what would become of her. 12 Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women). 13 The young woman then came to the king like this: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the women’s house to the king’s house. 14 In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women’s house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name. 15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favour in the sight of all those who looked at her. 16 So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favour and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces, and gave gifts according to the king’s bounty. 19 When the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate. 20 Esther had not yet made known her relatives nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, like she did when she was brought up by him.

Esther 3

3:1 "After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2 All the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate bowed down, and paid homage to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn’t bow down or pay him homage. 3 Then the king’s servants, who were in the king’s gate, said to Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king’s commandment?" 4 Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he didn’t listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai didn’t bow down, nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath. 6 But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai’s people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even Mordecai’s people.

7 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, and chose the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. 8 Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different than other people’s. They don’t keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not for the king’s profit to allow them to remain. 9 If it pleases the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who are in charge of the king’s business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries." 10 The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. 11 The king said to Haman, "The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you." 12 Then the king’s scribes were called in on the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month; and all that Haman commanded was written to the king’s satraps, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according its writing, and to every people in their language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus, and it was sealed with the king’s ring. 13 Letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder their possessions. 14 A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day. 15 The couriers went forth in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed."

Esther 4

4:1 "Now when Mordecai found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and wailed loudly and a bitterly. 2 He came even before the king’s gate, for no one is allowed inside the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 In every province, wherever 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 Esther’s maidens and her eunuchs came and told her this, and the queen was exceedingly grieved. She sent clothing to Mordecai, to replace his sackcloth; but he didn’t receive it.

5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, whom he had appointed to attend her, and commanded him to go to Mordecai, to find out what this was, and why it was. 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai, to city square which was before the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Esther, and to declare it to her, and to urge her to go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him, for her people. 9 Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a message to Mordecai: 11 "All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, know, that whoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without being called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king might hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live. I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days." 12 They told to Mordecai Esther’s words. 13 Then Mordecai asked them return answer to Esther, "Don’t think to yourself that you will escape in the king’s house any more than all the Jews. 14 For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" 15 Then Esther asked them to answer Mordecai, 16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish." 17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him."

Esther 5

5:1 "Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, next to the king’s house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house. 2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favour in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther came near, and touched the top of the sceptre. 3 Then the king asked her, "What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom." 4 Esther said, "If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him." 5 Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly, so that it may be done as Esther has said." So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6 The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, "What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed." 7 Then Esther answered and said, "My petition and my request is this. 8 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 will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said."

Esther 6-10 The Invisible Hand Helps His People

Esther 1-5 The Hidden Hand of God

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