The Old Testament Book of Esther
For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come
unto my people? or how can I endure to see the
destruction of my kindred?
Esther 8:6 KJV
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* CHAP * COMMENTS
* 1 * King Ahasuerus made a feast in the 3rd year of his reign. On the 7th
day when his heart was merry with wine, he commanded the chamberlains
to bring Vashti the Queen to show the princes & the people her beauty.
But the Queen refused. So women would not despise their husbands - a
law was passed that another would be given her royal estate.
* 2 * Appointed officers gathered young virgins in the house of women in the
palace. The one pleasing the king would be queen. Mordecai, a Jew -
carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity-raised Esther, his
uncle's daughter after her parents died. Esther was brought to the
custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. Esther didn't say she was a
Jew, obeying Mordecai. After 12 months, every maid came before the
king. On her turn, Esther was chosen queen. Mordecai learned 2 of the
king's chamberlains sought to lay hands on the king. Mordecai told
Esther. She told the king. The men were hanged after an investigation.
* 3 * Ahasuerus promoted Haman. All gave him reverence save Mordecai. Haman
thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone. He sought to have all
Jews in the kingdom slain. He persuaded the king to make a law that
the Jews were to be killed in the 13th day of the month of Adar.
* 4 * Mordecai and the Jews wept and fasted. Esther learned that Mordecai
was in sackcloth. She sent him clothes but he refused them. He sent
her word of the king's decree. He told her to go to the king on her
people's behalf. She had not been called to the king's presence in
30 days. To go without being called was death, unless the king would
spare; But she agreed to go if they would fast with her for 3 days.
* 5 * The king spared Esther when she came before him. She invited the king &
Haman to a banquet. At the banquet, the king again asked her petition.
She promised to tell him, if they would come to her banquet again
tomorrow. Haman rejoiced with his friends & his wife at being asked
to a banquet with just the king & queen. But seeing Mordecai sitting
at the king's gate took away all joy. His wife & friends suggested he
have a gallows built & have the king authorize Mordecai to be hanged.
* 6 * When the king couldn't sleep, the record of Mordecai reporting the two
chamberlains who sought to lay hands on the king was read. The king
asked what had been done for Mordecai & was told nothing. Since Haman
was in the court (after approval to hang Mordecai), The king called
for him. He asked Haman what could be done to show honor to a man. He
thinking the king wished to honor him, said "dress him in the king's
raiment. Lead him through the city saying, "Thus will be done to the
man the king wants to honor." The king said "Do so to Mordecai."
Afterwards, Haman went home mourning. While he was talking to his
wife & friends, the king's men came to bring him to the banquet.
* 7 * At the banquet, the king again asked the queen her request. She asked
for her life & the life of her people since they had been sold-not as
bondsmen-but to be destroyed. When the king asked who had done such a
thing, Esther said, "The enemy is the wicked Haman". A chamberlain
told the king about the gallows that Haman had made for Mordecai. The
king had Haman hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.
* 8 * The king gave Haman's house to Queen Esther. He told Mordecai to write
for the Jews in the name of the king. The Jews were granted the right
to stand together to slay and spoil those who would assault them.
* 9 * On the 13th day of the month Adar, the Jews gathered together, and no
man could withstand them. The officers of the king helped the Jews
because they were afraid of Mordecai. The Jews made the 14th & 15th
day of Adar feast days. They called these days Purim after Lot.
* 10 * King Ahasuerus' acts of power and might & the greatness of Mordecai
are written in the chronicles of the kings of Media & Persia.
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