Esther Lesson One

Esther Week One Chapters 1-2

Introduction:  
Author: Unknown
Time:  400-500 B.C. In the third year of King Ahasuerus’ reign
Theme:  God’s Providential Plans for His People
    
People to Know:
    King Ahasuerus (Xerxes)
·    Known for his building projects and wars against the Greeks
·    Consolidated his father, Darius’, kingdom into 20 satrapies and 127 provinces.
·    Ruled Persia from India to Ethiopia (capital city, Sushan or Susa)

Queen Vashti
·    King Ahasuerus’ queen
·    Disobeyed a command
·    Was removed as Queen

7 eunaches (servants to the King)

7 Princes of Persia and Media (nobility—counselors to the King)
·    Memucan—the spokesman for the Princes

Mordecai
·    A Jew
·    Of the tribe of Benjamin, of the family of Kish (a descendent of King Saul)
·    Carried off to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar (King of Babylon)

    Esther
·    Orphaned
·    Raised by her uncle, Mordecai
·    She was beautiful
·    She was obedient
    
7 choice maidservants
·    Given to Esther by Hegai to help in her preparations to meet the King

Hegai
·    Custodian of the women

Shaahgaz
·    Custodian of the concubines

Places to Know:
    Persia (127 provinces, 20 satrapies)
    Sushan (Susa)
    Babylonia

Lesson:
1:1-9      
Introduce characters
    180 day feast for all of Persia
    7 day feast for all of Sushan
    King was generous
    King was showing off
    Description of wealth and riches

10-12  
King A commands his 7 servants to bring the Queen to show her off (he was                   saving the best for last)

13-15
    Queen Vashti refuses to come.  King is furious.
King calls in the 7 Princes of Persia and asks: “What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to the law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the 7 eunaches (servants to the king)

16-22
Mumucan “stirs the pot.” (vs. 16)  He expands the issue from the King’s personal dishonor and embarrassment to the whole country and from the King and Queen’s personal issue to that of all the husbands and wives in the land.

    See Mumucan’s answer (vs 19)

    Consequences to Vashti
    Consequences to women

Read vs 22 “each province in it’s own script, every people in it’s own language” Why is this important?  We will need to remember this!

2:1-4
    Choosing a new queen

5-7    
    Mordecai and Esther

8-14
    Making the Choice
    Vs 9 concerning Esther
    Vs 10 concerning Mordecai
15-18
    Esther becomes Queen

19-20    
    Esther’s obedience to Mordecai

THE PLOT

21-23
    The Plot of the Doorkeepers
    Mordecai hears—saves King through Esther

These lessons were written for elementary aged students.  You can find all of the Lessons in Esther here.