Esther Lesson Two

Esther Week Two Chapters 3-4

People to Know:
Haman
Hathach
Chapter Three
Est 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.
Q:  After what things?
Est 3:2  
And all the king's servants who were within the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.
Q:  Why not?
Est 3:3  
Then the king's servants who were within the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's command?"
Est 3:4  
Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai's words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew.
(they knew that the Jews would not bow to anyone except the One True God)
Est 3:5  
When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath.
Q:  Why did that make Haman mad?
Est 3:6  
But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus--the people of Mordecai.
Q:  Why wouldn’t Haman go after Mordecai on his own?  He had the power to do it! (3:1)
Q:  Haman decides not ONLY to destroy Mordecai, but all the Jews.  What does this remind you of from last week’s lesson?
Est 3:7  
In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month,  which is the month of Adar.
Q:  What does it mean to “cast the lot?”  Who was casting the lots?  Has the King weighed in on this yet?  
Est 3:8  
Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain.
Q:  Do you remember why the Jews were dispersed into other lands in the first place?  Why don’t they keep the laws of the land?  How does this relate to what Mordecai did to make Haman mad in the first place?

Est 3:9  
"If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries."
Q:   What two things did Haman know about the King (from Chapters 1 and 2) and how he operates or what is important to him?  (hint:  why did Haman ask for a written decree and why does he promise silver for the king’s treasury?)
Est 3:10  
So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
Q:  What is the significance of a signet ring?  Did you notice how the writer of Esther is describing Haman now?  (listen to the Jews’ reaction to the name of Haman even today when the book is read aloud on Purim)
Est 3:11  
And the king said to Haman, "The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you."
Q:  When did we see the king asking a similar question?  What do you think that says about King Xerxes’ kingly rule?
Est 3:12  
Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded--to the king's satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province according to its script, and to every people in their language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king's signet ring.
Q:  Do you remember why it was important for the decrees to be written in the writing and the language of every people?  Why is it important that the decree was sealed with the king’s signet ring?  Who sealed the decree?
Est 3:13  
And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions.
Q:  What did the decree say?  (about who was to be killed and about the timing).  What does this say about the planning of the attack against the Jews?  Did you notice that this is a command?  They HAD to do it, by law.
Est 3:14  
A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day.
Est 3:15  
The couriers went out, hastened by the king's command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.
Q:  Why do you think the writer of Esther tells us that the king and Haman sat down to drink?
Chapter 4
WHEN Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry.
Q:  Why did Mordecai tear his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes?  Why did he go into the midst of the city?  Why did he cry with a loud voice?
Est 4:2  
He went as far as the front of the king's gate, for no one might enter the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
Q:  Why not?
Est 4:3  
And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
Est 4:4  
So Esther's maids and eunuchs came and told her, and the queen was deeply distressed. Then she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept them.
Q:    What did they tell her?  Do you think she knew about the Kings decree?  Why or why not?  Why wouldn’t Mordecai accept the clothes that Esther sent him?
Est 4:5  
Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was.
Q:  Do you remember what a eunuch is?  Who’s eunuch is he?  What does it say about Esther that she had the power to command the king’s eunuch?
Est 4:6  
So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of the king's gate.
Est 4:7  
And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries to destroy the Jews.
Est 4:8  
He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people.
Q:  Why did Mordecai tell him all that had happened and give him a copy of the decree?  What did Mordecai command?  Based on what you know about Esther so far, do you think she will obey him?
Est 4:9  
So Hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
Est 4:10  
Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai:
Est 4:11  
Est 4:12   "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days."  So they told Mordecai Esther's words.
Q:  What was Esther telling Mordecai?
Est 4:13  
And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews.
Est 4:14  
"For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Q:  What do you think about what Mordecai answers?  Does this surprise you?  Why does he think that deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place?  What does he mean when he says, “for such a time as this?”
Est 4:15  
Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai:
Est 4:16  
"Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"
Q:  Why does she call for a fast?  Who is supposed to fast?  What made her change her mind?
Est 4:17  
So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him
Q:  Now, who’s obeying who?

Last week’s verse (memorized for today)
Bible Verse:  Esther 4:14
14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Next week’s verse (memorize for next week)
Bible Verse:  Psalm 94:21-22
21 They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. 22 But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.

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

Comments

[Maria]

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Maria