This book tells how the young Jewess, Esther, saved her countrymen from the slaughter planned for them by Aman, the prime minister of King Assuerus. Acting upon the advice of her uncle, Mardochai, she interviewed with the King. As a result her people were saved and Aman was hanged upon a gibbet.
Could things have been so bad like that written in Esther or could things still be so much the same today as written in Esther?
So bad in terms of a wife being divorced for not obeying the words of a drunken husband?
Even if we are talking about King Asseurus and his wife queen Vasthi?
“Now on the seventh day, when the king was merry, and after very much drinking was well warmed with wine… he commanded… the seven eunuchs… to bring in queen Vasthi before the king, with the crown set upon her head, to show her beauty to all the people and the princes: for she was exceedingly beautiful. But she refused, and would not come at the king’s commandment…
Whereupon the king, being angry, and inflamed with a great fury, asked the wise men… what sentence ought to pass upon Vasthi the queen…
Queen Vasthi hath not only injured the king… for this deed of the queen will go abroad to all women, so that they will despise their husbands… will slight the commandments of their husbands: wherefore the king’s indignation is just… and let it be written according to the law… that Vasthi come in no more to the king, but another, that is better than her, be made queen in her place… give honor to their husbands… that the husbands should be rulers and masters in their houses…”
So bad in terms of a wife being divorced for not obeying the words of a drunken husband?
The new queen was Esther, the orphaned and adopted daughter of Mardochai, A Jew despised by Aman, King Assuerus’ second in command.
So much the same today whereas evil begots evil turned from another towards oneself?
Yes, all propagated by one’s enormous ego, self-centeredness, and misplaced power!
“That night the king passed without sleep, and he commanded the histories and chronicles of former times to be brought him.
What honor and reward hath Mardochai received for this fidelity?
What ought to be done to the man whom the king is desirous to honor? But Aman thinking in his heart, and supposing that the king would honor no other than himself… Thus shall be honored, whom the king hath a mind to honor… and do as thou hast spoken to Mardochai the Jew…”
Our Silly Ego, pride and self can lead to disastrous results in life and beyond!
Evil You Prepare for Another May Come Back to You!
Day 177: OT Esther C1–7; Evil You Prepare for Another May Come Back to You!
This book tells how the young Jewess, Esther, saved her countrymen from the slaughter planned for them by Aman, the prime minister of King Assuerus. Acting upon the advice of her uncle, Mardochai, she interviewed with the King. As a result her people were saved and Aman was hanged upon a gibbet.
Bible Notes:
Esther Chapter 1: Feast of King Assuerus in Susan; Vasthi refuses to attend Assuerus’ feast; Anger of Assuerus; Wives ordered to obey their husbands.
Feast of King Assuerus in Susan:
In the days of Assuerus, who reigned from India to Ethiopia, over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, when he sat on the throne of his kingdom, the city Susan was the capital of his kingdom.
He made a great feast… for the most mighty of the Persians… that he might show the riches of the glory of his kingdom, and the greatness, and boasting of his power…
And when the days of the feast were expired, he invited all the people that were found in Susan, from the greatest to the least… commanded a feast to be made seven days in the court of the garden… as was worthy of a king’s magnificence.
Neither was there any one to compel them to drink that were not willing…
Vasthi the queen made a feast for the women in the palace, where king Assuerus was used to dwell.
Vasthi Refuses to Attend Assuerus’ Feast:
Now on the seventh day, when the king was merry, and after very much drinking was well warmed with wine… he commanded… the seven eunuchs… to bring in queen Vasthi before the king, with the crown set upon her head, to show her beauty to all the people and the princes: for she was exceedingly beautiful. But she refused, and would not come at the king’s commandment…
Anger of Assuerus:
Whereupon the king, being angry, and inflamed with a great fury, asked the wise men… what sentence ought to pass upon Vasthi the queen…
Wives Ordered to Obey Their Husbands:
Queen Vasthi hath not only injured the king… for this deed of the queen will go abroad to all women, so that they will despise their husbands… will slight the commandments of their husbands: wherefore the king’s indignation is just… and let it be written according to the law… that Vasthi come in no more to the king, but another, that is better than her, be made queen in her place… give honor to their husbands… that the husbands should be rulers and masters in their houses…
Esther Chapter 2: Assuerus seeks a new queen; Mardochai and Esther; Assuerus chooses Esther; Visits of maids to Assuerus; Esther becomes queen; Esther’s wedding feast; Mardochai reveals a plot against the king.
Assuerus Seeks a New Queen:
After this, when the wrath of king Assuerus was appeased, he remembered Vasthi, and what she had done and what she suffered…
Let young women be sought for the king, virgins and beautiful…
Egeus the eunuch, who is the overseer and keeper of the king’s women…
And whosoever among them all shall please the king’s eyes, let her be queen instead of Vasthi.
Mardochai and Esther:
There was a man in the city of Susan a Jew, named Mardochai… and he had brought up his brother’s daughter Edissa, who by another name was called Esther: now she had lost both he parents: and was exceedingly fair and beautiful… Mardochai adopted her for his daughter.
Assuerus Chooses Esther:
Esther… was delivered… and she pleased him (Assuerus), and found favor in his sight… and he commanded the eunuch… to deliver… seven of the most beautiful maidens of the king’s house… and she would not tell him her people nor her country. For Mardochai had charged her to say nothing at all.
Visits of Maids to Assuerus:
It was the twelfth month… and being decked out, as it pleased them, as they passed from the chamber of the women to the king’s chamber… and she went in at evening, came out in the morning… under the hand of Susagaz the eunuch, who had charge over the king’s concubines: neither could she return any more to the king, unless the king desired it, and had ordered her by name to come.
Esther Becomes Queen:
And the day was at hand, when Esther… was to go in to the king…
And the king loved her more than all the women, and she had favor and kindness before him above all the women, and he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vasthi.
Esther’s Wedding Feast:
And he commanded a magnificent feast to be prepared… for the marriage and wedding of Esther… Mardochai stayed at the king’s gate… for whatsoever he commanded, Esther observed… when he brought her up, a little one.
Mardochai Reveals a Plot against the King:
Bagathan and Thares… were angry: and they designed to rise up against the king, and to kill him… And Mardochai… told it to the queen Esther: and she to the king in Mardochai’s name… and they were both hanged on a gibbet. And it was put in the histories, and recorded in the chronicles before the king.
Esther Chapter 3: Mardochai refuses to worship Aman; Aman’s anger; Assuerus decrees a massacre of the Jews; Publication of the decree.
Mardochai Refuses to Worship Aman:
After these things, king Assuerus advanced Aman… only Mardochai did not bend his knee, nor worship him… they told Aman… for he had told them that he was a Jew.
Aman’s Anger:
Aman was exceedingly angry… and he chose rather to destroy all the nation of the Jews that were in the kingdom of Assuerus.
Assuerus Decrees a Massacre of the Jews:
…that use new laws and ceremonies, and moreover despise the king’s ordinances… If it please thee, decree that they may be destroyed… Aman, the enemy of the Jews… and as to the people, do with them as seemeth good to thee.
Publication of the Decree:
And the king’s scribes… and the letters, sealed with his ring… to kill and destroy all the Jews, both young and old, little children, and women… and to make a spoil of their goods…
And immediately the edict was hung up in Susan, the king and Aman feasting together, and all the Jews that were in the city weeping.
Esther Chapter 4: Mourning of the Jews; Esther learns of Assuerus’ plan; Rule for seeing King Assuerus; Mardochai urges Esther to help the Jews; Esther agrees to appeal to Assuerus.
Mourning of the Jews:
…there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, wailing, and weeping, many using sackcloth and ashed for their bed.
Esther Learns of Assuerus’ Plan:
Then Esther’s maids and her eunuchs went in, and told her.,, she was in a consternation… Mardochai… told him all that happened…. Admonish her to go in to the king, and to entreat him for her people.
Rule for Seeing King Assuerus:
Whosoever, whether man or woman, cometh into the king’s inner court, who is not called for, is immediately to be put to death without any delay: except the king shall hold out the golden scepter to him, in token of clemency, that so he may live.
Mardochai Urges Esther to Help the Jews:
Think not that thou mayst save thy life only… thou, and thy father’s house shall perish… that thou mightest be ready in such a time as this?
Esther Agrees to Appeal to Assuerus:
Go, and gather together all the Jews… and pray ye for me… I will go in to the king, against the law, not being called, and expose myself to death and to danger…
Esther Chapter 5: Invitation to Esther’s banquet; Assuerus and Aman attend the banquet; Aman prepares a gibbet for Mardochai.
Invitation to Esther’s Banquet:
She pleased his eyes, and he held out toward her the golden scepter… I beseech thee to come to me this day, and Aman with thee to the banquet which I have prepared…
Assuerus and Aman Attend the Banquet:
…after he had drunk wine plentifully… let the king and Aman come to the banquet which I have prepared them, and to morrow, I will open my mind to the king.
Aman Prepares a Gibbet for Mardochai:
I think I have nothing, so long as I see Mardochai the Jew sitting before the king’s gate… in the morning speak to the king, that Mardochai may be hanged upon it…
Esther Chapter 6: Assuerus learns of his debt to Mardochai; Assuerus commands Aman to honor Mardochai; Aman departs for Esther’s banquet.
Assuerus Learns of his Debt to Mardochai:
That night the king passed without sleep, and he commanded the histories and chronicles of former times to be brought him.
What honor and reward hath Mardochai received for this fidelity?
Assuerus Commands Aman to Honor Mardochai:
What ought to be done to the man whom the king is desirous to honor? But Aman thinking in his heart, and supposing that the king would honor no other than himself… Thus shall be honored, whom the king hath a mind to honor… and do as thou hast spoken to Mardochai the Jew…
Aman Departs for Esther’s Banquet:
Esther Chapter 7: Esther’s petition for the Jews; Esther denounces Aman; Aman is hanged.
Esther’s Petition for the Jews:
So the king and Aman went in, to drink with the queen… after he was warm with wine… give me my life for which I ask, and my people for which I request… but now we have an enemy, whose cruelty redoundeth upon the king.
Esther Denounces Aman:
It is this Aman that is our adversary and most wicked enemy.
Aman is Hanged:
Aman also rose up to entreat Esther the queen for his life, for he understood that evil was prepared for him by the king.
He will force the queen also in my presence, in my own house.
Hang him upon it. So Aman was hanged on the gibbet, which he had prepared for Mardochai: and the king’s wrath ceased.
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