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The Book of Esther• Author–Unknown
• Purpose–History behind the the Jewish feast
of Purim–So they will remember and
celebrate the holiday
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Unique in the Canon• One of only two books named after a
women.• Only writing we have concerning the
Jews that did not return to the promise land.
• Lacks any spiritual or religious language.
• God is not mentioned in the book at all.
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Main Theme
The Providence of God
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Place in History• 586 BC - Babylonians conquer Jerusalem &
Temple Burned • 538 BC - Babylon defeated by Cyrus "the Great"
king of Persia• 537 BC - Cyrus decreed that the Jews could return
to their homeland and Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest lead back a small remnant.
• Esther takes place during chapters 6 and 7 of Ezra.
• Ahasuerus (or Xerxes) king of Persia reigns from 485 to 464 BC.
• Artaxerxes his son allows both Ezra and Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem. 5
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Susa - Capital of the Persian Empire
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Ahasuerus• Powerful• Rash and quick
tempered• Proud• Self-centered• Wicked
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Mordecai• Esther’s cousin• Raising Esther• Continually
demonstrates courage, faith and a desire to do what is right no matter the cost.
• God fearing Jew8
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Haman• The antagonist• Second in
command• Incredibly prideful• Cowardly • Manipulative
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Esther• Young Jewish
orphan• Jewish name is
Hadassah, which means myrtle
• Courageous • Faith• Wise
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“Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for
such a time as this?” Esther 4:14
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Exodus 14:8, Ezra 7:27, Esther 1:10
• Powerful• Rash and quick
tempered• Proud• Self-centered• Wicked
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“Sovereign Lord,”Acts 4:24
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Esther’s Obedience• Young Jewish
orphan• Jewish name is
Hadassah, which means myrtle
• Bitter?• No evidence at all
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Bitterness is ugly• Ephesians 4:31
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Esther’s Obedience• Esther 2:10• Courageous • Faith• Wise
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Mordecai• Esther’s cousin• Raising Esther• Continually
demonstrates courage, faith and a desire to do what is right no matter the cost.
• God fearing Jew• Esther 2:11 18
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Esther’s Teachable Heart• Esther 2:9, 15• Romans 12:15 • I Peter 5:5-11• Phil 2:3-11
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