February 15, 2009/ Esther 2:1-4:17 (ESV 1 )

February 15, 2009/ Esther 2:1-4:17 (ESV 1 ) we look this week at the book of Esther the official text is from Chapter 4, we'll look at Chapters 2-4 it is not an overtly pious book the name of God isn't mentioned explicitly in its whole but the basic assumptions are clearly orthodox, and in a non-overt way, the book teaches the sovereign rule of God in the affairs of men, and His providential care of His people commentators are not agreed on how admirable even the hero and heroine of the book really are, and some even see the fact that God doesn't directly speak in the book as evidence that while God did protect His people and is indeed sovereign, He is not necessarily always happy with His peoples' methods, even those of people He has raised up for a specific purpose the book takes place in the reign of Xerxes, king of Persia grandson of Cyrus the Mede who allowed the first wave of Jews to return to Judah from the Babylonian captivity (and son of Darius) that's been 50 years ago by the time we pick up the story this is 25 years before the return of Ezra and Nehemiah to Jerusalem this concerns the situation of not those who returned to Jerusalem, but of those who stayed in Persia Xerxes was cruel, sensual, and capricious, in no way an admirable man in Chapter 1 of Esther, we see him in a snit banish his queen for insubordination history tells us that between Chapters 1 and 2 he tried to conquer Greece and suffered embarrassing defeats he's home again, and his mind turns from conquering the world to finding other diversions Esther 2:1 After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus had abated, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her. there's a hint here that the man experiences regret for what he did in a snit, but his pride won't let him undo 2Then the king's young men who attended him said, "Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king. 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in Susa the capital, under custody of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women. Let their cosmetics be given them. 4 And let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." This pleased the king, and he did so. this is no happy scene imagine the grief of parents and daughters imagine the heartache of young men who have their girlfriends snatched scores of young women scooped up to be tried out by the king, and tossed into the royal harem if they don't suit him, and made to be his queen if they do it's hard to know which option would be worse 5 ow there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 1 Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright 2000; 2001, by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 1

6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom ebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away. if Mordecai's parents or grandparents were carried away with Jeconiah, chances are that he came from a wealthy, aristocratic family he has a sense of family responsibility because 7He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. he's cared for his young cousin for how long we aren't told, but he's effectively her father and protector at this point and there's really nothing he can do to protect her they live in Susa, she's beautiful, and there's no escaping the draft 8So when the king's order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king's palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women. 9 And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king's palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem. there must be more to the young woman than just good looks the official in charge sees in her something more good character? a pleasant manner? a good sense of humor? all of the above? somehow he sees a winner in the search for a queen, and from whatever motivation, sets about getting her ready 10 Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known. this is interesting perhaps if she had let her Jewishness be known, it might have disqualified her as not a native and not a candidate for queen? what Mordecai's motivation is here, we don't know but the young woman, out of respect for him, does what he asks in this regard 11 And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her. we see Mordecai concerned for Esther 12 ow when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasu-erus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women 13when the young woman went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king's palace. 14 In the evening she would go in, and in the morning she would return to the second harem in custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name. 2

this is sad stuff people aren't shirts that you try on for size and then discard if they don't suit you what a life awaited most of these kids a life of loneliness after a failed audition with the king 15When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king's eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. ow Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. there is a humility about this young woman she listened to Mordecai she listened to the king's agent she's got sense enough to know she doesn't know how to negotiate this swamp, and so she takes the advice of people that have been around the block once or twice and for all that was not admirable about him, Xerxes was able to recognize that this was more than a pretty face and body 16And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal palace in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign, 17 the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther's feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity. how about this? a day off and big feast and tax amnesty for the hinterlands! 19 ow when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate. exactly what is meant by "when the virgins were gathered a second time" is not known one possible explanation is that it simply took a while for harem recruits from outlying provinces to be assembled, and by the time they arrived, the competition was over at any rate, it seems that Mordecai has some position of responsibility now (perhaps the doing of Esther?) (business was done and justice dispensed at the gates) 20Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him. 21 In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. it's interesting that in the end, Xerxes was killed in just this kind of palace plot but Mordecai is in a place to foil this one 22 And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. 23 When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king. 3

this sounds like the case of Joseph he was able to correctly predict the meaning of fellow prisoners' dreams, but was immediately forgotten by the one he helped here Mordecai's loyalty is noted, but soon forgotten 3:1After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. Jewish tradition has it that Haman was an "Agagite" in that he was a descendent of Agag the Amalakite that Saul was told to utterly destroy but failed to obey God and do so if so, there is longstanding national antipathy between Haman's people and the Jews 2And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. what's going on is not clear it may be that this bowing was supposed to be some kind of worship it may be that this is just a refusal to bow down to an Amalekite it could be that Haman was just a thoroughly unlikable fellow that nobody respected and that no one could possibly bow down to unless there was a royal requirement to do so, and Mordecai was insisting that getting a promotion didn't change the facts about Haman 3 Then the king's servants who were at the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's command?" 4 And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai's words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. it seems that somehow Mordecai has applied for a religious exemption there is, of course, no place in the Jewish religion for worshiping another human being there are the "3 Hebrew children" in Daniel but whether this is such a case, we aren't told there is no prohibition against paying due respect to a civil official Mordecai could be claiming an exemption he's not entitled to take 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury. it's hard to imagine that there is no history between these two men Haman's pride is injured, and he's just crazy with rage 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus. commentators point out that this might be hard to believe as historical fact if we didn't have the experience of the 20 th century to remind us that this is not fantastic destroying all the Jews in the Persian empire of this time would pretty much have been a complete eradication of them 4

7 In the first month, which is the month of isan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. Haman is superstitious he's looking for a sign in the dice as to when would be a good time to execute a plan to rid the world of the Jews 8Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them. there is truth, half truth, and lie in what Haman says to the king the Jews are dispersed and have a law that is superior to that of anyone else but they will break only those of the king's laws that the law of God requires... and it IS to the king's profit to tolerate them 9 If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries." so the false charge of rebellion is sweetened by the prospect of payoff presumably Haman is planning to plunder the Jews' stuff to get some of this cash (this is a huge fortune one commentator put it at 375 tons of silver) that ought to sound chillingly 20 th century 10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, "The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you." Haman is given carte blanch he doesn't even need to check details with Xerxes 12Then the king's scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king's satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king's signet ring. the date here is interesting it is the day before the killing of the Passover lamb that this decree goes out it states that 11 months later, the Jews were to be annihilated 13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day. 5

15 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion. this is crass everybody with any sense, with any first idea about what is right and sane, is horrified and troubled over this Xerxes and Haman just figure they will have a few cold ones they are absolutely callous to what has been set in motion these are barbarians 4:1When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went up to the entrance of the king's gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth. 3And in every province, wherever the king's command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. it doesn't say so explicitly, but sack cloth and ashes go with praying for deliverance it is implicit that God's people cry out to Him 4 When Esther's young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was. Esther is out of touch she doesn't have the first idea about what is going on in the politics of Persia this is the position of the royal harem 6Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate, 7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people. 9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. command her to go to the king to this point Esther is taking her cues from Mordecai as this story goes along, she acts more and more on her own 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, 11 "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law to be put to 6

death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days." you don't go charging up to even modern heads of state without an invitation now Esther IS the queen, but insiders have tried to kill Xerxes before this rule is maybe not so arbitrary as it looks at first why it doesn't occur to her to request an audience isn't completely obvious maybe she figures there isn't time to lose the 30 day observation may be saying that she's not so sure she hasn't fallen out of favor with Xerxes, and may be in danger if she shows up unannounced 12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14For 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?" relief will arise from another place now here is a deep thing God's providence will not be thwarted nevertheless, we have real freedom to participate or fail to do so we can obey or we can disobey if we choose disobedience, it is to our hurt, but God's purposes will not be thwarted Esther is personally at the turning point of her life this is what she was made for if she chooses what looks like the way of safety, tries to stay out of the line of fire, she misses what God intended for her but that will not stop God's deliverance of His people note too that Mordecai can't claim to be sure that her plea will succeed he must say "who knows whether " this is the place we finite human beings are always in we can't be sure how things will turn out we can only throw ourselves on His mercy and act as responsibly as we can 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16"Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish." Esther is knows the magnitude of what is at stake and doesn't presume (even though this is indeed what she was made to do) that her own unaided human efforts will suffice here she asks others to fast with her and implied is that others will pray with her in that context, what comes from the hand of God is His business if I perish, I perish 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him. Mordecai directed Esther earlier now Esther is directing 7