Most Bible scholars agree now that the Persian king mentioned in Esther was the well-known Xerxes of our history books, the one who fought the battle of Salamis where his fleet was, unexpectedly, destroyed by the Greeks in one of the world’s most important battles. Some versions of the Bible call him Ahasuerus and the book of Esther (1v1) introduces him as ruling over 127 provinces from Ethiopia to India. His capital city was Susa and, in the third year of his reign, he gave all his officials, ministers, army and provincial leaders a great banquet which lasted a full 180 days. Some believe that Xerxes was trying to enlist support for his forthcoming military campaigns which were to have such historical significance. Timewise, the book of Esther takes place before the book of Nehemiah but notice that Nehemiah lived in the same city of Susa at a time when Esther would have been the stepmother to the king.

FEAST GOES WRONG
Once this feast was over, another seven day one started for local men in the palace garden (v5); everything was luxurious and the wine flowed freely. The queen meanwhile held a banquet for the women of the palace. Trouble started when the king was merry with wine and he asked his eunuchs to bring Queen Vashti before him to show off her beauty. When she refused to come “the king was enraged and his anger burned within him” (v12). The king took advice and what started as his problem became a national problem as the sages were concerned that every husband in the empire would soon suffer the same indignity of having a rebellious wife (v18). Vashti was ordered never to come before the king again and a decree was made that women everyhere should honour their husbands and every man be “master in his own house” (v22).

ESTHER WINS FAVOUR
This is a strange setting a for Bible book, as is the beauty contest and (v3) the cosmetic treatments of the king’s harem, administered by Hegai in the citadel at Susa. It does show, though, how God can work his purposes out even in the most inauspicious circumstances. We are introduced to Mordecai who was the great grandson of a man called Kish, one of those people who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (2v6). He had a younger cousin, Esther, who he kindly brought up after she was orphaned (v7); she, along with others, were taken to the harem. It is likely that Esther did not use her true name, Hadassah, to disguise the fact that she was a Jew. Just as Nehemiah and Ezra had the favour of kings, so Esther won the favour of Hegai, who gave her the top treatments and assistance possible (2v9). Hegai is a symbol of the Holy Spirit who helps us and knows what is good for us. All the women received six months treatment with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics (v12). Esther, as we know, did win the favour of the king, became queen and another great banquet was ordered in her name (v18 the fourth so far in the book!). Mordecai sat at the king’s gate, possibly to be near Esther although some believe he had gatekeeper responsibilities there. Mordecai happened to hear of an assassination plot on the king and the two men were arrested and condemned (v21-23). These assasins had the wonderful names of Bigthan and Teresh.

HAMAN-ENEMY OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Another man, Haman, had been promoted by the king (3v1,2) to the very top but Mordecai stood out because he did not bow down to him like the other kings servants at the king’s gate (v2). Haman then earned his reputation as “enemy of the Jews” (8v1) because he decided to get rid of, not only Mordecai, but all the Jews in the empire. He managed to persuade Xerxes, helped by the offer of a financial bribe (v9), to send an edict decreeing that all Jews be annihilated on one particular day of the year and their property could also be plundered. Over the years Satan has always tried to destroy God’s people, the Jews, Jesus Himself and then the church. The anti-Jewish and now anti-Christ spirit is still very alive and active but we have a promise in the New Testament that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church.

MORDECAI-FRIEND OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Mordecai was not a man to sit passively when there was work to do (ch4v1) and made a complete scene of himself, wailing with a loud and bitter cry and dressed in sackcloth and ashes. He sent a message to Esther that she should go to the king on behalf of her people (v8). I am not sure that Esther felt heroic at all and was acutely aware of the dangers of approaching the king without being called (v11). Mordecai, knowing the ways of God’s destiny, understood that if Esther was unwilling to stand up for the Jews then somebody else would (v14). Besides she would die anyway and perhaps she had “come to royal dignity for just such a time as this” (v14). Esther was willing to take her life in her hands but only if Mordecai persuaded as many Jews as possible in Susa to hold 3 days of fasting (v16).

ESTHER RISKS HER LIFE
True to her word Esther put on her royal robes, approached the king and, thankfully, she immediately won his favour (5v1,2); he held out the golden sceptre for her to touch. What else did she do but invite him to yet another banquet which she had prepared and, without saying why, the evil Haman was also invited (v4). The king was more than happy so Esther invited the king and Haman to, you guessed it, another banquet, the next day. Haman was happy and in good spirits at this personal treatment (v9) but, seeing  Mordecai at the king’s gate, showing him apparent disrespect, he was infuriated.  Mordecai was unwilling to give divine honour to a man. Haman, puffed up with pride, and full of boasting to his wife and friends, mentioned the one main disappointment in his life, Mordecai (v12-14). The decision was made to ask the kings blessing, the next day, for Mordecai to be hanged on a particularly high, specially constructed gallows (v14).

GOD CAN CHANGE THE PLANS OF KINGS
But what Haman did not know was that God was changing circumstances and guiding the heart of the king (6v1-3). That very night the king could not sleep; he asked for the courtly records to be read and was reminded of the time when Mordecai saved him from an assassination attempt. To cut things short, on the day Mordecai was to be hung by Haman, he would, actually, receive the favour of the king. For those who honour God receive the favour of God and He is able and willing to change the plans of kings, on their behalf. And so God did; Haman had the humiliation of conducting an honorary horseback parade for Mordecai through Susa. Soon after, at the banquet, Haman’s plan to destroy the Jews was exposed for what it was (chapter 7) and he was eventually hanged on his own gallows (v10).

HONOUR AND AUTHORITY OF THE KING
King Ahasueurus gave the signet ring of authority to Mordecai (8v1,2), instead of Haman and Esther took another risk to approach the king, once again, to revoke the orders of Haman to destroy all the Jews. On the same day as they would have been destroyed by their enemies the Jews could, instead, take revenge on them (v13). Mordecai went out from the presence of the king, magnificent in his blue and white royal robes, with a great golden crown and a mantle of fine linen and purple (v15). How amazing that the near relative of a captive would end up in such a position.  As a man of God prophesied to Eli, many years before, “those who honour me I will honour (1 Samuel 2 v30). There is great honour for those who know His favour and enjoy the presence of the King of Kings. Great joy and gladness broke out in Susa and all over the empire.

FEAST OF GOD’S PRINCE
The day of retribution came (9v1,2) on the 13th day of the month of Adar (the 13th and 14th in Susa) and a day of feasting followed. Mordecai recorded all these things and sent letters to all Jews in the provinces that they should celebrate these two days as an annual festival to remember the relief of the Jews from their enemies. It had been a day that “had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should be days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and presents to the poor” (v22). Some say that the book of Esther starts with a feast of the world’s prince, Ahasuerus, and closes with the feast of God’s prince, Mordecai.
Many people find it strange that God’s name is not mentioned in Esther. As Matthew Henry said, “if the name of God is not here, his finger is”. Esther shows God working out his purposes for He had plans to send a Saviour to the Jewish nation and no-one was going to hinder them. God was, carefully, protecting his people for the benefit of the world so He could fulfill the promises first made to Abraham.