A KING WITH A FUNNY NAME

Once upon a time, in the great land of Persia, there lived a king named Achashverosh.

Please don’t worry too much if you are unable to pronounce this king’s name the Jewish way.  Just say Xerxes instead; which is the Persian translation.  Xerxes is a lot easier to roll off the tongue. 

There were actually three generations of kings named Xerxes, and Achashverosh was one of these three.  He reigned as King during our story of Esther and The King.

Of course every king has a beautiful queen, and Xerxes had Vashti.

THE KING THREW A PARTY

In the third year of his reign, Xerxes threw quite a lavish party. It lasted for 180 days! 

The food was abundant and the wine flowed freely.

Many people were invited!

This party is the beginning of our story of Esther and The King.

BEFORE THERE WAS ESTHER AND THE KING

The crowd that the king invited to come grew in progression.  First he invited all the people of his court. Next, he invited all the dignitaries of the area.  Then, he opened the doors of the palace to all the people of the capital city of Shushan.

Xerxes wanted the beautiful Vashti to appear before him at his feast.  It was his prideful desire to show off her excellent beauty.

For some reason, and there are many different theories about her reasons; Vashti refused to come before the King.

This blatant, public refusal made the king very angry.

TROUBLE WITH THE OTHER WIVES

King Achashverosh’s subjects and chief advisers did not make matters any easier for the angry King. 

The adviser, named Haman, insisted that the Queen’s refusal to the King meant disaster to every household in the kingdom. She was setting a very wrong example for all of the other wives.

If the King could not even control the actions of his Queen, how on earth could any of his subjects keep order in their own homes?

HAMAN’S SECRET MOTIVES

One has to wonder about the motives of Haman, even this early in the story.  https://studyandobey.com/character-studies/mordecai-haman-character-study/

Was he jealous of the queen’s power over the king?  

Did he fear being found out by her?  

No matter; what was done was done. 

Haman kept insisting that this was a terrible problem.  He suggested that the King set a good example for the kingdom and do away with Vashti.  Giving in to the peer pressure of his subjects, the King ordered that Vashti be banished from the kingdom.  Some even believe that she was put to death.

THE KING REGRETS HIS BAD DECISION

When the party was over and the King was sober, he deeply regretted his hasty decision.  Now he was a very lonely King with no one beautiful to gaze upon.  As a matter of fact, he had to look at the ugly faces of his royal staff day-in and day-out.  

He missed the beautiful Vashti.

The greedy ambitious Haman probably noticed The King’s sad face.  Haman might have wondered if he had made a grave mistake.  Perhaps the King would turn on him.  Haman worried night and day because of this lonely state which the King was in.  After all, the sad, regretful loss of the King happened because of taking Haman’s advice.

As he watched the lonely King mope around the palace, a plan formed in Haman’s mind.  He devised another plot which would serve to change the situation.  Something needed to be done fast, before things had time to get out of control.

The King was quickly advised of Haman’s new idea.  Haman convinced him that he should search the kingdom high and low for the most beautiful girl in the land.  When she was found, he could make her his new queen.

Scouts, who were experts on beauty, were sent out to the far corners of the city to gather all the most beautiful young maidens.  Their job was to bring them back to the palace to be prepared to meet the King.

MORDECAI WORKED FOR THE KING

The King had an employee named Mordecai.  Mordecai was a Jew, but the King had not really paid any attention to this fact.  

This man named Mordecai had stayed in Babylon instead of returning to Jerusalem with part of the remnant of the Jewish people who had taken advantage of the decree from King Cyrus.  The decree had released the Jewish people from captivity.

Mordecai had been very blessed in the land of Persia.  He was prosperous in the employment of the King. Mordecai had used the blessings from his prosperity to raise his beautiful niece.

Many historians have wondered whether Mordecai was also secretly using his prosperity in the land to quietly fund the return of more exiles to the homeland.  If so, there was no evidence.  Mordecai was well respected by all of the people.

THERE WAS A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG GIRL NAMED ESTHER

As mentioned earlier; Mordecai had adopted his uncle’s daughter.  She was named Hadassah.  This Jewish name meant “myrtle.” It was a Jewish tradition in those days for the myrtle flower to be worn on the head of a bride at a wedding feast. 

All Jewish women loved the myrtle flower. 

Probably, Hadassah’s mother and father had given her this lovely name hoping that it would bring her favor with God.

While living with Mordecai in the land of Persia, Hadassah was called by the Persian name of Esther. 

A GIRL NAMED “A STAR”

Most Persian names were perversions of Jewish names which had been picked to honor their pagan gods.  However; the Persian name, Esther, despite its perversions, did mean “a star.”  It was said that Esther was as beautiful as the morning star. 

Legend  has it that Mordecai often quoted Psalm 22 to Esther, which was instructed by David to be used as The Chief Musician played a song called The Hind of The Morning.  This song title and the lovely words of the song was just another way of describing The Glory of God and the hope that it brought to all of God’s people.

Esther was raised up to put her hope and trust in God.  She knew to wait for the Messiah which David gave prophecy about in this Psalm.  The Psalm was written one thousand years before the Messiah was born.

I like to believe that the words of David and the Messianic Psalm were often sung from the lips of this beautiful young maiden.  My mind sees a vision of her going about the chores of her daily life in the House of Mordecai.  She is singing God’s praises all the while.

ESTHER’S TRAGIC BEGINNINGS

Esther’s mother and father had been assassinated by cruel men who were called Agagites. They were hateful descendants of King Agag. These men hated the Jews. They were a cold, hateful and murderous people who considered it an honor to kill anyone of Jewish descent.

Haman, the officer from Xerxes’ court, was also an Agagite.

Esther’s father’s name was named Abihail. He was a Benjamite. The Benjamites were hated more than any other tribe by the Agagites. It was this tragic hatred that had caused Esther to be living the life of an orphan.  Her fate of being an orphan had eventually led her to her present life in the home of Mordecai.

God is continually working for good in all things; even tragedy.

Mordecai loved Esther as if she were born to him.  He was careful to raise her well.

RAISED TO HONOR GOD

Mordecai was known in the gates of the city.  He was honored among the Jews who were still left living in Persia.  They praised him for his excellent knowledge of the scriptures.

Esther was taught the scriptures from the first day she came to live with Mordecai.

She was raised to honor and keep the commandments of God.  These things were reflected in her demeanor, in her dress, in her diet, and in her daily habits.  The lovely Esther was devoted to prayer and seeking God’s will in all that she did.

Within Mordecai’s house they lived as devout Jews, but Mordecai did not flaunt his Jewishness in the court of the Persian King.  The King’s courts was simply the place where he did his work.  He used his prosperity to the glory of God and went quietly and humbly about his days.

ESTHER MOVES TO THE PALACE

One day Esther’s quiet life in the house of Mordecai was disrupted by the King’s beauty experts.  They were scouting the land for the most beautiful virgins to bring before the King.  These scouts had seen Esther in the streets.  Of course they had noticed her great beauty.  One day the scouts followed Esther home.   Mordecai was quickly informed that Esther had a great destiny to fulfill at the palace.

Esther and Mordecai seemed to have no choice in the matter.

As they took the trembling Esther away, Mordecai had only enough time to whisper one word of caution to her.  Quickly he told her; “do not reveal your true identity to these people!  Do not tell them of your Jewish heritage.”

He was probably thinking of her safety.  Mordecai had dealt with many of the evil Agagites, (such as Haman) who worked in the court of the King.  Over time Mordecai had learned to protect himself from these men.  However, he knew that Esther was innocent of such hatred. She had been sheltered in his home.  Mordecai very quickly advised her. 

Now, in the twinkling of an eye; she was gone.

The house of Mordecai must have felt very quiet and lonely that night.

Before Esther could imagine what was happening to her, she was whisked off to live among the other concubines of the King.  Once there, she learned she was to spend months preparing to meet her day of destiny.

Soon she was introduced to a whole staff of servants who were masters of beauty preparations.  They worked with the women who were chosen as potential candidates for the King’s court.

DRESSING TO MEET THE KING

Esther was given a choice of what she would like to adorn herself with when her time came to go to the King. This beautiful young girl very wisely passed on all of the gaudy bangles and baubles the other girls were grabbing.  

She asked her adviser what would please the King. 

Her adviser was amazed at her question.  This was such a wise approach.  None of the other maidens had even thought to ask.  He saw something about Esther that did not exist within the others.  

Esther’s adviser immediately recognized the fact that Esther was special.  

She was different.  

In that moment of fate, he realized that this girl was one who could handle the life of royalty. 

ESTHER RECEIVES A SIGN THAT GIVES HER HOPE

In keeping with thoughts of the taste of the King, Esther’s adviser chose a simple necklace for her to wear. He handed it to her to adorn her neck whenever she was asked to visit with the King. 

Of all amazing wonders, this necklace turned out to be the very same necklace Esther’s parents had given her at birth.  It was a beautiful necklace which made a reflection of The Star of David when it was held up to the light.  

Somehow, the necklace had been taken from her former home when her parents were murdered.  By a chain of strange coincidences the necklace had made its way into the treasures of the King’s palace.

Esther was amazed.  She never dreamed of becoming the owner of this necklace again.  However, Esther held her tongue and said nothing.  She lay awake at night pondering the fact that by some miracle her very own necklace had made its way back to her.  Also, either by chance or destiny; a fact that will forever remain a mystery; it had made its way back into the possession of Esther through the King’s treasury. 

Esther took this event as a sign from Heaven.  Owning the necklace again encouraged her in the times when she was afraid or homesick.

Esther did not reveal the secret story of the necklace to anyone.  She quietly took the necklace and cherished it.  She wore it close to her heart every day.

WAITING ON THE DAY OF DESTINY

Esther’s life soon returned to whatever normal was supposed to be for her.  She lived into days and days and days of beauty preparations.  Every moment was full of tasks for becoming more beautiful.

Each day Esther dined at the palace.  The King’s advisers tried to get Esther to eat the King’s rich food, but she refused.  Esther preferred to maintain her simple kosher diet of fruit and vegetables.  Her former habits were still very strictly followed.  She still abstained from all forbidden foods.

Esther was able to hide in the chambers of the palace for a long time.

Then, one night she was called to come to the King’s chambers.

Esther’s heart skipped a few beats as she took a deep breath.  Straightening her shoulders and holding her head high, she prepared to meet her destiny with the King.

Legend had it that the King compared everyone to the portrait of Vashti hanging across from his couch.  When each new maiden arrived the king would have them stand in front of this beautiful portrait.  He compared their beauty to Vashti’s.  So far, no one had equaled or surpassed Vashti’s beauty.  

No one that is; until Esther.

When Esther stood before the King he did not even notice Vashti’s portrait.  Esther’s beauty was far more beautiful than Vashti’s.  She took his breath away.

Soon the portrait of Vashti was removed.  It was never returned again.  Once the King laid eyes on Esther, his search was halted.  He desired no one else.  

The King fell instantly in love with Esther. 

Soon He appointed Esther to be his new Queen.

ESTHER IS THE QUEEN

So the little Jewish girl became the Queen of Persia. 

She remembered Mordecai’s advice about never revealing her nationality.

Esther retired to a quiet life inside the courts of the Queen.   She went into the King’s chambers only when he chose to summon her.

Mordecai secretly visited Queen Esther whenever he could.  One day Mordecai was sitting in the King’s gates.  He overheard an evil plot of the King’s chamberlains who were planning to assassinate the King.  Mordecai quickly rushed to Esther.  He told her of this plot hoping to save the life of the King. 

Because Esther was quick to send Mordecai’s vigilant message to the King; the plot was foiled.  Mordecai’s faithful service and loyalty were duly recorded in the King’s royal diary, called The Chronicles of The King.

Time passed.

Soon the selection of the new queen, as well as the heroic deeds of Mordecai, were all but forgotten by the kingdom.  Life moved on.  

These days, all of the latest talk of the kingdom was about Haman.  The wicked man had become very successful.  He had gained much power within the kingdom. The king had even appointed him to be Prime Minister of Persia.

HAMAN’S HORRID PLOTS

Haman decided, since he had been given such a high position of power, that everyone should bow down to him. Most did bow, but Mordecai, knowing Haman’s wicked heart, refused to bow down to him.  This made Haman very angry.   He quickly went to the King.  Knowing that Mordecai was a Jew, Haman asked the King to authorize a royal decree to annihilate the Jews from the land.

The wicked Haman cast lots to determine the day this annihilation was to happen. It was decreed to be Adar 13 of the coming year.  On this day all Jews were to be executed and wiped off the map of every province and every nation of the earth.

Mordecai, hearing the evil intentions of Haman, sent a message to Queen Esther.  He told her the plot of Haman.  Mordecai asked her to go to the King on behalf of the Jews.

The time had come for Esther to reveal her true identity.

Esther had not been called to the side of the King for at least a month.  She was terrified to receive the news of this horrid plot from Mordecai.  However; there was a strictly enforced rule.  The rule was that no one could see the King uninvited, not even the Queen.

ESTHER RISKED HER LIFE TO SPEAK TO THE KING

Being a woman of faith and prayer, Esther fasted and prayed for three days.  She asked the servants who waited on her to fast and pray with her. Then she bravely gathered her courage.  Esther set out to see the King.

In an amazing act, totally unexpected by the court, the King spared Esther’s life.  Not only that, he offered her up to half of the kingdom for her to express her wishes to him.

All Esther asked initially was that the King and Haman join her for dinner.

Of course they did.  Once there the King inquired of his Bride once again.  He sincerely wanted to know her wishes. Her only reply was to tell him she was planning another banquet.  Esther expressed that she wished for him to attend.  She asked him to bring Haman along.  Deeply curious by now, and intrigued by this little string of events, the King quickly agreed to her invitation.

THE PRIDE OF HAMAN’S HEART

In the meantime, Haman was feeling so important! He had been invited to a private banquet of the King and Queen twice in one week.  Who else had ever been given such an honor? 

He swelled with pride.  Haman went out and bragged in the streets.  He boldly proclaimed of his great position within the kingdom.  Later that same day, Haman went home and told his family how powerful he was.  He bragged to them of how rich and famous they were in the land.

After the second banquet, Esther requested just one more audience from which to reveal her request to the King.

Haman could not contain himself.

He was invited once again!

His head was as big as a house.  The wicked man could barely hold his three-cornered hat on his head because of his swelling pride.

Haman hurried home to do some more bragging, but on the way he met Mordecai in the street.  Of course, Mordecai did not bow to him. Haman’s anger outweighed his pride.

In his rage, Haman decided to build a gallows from which to hang Mordecai.  He planned to speak to the King about this the very next morning.  The plan was to get Mordecai out of his way for good so he could go on and enjoy the rest of his day.  He could forget about Mordecai while he banqueted again with the King and Esther.

Pride always comes before a fall. 

Haman was no exception to the rule.

HAMAN’S PLOT IS TURNED ON HIS OWN HEAD

That night the King could not sleep.  Since he would be awake anyway, he ordered  for his servant to bring in the Book of Chronicles which documented his reign.  He commanded that it should be read to him until he found himself getting sleepy.

It just so happened that the reader turned to the page which documented the day that Mordecai exposed a plot to assassinate the King. This reminded the King that the good man, Mordecai, had not yet been rewarded for his good deed. 

The King determined to set the record straight.  No good deed to the King should ever go unrewarded.  As Haman arrived the next morning anxious to get on with the murder of Mordecai, the King asked him a question.  “What should be done for the man the King delights to honor?”

PRIDE BEFORE A FALL FOR HAMAN

Well at this point, Haman’s pride went into overtime.  He mistakenly thought the King was making plans to honor him.  Haman loved to be honored publicly.

So, he quickly answered that such a man should be brought a royal robe which the King himself had worn.  He should be given a horse which the King himself had ridden.  Of course, he thought a royal crest should be placed upon this man’s head. 

Of course, one of the King’s most trusted nobles should robe this man.  He would then lead him on the horse through the city streets proclaiming loudly before him that “this is what is done for the man the King delights to honor.”

The King loved this idea!

Imagine the horror of Haman as the King commanded him to get the robe and the horse and do just as he had described for Mordecai the Jew who sits at the King’s gate!

Haman was caught between a rock and hard place.  He had no choice but to obey the King’s command.  So; he got Mordecai ready.  He led him around the city proclaiming, “THIS IS WHAT IS DONE FOR THE MAN THAT THE KING WANTS TO HONOR!”

It was a very, very, bad day for Haman.

Things got progressively worse as the evening hours approached.

ESTHER REVEALS HER TRUE IDENTITY

It was time for the banquet with the King and Esther.

At a crucial point in the banquet Esther did finally share her request with the King.

First she declared that she was Jewish.  Next she begged the king to spare her people.

One of the attendants of the King told him of the gallows Haman had built to have Mordecai hanged upon.  All of this made the King furious with Haman.  He ordered that Haman be hanged on his own gallows.

Esther’s people were saved.

It was impossible for The King to reverse his decree; but he allowed the Jews to defend themselves.

The King replaced Haman with Mordecai as Prime Minister. 

Esther lived happily ever after in the kingdom.  She was surrounded by those she loved.