5.11.25 - Women of the Bible (Week 3)
Part of Women of the Bible
May 8, 2025

Queen Esther


Esther 1:1-5
1 This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127
provinces stretching from India to Cush:  2  At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne
in the citadel of Susa,  3  and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and
officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces
were present.
4  For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of
his majesty.  5  When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the
enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in
the citadel of Susa.


Esther 1:11
[He commanded them] 11  to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to
display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at.


Esther 1:12
12  But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come.


Esther 1:12
12 Then the king became furious and burned with anger.


Esther 1:20
20  Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will
respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”


Genesis 1:27-28
27  So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
28  God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and
subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that
moves on the ground.”


Esther 1:22
22  [Xerxes] sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to
each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own
household, using his native tongue.


Esther 2:1
Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and
what he had decreed about her.


Esther 2:2-4
Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and
what he had decreed about her.  2  Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be
made for beautiful young virgins for the king.  3  Let the king appoint commissioners in every
province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of
Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the
women; and let beauty treatments be given to them.  4  Then let the young woman who pleases the
king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.


Esther 2:17
17  Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his
favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and
made her queen instead of Vashti.


Esther 2:18
18  And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He
proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.


The Festival of Purim


Esther 3:1-2
1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating
him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles.  2  All the royal officials
at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this
concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.


Esther 3:15
15  The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the
citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.


Esther 4:13-14
13  [Mordecai] sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you
alone of all the Jews will escape.  14  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for
the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who
knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”


1. Who are the Mordecai’s in your life?


2. What is the position God has called you to?


“For all of us…concern with injustices of our nation, I say to you: it is not your fault, but it’s
your time. It is your time to step out on the same promise God gave to Abraham in Genesis 12 to
bless the hurting world through his obedience. It is the same promise that Dr. King embraced to
bless the whole world through his pursuit of justice and equality for all people.”
– Rev. Dr. Barabara Williams-Skinner


Esther 4:15-17
15  Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:  16  “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa,
and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as
you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”


Esther 7:7, 9-10
7b But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen
Esther for his life.
9 “A pole reaching to a height of [75 feet] stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for
Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”
The king said, “Impale him on it!”  10  So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for
Mordecai.