Esther 1 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study
Esther 1 Short Summary:
The Book of Esther opens by introducing the reader to King Ahasuerus of Persia and his queen, Vashti. Ahasuerus threw a 6-month celebration in Persia to celebrate the greatness of his kingdom. Towards the end of the feast, the king ordered Vashti to present herself before his friends so they could admire her beauty. Vashti refused! Ahasuerus was so angry that he stripped her of her royal title and banished her from his presence forever. This sets up the storyline of the book, and in Esther 2, we’ll see the King searching for a new queen.
Esther 1 Bible Study
WHEN:
538 BC – Cyrus the Great of Persia frees the Jews from their Babylonian captivity.
516 BC – The rebuilding of the Temple is completed in Jerusalem.
483 BC – The story of Esther begins in the 3rd year of Ahasuerus’ reign.
457 BC – Ezra arrives in Jerusalem.
444 BC – Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem.
KEY CHARACTERS:
King Ahasuerus – Also known as Xerxes. Reigned as king of Persia from 486-464 B.C.
Queen Vashti – The wife of Ahasuerus.
The Court of the King – Ahasuerus had 7 advisors, 7 wise princes who ruled with him in Persia.
WHERE:
Susa – The capital of the Persian Empire. The location of the palace of Ahasuerus.
OUTLINE:
AHASUERUS CELEBRATES HIS KINGDOM (1:1-9):
Ahasuerus, the king of Persia, reigned over an empire stretching from India to Ethiopia.
In the 3rd year of his reign, he celebrated the greatness of his empire for 180 days.
At the end of the 180 days, he made a 7-day feast for all the people of Susa.
The feast was held in the court of the garden of the palace, and it was decorated magnificently. There were white curtains, violet hangings, marble pillars, and couches of gold spread out across a mosaic pavement made from porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other precious stones.
The people drank from golden cups, and the royal wine flowed freely.
Vashti, the queen, held a feast for the women in the palace.
VASHTI REFUSES THE KING’S ORDER (1:10-22):
On the 7th day of the feast, Ahasuerus order the eunuchs who worked for him to bring Queen Vashti to him so his guests could admire her, because “she was lovely to look at” (1:11).
But Vashti refused to appear before the drunken king, which infuriated him.
Ahasuerus asked his 7 closest advisors what they should do to Vashti for refusing to obey a direct order from the king.
The advisors counseled the king to expel Vashti from his presence forever, strip her of her queenly title, and replace her with another woman.
They told him to send out a royal decree to announce his decision to the empire. They felt this was important because if news got out that Vashti had directly disobeyed the king, and women thought she had gotten away with it, all the women in the kingdom would start rebelling against their husbands.
They concluded, “So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike” (1:20).
Ahasuerus approved of their idea and sent letter with his decree to all the royal provinces.
APPLICATION
When I read about the courtyard of Ahasuerus’ palace, it reminded me of Heaven.
Gold furniture and streets paved with gemstones reminded me of the street of gold and gem lined walls of the city John saw in Revelation 21.
But the kings within those royal cities don’t remind me of each other at all.
In Persia, we see a drunken king making demands of questionable morality.
In Heaven, is a wise King who would never order His people to do anything immoral.
In Persia, a king who used others for his own entertainment.
In Heaven, a King who seeks the good of His subjects at all times.
In Persia, a king who knew nothing of humility even though his power was limited.
In Heaven, a King who, through Jesus, embraced humility although He was infinitely powerful.
In Persia, a king who was so self-inflated that he spent 6 months celebrating his own greatness.
In Heaven, a King who gave up glory for 33 years to elevate others.
