Book of Esther 2017

Where does the book take place?

Persia

What Jewish feast has historical roots from the book of Esther?

Purim

Who did Esther invite to dine with her at her banquet?

She asked King Xerxes and Haman.

Haman wants to remove what people from Persia?

The Jews

What request did King Xerxes make of Queen Vashti?

he wanted to show off his Queen so he told her to come forth in her crown and dance

Haman hated Mordecai for what reason?

he was Jewish

What are the two themes in the book of Esther?

racism and genocide

What did Haman do before he went to King Xerxes with his plan to kill the Jews?

He cast purim, dice, to determine the best date for killing the Jews.

What does Mordecai refuse to do that angers Haman?

Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman

What was Esther's former name?

Hadassah

What plot did Mordecai overhear as he sat at the king's gate?

He heard two of the king's officers plotting to kill the king.

What happened next that humiliated and infuriated Haman?

He was forced to lead Mordecai through the streets of the city, giving honor to him.

What happened to Haman?

He was hanged on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai.

Why did Haman hate Mordecai?

Mordecai refused to bow down to honor him.

What relation was Mordecai to Esther?

Mordecai was Esther's cousin, and he had also raised her after her parents had died.

Why was Vashti removed from her position as queen?

She refused to come to the king's banquet when he summoned her. She disobeyed a direct order.

What did Esther tell Mordecai to have the people do?

She told Mordecai to have the people fast for three days. Then she would go to the king.

What did the King do to Vashti?

The King announced that Vashti would never be allowed before the king and he would give her royal position to someone else

What was the king able to do to help Esther and her people?

The king gave Mordecai permission to write a second decree that would counteract the first one. Mordecai's decree gave the Jews legal permission to defend themselves.

Who was Xerxes?

The king of Persia. Under the Persian Empire, the Jews once again were subjects of a foreign power, just as they had been in Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon, and later would be under Greece and Rome.

How did the king react when he realized that Haman's decree had threatened the life of his queen?

The king was enraged, left the banquet and went out into the garden to decide what to do about Haman.

What is Adar?

The last month of the Jewish calendar, which is based on the rotation of the earth on its axis (one day), the revolution of the moon around the earth (a month), and the revolution of the earth around the sun (a year)

How did the Feast of Purim get its name?

The name Purim comes from the word "pur" which means to cast lots. This name was given to the festival because Haman had cast lots to see which dates the gods would indicate as favorable for carrying out his wicked plan.

How did the Jewish people react to Haman's edict?

They were upset, afraid and very sad. They mourned and put on sackcloth and ashes.

What is Purim?

This Jewish festival celebrates the story of how Esther saved the Jewish people from Haman's plot. It is a joyous celebration during which the Book of Esther is read, and children are encouraged to boo and make noise whenever Haman's name is mentioned

What can Esther never reveal?

that she's Jewish

Who was Haman?

the Agagite or Haman the evil is the main antagonist in the Book of Esther, who, according to the Hebrew Bible, was a high-ranking political advisor in the Persian Empire under King Xerxes

What does Purim commemorate?

victory of the Jews over their enemies

What is Susa?

the winter capital of the Persian Empire

What is Esther's request to Xerxes?

Esther requests 2 dinners with Xerxes and Haman. Then Esther asks Xerxes to intervene with the killing of all Jews

Who was Mordecai?

Esther's cousin and foster father served as a minor official at the king's court. He was descended from the tribe of Benjamin

How did Vashti respond to the king's request?

Vashti refused to come

Why did King Xerxes hold a banquet at the beginning?

anniversary of ascension to the throne

Who is Ahasuerus?

another name for king Xerxes

Who was Zaresh?

wife of Harman

Who was Queen Vashti?

wife of Xerxes