The Book of Esther - SDA Bible Commentary

according to the sdabc pg 458, how did Ahasuerus die?

He was assassinated

according to the sdabc pg 459, who confirmed the decree and help to start construction and rebuilding of the Zerubabbel temple again?

Darius Hystaspes confirmed the original decree by issuing one of his own

according to the sdabc pg 457, what was the provoking question?

For such a time as this? For such a crisis as this?

according to the sdabc pg 459, whom did Athens assist?

The Greeks living on the west coast of Asia minor

why is the book of Esther read last?

because it is read at the final festival of the year, the days of Purim

according to the sdabc pg 459, what were the capital cities of the Persian empire?

Shushan was one of the capitals, an honour it shared with Ecbatana and Persepolis

according to the sdabc pg 457, why did Mordecai choose a Persian name for Esther?

So that Esther could reveal her nationality only at a time of crisis & hide her nationality until a particular time

What is the order of the five scrolls read?

Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther

according to the sdabc pg 458, what order did the king give to Esther?

That Esther and Mordecai in the royal name with the royal seal are to send official decrees to all parts of the realm explaining the sudden change in royal policy and authorising the Jews to defend themselves

according to the sdabc pg 461, what do the Jews do in Purim?

ever commemorate Heaven's disposal of Haman's evil plan, which a lot had presumably indicated would succeed (3:7)

according to the sdabc pg 457, what was the crisis?

extermination threatened the jews

according to the sdabc pg 461, what could not conceive of a more dramatic and surprising series of coincidences than those that led up to the exposure and death of Haman?

fiction

according to the sdabc pg 460, how many festal occasions are there in a year?

five

according to the sdabc pg 460, the book of Esther is one of how many rolls?

five

according to the sdabc pg 460, for how long did Jewish history disappear and run under ground?

for a time

according to the sdabc pg 459, why was Cambyses' reign of minor importance?

for he seems to have little if any interest in their welfare

according to the sdabc pg 460, from when has Esther been read in every synagogue on the five festal occasions of the year?

from ancient times

according to the sdabc pg 459, what was the length of the kingdom?

from east to west its length was 3,000 miles

according to the sdabc pg 458, what does the cuneiform talk about/give?

gives the history of the medo-persian empire

according to the sdabc pg 457, what was the hebrew name of Esther?

hadassah

according to the sdabc pg 459, when did Ahasuerus come to the throne?

he came to the throne at the time of his father, King Darius 1's death in 486 BC

according to the sdabc pg 460, the book of Esther is considered as what?

literature

according to the sdabc pg 458, what does archaeology say about the date of the book?

archaeology suggests that the book of Esther must have been written soon after the events occurred

according to the sdabc pg 459, why did work come to a halt?

as a result of various difficulties and discouragements that arose

according to the sdabc pg 459, Xerxes returned permanently to which place?

asia

according to the sdabc pg 461, at what moment was the sceptre held out to her?

at the critical moment

according to the sdabc pg 457, when did Esther come to be known by the name Esther?

at the time of her marriage to King Ahasuerus

according to the sdabc pg 459, what is the conclusion about the book's authorship?

authorship is unknown

according to the sdabc pg 459, how did Darius Hystaspes meet this challenge to his power?

by leading an army into Greece to punish the Athenians

according to the sdabc pg 459, how did the Athenians deal with the might host of Persia?

by leading an army of insignificant size , the Athenians met the mighty hosts of Persia on the beach at Marathon and administered to the invaders a decisive defeat that made necessary the immediate withdrawal of Darius to Asia in 490 BC

according to the sdabc pg 461, fiction couldn't do what?

conceive of a more dramatic and surprising series of coincidences than those that led up to the exposure and death of Haman?

according to the sdabc pg 460, what may have conditioned the mind of the king to accept Haman's proposal to exterminate the Jews?

continued reverses at the hands of the Athenian fleet on the western shores of Asia Minor, during the next few years, together with disturbances elsewhere in the far-flung empire

according to the sdabc pg 461, her spirit rose to answer the demand of the hour in what types of words?

courageous and thrilling

according to the sdabc pg 458, what kind of tablet was it?

cuneiform

according to the sdabc pg 461, in solemn what did her spirit rise to answer the demand of the hour?

dignity

according to the sdabc pg 457, what kind of story is the book of Esther

dramatic story

according to the sdabc pg 459, when was the the Persian empire at the height of its empire?

during the closing years of Darius Hystaspes and the early part of the reign of his son and successor, Xerxes/Ahasuerus

according to the sdabc pg 459, when did athens assist the greeks?

early in the 5th century

according to the sdabc pg 458, how old was Ezra and was kind of interest did he show in the crisis?

he was a young man and he had a profound interest in the crisis

according to the sdabc pg 461, in solemn dignity what rose to answer the demand of the hour?

her spirit

according to the sdabc pg 458, who assassinated him?

his courtier Artabanus

according to the sdabc pg 459, Xerxes returned to Asia leaving whom in charge?

his general Mardonius

according to the sdabc pg 457, what does the story tell about God?

how God used a courageous young woman of surpassing beauty to save her people at a time of crisis

according to the sdabc pg 460, when was the great feast held?

in the 3rd year of the reign of Ahasuerus, shortly before he left Shushan on his disastrous expedition to Greece

according to the sdabc pg 458, where is the cuneiform tablet?

in the Berlin museum

according to the sdabc pg 459, why did athens assist the greeks?

in the greek's struggle to be free from Persian rule

according to the sdabc pg 460, where is the spirit of the period admirable conveyed?

in the narratives of Daniel and Esther

according to the sdabc pg 460,, what does the book of Esther depict?

it depicts a crisis in the fortunes of God's people that threatened them with annihilation

according to the sdabc pg 460, what determined the location of Esther in the Hebrew Canon?

it seems to have been this annual cycle of readings

according to the sdabc pg 460, how long did it take to gather the fair young virgins?

it undoubtedly required several months to carry out the decree fully

according to the sdabc pg 459, when was the completion of the Zerubabbel temple?

it was completed in 515 BC

according to the sdabc pg 457, how did Esther become queen?

it was purely God's providence

according to the sdabc pg 459, what is the area of the kingdom?

its area was 2,000,000 square miles

according to the sdabc pg 460, when Jewish history appeared what happened?

its whole character changed

according to the sdabc pg 459, what was the width of the kingdom?

its width was 500 to 1,500 miles

according to the sdabc pg 457, which empire was dominant at the time of Esther?

medo-persian empire was the greatest nation of the time

according to the sdabc pg 459, as far as the Jews were concerned, Cambyses' reign was of?

minor importance

according to the sdabc pg 457, what is the meaning of Hadassah?

myrtle

according to the sdabc pg 460, what doesn't the Bible contain?

no history of the exile and of apostolic times

according to the sdabc pg 459, is the Ahasuerus of the books of Esther and Ezra, the same Ahasuerus mentioned in Daniel 9:1

no, the Ahasuerus mentioned in Daniel 9:1 is the father of Darius the Mede

according to the sdabc pg 457, what did Esther realise after talking to her foster father at the time of crisis?

she realised the truth and urgency

according to the sdabc pg 457, what did Esther do for God and His people?

she risked her life

according to the sdabc pg 461, in what type of dignity did her spirit rise to answer the demand of the hour?

solemn

according to the sdabc pg 460, when was Esther made queen?

soon after Xerxes' return to Susa

according to the sdabc pg 457, what is the meaning of Esther?

star

according to the sdabc pg 461, who ever commemorates Heaven's disposal of Haman's evil plan, which a lot had presumably indicated would succeed (3:7)?

the Jews

according to the sdabc pg 457, why must he be a Jew?

the author had a profound concern for the welfare of Jewish people

according to the sdabc pg 460, what is considered as literature?

the book of Esther

according to the sdabc pg 458, what does the book of Esther imply regarding the Persian empire

the book of Esther implies that the Persian empire was still the great world power

according to the sdabc pg 461, Summary 2

the book of Esther provides an account of the origin of an important Jewish national festival, the Feast of Purim, which is still observed with rejoicing each year

according to the sdabc pg 461, what projected the youthful queen to the heights of heroic action?

the challenge of Mordecai

according to the sdabc pg 461, what was this: who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (4:14)?

the challenge of Mordecai

according to the sdabc pg 458, what was the probable date of the crisis occasioned by Haman?

the crisis occasioned by Haman probably came in the year 474/473 BC, some 16/17 years prior to Ezra's departure to Jerusalem

according to the sdabc pg 458, what does the tablet say about Mordecai?

the cuneiform tablet mentions a high state official by the name Marduka (the Babylonian transliteration of Mordecai) with the title Sipir: 1. He was a higher official 2. He was an influential counsellor at the court of Shushan at the time of Xerxes 3. no other person by this name and holding this office in Susa under Xerxes is known in either the Bible or in any other source

according to the sdabc pg 461, in solemn dignity her spirt arose to answer what?

the demand of the hour

according to the sdabc pg 461, what is Purim?

the feast of the lots

according to the sdabc pg 459, who was the first king of the Persian empire

the first king of the Persian empire was Cyrus

according to the sdabc pg 459, when was Mardonius defeated?

the following year

according to the sdabc pg 460, the annual cycle of readings determined what?

the location of Esther in the Hebrew Canon

according to the sdabc pg 461, what displays Esther as a woman of clear judgement, remarkable self control and noble self sacrifice?

the narrative

according to the sdabc pg 458, what are confirmed by archaeologists?

the numerous intimate details of the narrative are confirmed by archaeologists

according to the sdabc pg 458, where can we draw evidence from regarding the death of King Ahasuerus?

the postscript to the book of Esther says King Ahasuerus was dead after 465 BC

according to the sdabc pg 461, Summary 4

the providence of God is strikingly displayed. Divine power is united with human effort. The means used are human but the deliverance itself is divine

according to the sdabc pg 461, what can be summarised thus?

the religious character and moral teaching of the book of the Esther

according to the sdabc pg 458, what reasons are given for Nehemiah to have been a possible author?

the same reasons given for Ezra

according to the sdabc pg 461, when at the critical moment what was held out to her?

the scepter

according to the sdabc pg 460, what is the key to the signal deliverance?

the signal deliverance of the Jews was through the courage of Esther

according to the sdabc pg 457, what does the story tell us particularly?

the story of Esther stirs us to a realisation of the opportunities God's providence may bring to the weakest of the weak. Perhaps we too have come to the kingdom for such a time as this

according to the sdabc pg 459, what was the greatness of Persian empire?

they were the first of the Indo - European race to become the dominant world power

according to the sdabc pg 461, Summary 1

though God's name does not appear in the entire book, His providence is manifest throughout. No disbeliever in God could possibly have written the book; no believer can read it without finding his faith strengthened. Deliverance is presented by the writer as the result of the living faith in God

according to the sdabc pg 460/461, why is this Jewess elevated from a quiet life with her cousin and foster father, Mordecai?

to be queen of a world empire

according to the sdabc pg 461, what was the challenge of Mordecai?

who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (4:14)

according to the sdabc pg 458, does the commentary talk about historical evidence?

yes, by the recent excavations at Susa

according to the sdabc pg 459, did Ahasuerus return to Greece?

yes, only to suffer a major defeat at Salamis 480 BC

according to the sdabc pg 458, what was the qualification of Ezra to be an author of the book?

zealous patriot, devout priest, pious reformer, able administrator & ready scribe, he was certainly qualified

according to the sdabc pg 459, true or false, the Jews were in low-key?

true

according to the sdabc pg 460, when was the decree made for the work of Ezra to commence?

Artaxerxes 1 issued the decree in 457 BC

according to the sdabc pg 459, who assisted the Greeks in Asia Minor?

Athens

according to the sdabc pg 460, what marks a distinct break in Jewish national life?

Babylonian captivity

according to the sdabc pg 459, who was the successor of Cyrus?

Cambyses

according to the sdabc pg 457, what is argued about the author?

1. must be a jew 2. must be a benjamite 3. must be living in Persia 4. must have been living in Susa/Shushan 5. must be a court official

according to the sdabc pg 459, how many capital cities were there?

3

according to the sdabc pg 457, what was the duration of the rule of Ahasureus?

486-465 BC

according to the sdabc pg 459, how many Jews were led back?

50,000 Jews

according to the sdabc pg 459, which year were the Jews led back?

536 BC

according to the sdabc pg 459, what was the latin name of Ahasuerus

Achashwerosh

according to the sdabc pg 459, what was the Babylonian equivalent of Ahasuerus?

Achshiyarshu

according to the sdabc pg 460, who paved the way for the work of Ezra and Nehemiah?

Esther

according to the sdabc pg 460, when was the great feast?

Esther 1:3, 3rd year, between April 14 483 - April 2 482 BC

according to the sdabc pg 460, when was Esther summoned?

Esther 2:12, 6th year, 10th month, between January 2 479 - January 30 479 BC

according to the sdabc pg 460, when was Esther made queen?

Esther 2:16, 7th year, 10th month, between December 22 479 - January 20 478 BC

according to the sdabc pg 457, why does it say he must be a Benjamite?

Esther 2:5 identifies Mordecai as a Benjamin & Esther 3:8 mentions about only the Jews scattered abroad and not in Jerusalem or Judea. This implies that the author was exclusively concerned about the Jewish people, this may suggest perhaps he was one of them

according to the sdabc pg 460, when was Haman's decree made?

Esther 3:12, 12th* year, 1st month, 13th day, April 17 474 BC

according to the sdabc pg 460, when was Purim first celebrated?

Esther 3:13, 8:12, 9:1, 17-19, 12th* year, 12th month, 13th day, March 8 473 BC

according to the sdabc pg 460, when did Haman cast lots?

Esther 3:7, 12th year, 1st month, between April 5 474 - May 3 474 BC

according to the sdabc pg 460, when was Mordecai's decree issued to defend and exterminate the enemies of Jews?

Esther 8:9, 12th* year, 3rd month, 23rd day, 25th June 474 BC

according to the sdabc pg 458, when was the book of Esther written?

Esther was written before the fall of Persia in 331 BC

according to the sdabc pg 458, what did the king think of Ezra?

Ezra 7:25-28 suggests that it is apparent under any circumstance Artaxerxes had great confidence in Ezra

according to the sdabc pg 458, what does the sdabc use to prove the possibility of Ezra to be the author?

Ezra led an expedition to Jerusalem in the 7th yr of Artaxerxes (457 BC). He was a learned authority in Jewish law and may have served as a royal clerk, probably a legal counsellor to the king

according to the sdabc pg 457, under authorship, who are the possible authors?

Ezra, Nehemiah & Mordecai

according to the sdabc pg 461, what were the courageous and thrilling words?

If I perish, I perish

according to the sdabc pg 458, what are the possibilities of Mordecai being the author of the book of Esther

Mordecai held minor court offices prior to becoming prime minister of the realm, he was familiar with the palace, court customs and regulations. He was the only person who had access to the official texts of the various decrees referred to

according to the sdabc pg 460, if Haman's plan was executed, how would Xerxes be different from the former Persian monarchs?

It would have marked a direct reversal of the former friendly and even generous policy of Persian monarchs towards the Jews, as demonstrated during the reigns of Cyrus and Darius

according to the sdabc pg 460, for a time what disappeared and ran under ground?

Jewish history

according to the sdabc pg 458, in comparison to the author possible authors, what does the Bible suggest about Mordecai?

Mordecai is the only person specifically mentioned in the Bible as having intimate familiarity and also having access to the officials texts of the various decrees referred to

according to the sdabc pg 459, what was as a result of Mardonius' defeat at Plataea

Persian forces left Europe never to return

according to the sdabc pg 459, when did King Darius die?

Kind Darius died in 486 BC while making preparations for a new invasion of Greece

according to the sdabc pg 459, who gave a decree for the Jews to return to Palestine and when was it given?

King Cyrus authorised the Jews to return back to Palestine and rebuild the temple during his first regnal year

according to the sdabc pg 459, who was the father of Ahasuerus?

King Darius 1, Darius Hystaspes or Darius the Great

according to the sdabc pg 459, where was Mardonius defeated?

Plataea

according to the sdabc pg 457, Esther is compared to another woman who played an important part in God's great plan of salvation, who is she?

Ruth

according to the sdabc pg 457, what did Ruth do and who was she?

Ruth was a Gentile and she decided to identify herself with Israel and to accept their God as her God

according to the sdabc pg 459, which race do the Persians belong to?

The Persians were a branch of the Indo - European family of races

according to the sdabc pg 459, what are the borders of the Persian kingdom?

The borders of the Persian empire were from the north western frontier of India westward to the northern boundary of Ethiopia

according to the sdabc pg 459, who led the Jews back to Judea

Zerubbabel

according to the sdabc pg 460, what is the instrument of deliverance?

a Jewess

according to the sdabc pg 460, the Babylonian captivity marks what kind of break in Jewish national life?

a distinct break

according to the sdabc pg 457, why must the author have been living in Persia?

There are many Persian words in the book and it provides intimate knowledge of Persian affairs and customs, suggest he is a resident of Persia proper rather than one of the outlying provinces

according to the sdabc pg 460, what was the command issued?

To gather all the young virgins

according to the sdabc pg 460/461, where is the Jewess elevated from?

a quiet life with her cousin and foster father, Mordecai, to be queen of a world empire

according to the sdabc pg 461, Summary 3

a vital moral lesson pervades the narrative. With the passing of Haman's brief day of popularity the transitory nature of earthly power and prosperity becomes painfully evident. God humbles the proud and exalts those who trust in Him

according to the sdabc pg 461, what does the narrative display Esther as?

a woman of clear judgement, remarkable self control and noble self sacrifice

according to the sdabc pg 460, what is the book of Esther both at once?

an idyl and an epic

according to the sdabc pg 460, a Jewess is what?

an instrument of deliverance

according to the sdabc pg 457, what question did Mordecai ask queen Esther at the time of crisis?

Who knows whether you have come not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (4:14)

according to the sdabc pg 459, by what name is Ahasuerus called in history

Xerxes

according to the sdabc pg 459, who was Darius' son and successor?

Xerxes 1 or Ahasuerus

according to the sdabc pg 460, the Jews were no longer so much a nation but were a?

people and a church

according to the sdabc pg 460, when was the command issued to gather all the fair young virgins

prior to his departure to Greece in 482/481 BC

according to the sdabc pg 461, what did the challenge of Mordecai project?

projected the youthful queen to the heights of heroic action

according to the sdabc pg 457, who is the heroine of the story in the book of Esther?

queen Esther

according to the sdabc pg 457, why must the author have been living Shushan?

recent excavations at Susa confirm the fact that the writer was intimately acquainted with the palace, Persian court customs and regulations

according to the sdabc pg 461, with what did Esther guide the king and Haman with into a situation calculated to be most favourable to her purpose?

remarkable restraint and deliberate care

according to the sdabc pg 461, what did Esther not do when the scepter was held out to her?

she did not immediately identify the villain, but with remarkable restraint and deliberate care guided the king and Haman into a situation calculated to be most favourable to her purpose

according to the sdabc pg 461, with remarkable restraint and deliberate care what did Esther do?

she guided the king and Haman into a situation calculated to be most favourable to her purpose