Perek Yomi - Esther

Chapter 1

What is the implication, in verse 1, of the phrase is Ahasuerus who..."?
For whom was the first feast, of about 6 1/2 months duration, designed?
What was the purpose of this first feast?
For whom was the second feast, of seven days, designed?
Was there a different purpose for this second feast?
What is meant in verse 8 by the phrase "the drinking was according to the law; none did compel"?
Why does the queen, Vashti, hold a separate feast for the women?
The author gives us a "heads up" in verse 10 that Ahasuerus was inebriated. What are we being prepared for? Why?
Is there any reason for detailing the names of the king's chamberlains in verse 10, and his counselors in verse 14? Is the author adding important information for the reader? Is he authenticating the story? Is he telling us something about himself?
What was the purpose of the king's command for Vashti to appear? Before which group of guests was she to appear?
Is any reason given for her refusal to obey the king?
With whom does Ahasuerus consult about her disobedience? What is his basic question? (verse 15)
Does Memucan respond to the king's question? How does Ahasuerus view the problem? How does Memucan view the problem?
What advice does Memucan offer the king in order to punish the queen? What is the expected result of this punishment for the entire kingdom? (verses 20;22)
What is the punishment meted out to Vashti?
What need is there to emphasize the details about language? (verse 22)
How would you describe the personality of Ahasuerus based on this chapter? (verses 4; 7-8; 10; 12; 21)

Chapter 2

Once his anger subsides, the king reflects on (a) Vashti, (b) her action, and (c) his decree against her (verse 1). Does this imply remorse, regret, nostalgia, loneliness? [Review this question after responding to questions 2, 3, and 4 below.]
Previously, in Chapter 1, the king sought guidance from his officers, counsellors and chamberlains, and one spokesman offered advice that had implications for all the kingdom. How does that compare with what is related in verse 2? What does this imply about the king's psychological state and the purpose of the advice given here?
If he already has a harem of women, as implied in verse 3, what need is there for such an elaborate scheme to choose a replacement for Vashti?
What qualities, besides those needed to be selected as "Miss Persia" did this king seek in his Queen? Was more required of Vashti (see 1:11)?
Timing, as a literary device, is crucial in the Book of Esther. Why is the story of Ahasuerus interrupted just when plans are being made for a "beauty pageant" to choose the next queen?
Verse 5 assumes that Yehudi is a well known term connoting Jews. This became true sometime after 586 BCE following the dispersion to Babylonia. What does this tell us about the dating of this book?
What do we learn about Mordecai from the fact that a long ancestry is given (verse 5) and that he "sat in the king's gate" (verse 21)?
What more can we learn about them from their names? Mordecai's Hebrew name is unknown. The name Mordecai is derived from the Babylonia god, Marduk (his name means "My Marduk"). We learn (verse 7) that Esther was given a Hebrew name, Hadassah (meaning "myrtle") but is called by a derivative of the name of the Babylonian goddess, Ishtar.
Xerxes I began his rule in 486 BCE. The incident between Mordecai and Haman took place 12 years later (chapter 3, verse 7) in 474 BCE. The captivity referred to here in verse 6 took place in 596 BCE. Mordecai would then be at least 122 years old and Esther would possibly be in her 60's! Also, Persian kings married only from Persian nobility (though concubines came from everywhere). How would you explain these historical discrepancies? What other purpose or purposes might this story have?
What association would the author like you to make by telling you that Mordecai was descended from Kish (verse 5), Saul's father (I Samuel 9:1-2), and later (chapter 3, verse 1) that his nemesis, Haman, was an Agagite? [check out I Samuel 15:7-9]
In reading verses 8-11, is there any indication that Esther was forced into this competition?
What are we to make of the fact that for the entire 12 months in the women's quarters Esther does not reveal that she is Jewish and that it was Mordecai himself who commanded this (verse 10)? What religious compromises would she have had to make to maintain her secret?
Verses 12-14 give a detailed description of the preparation and aftermath of each "contestant". What is the fate of women who were not selected to be the next queen? How does this compare with the fate of the women in the tale of A Thousand and One Nights? What is the significance for our understanding of Esther, that she relies solely on Hegai's advice (verse 15)?
In verse 18, what is meant by "the king made a release to the provinces"7
There are numerous explanations of the word shenit ("second time") in verse 19. What are your suggestions?
What purpose is served by telling us (verse 20) that Esther had still not revealed her identity after she was already the Queen?
Does the text tell us how Mordecai uncovered the plot to assassinate the king? Or how he got the message to Esther? Or why he wasn't rewarded immediately? Remember that in the Book of Esther, timing is everything!

Chapter 3

What connotations and associations would the fact that Haman was descended from Agog, king of Amalek, have on Jews such as Mordecai? Remember what the Torah says about the Amalekites (read Exodus 17.8-16 and Deut. 15:17-19).
Verse 2 says that Mordecai refuses to bow before Haman and verse 4 implies that the reason is because he is a Jew. But why would that matter? Jews bowed before kings and people of high rank (Gen. 23: 7, 29; 33:3; 1 Sam. 24:9; 1 Kings 1: 16). Was it perhaps because Haman was an Amalekite and Mordecai a descendant of Saul who fought the Amalekites? Was the book perhaps composed at a later period when some Caesars declared themselves to be divine while they still lived?
The author offers no motives for the actions of the king's servants in verses 3-4. Can we conjecture any? Were they concerned for Mordecai's safety? Were they simply curious about his reasons? Were they upset over the arrogance of this Jew? Were they interested in how the king's new favorite would react? Was it just more court intrigue?
In what way has the grievance expressed in verses 2 and 5 changed in verse 67 How typical is this of the psychology of a bigot?
The author tells us (verse 7) that the dates to destroy the Jews were chosen during Nisan, the month in which Pesah is celebrated. Is this coincidence or is there a subtle message in it?
What 3 reasons does Haman give Ahasuerus (verse 8) before advising the annihilation of this people? What is true, half-true, or false about these charges?
The bribe offered in verse 9 is enormous. Does the king generously give it back to Haman (verse 11) or was this a classic oriental ploy (see 4:7 and 7:4)?
Does Haman indicate which people he wants to destroy? Does he name the person who provoked his wrath? Does Ahasuerus ask which people this is? Does he question and investigate the charges? Does he seem to care about such matters? What does each of them appear to care about most?
Why does the author devote three full sentences (verses 12, 13, 14) to the legal details and distribution of this decree of total annihilation?
What are the dramatic literary contrasts the author makes in verse 15?

Chapter 4

Verse I implies that Mordecai knew more than the written decree about what had occurred between Ahasuerus and Haman. What knowledge could he have had that others did not have (see verse 7)?
What are the signs of grief portrayed in verse I? Are these deeply religious acts or conventional modes of expressing grief? If they are religious acts what aspects of religion appear to be missing?
What element of grief is added in verse 3? What element is still missing? Certainly there were Jews who "fasted" and prayed and those who "cried out" to God. Are these deliberate omissions (see also verses 14 and 16? If so, why?
Why was Esther's first reaction (verse 4) to send clothes for Mordecai (see verse 2)? Was she shocked at learning how Mordecai was dressed or had she learned of the entire catastrophe? Though no reason is given, why do you think Mordecai refused the clothes?
In reporting to Hatach the message to be delivered to Esther (verse 7), why does Mordecai emphasize the detail of the huge bribe (bakshish) that Haman offered the king? What was he highlighting about the characters of Haman and Ahasuerus?
Mordecai's command to Esther to plead before the king includes the phrase "for her people" (verse 8). Is he contradicting his original command (2:10)? How might such a revelation affect Esther's status as queen?
How does Esther respond to Mordecai's demand (verse 11)? Is she fearful for her life? Is she concerned that she may have lost the king's favor? Does she want to delay action in order to find a better approach (the pogrom is still 11 months away - 3:7)?
Mordecai's rebuke to Esther (verses 13 and 14) is sharp and angry. What two points does he make regarding Esther herself? What does he mean by "another place" (God, another person, political help)? Why all this vagueness?
How does Esther react to Mordecai's rebuke and challenge (verse 16)? What is her one request to all the Jews? What one item is missing in her request (see question 3 above)? What is now revealed about her personality with the phrase "if I perish, I perish"?

Chapter 5

How does the author begin to raise the level of tension in this chapter for each protagonist: Esther, Ahasuerus, Haman, Mordecai?
In what ways does Esther show how well she understands the different personalities of Ahasuerus and Haman?
Why does Esther need Haman at the banquet? Why did she not speak up for her people when she had the chance? What need was there to have two banquets?
Some medieval Jewish commentaries see a Hebrew acrostic for God's name (YHVH) in Esther's invitation of verse 4 (Yavo Hameleh V'Haman Ha-yom). What need is there for this extreme method to uncover God in the tale?
Can we assume from verse 6 that the king realized that Esther had more urgent matters to reveal than an invitation to a banquet?
Verse 7 is short. What item has the author left dangling? How does the author keep heightening the suspense and maintaining the reader's interest?
For whom was the first banquet prepared (verse 4 "for him") and what was Haman's position there? For whom was the second banquet prepared (verse 8 "for them") and what has Haman's position there?
How does the author use dramatic timing in verse 9 to give you insight into Haman's emotions?
What is the difference between Mordecai's behavior toward Haman in chapter 3, verse 2 and now in verse 9? What major event has occurred between these two times? What is it that infuriates Haman even more now than previously?
What is Haman's purpose in inviting his family and friends to his home (verse 10)?
Is 50 cubits for the size of the gallows (verse 14) an exaggeration? a realistic size? a way of making some other point? what point? [a cubit is approximately one yard].

Chapter 6

Once again, timing is everything. How does the author develop the series of "coincidences" into a series of tension-building episodes?
Both the king and Haman can't sleep that night. What does the king do and what is on his mind? What is Haman doing and what is on his mind?
What does verse 3 tell us about this king who needs insomnia to wake up to the fact that the person who saved his life had never been rewarded?
In verse 3 Mordecai's name is mentioned. In verse 6 his name is not mentioned. What literary purpose does this serve?
From what Haman thought (verse 6) and what he suggests as the reward (verses 8-9) what can we learn about his aspirations?
What does the author accomplish by having the king refer to Mordecai as "the Jew" (verse 10) while in verses 2 and 3 he is referred to only as Mordecai?
Can we assume from verse 10 that the king still has no knowledge of and no interest in which people he had given approval to annihilate?
Verse 12 may be a pivotal sentence of the story. What picture is given here to describe the results of Haman's encounter with Mordecai as compared to his last encounter (chapter 5, verse 9)?
Does the response to Haman by his wise men and wife in verse 13 add or detract from the story? Is it really a surprise to them that Mordecai is a Jew (see 5:13)? If those words from: "then said his wise men" to "surely fall before him", were removed, would the story read better? Whose views may have been slipped into the mouths of Zeresh and company?
How does verse 14, with its perfect timing, correlate with verse 12?

Chapter 7

At this second banquet, Esther makes her plea to the king (verses 3-4). For whom does she plead first? Is this a strategy based on her knowledge of Ahasuerus? Does she declare her Jewishness? Does the king ask? Who might have understood the Jewish component at that moment?
Since the king knew that he had given Haman the permission to destroy a people, to what might he be referring in verse 5 when he asks Esther "who would presume in his heart to do so"?
To whom does Haman choose to beg for his life? Is there a deeper irony implied in this? Is the drama of the moment enhanced?
Drama, irony, humor and personalities all begin to coalesce. Only in this chapter are we told that the banquet is a "wine drinking" event, and that's repeated 3 X! (verses 2, 7 and 8). In fact, the word for "banquet" (Mishteh) is derived from the word "to drink". The word for "wroth" in verse 7 comes from the root "heat". If these are "hints", what might be one reason that the king suddenly leaves the party to go out to the palace garden?
When he returns from the garden (verse 8) what does he see that seals Haman's fate? What must have been uppermost in the king's mind during all this time? How does this reflect on Esther's pleading for her own life first in verse 3?
In verse 8, does Esther respond to Haman's pleading? Does she correct the king's misperception of the scene? Why would one commentary call this "one of the most eloquent silences in history"?
In what way does Harbonah add the finishing touch in verse 9? What irony is added by telling the king that Haman was planning to kill Mordecai? In what way is this poetic justice?

Chapter 8

What single word recurs in this chapter more than ever before (see verses 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 16, 17)? Why this particular emphasis here?
After all that has happened, does the king feel any compassion or remorse for the decree to destroy the Jews?
What are the two things the king does (verses 1-2) to "right the wrongs"?
Why does Esther need to prostrate herself and beg for the lives of her people when she had already pleaded for them in the previous chapter (verses 3-4)?
In her plea to the king (verses 5-6), how does Esther avoid linking him to the actual plot to destroy the Jews?
In what ways does Ahasuerus remain firm in his cold, compassionless personality, removing himself entirely from concluding the matter?
From verse 9 (whose 43 Hebrew words incidentally, make this the longest sentence in Scriptures) what things do we discover that the Jews of Persia preserved from their own culture?
In the writing of the counter-decree (verses I 1- 12) why did they virtually quote verbatim from Haman's original edict of extermination (3:13)?
Where in our liturgy is verse 16 quoted? What phrase is added to that quotation?
There is no record of mass conversion to Judaism in the Persian or Greek period nor is the word for proselytism in that period derived from Yehudi (Jew) but from Ger (sojourner, stranger); what other possible action may we assume was performed by those upon whom "the fear of the Jews had fallen"?

Chapter 9

What is the reversal of events described in verse 1? For Biblical writers who is considered the true author of history? Is this a conscious omission?
Verse 2 speaks of the people's fear of the Jews; verses 3-4 speak of the nobility's fear of Mordecai. Of what were they afraid?
What kind of support do you conjecture was given to the Jews by the nobility (verse 3)? Is there a deliberate omission again of the true source of support? (see Psalm 121:1-2)
What reasons can you think of for the ancient custom of printing all the names of Haman's sons in a perpendicular column (verses 7-9) and of chanting all the names in one breath?
Why does the author take such great pains to stress on 3 separate occasions (verses 10. 15 and 16) that the Jews took no spoil, though the edict permitted them to plunder (see 8:11)?
What mitigating circumstances or reasons can we attribute to Esther's two requests in verse 13? Was the motivation vengeance or practical and realistic?
In all of these events and even in the celebration afterwards, where is the God of Israel? Why this apparent conscious effort to eliminate God from the book?
The celebration of this new festival begins to take shape. What are the components of the celebration recorded in verse 177 What new facet is added in verse 19? What important addition is made in verse 22.7 What two further ingredients are incorporated in verse 31? What religious aspects have still not been mentioned?
How long is the celebration of Purim according to verse 27? Does this agree with verse 19 or verses 21-22?

Chapter 10

In what way might this postscript (verses 1-2) regarding Ahasuerus, balance the opening of the book (1:1-8)?
Although the book is named for Esther, who emerges here as the hero?
How does the author want us to remember Mordecai in verse 3, the final words of the book?
Why did the rabbis teach (Jerusalem Talmud, Megillah 1.5) "Even if the books of the Hagiographa (Ketuvim, Writings) be abolished, the Scroll of Esther will be retained" and "Even if all the festivals be abolished, Purim will never be abolished"?