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Questions and Answers
According to Esther 1:1, who was ruler during the time of Esther?
According to Esther 1:1, who was ruler during the time of Esther?
Ahasuerus
According to Esther 1:1, how many provinces did King Ahasuerus rule over?
According to Esther 1:1, how many provinces did King Ahasuerus rule over?
127
According to Esther 1:2-3, who did King Ahasuerus make a feast for in the third year of his reign?
According to Esther 1:2-3, who did King Ahasuerus make a feast for in the third year of his reign?
All his officials and servants
According to Esther 1:4, how long did King Ahasuerus show the riches of his kingdom in the third year of his reign?
According to Esther 1:4, how long did King Ahasuerus show the riches of his kingdom in the third year of his reign?
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According to Esther 1:5, how long did the feast last at the end of the days in which King Ahasuerus showed the riches of his kingdom?
According to Esther 1:5, how long did the feast last at the end of the days in which King Ahasuerus showed the riches of his kingdom?
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According to Esther 1:5, where did King Ahasuerus make a feast in the third year of his reign?
According to Esther 1:5, where did King Ahasuerus make a feast in the third year of his reign?
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According to Esther 1:7, at the feast that King Ahasuerus gave, what were the drinks served in?
According to Esther 1:7, at the feast that King Ahasuerus gave, what were the drinks served in?
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According to Esther 1:8, what did King Ahasuerus order the officers of his household to do with regard to drinking?
According to Esther 1:8, what did King Ahasuerus order the officers of his household to do with regard to drinking?
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According to Esther 1:9, who did Queen Vashti give a feast for?
According to Esther 1:9, who did Queen Vashti give a feast for?
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According to Esther 1:10-11, who did King Ahasuerus command to be brought before him?
According to Esther 1:10-11, who did King Ahasuerus command to be brought before him?
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According to Esther 1:11, why did King Ahasuerus want Queen Vashti brought before him at the feast?
According to Esther 1:11, why did King Ahasuerus want Queen Vashti brought before him at the feast?
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According to Esther 1:11, what did Queen Vashti do when she was commanded to come to the king?
According to Esther 1:11, what did Queen Vashti do when she was commanded to come to the king?
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According to Esther 1:12, what was King Ahasuerus' reaction when Queen Vashti refused to come to him at the feast?
According to Esther 1:12, what was King Ahasuerus' reaction when Queen Vashti refused to come to him at the feast?
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According to Esther 1:13, what did the wise men who understood the times know?
According to Esther 1:13, what did the wise men who understood the times know?
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According to Esther 1:15, why did King Ahasuerus ask the wise men what they should do to Queen Vashti?
According to Esther 1:15, why did King Ahasuerus ask the wise men what they should do to Queen Vashti?
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In Esther 1:16, who did Memucan tell the king that Vashti had wronged in addition to the king?
In Esther 1:16, who did Memucan tell the king that Vashti had wronged in addition to the king?
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According to Esther 1:17, what did Memucan say that all women would do to their husbands when Queen Vashti's behavior became known to them?
According to Esther 1:17, what did Memucan say that all women would do to their husbands when Queen Vashti's behavior became known to them?
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According to Esther 1:19, why did Memucan say that the royal decree should be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes?
According to Esther 1:19, why did Memucan say that the royal decree should be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes?
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According to Esther 1:19, Memucan recommended that a royal decree be issued that Vashti could no longer do what?
According to Esther 1:19, Memucan recommended that a royal decree be issued that Vashti could no longer do what?
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According to Esther 1:22, the letters sent to all the king's provinces stated that each man should be what?
According to Esther 1:22, the letters sent to all the king's provinces stated that each man should be what?
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According to Esther 2:1-2, after King Ahasuerus's wrath had subsided, whom did his servants suggest be sought for the king?
According to Esther 2:1-2, after King Ahasuerus's wrath had subsided, whom did his servants suggest be sought for the king?
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According to Esther 2:3, which of King Ahasuerus's eunuchs was the custodian of the women?
According to Esther 2:3, which of King Ahasuerus's eunuchs was the custodian of the women?
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According to Esther 2:4, since King Ahasuerus had decreed that Vashti would no longer be his queen, who was to take her place?
According to Esther 2:4, since King Ahasuerus had decreed that Vashti would no longer be his queen, who was to take her place?
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According to Esther 2:5, Mordecai, who lived in the citadel of Shushan, was a descendant from which Jewish tribe?
According to Esther 2:5, Mordecai, who lived in the citadel of Shushan, was a descendant from which Jewish tribe?
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According to Esther 2:6, who had carried away Mordecai's ancestor, Kish, from Jerusalem into captivity?
According to Esther 2:6, who had carried away Mordecai's ancestor, Kish, from Jerusalem into captivity?
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According to Esther 2:7, after the death of her parents, Esther was raised by Mordecai as his own daughter even though she was the daughter of whom?
According to Esther 2:7, after the death of her parents, Esther was raised by Mordecai as his own daughter even though she was the daughter of whom?
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According to Esther 2:7, while Mordecai was bringing up Esther, she was known by what other name?
According to Esther 2:7, while Mordecai was bringing up Esther, she was known by what other name?
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According to Esther 2:8, where was Esther taken after King Ahasuerus's decree was proclaimed throughout the provinces?
According to Esther 2:8, where was Esther taken after King Ahasuerus's decree was proclaimed throughout the provinces?
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According to Esther 2:9, why were Esther and her maidservants moved to the best place in the house of the women?
According to Esther 2:9, why were Esther and her maidservants moved to the best place in the house of the women?
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According to Esther 2:9, while in the care of Hegai, how many choice maidservants were provided for Esther from the king's palace?
According to Esther 2:9, while in the care of Hegai, how many choice maidservants were provided for Esther from the king's palace?
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According to Esther 2:10, what had Mordecai instructed Esther not to reveal to anyone about herself?
According to Esther 2:10, what had Mordecai instructed Esther not to reveal to anyone about herself?
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According to Esther 2:11, who paced in front of the court of women's quarters to learn about Esther's welfare?
According to Esther 2:11, who paced in front of the court of women's quarters to learn about Esther's welfare?
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According to Esther 2:12, how long did each young woman have to prepare before her turn to see King Ahasuerus?
According to Esther 2:12, how long did each young woman have to prepare before her turn to see King Ahasuerus?
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According to Esther 2:14, after each young woman appeared before King Ahasuerus, she then returned to the custody of whom?
According to Esther 2:14, after each young woman appeared before King Ahasuerus, she then returned to the custody of whom?
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According to Esther 2:15, what did Esther take with her when she appeared before King Ahasuerus?
According to Esther 2:15, what did Esther take with her when she appeared before King Ahasuerus?
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According to Esther 2:15, who was the father of Esther?
According to Esther 2:15, who was the father of Esther?
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According to Esther 2:16, Esther was taken into the royal palace of King Ahasuerus during what year of his reign?
According to Esther 2:16, Esther was taken into the royal palace of King Ahasuerus during what year of his reign?
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According to Esther 2:17, what did King Ahasuerus do for Esther to show that he loved her more than all the other women?
According to Esther 2:17, what did King Ahasuerus do for Esther to show that he loved her more than all the other women?
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According to Esther 2:18, what did King Ahasuerus do to honor Esther as his new queen?
According to Esther 2:18, what did King Ahasuerus do to honor Esther as his new queen?
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According to Esther 2:19, where was Mordecai sitting when the virgins were gathered together a second time?
According to Esther 2:19, where was Mordecai sitting when the virgins were gathered together a second time?
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According to Esther 2:20, whose command was Esther obeying when she did not reveal her family and her people?
According to Esther 2:20, whose command was Esther obeying when she did not reveal her family and her people?
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According to Esther 2:21, what was the occupation of the two eunuchs who became furious with the king?
According to Esther 2:21, what was the occupation of the two eunuchs who became furious with the king?
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According to Esther 2:21-22, who did Mordecai tell about the eunuchs who planned to lay hands on the king?
According to Esther 2:21-22, who did Mordecai tell about the eunuchs who planned to lay hands on the king?
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According to Esther 2:21-23, what was the punishment for Bigthan and Teresh when their plot was confirmed?
According to Esther 2:21-23, what was the punishment for Bigthan and Teresh when their plot was confirmed?
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Study Notes
Overview of Esther Chapters 1 & 2
- Ahasuerus, ruler over 127 provinces, is a key figure in the narrative.
- Significant events unfold during the king's third year of reign, including lavish feasts and political decisions.
Feasts and Display of Power
- King Ahasuerus holds an elaborate feast for officials and servants lasting 180 days.
- A subsequent 7-day banquet takes place in the court of the king's garden.
- Drinks are served in golden vessels, emphasizing royal wealth.
Queen Vashti's Rebellion
- Queen Vashti hosts a separate feast for women.
- When summoned to display her beauty, she refuses to obey King Ahasuerus, provoking his anger.
- Ahasuerus consults wise men who emphasize law and justice to address her defiance.
Memucan's Counsel
- Memucan warns that Vashti's actions will set a precedent leading other women to disrespect their husbands.
- He advises making a royal decree to prevent Vashti from appearing before the king again.
Selection of a New Queen
- Following Vashti's dismissal, beautiful young virgins are sought to find a new queen.
- Hegai, a eunuch, oversees the selection process.
- Esther, raised by her cousin Mordecai, is one of the chosen women; she is also known as Hadassah.
Esther's Rise to Favor
- Esther pleases Hegai and receives seven maidservants from the palace.
- Mordecai instructs her to keep her heritage a secret as she prepares to meet the king.
- Each young woman undergoes a year of beauty treatments before meeting King Ahasuerus.
Esther's Coronation
- Esther is taken into the royal palace in the seventh year of Ahasuerus's reign and becomes his favorite.
- Ahasuerus honors Esther with a royal crown and holds a great feast for officials to celebrate her as queen.
Mordecai's Role
- Mordecai discovers a plot by two doorkeeper eunuchs against the king and informs Esther.
- The conspirators, Bigthan and Teresh, are hanged after their plot is confirmed.
Important Characters
- Ahasuerus: King of Persia, displays his wealth and power, seeks a new queen after Vashti.
- Vashti: Queen who refuses the king's command, leading to her downfall.
- Esther (Hadassah): Mordecai's cousin, becomes queen after pleasing the king.
- Mordecai: Esther's guardian, plays a vital role in uncovering a plot against the king.
- Memucan: One of the king's wise men, recommends consequences for Vashti's disobedience.
Themes
- Power dynamics between rulers and subjects, especially within the royal household.
- The consequences of defiance against authority.
- The significant role of women in political maneuvering and influence within the court.
Studying That Suits You
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Description
Test your knowledge of the Book of Esther with these flashcards covering chapters 1 and 2. Learn about King Ahasuerus, his reign, and the events that unfolded during this time. Perfect for students looking to enhance their understanding of this biblical text.
