Chapter Summary

Vengeance executed; the Jews victorious. Feast of Purim instituted.

Discussion Questions for Esther, Chapter 9

1. Notice how the Jews carry out the edict throughout chapter 9. What do they do, and what do they avoid doing? What does this tell us about their motives in following this edict? Does their restraint indicate that their actions are righteous? Why or why not?
2. In verses 2 and 3, the author of Esther implies that the Jews were successful in overcoming their enemies because fear "had fallen" on the people of the land. What do you think this phrase means? Where do you think this fear ultimately came from? Why?
3. Mordecai is made great in this chapter, increasing in power and authority over the land. How do you think this aided in the success of the Jews?
4. How does God use both Mordecai and Queen Esther in this chapter to carry out his vengeance against those who would seek to do the Jews harm? Can you think of other examples in history in which God clearly protected his people?
5. The king is willing to fulfill all of Esther's desires and more, even to the extent of the destruction of the house of Haman. What do you believe his motives were behind this? Love for Esther, guilt for his prior actions against the Jews, or something else? Why?
6. What did the Jews do after the days in which the edict was enacted? Why was this significant? How might we learn from their example?
7. The Feast of Purim is also called the Feast of Lots by modern day Jews. Though non-Jewish believers do no celebrate this, what might believers learn from this time of celebration, in the way they honored God?
8. Through this edict, God turned the "sadness" of the Jews into "gladness", and their "mourning into a holiday" (v.22, ESV). How have you witnessed this reversal of circumstances in your own life? Do you trust that God is truly capable of doing this? Why or why not?
9. Like the Feast of Purim, Jewish feasts and festivals primarily emphasize "remembrance" of what God has done or what he promises to do. How committed are you to remember what God has done, and to praise him for it? What are some practical ways you can do this daily? Weekly? Monthly?
10. Though in much of this book, Esther must humble herself and appeal to the king's authority, at the end of Chapter 9 we see that she herself has authority to implement change. Do you think she matured into this authority, or was it always available to her? Why or why not? How much of a part do you believe God played in this? Why?

Key Words/Phrase

Vengeance, v. 5.

Characters

Ahasuerus, Esther, Mordecai.

Strong Verse(s)

22