Bible Study | Esther 8-9:19 - Covenant Hope Church Dubai

OBSERVATION

What did Esther gain from risking her life to stand up for her people? What brought Mordecai to the king? (Esther 8:1)
How was Mordecai honoured by the king? (Esther 8:2;15)
What request does Esther make to the king? How did Esther suggest solving the quandary the Jews were in? (Esther 8:3-6)
What was the king's response to Esther's request? (Esther 8:7-8)
Observe the similarities and differences in the edicts of Haman (Esther 3:12-15) and Mordecai. (Esther 8:9-14). In what way did the king’s new edict provide a way out for the Jews? (Esther 8:11)
How did the Jews react to the king’s edict? (Esther 8:16–17)
In what way did Mordecai’s actions affect not only the Jews but also people of other nationalities? (Esther 8:17)
What does Esther 9:1 pinpoint as the overarching reversal of the entire story?
Why according to Esther 9:2, were the enemies of the Jews unable to prevail?
Why according to Esther 9:3-4 did the Persian officials side with the Jews?
What is the repeated statement observed in Esther 9:10, 15-16?
What two wishes does Esther present to king Ahaseurus? (Esther 9:13)
Why did the Jews in Susa celebrate on a different day from the Jews in rural areas? What characterises their celebrations? (Esther 9:18–19)

Observe the reversals that occur in Esther 8. (Esther 8:1-2;15)
Why did Esther have to plead with the king a second time? In what way was her appeal different from her initial appeal in 5:1-4? (Esther 8:3-8, 5:1-4)
What dilemma did the king face? What solution does he propose? (Esther 8:3–8)
How is Mordecai presented to us in this passage?
According to the edict authored by Mordecai in Esther 8:11, what were the terms under which the Jews could engage in the killings mentioned in Esther 9:5?
Why would the author want us to know about the details, that the Jews did not lay hands on the plunder? Review 1 Samuel 15:1-9, Based on what we have read in Esther 9, how is the Jews refusal to take the plunder relevant?

What does this story reveal about God’s treatment of righteous versus wicked people?
Do we minimize or excuse sin? Consider how the violence we've seen in the book of Esther opens our eyes to the horror of sin and where sin inevitably leads?
What are some ways the “light, gladness, joy and honour of V;16 points to Jesus Christ and the gospel? (Esther 8:16)
How can we thank the Lord today for the blessings He has given us?
How is God’s control and direction evident in this story of reversals, even though He is never mentioned directly?
As a Christian, how would you view all the bloodshed mentioned in this passage? How has Christ changed the nature of how God’s enemies are conquered? (Ref: Rom. 3:23-24, Mat. 28:18-20, Lk. 6:27-36)
How should we respond to the great deliverance that we have received through the work of Christ?