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Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 40 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Esther
Vashti. Xerxes' wife was named Vashti. She disobeyed him, so he had her banished and he decreed that all men were the leaders of their households. Esther 1:19-22.
| Esther was a young woman who was commissioned by King Xerxes as a candidate for marriage. Who raised Esther as his own daughter, as she had no parents of her own? | The Biblical Story of Esther
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Her cousin, Mordecai. Mordecai was Esther's cousin. Her father, Abihail, had died and Esther was raised by Mordecai, who was Jewish and thus in the Persian minority. When she went to the king, she was not to reveal her background for fear that it would put her in a negative light. Esther 2:5, 2:10.
| Mordecai uncovered a plot to assassinate the king. He told Esther, who told Xerxes. What happened to these conspirators (named Bigthan and Teresh)? | The Biblical Story of Esther
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They were hanged. Esther 2:21-22.
| Haman, an Agagite, was blessed with King Xerxes' favor. Mordecai refused to do something for Haman that everyone else did. What was this? | The Biblical Story of Esther
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Bow to him. According to his religion, Mordecai was not to bow to anyone but the Lord God. This was what made Haman decide to exterminate the Jews. Esther 3:2.
His wife and friends. Esther 5:14.
| Who said, 'Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.'? | The Biblical Story of Esther
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Esther. Esther wanted to speak with Xerxes about Haman's hatred toward the Jews. But to approach the king without being summoned was not only illegal, but it could very well result in death for impertinence. Even though she was the queen and the favorite of Xerxes, Esther was taking a great risk in deciding to go to him. Esther 4:11-16.
| Haman suggested to the king that he honor a noble in his court by giving him fine robes and a horse, and proclaiming 'This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!' What did the king decide to do? | The Biblical Story of Esther
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Make Haman honor Mordecai this way. Imagine Haman's shock when the king ignored the suggestion that Haman himself deserved the honors, and forced Haman to pay respect to a Jew, whom he hated! Even his own wife, Zeresh, predicted his downfall. Esther 6:12-13.
| Esther bravely told Xerxes about Haman's plot to destroy the Jews, and the king had Haman killed. What did Xerxes give Esther after this? | The Biblical Story of Esther
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Haman's estate. Haman was hanged on the gallows which he had built for Mordecai! After his death, Xerxes gave Esther the estate of Haman, and she permitted Mordecai to rule over it (Esther 8:1).
| Xerxes had approved Haman's plot to destroy the Jews and not even he could repeal the law. Who did he have write a law to overturn the decision? | The Biblical Story of Esther
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Mordecai. Mordecai was given a signet ring and the power to 'un-decree' Xerxes' hastily approved law. Because of his courage and quick thinking, Mordecai was able to stop the destruction of the Jews, and the Jews rose up and destroyed those who hated them, but they did not loot or steal any of the booty. After this, they celebrated what has become the holiday of Purim.
Haman. The phrase, which comes from Shakespeare's "Hamlet," means to be destroyed by one's own devices. Haman is hanged on the very gallows he builds for Mordecai.
Persia. His reign began in 486 BC and he was followed by Artaxerxes I. According to the Book of Esther, Xerxes divorced his wife, Vashti, because she refused to appear when summoned. He took Esther from his harem and made her queen in Vashti's stead.
| When Esther appeared before Xerxes unsummoned, she knew he could kill her for her defiance. But what did he do instead? | Delving into Esther
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Extended his scepter. Esther dressed nicely and stood in the king's inner court, for which he could have had her killed; but instead, he held out the golden scepter to her, a sign of pardon and permission, which allowed her to speak. She asked that the king and Haman both come to a banquet and hear her request.
| Unlike rain on your wedding day (which is just bad luck), the Book of Esther is truly ironic. In it, Haman told the king that if he wished to honor a man, the king ought to parade that man about in royal apparel. Who did the king then honor in this way? | Delving into Esther
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Mordecai. One night, the king was reading his chronicles, and he saw that Mordecai had foiled a plot against his life. He determined to reward Mordecai, and just then Haman entered the court to ask the king if he could hang Mordecai. The king asked him: "What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor?" Haman, thinking the king meant him, suggested he be paraded on a horse and adorned with royal apparel. The king then told him to make haste and to do just that for Mordecai. So Haman was forced to parade the very man he detested.
Because he appeared to try to rape Esther. At the banquet, Esther announced that her people had been sold to be killed by Haman. The king rose and left in anger. Haman then fell upon Esther's bed to plead for his life. The king, happening upon Haman in this compromising position and thinking he would rape Esther, decided to hang him.
Myrtle. Esther's Hebrew name was Hadassah, which means "myrtle." Her Persian name, Esther, means "star."
Purim. The name comes from the fact that Haman had "devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them" (9:24).
Ahasuerus. Esther 1.1: "Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces."
This king is also known as Xerxes.
| Why didn’t Esther tell the king, or anyone else, that she was Jewish? | Queen Esther
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Mordecai told her not to. Esther 2:10 "Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it."
Mordecai was Esther’s cousin. When Esther was an orphan, Mordecai took her in and raised her as his own daughter, so Esther had a lot of respect for him. She was proud of her Jewish heritage but she knew that Mordecai was right. She couldn’t do her people any good if everyone knew she was Jewish because it wasn’t the right time.
Haman. Esther 3:6 "And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai."
Haman hated the Jewish people, but his plot to have them destroyed was discovered by Esther, who tells the king and her people are saved.
| How long does Esther tell everyone to fast in chapter 4 (King James Version)? | Queen Esther
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3 days. Esther 4:16 "Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish."
According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, there are different reasons for fasting. Some believe it is to offer a sacrifice to God, while others believe it is to honor the dead. Still some believe it is to purify the body, while others believe it is to prepare for the feast.
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=59&letter=F&search=fast
| What did the king hold out, showing Esther she could come forward? | Queen Esther
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His golden sceptre. Esther 5:2 "And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre."
A scepter shows the king's power and when he holds the staff out to someone it means that person has won favor with the king.
| What does the king have read to him to help him sleep? | Queen Esther
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Recent chronicles. Esther 6:1 "On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king."
The chronicles contain all the birth records of people who lived during that time, as well as records of events. The ones read to the King told the story of how Mordecai saved his life.
Haman. Esther 8:7 "Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, 'Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews'."
Ironically, Haman and his sons were hanged on the gallows originally meant to hang Mordecai.
| What is the name of the Jewish holiday celebrated in honor of Esther and the Jews not being destroyed? | Queen Esther
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Purim. Esther 9:26 "Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them."
Purim is also known as the Festival of Lots. Purim takes place in the month of Adar (on the Gregorian calendar it falls between February and March). During this holiday, Jewish people dress up for costume parades and have carnivals. They also have festive meals that day.
seed. Esther 10:3 "For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed."
Mordecai and Esther were both brave people and their bravery helped save an entire race of people.
I hope you enjoyed this quiz. The next quiz will be from the book of Job.
Yes. She was taken in by her cousin, who treated her like his own daughter (Ch.2 v.7).
Mordecai. Mordecai was the name of Esther's cousin. Mordecai was of the tribe of Benjamin and had been carried into exile by King Nebuchadnezzar (Ch.2 v.5-6).
Hadassah. Hadassah is the Hebrew name for Esther. The name Esther is Persian. (Ch.2 v.7 )
| What was the name of the queen whom the king had gotten rid of? | Queen Esther
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Vashti. Because Queen Vashti would not appear when the king asked her to, he decreed that she was never to enter his presence again (Ch. 1 v.19-21).
| What is the Hebrew name of the king given in this book? | Queen Esther
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Ahasuerus. Ahasuerus was the Hebrew name of the King of Persia (Ch.1 v.1). Many believe this to be the same king whose Persian name was Xerxes, and whose father was Darius I.
| What was the one of the criteria for selecting the women whom the king would choose from? | Queen Esther
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They must be beautiful. They also had to be young and be virgins (Ch.2 v.2).
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