ESTHER
READING PLAN + STUDY QUESTIONS
READING PLAN
ESTHER + MORDECAI PLOT TO SAVE THE JEWISH PEOPLE
ESTHER’S BOLDNESS + HAMAN’S IRONIC FATE
HOW TO USE
READ THE CHAPTERS IN THE BIBLE FOR EACH SESSION
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS + REFLECT ON THE READING
This study encourages going at your own pace, allowing each session to be a day, a week, or however long you need. Each session contains questions to be used for individual reflection or small group discussion.
This study was made to be used alongside Bible reading. Although we have created chapter summaries, there is no substitute for reading God's Word.
SESSION ONE: ESTHER 1-5
ESTHER + MORDECAI PLOT TO SAVE THE JEWISH PEOPLE
What does Esther 1 reveal about how women were treated in Esther’s time period and culture?
Read Esther 2:5-10. How were Esther and Mordecai related? Why would Mordecai want Esther to keep her Jewish identity hidden from the king?
After Esther was chosen to be the new queen of Persia, what important information did Mordecai bring to her (Esther 2:19-23)?
Read Esther 3:1-5. How did the king command the royal officials to respond to Haman? Why do you think Mordecai refused?
How did Haman respond to Mordecai’s refusal? What decree did Haman influence the king to issue?
After hearing about the decree, what did Mordecai encourage Esther to do? Was she up for the challenge (Esther 4:13-17)?
Why do you think Esther requested to host a feast for the king and Haman instead of first asking the king to reverse the decree?
In Esther 5, what did Haman have prepared for Mordecai? Do you think this was foolish or preemptive?
SESSION TWO: ESTHER 6-10
ESTHER’S BOLDNESS + HAMAN’S IRONIC FATE
When the king couldn’t sleep, what was read to him? What notable event was recorded that the king had never acknowledged?
Read Esther 6:6. Who did Haman assume was being honored by the king? How did this affect the way he answered the king’s question? What does Haman’s response reveal about his character?
In Esther 7:1-6, Esther revealed her identity and exposed Haman’s wicked plan. How did the king respond to this news? What was ironic about Haman’s death?
Read Esther 8:6-12. What solution did Esther and Mordecai come up with to protect the Jewish people?
How did the Jewish people respond to the decree? What does Esther 8:17 reveal about how some of the non-Jewish people reacted?
Despite the decree, why do you think many people still chose to attack the Jewish people?
What does the Feast of Purim celebrate? What is the significance of the name Purim (Esther 3:7 and 9:26)?
Do an internet search for “Hamantaschen.” What did you find?
Esther 10 records how Mordecai was recognized and placed in leadership. Do you think Esther or Mordecai was the protagonist of the book?
Way to go! You finished the book of Esther!
Thank you for reading through the Bible with Everyday Scripture.
Keep going — the next book of the Bible is Job, a book of Old Testament Poetry.