1. PEOPLE TO REMEMBER KING CYRUS -EZRA 1:1(536 BC)? KING DARIUS:EZRA 1-6(538-516 BC)? ESTHER QUEEN OF PERSIA(58 YEARS)(478 BC)? ARTAXERXES:EZRA 7-10(458-457 BC)? ARTAXERXES LONGIMANUS:(465-424 BC)? ZERUBBABEL - SHESHBAZZAR - LEVITE GOVERNOR OF JUDAH HAGGAI 1:1(536 BC)? LEVITES WHO CAME WITH ZERUBBABEL NEHEMIAH - PRIESTEZRA 2:2(536 BC)? JEREMIAH - PRIESTNEHEMIAH 12:1(536 BC)? JESHUA - HIGH PRIESTNEHEMIAH 12:1(536 BC)? EZRA - PRIESTNEHEMIAH 12:1(536 BC)?

2. PEOPLE TO REMEMBER NEBUCHADNEZZAR:KING OF BABYLON (498 BC)? JECONIAH:KING OF JUDAH (498 BC)? AHASUERUS:KING OF PERSIA(483 BC)? VASHTI:AHASUERUS’ EX-WIFE MORDECAI:GREAT-GRANDSON OF KISH - A BENJAMITE (A EUNUCH)? HEGAI:EUNUCH IN CHARGE OF KING’S HAREM ESTHER:FIRST COUSIN OF MORDECAI BIGTHAN & TERESH: KING’S DOORKEEPERS SHAASHGAZ :KEEPER OF THE KING’S CONCUBINES HIGH PRIESTSKINGS OF PERSIASTOCK OF JUDAH SERAIAH CAMBYSESJECONIAH JOZADAKCYRUSSALATHIEL JESHUADARIUSZERUBBABEL JOIAKIMXERXESHANANIAH

3. PEOPLE TO REMEMBER AHASUERUS:KING OF PERSIA 478 BC? VASHTI:AHASUERUS’ FIRST WIFE MORDECAI: (A EUNUCH)? GREAT-GRANDSON OF KISH - A BENJAMITE ESTHER:FIRST COUSIN OF MORDECAI HEGAI:EUNUCH IN CHARGE OF KING’S HAREM BIGTHAN AND TERESH: KING’S DOORKEEPERS (EUNUCHS) HAMAN:THE AGGAGITE - DESCEDENT OF KING AGAG HATHACH:EUNUCH THAT ESTHER SENT TO SEE MORDECAI

4. OUTLINE ESTHER CHAPTER FIVE ESTHER GOES TO THE KING: V. 1-2 KING PROMISES TO GRANT HER REQUEST: V. 3 SHE INVITES THE KING AND HAMAN TO A BANQUET: V. 4-5 ESTHER WILL MAKE HER REQUEST AT THE BANQUET: V. 6-8 HAMAN COMPLAINS TO HIS WIFE ABOUT MORDECAI: V. 9-13 HAMAN BUILDS A GALLOWS TO HANG MORDECAI: V. 14

5. READ:ESTHER 5:1-2 1Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. 2So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.

6. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 5:1-2 1Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE THIRD DAY? HOW DID ESTHER ARRAY HERSELF ? WHY AT THIS PARTICULAR PLACE?

7. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 5:1-2 2So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter. DID THE KING SEE ESTHER? DID SHE FIND FAVOR IN HIS SIGHT? WHAT DID THE KING DO? WHAT DID ESTHER DO?

8. READ:ESTHER 5:3-5 3And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!” 4So Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.” 5Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

9. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 5:3-5 3And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!” 4So Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.” 5Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared. WHAT DID THE KING SAY TO ESTHER? WHAT DID ESTHER SAY TO THE KING? WHO DID SHE PREPARE THE BANQUET FOR? HOW DID THE KING RESPOND TO THIS?

10. READ:ESTHER 5:6-8 6At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!” 7Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and request is this: 8“If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”

11. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 5:6-8 6At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!” AT THE BANQUET WHAT DID THE KING ASK ESTHER? REMEMBER KING HEROD? READ: MARK 6:22-23 22When Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you." 23He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.“(NKJ)

12. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 5:6-8 7Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and request is this: 8“If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.” WHAT WAS ESTHER’S REQUEST? WHO IS SHE PREPARING THIS BANQUET FOR? WHAT WILL ESTHER DO AT THIS BANQUET?

13. READ:ESTHER 5:9-11 9So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. 10Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.

14. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 5:9-11 9So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. HOW DID HAMAN RESPOND TO THIS ? WHAT HAPPENED WHEN HE SAW MORDECAI? WHY WAS HE FILLED WITH INDIGNATION?

15. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 5:9-11 10Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. THEN, WHAT DID HAMAN DO? WHY DID HE CALL HIS WIFE AND FRIENDS? WHAT DID HE TELL THEM?

16. READ:ESTHER 5:12-14 12Moreover Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. 13“Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” 14Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made.

17. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 5:12-14 12Moreover Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. 13“Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT ESTHER’S BANQUET? WAS THIS IN HONOR OF HIM? WHY WAS HE NOT TOTALLY HAPPY?

18. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 5:12-14 14Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made. WHAT DID HIS WIFE AND FRIENDS REPLY? WHAT SHOULD HE SUGGEST TO THE KING? DID THIS PLEASE HAMAN?