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 NINE THE JEWS DESTROY THEIR ENEMIES:V. 1-5 THEY KILL 500 PEOPLE IN SHUSHANV. 6-11 ESTHER ASKS THAT HAMAN'S SONS BE HANGED THEY KILL 300 MORE IN SHUSHAN AND 75,000 IN THE OTHER PROVINCES:V. 12-16 FEAST OF PURIM TO BE OBSERVED THROUGH ALL THEIR GENERATIONS EVERY YEAR:V. 17-28 ESTHER WRITES TO CONFIRM THIS:V. 29-32

5. READ:ESTHER 9:1-2 1Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king's command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them. 2The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people.

6. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:1-2 1Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king's command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them. WHEN WAS THE KING’S DECREE EXECUTED? WHY THIS DAY? WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY?

7. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:1-2 2The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people. WHAT DID THE JEWS DO ON THAT DAY? WHY WAS NO ONE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THEM?

8. READ:ESTHER 9:3-4 3And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king's work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 4For Mordecai was great in the king's palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent.

9. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:3-4 3And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king's work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 4For Mordecai was great in the king's palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent. WHO ASSISTED THE JEWS?WHY? WHY DID THEY FEAR MORDECAI?

10. READ:ESTHER 9:5-10 5Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them. 6And in Shushan the citadel the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. 7Also Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vajezatha-- 10the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews-- they killed; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

11. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:5-10 5Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them. 6And in Shushan the citadel the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. WHAT DID THE JEWS DO TO THEIR ENEMIES? WHO WERE THEIR ENEMIES? HOW MANY WERE KILLED IN SHUSHAN?

12. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:5-10 7Also Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vajezatha-- 10The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews-- they killed; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. WHO WERE THE SONS OF HAMAN? WHAT DID THEY DO TO THEM? WHY KILL HAMAN’S SONS? WHAT DAY WAS THIS?13 TH DAY OF ADAR? DID THEY HAVE AUTHORITY TO PLUNDER?

13. READ:ESTHER 9:11-12 11On that day the number of those who were killed in Shushan the citadel was brought to the king. 12And the king said to Queen Esther, "The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the citadel, and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? Now what is your petition? It shall be granted to you. Or what is your further request? It shall be done."

14. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:11-12 11On that day the number of those who were killed in Shushan the citadel was brought to the king. 12And the king said to Queen Esther, "The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the citadel, and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? Now what is your petition? It shall be granted to you. Or what is your further request? It shall be done.“ WHY INFORM THE KING? WHAT DID THE KING TELL ESTHER? WHAT DID HE ASK ESTHER?

15. READ:ESTHER 9:13-14 13Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do again tomorrow according to today's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows." 14So the king commanded this to be done; the decree was issued in Shushan, and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

16. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:13-14 13Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do again tomorrow according to today's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows." 14So the king commanded this to be done; the decree was issued in Shushan, and they hanged Haman's ten sons. WHAT DID ESTHER REQUEST OF THE KING? WHEN WERE THE SONS OF HAMAN KILLED? WHY HANG HAMAN’S SONS ON THE GALLOWS? HOW DID THE KING RESPOND?

17. READ:ESTHER 9:15-17 15And the Jews who were in Shushan gathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. 16The remainder of the Jews in the king's provinces gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy- five thousand of their enemies; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. 17This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth day of the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

18. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:15-17 15And the Jews who were in Shushan gathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. 16The remainder of the Jews in the king's provinces gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy- five thousand of their enemies; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. 17This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth day of the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness. WHAT DID THEY DO ON THE 14 TH DAY? HOW MANY DID THEY KILL? WHY DID THEY NOT PLUNDER?

19. READ:ESTHER 9:18-19 18But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 19Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar with gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and for sending presents to one another.

20. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:18-19 18But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 19Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar with gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and for sending presents to one another. WHAT DAYS DID THEY CELEBRATE IN SHUSHAN? WHAT DAY DID THE OTHER JEWS CELEBRATE? WHY DID THE SEND GIFTS TO ONE ANOTHER?

21. READ:ESTHER 9:20-22 20And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, 21To establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, 22As the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.

22. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:20-22 20And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, 21To establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, WHAT DID MORDECAI DO? WHAT DAYS WERE THEY TO CELEBRATE YEARLY?

23. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:20-22 22As the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor. WHY WERE THEY CELEBRATING? HOW SHOULD THEY CELEBRATE?

24. READ:ESTHER 9:23-25 23So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them, 24Because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them and destroy them; 25But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that this wicked plot which Haman had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

25. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:23-25 23So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them, 24Because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them and destroy them; HOW DID THE JEWS RECEIVE THIS CUSTOM? WHAT DOES ‘CAST PUR’ MEAN? WHAT HAD HAMAN PLANNED TO DO WITH THEM?

26. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:23-25 25But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that this wicked plot which Haman had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. WHAT DID THE KING COMMAND? WAS THIS JUSTICE?

27. READ:ESTHER 9:26-27 26So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them, 27The Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who should join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time,

28. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:26-27 26So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them, 27The Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who should join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time, WHAT DID THEY CALL ‘THESE DAYS’? HOW WAS THE FEAST OF PURIM ESTABLISHED? WHO WAS TO CELEBRATE THESE FEAST DAYS?

29. READ:ESTHER 9:28-29 28That these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants. 29Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim.

30. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:28-29 28That these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants. WHO WAS TO REMEMBER ‘THESE DAYS’? WHY WAS THIS SO IMPORTANT?

31. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:28-29 29Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim. WHY DID ESTHER ALSO WRITE A LETTER? WHAT AUTHORITY DID ESTHER HAVE?

32. READ:ESTHER 9:30-322 30And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews, to the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, 31To confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their fasting and lamenting. 32So the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written(NKJ)

33. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:30-322 30And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews, to the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth, WHERE DID MORDECAI SEND THESE LETTERS? WHAT AUTHORITY DID MORDECAI HAVE?

34. QUESTIONS:ESTHER 9:30-322 31To confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their fasting and lamenting. 32So the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written(NKJ) WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THESE LETTERS? DO JEWS STILL CELEBRATE THESE HOLIDAYS?

35. REVIEW BOOK OF ESTHER CHAPTER ONE - FEAST OF XERXES & VASHTI DEPOSED CHAPTER TWO -ESTHER MADE QUEEN MORDECAI UNCOVERS A PLOT CHAPTER THREE - HAMAN’S PLAN TO ENNIHILATE ALL JEWS CHAPTER FOUR - MORDECAI PERSUADES ESTHER TO HELP CHAPTER FIVE -ESTHER’S REQUEST TO THE KING CHAPTER SIX - SLEEPLESS NIGHT & MORDECAI HONORED CHAPTER SEVEN - HAMAN IS HANGED CHAPTER EIGHT - KING’S EDICT IN BEHALF OF THE JEWS CHAPTER NINE - INSTITUTION OF PURIM CHAPTER TEN - MORDECAI IS HONORED