Esther 2:19-3:15 Questions by Stephen Ricker
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Haman's Plot to Kill the Jews
Questions for Study 2

Esther 2:19-3:15
Memory Verse 3:6

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I. Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy (2:19-23)

1. Where was Mordecai seated? (19) Why was he there so often? (11) What was special about his relationship with his cousin? (7, 20) How does his love for his cousin reflect God's love?

2. What kind of people sat at the gate in those days? (Dt 21:18-21, Jos. 20:4, 2 Sam. 19:8) What does this say about Mordecai position? How can we see God's hand in this? How do people often interpret the reason for this kind of a change in their position in life?

3. What did Mordecai find out? Who did he report it to? What happened when it was found out to be true? What does it mean that it was recorded in the book of the annals? Was Mordecai rewarded for his loyalty? How would you feel if you were Mordecai?

II. Haman's Plot to Destroy the Jews (3:1-15)

4. Who did King Xerxes honor? What is he called? Who was King Agag and whom were his people? (1 Sam. 15) What relation did they have with God's people? (Exodus 17:8-16, and 1 Sam. 14:4:47-48, Ex. 17:16, Deut. 25:17-19, and 1 Ch. 4:42-43) Saul was a Benjamite, as was Mordecai (2:5), what then would Haman represent to Mordecai? How does this explain Mordecai's actions? (2)

5. What was the advice given to Mordecai? (3-4) What does the phrase "day after day" suggest? What would not accepting this advice mean? Why might a Jew's response to the verdict be tolerated? (4, Ex. 20:5) What does Mordecai's actions show about his faith and convictions?

6. How did Haman respond to Mordecai's actions? (5-6) How did his feelings sway his actions? What does this say about him? What would happen in history if all the Jews were killed?

7. When was the fate of the Jews decided? (7) How long would it be until it was executed? What could the Jews do during this time?

8. What was the reason that Haman gave to the king for his advice? (8, 9) Was this true? Why would he offer to pay money for its execution? By his words, what was Haman trying to do? What did the king decided? (10,11)

9. What did the edict say? (12-14) What does "destroy, kill, and annihilate" show about Haman's motivations? How and where was the edict distributed?

10. After the edict was sent out, what did Haman and the king do? (15) How did the city respond to the edict? What might they think of such an edict? What would it mean for the security of others, not only the Jews?