Esther Before Ahasuerus

The words

1. Ahasuerus

   Ahasuerus authorizes Haman’s killing decree, then permits a counter-decree allowing Jewish communities to kill opponents and take their property.

   Esther 3:10–13 (opens a new tab) · Esther 8:8–11 (opens a new tab)

2. Decree

   The book describes a royal decree ordering the kingdom’s Jews killed on one day, including children and women, and their property seized.

   Esther 3:12–13 (opens a new tab)

3. Esther

   Esther pleads for her people’s lives; she later requests a second day under their decree, when the Jews kill 300 more men in Shushan.

   Esther 7:3–4 (opens a new tab) · Esther 9:13–15 (opens a new tab)

4. Fast

   Esther asks Shushan’s Jews to fast without food or drink for three days; she and her attendants will do the same before she approaches the king.

   Esther 4:16 (opens a new tab)

5. Gallows

   An execution structure, called a pole in the NIV.

   Haman builds the gallows for Mordecai; the KJV says Haman himself is hanged on it at the king’s command.

   Esther 5:14 (opens a new tab) · Esther 7:9–10 (opens a new tab) · NIV: Esther 7:9-10 (opens a new tab)

6. Golden Sceptre

   A royal staff signifying authority, in Webster’s definition.

   Esther risks death by approaching without being summoned; the king extends his golden scepter, and she touches its tip.

   Esther 4:11 (opens a new tab) · Esther 5:1–2 (opens a new tab) · Webster’s 1828: scepter (opens a new tab)

7. Hadassah

   Probably “myrtle,” according to the NET name note.

   Mordecai raises Hadassah, also called Esther, as his daughter after her parents die; the book identifies her as his uncle’s daughter.

   Esther 2:7 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Esther 2:7 (opens a new tab)

8. Haman

   Haman plots to kill the Jews after Mordecai refuses to bow; he is executed, and his ten sons are later killed.

   Esther 3:5–6 (opens a new tab) · Esther 7:10 (opens a new tab) · Esther 9:10 (opens a new tab)

9. Hegai

   Esther is brought to Hegai with other women gathered into the king’s house; he provides preparations and seven attendants.

   Esther 2:8–9 (opens a new tab)

10. Media

    Persia and Media appear together among the powers and princes at Ahasuerus’s opening feast; later advisers invoke laws of Persians and Medes.

    Did you know?

    The opening banquet uses gold drinking vessels; the narrator adds that the vessels differed from one another.

    Esther 1:3; Esther 1:7 (opens a new tab) · Esther 1:19 (opens a new tab)

11. Mordecai

    Mordecai, Esther’s guardian, directs the counter-decree authorizing the Jews to kill opposing forces, including “little ones and women,” in the KJV.

    Esther 2:7 (opens a new tab) · Esther 4:13–14 (opens a new tab) · Esther 8:9–11 (opens a new tab)

12. Persia

    A royal adviser invokes the laws of Persians and Medes over Vashti’s dismissal; later decrees are written for the provinces’ different languages.

    Esther 1:19 (opens a new tab) · Esther 3:12 (opens a new tab)

13. Purim

    Named after Pur, meaning “lot,” in the account.

    Purim becomes an annual remembrance of deliverance; the narrative reports 75,000 enemies killed by Jews in the provinces before their rest.

    Esther 9:16–17 (opens a new tab) · Esther 9:20–28 (opens a new tab) · Esther 3:7 (opens a new tab)

14. Shushan

    Susa, in the NET Bible.

    Shushan is the royal setting where Esther is gathered into the king’s house and later risks entering his inner court without being summoned.

    Esther 1:2 (opens a new tab) · Esther 2:8 (opens a new tab) · Esther 4:11 (opens a new tab) · Esther 5:1 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Esther 1:2 (opens a new tab)

15. Vashti

    Vashti refuses the king’s summons to display her beauty before his guests; Esther later receives the crown in her place.

    Esther 1:10–12 (opens a new tab) · Esther 2:17 (opens a new tab)