Camp Hill Jr Bible Bowl - Study Guide (Esther)

How many provinces did Ahasuerus reign over? (1:1) over 127 provinces
Where did Ahasuerus reign? (1: 1) from India to Ethiopia
Where was Ahasuerus' royal throne? (1:2) Susa, the capital
In what year of Ahasuerus' reign did he give a banquet? (1:3) the third year
Who was the banquet for? (1:3) all his princes and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of his provinces.
How many days did Ahasuerus display the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty? (1:4) 180 days
The king also gave a banquet for all the people who were present in Susa, from the greatest to the least that lasted for how many days? (1:5) 7 days
Where did the king hold the banquet for all the people? (1: 5) in the court of the garden of the king's palace
Who gave a banquet for the women in the palace belonging to King Ahasuerus? (1:9) Queen Vashti
Who were the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus? (1:10) Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas
What was the king's heart merry with when he commanded his eunuchs to bring Queen Vashti before him? (1:10-11) wine
Why did the king ask for Queen Vashti to be brought before him? (1:11) to display her beauty to the people and princes
What was the king's reaction when Queen Vashti refused to come to him? (1:12) He became very angry and his wrath burned within him.
Why did the king ask the wise men what to do about Queen Vashti refusing his orders? (1:13) It was the custom of the king to speak before all who knew law and justice.
Who gave the king advice as to what should be done to Queen Vashti? (1:16) Memucan
Memucan said the Queen Vashti not only wronged the king, but whom else? (1:16) all the princes and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus
What did Memucan say Queen Vashti's behavior would cause the other women to do? (1:17-18) They would look with contempt on their husbands and the ladies of Persia and Media will speak in the same way to all the king's princes.
What did Memucan suggest be done regarding Queen Vashti? (1:19) A royal edict should be issued that Queen Vashti could not longer come into the presence of the king and that the king should give her royal position to another who is more worthy than Vashti.
What did Memucan say would happen when the royal edict was heard throughout the kingdom? (1:20) All women would give honor to their husbands, great and small.
How did the king react to Memucan's advice? (1:21) It pleased the king and all the princes and the king did as Memucan proposed.
Letters were sent out to all the king's provinces that every man should be what in his own house? (1:22) Master

Chapter 2

When the king's anger had subsided, who did the king's attendants say should be brought to the king? (2: 2) beautiful young virgins
How were the beautiful young virgins found in the kingdom? (2:3) The king appointed overseers in all the provinces to gather every beautiful young virgin.
Into whose custody were the beautiful young virgins brought? (2:3) Hegai, the king's eunuch
What was given to the virgins after they were brought into Hegai's custody? (2:3) their cosmetics
How was it decided who would replace Queen Vashti? (2:4) The king would chose the young lady who pleased him.
What tribe was Mordecai from? (2:5) Benjamin
Mordecai's father was? (2:5) Jair
Jair was the son of? (2:5)Shimei
Shimei was the son of? (2:5) Kish
Where did Mordecai live? (2:5) Susa, the capital
Why did Mordecai no longer live in Jerusalem? (2:6) He had been taken into exile with the captives who had been exiled with Jeconiah
Who was Jeconiah? (2:6) King of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon had exiled
Who did Mordecai take in as his own daughter? (2:7) Hadassah, also known as Esther
How was Mordecai related to Esther? (2:7) Esther was his uncle's daughter.
How was Esther's appearance described? (2:7) She was beautiful of form and face.
Why was Mordecai raising Esther? (2:7) Her father and mother died.
When Esther was brought to the king's palace under Hegai's custody, what did he provide to her? (2:9) cosmetics, food, and seven choice maids from the king's palace
Hegai transferred Esther and her maids to the best place in what? (2:9) the harem
Why did Esther not make known who her people or her kindred were? (2:10) Mordecai had instructed her not to make them known.
How often did Mordecai walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem to see how Esther was doing? (2:11) Every day
Each young lady had a turn to see King Ahasuerus after preparing for how many months? (2:12) Twelve months
What was done during the twelve month period of time? (2: 12) days of beautification, 6 months with oil of myrrh and 6 months with spices and cosmetics
When the young lady would go into the king, what could she bring with her from the harem? (2:13) anything she desired
After the young lady spent one night with the king, into whose custody would she go? (2:14) Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch in charge of concubines
When would the woman be summoned back to see the king again? (2:14) She would not again go to the king unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.
Who was Esther's father? (2:15) Abihail
When it was Esther's turn to see the king, what did she request to be brought to the palace? (2:15) nothing except what Hegai, the king's eunuch, advised
When was Esther first taken to see King Ahasuerus at his royal palace? (2:16) in the tenth month, which is Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign
How did King Ahasuerus feel about Esther? (2:17) He loved her more than all the women and he made her Queen instead of Vashti.
After the king made Esther queen, what did he do? (2:18) He gave a great banquet, Esther's banquet, for all his princes and servants and also made a holiday for the provinces and gave gifts according to the king's bounty.
Once Esther became queen, did she then reveal her kindred or her people? (2:20) No, she did what Mordecai told her, just as she had done while she was under his care.
Who became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus? (2:21) Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's officials who guarded the door.
How did Mordecai hear about the plot to harm the king? (2:21-22) He was sitting at the king's gate when he overheard the plan.
What did Mordecai do with the information about the plot to harm the king? (2:22) He told Queen Esther and she informed the king in Mordecai's name.
What happened when the plot was investigated and found to be true? (2:23) Bigthan and Teresh were hanged on a gallows, and it was written in the Book of the Chronicles in the king's presence.

Chapter 3

Who was Haman's father? (3:1) Hammedatha the Agagite
King Ahasuerus promoted Haman over whom? (3: 1) all the princes who were with him
Who did not bow down or pay homage to Haman? (3: 2) Mordecai
What was Mordecai's reason for not bowing to Haman? (3: 4) He was a Jew.
How did Haman feel when Mordecai did not bow or pay homage to him? (3:5) He was filled with rage.
What did Haman want to do because Mordecai would not bow to him? (3: 6) He sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
What reason did Haman give the king to destroy the Jews? (3:8) Their laws were different than all the other people, and they did not observe the king's laws.
How much did Haman promise to pay those who destroyed the Jews? (3: 9) ten thousand talents of silver
Did the king go along with Haman's plan to destroy the Jews? (3:11) yes
After the scribes wrote the command that Haman had given through the king, how was it sealed? (3:12) with the king's signet ring
Letters were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces to destroy, kill and annihilate which Jews? (3:13) all the Jews, both young and old, women and children
What day were the Jews to be killed? (3:13) the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of Adar
What was to be done with the Jews' possessions? (3:13) They would be seized as plunder.
What did the king and Haman sit down to do while the couriers went out to deliver the edict? (3:15) drink
When the capital city of Susa received the decree, what was their reaction? (3:15) confusion

Chapter 4

When Mordecai learned about the decree to destroy the Jews, what did he do? (4:1) He tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly.
Where could you not enter if you were clothed in sackcloth? (4:2) the king's gate
What did Esther first do after learning of the decree to destroy the Jews? (4:4) She writhed in great anguish and then sent garments to clothe Mordecai so that he would remove his sackcloth.
Did Mordecai accept the garments that Esther sent for him? (4:4) No
Who did Esther summon to find out from Mordecai what and why this was happening to the Jews? (4:5) Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs whom the king appointed to attend to Esther
After Hathach spoke to Mordecai, what did Mordecai send back with Hathach to give to Esther? (4:8) a copy of the text of the edict
What did Mordecai want Esther to do about the situation? (4:8) He wanted her to go to the king to implore his favor and to plead with him for her people.
Why did Esther not want to go to the king to plead for her people? (4:11) Any man or woman who came before the king to the inner court who was not summoned would be put to death, unless the king held out his golden scepter.
Did Mordecai believe that Esther would be able to escape the destruction of the Jews? (4:13) No
What was Mordecai's message to Esther about her remaining silent? (4:14) “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?
When Esther made her decision to go before the king, what did she request the Jews to do? (4:16) not to eat or drink for three days and nights
What did Esther say regarding her fate when she said she would go in to the king even though it was not according to the law? (4:16) “If I perish, I perish.”

Chapter 5

What did Esther wear when she went before the king? (5:1) her royal robes
When the king extended his golden scepter to Esther, what did Esther first do? (5:2) She touched the top of the scepter.
What did the king say he would give to Esther if she wanted it? (5:3) half of the kingdom
What did Esther request of the king? (5:4) for the king and Haman to come to a banquet that Esther prepared
Did the king and Haman go to Esther's banquet? (5:5) yes
At the banquet, what did the king say, for a second time, that he would give to Esther? (5:6) even half of the kingdom
At the first banquet, what did Esther request from the king? (5:8) For the king and Haman to come to a second banquet
When Haman left the first banquet, how did he feel? (5:9) glad and pleased of heart
What was it that caused Haman to then be filled with anger? (5:9) Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate and Mordecai did not stand up or tremble before him.
Who was Haman's wife? (5:10) Zeresh
After the first banquet, who did Haman send for? (5:10) His wife and friends
What did Haman say were the great things in his life that did not satisfy him every time he saw Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate? (5:11-12) the glory of his riches, the number of his sons, every instance where the king magnified him, how the king promoted him above the princes and servants of the king, and how Esther had invited only him, along with the king, to her banquet.
What did Haman's wife and friends suggest that Haman do about Mordecai? (5:14) have a gallows fifty cubits high made and ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it
Did Haman take his wife and friends advice? (5:14) Yes, he had the gallows made, just as they said.

Chapter 6

Why did the king give the order to bring the book or records to be read to him? (6:1) because he could not sleep
What was in the book of records concerning Mordecai? (6:2) How Mordecai had reported the plot by Bigthana and Teresh to lay hands on the king.
How had Mordecai been rewarded for making the plot against the king known? (6:3) Nothing had been done for Mordecai.
Who was in the court of the king's palace when the king asked? (6:4) Haman
Why had Haman come to see the king after the king's records had been read to him? (6:4) To speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him.
Before Haman had a chance to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai, what did the king ask him? (6:6) “What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?”
Who did Haman think the king wanted to honor? (6:6) Himself, Haman
What did Haman suggest be done to honor the man the king wanted to honor? (6:8) Bring a royal robe the king has worn, and a horse the king has ridden, and have the king's most noble princes lead the man on horseback around the city square, wearing the royal robe, proclaiming, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.”
The king commanded Haman to do everything Haman had just suggested for what person? (6:10) Mordecai
Did Haman do as the king commanded for Mordecai? (6:11) yes
What did Haman do after he had honored Mordecai in the way the king commanded? (6:12) He hurried home, mourning, with his head covered.
When Haman went home after he had honored Mordecai, what did his wife and wise men tell Haman? (6:13) “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish origin, you will not overcome him, but will surely fall before him.”
While the wise men and Haman's wife were still talking to Haman, the king's eunuchs arrived and hastily brought Haman where? (6:14) To the banquet which Esther had prepared.

Chapter 7

At Esther's second banquet for the king and Haman, what did she request? (7:3-4) That her life and the life of her people be spared because they had been sold to be destroyed and annihilated.
Esther said that she would not have made her request to the king if her people had been what? (7:4) If they had been sold as slaves.
When Esther made her request to the king, what did the king ask her? (7:5) “Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?”
Who did Esther say had sold her and her people to be destroyed? (7:6) A foe and an enemy, the wicked Haman.
Where did the king go when Esther told him about Haman? (7:7) Into the palace garden
What did Haman do when the king went into the palace garden? (7:7) He stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.
What was Haman doing when the king returned from the palace garden? (7:8) He was falling on the couch where Esther was.
What did the king say when he saw Haman falling on the couch by the queen? (7:8) “Will he even assault the queen with me in the house?”
Who mentioned to the king about the gallows at Haman's house which he had built for Mordecai? (7:9) Harbonah, one of the eunuchs
What did the king say to do with Haman? (7:9) Hang him on the gallows.

Chapter 8

What did Esther tell the king about Mordecai? (8:1) Who he was to her
What did the king do with the signet ring he had taken from Haman? (8:2) Gave it to Mordecai.
Who did Esther place in charge over the house of Haman? (8:2) Mordecai
What did Esther request from the king after Haman was killed? (8:5) She asked the king to revoke the letters devised by Haman to destroy the Jews.
What did the king say he could do for Esther, in addition to having Haman hanged and giving the House of Haman to Esther? (8:8) The king allowed them to write to the Jews whatever they saw fit and they could sign the king's name and seal it with the king's signet ring so that it could not be revoked.
When was the new decree written? (8:9) In the third month, the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day.
How many provinces was the new decree sent to? (8:9) 127 provinces, extending from India to Ethiopia.
How were the letters sent to all the provinces? (8:10) They were sent by couriers on horses, riding on steeds sired by the royal stud.
What was written in the new decree? (8:11) The king granted the Jews the right to assemble and to defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate the entire army of any people or province which might attack them on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of Adar.
What was Mordecai wearing when he went out from the presence of the king and into the city of Susa to shout and rejoice? (8:15) Royal robes of blue and white with a large crown on gold and a garment of fine linen and purple.
What four things were stated that the Jews had after hearing the good news about the new decree? (8:16) Light, gladness, joy and honor
When the command and decree arrived in each province and city, what did the Jews do? (8:17) Had a feast and a holiday
Why did many among the people of the land become Jews? (8:17) Because the dread of the Jews had fallen on them.

Chapter 9

Who assisted the Jews on the day that had been previously set aside to destroy all the Jews? (9:3) All the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and those who were doing the king's business.
Why were so many willing to help the Jews? (9:3) Because the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them.
How many men did the Jews kill in Susa? (9:6-10) 500 men
What did the Jews do with the plunder of those they killed? (9:10) They did not lay their hands on it.
After the Jews killed 500 men in Susa, the king asked Esther if there was anything else she wanted. What did she ask for? (9:13) She asked for the edict to be extended one more day and for Haman's ten sons to be hanged on the gallows.
Did the king grant Esther's request? (9:14) yes
How many men did the Jews kill on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar? (9:15) 300 men
The Jews in the rest of the provinces killed how many of their enemies? (9:16) 75,000
The 75,000 men were killed on what day of the month of Adar? (9:17) thirteenth
What did the Jews do outside of Susa on the fourteenth day of the month? (9:17) Rested, and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing.
What day of the month did the Jews in Susa rest, feast, and rejoice? (9:18) fifteenth
Mordecai sent a letter to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus telling them to do what? (9:20-21) To celebrate on the fourteenth and fifteenth of the month of Adar annually.
Why did Mordecai tell the Jews to celebrate on those days? (9:22) Because the Jews rid themselves of their enemies, and what had been sorrow was turned into gladness and what had been mourning was turned into a holiday.
Besides feasting and rejoicing, what were the Jews to do during this celebration? (9:22) Send portions of food to one another and give gifts to the poor.
What was another word for lot? (9:24)Pur
Haman cast a lot, or Pur, to destroy the Jews, but Haman's plan failed, so what did the Jews name their celebration? (9:24-26) Purim
Who was to celebrate the Purim? (9:28) The Jews throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city.
Who wrote the letter to all the Jews establishing the celebration of Purim? (9:29) Queen Esther and Mordecai

Chapter 10

What book recorded the full account of the greatness of Mordecai and how the king advanced him? (10:2) the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia
Mordecai was second only to what person? (10:3) King Ahasuerus
How was Mordecai described in the last verse of the book of Esther? (10:3) “one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation.”