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AUGUST 3
DAY 2:Why do Esther and Mordecai appear so secular in their lifestyles?
In contrast to their near contemporaries Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel, the central people in
Esther seem worldly. The lack of references to God is most obvious in Esther and Mordecai’s con-
versations. Are these all subtle indications that Esther and Mordecai were people whose faith had
little or no effect on their daily lives?
The Book of Esther does not settle this question.There are several important factors,however,
that might hold us back from jumping to conclusions about Esther and Mordecai. Primary among
these is the fact that the book has a limited scope. Only a few key events are recorded. Few if any
details of the inner life of either main character are revealed.Yet the integrity of their actions ought
to incline us toward giving them the benefit of the doubt when it comes to faith (4:13–16).
Here are a few other considerations regarding this question:1) While Mordecai’s caution about
announcing his and Esther’s heritage publicly might be questioned,it must also be pointed out that
others were also cautious about this same matter (Neh. 2:1–8 makes no mention of God in
Nehemiah’s conversation with Artaxerxes); 2) Public events such as Passover had fallen out of prac-
tice during the captivity, meaning that there were fewer occasions in which faith was practiced in
the open (this doesn’t mean however that the Jews were not a marked people,since they could be
identified for the purpose of Haman’s law); 3) When it was appropriate, Esther did openly identify
her Jewish heritage (7:3,4). These considerations do not remove the charge that Esther and
Mordecai seem less devoted to God than, for example, Daniel. But the fact that God did work out
His purposes in their lives comes through clearly in the book.

the king returned from the palace garden to
AUGUST 3 the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had
fallen across the couch where Esther was.
Then the king said, “Will he also assault the
queen while I am in the house?”
Esther 7:1–8:17
As the word left the king’s mouth, they cov-
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So the king and Haman went to dine with ered Haman’s face. Now Harbonah, one of
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7 Queen Esther. And on the second day, at the eunuchs, said to the king, “Look! The gal-
the banquet of wine, the king again said to Es- lows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for
ther, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It Mordecai, who spoke good on the king’s behalf,
shall be granted you. And what is your request, is standing at the house of Haman.”
up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!” Then the king said, “Hang him on it!”
3 Then Queen Esther answered and said, “If 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that
I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s
it pleases the king, let my life be given me at wrath subsided.
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my petition, and my people at my request. For On that day King Ahasuerus gave Queen
we have been sold, my people and I, to be 8 Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of
destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king,
Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I for Esther had told how he was related to her.
would have held my tongue, although the 2 So the king took off his signet ring, which he
enemy could never compensate for the king’s had taken from Haman, and gave it to
loss.” Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai
5 So King Ahasuerus answered and said to over the house of Haman.
Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he,
who would dare presume in his heart to do
such a thing?”
6 And Esther said, “The adversary and en-
emy is this wicked Haman!” 8:1 the house of Haman.Property of a traitor
by Persian custom returned to the king.In this
So Haman was terrified before the king and case, he gave it to his queen, Esther, who put
queen. Mordecai over it (8:2). The outcome for
7 Then the king arose in his wrath from the Haman’s wife, Zeresh, and his wise men is
banquet of wine and went into the palace gar- unknown (5:14;6:12,13).Haman’s 10 sons later
den; but Haman stood before Queen Esther, died (9:7–10).
pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was
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determined against him by the king. When
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