25 Details About the Life of Esther - 'A' to 'Z' Quiz

Answer: Ahasuerus

Ahasuerus is the correct answer. According to Wikipedia, Ahasuerus means prince, head or chief. (The king goes by a different name in the New International Version Bible, but we'll save that for a later question in this quiz.) According to Esther 1:1, Ahasuerus ruled over a vast empire consisting of 127 provinces that stretched from India in the east to Ethiopia in the west.

Answer: The king and Haman

King Ahasuerus and Haman were invited to two banquets by Esther. According to Scripture, Haman was flattered that he was invited to Esther's banquets with the king. His flattery, however, would quickly dissipate. At the second banquet, Esther would turn the tables on Haman and his execution would follow.

Incidentally, the words 'banquet' and 'banquets' appear sixteen times in the Old Testament of the New King James Version Bible and no less than eleven of the references are in Esther.

Answer: Scripture doesn't say

Scripture doesn't say. However, it's highly possible the king had a large number of women in his harem. After all, 1 Kings 11:3 reports King Solomon had seven hundred wives/princesses and three hundred concubines, this even though he ruled over a relatively small area that constituted the Israelite nation.

As per the answer for Question No. 1, Ahasuerus ruled over a vast empire consisting of 127 provinces that stretched from India in the east to Ethiopia in the west. So if Solomon had 1,000 women in his harem, it's possible Ahasuerus also had a mind-boggling number.

In different places in Esther, mention is made of the eunuchs who served in the harem, giving the impression the number of women could be substantial.

Answer: Extermination of all the Jews in the kingdom

The decree Haman was successful in getting approved called for the extermination of all the Jews in the vast area ruled by the king. As stated in the answer to Question No. 1, the king ruled over 127 provinces, stretching from India in the east to Ethiopia in the west.

It's apparent the king was extremely naive to give approval to Haman's request. At the best, the king put tremendous stock in the advice offered by Haman.

Here's how Esther 3:8-15, in the NKJV, tells of Haman being successful in getting his diabolical decree approved:
"Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, 'There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries.'

"So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, 'The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you.'

"Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded -- to the king's satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province according to its script, and to every people in their language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king's signet ring. And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions. A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day. The couriers went out, hastened by the king's command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed."

Answer: The enemies were soundly defeated.

The enemies of the Jews were soundly defeated in every locale in the Persian empire, Scripture states. According to a diabolical plan devised by Haman, attacks to annihilate the Jews were to be undertaken on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month.

Esther 9:-5, in the NKJV, explains the outcome of the attacks this way:
"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. The 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. And 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. For Mordecai was great in the king's palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent. Thus 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."

Answer: Mordecai would not bow down to him.

Talk about having an ego the size of Manhattan. According to Scripture, Haman's rage against Mordecai was based solely on the fact he would not bow down to him like everyone else. However, for Haman the way to get even was not to simply kill Mordecai. He was convinced the solution to everything was to have every Jew killed in the massive empire ruled by the king.

His hatred of Jews appears to have been deep rooted. Wikipedia offers this information: "As his name indicates, Haman was a descendant of Agag, the king of the Amalekites, a people who were wiped out in certain areas by King Saul and David."

Answer: True

True. There is no direct reference to God in the book of Esther. This even though many Jewish and Christians believe the theme of the book is based on Esther being appointed by God to be in the right place at the right time to save her people.

Jews and Christians alike also see the fact Esther called for three days of fasting before she approached the king at a highly critical point as an indication of seriously seeking God in fervent prayer. The fasting was to be done by all the Jews in Persia.

However, the correct answer to the question has to be 'true' as there is not a single direct reference to God in the book of Esther.

Answer: Served above all the princes

According to Scripture, the king "advanced" Haman and "set his seat above all the princes who were with him." Or as the NIV states, he was given a "seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles."

According to Wikipedia, Haman would be known as a 'vizier' in the Persian empire. In other words, he was the highest ranking official to serve the king.

Answer: She could be killed for simply approaching the king without permission.

It's difficult to fathom, but Esther could have easily been killed for going directly to the king without being summoned. It boggles the mind that a king would have such a draconian rule, but that's how it was in Biblical times. Making things even more dicey is the fact Scripture states Esther had not been called to go to the king in thirty days, indicating she might have fallen out of favour with the emperor.

Here's how Esther 4:11-12, in the NKJV, tells of the queen's precarious situation: "'All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden sceptre, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days'."

Scripture goes on to tell of Mordecai's response to Esther's statement: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

The chapter concludes with this response by Esther: "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"

Esther agreed to intercede on behalf of her people and the rest, as they say, is history.

Answer: Jubilant

Obviously, Mordecai was jubilant, and then some. After all he had been successful in preventing Haman from carrying out his plans for mass genocide of the Jewish people.

And it wasn't an easy task. However, Esther was on Mordecai's side and risked her life by agreeing to make an appeal to the king without any authorization to do so. Jews and Christian both believe Esther was appointed by God to be able to intervene on behalf of the Jewish people to prevent Haman's diabolical plan from being successful.

Esther was extremely skillful in her tactics, hosting two different banquets to set the stage to convince the king to cancel Haman's scheme. Not only was she successful in getting Haman's plans for genocide cancelled, Esther was successful in having prominent enemies of the Jews killed.

Answer: Bigthan and Teresh

Bigthan, also called Bigthana, and Teresh are the two men who intended to assassinate the king. According to Scripture, Mordecai learned of their plot and informed Esther, who in turn informed the king. The chapter ends with Bigthan and Teresh being executed.

Esther 2:19-23, in the NKJV, states: "When virgins were gathered together a second time, Mordecai sat within the king's gate. Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him. In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king's gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai's name. And when an inquiry was made into the matter, it was confirmed, and both were hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king."

The NIV, rather than using the term 'sought to lay hands on the king' states the two palace officials plotted to assassinate the king.

Answer: False

It's possible Esther was a talented musician, but there is no record in Scripture of such being the case. On top of this, there is no Esther 11:15, as mentioned in the question. The book of Esther ends at the third verse of the tenth chapter. The answer to this question has to be false.

Answer: He was her cousin.

According to Esther 2:7 in the NKJV, Esther was his uncle's daughter, which would've made her his cousin. (The NIV simply describes her as Mordecai's cousin.) According to Scripture, Esther was an orphan and Mordecai raised her after her parents died. No information is given in Scripture about the cause of death of Esther's father and mother.

Answer: 75,000

According to Esther 9:16, no less than seventy-five thousand enemies of the Jews were killed in the king's provinces in Persia. As explained in the answer to Question No. 5, the Jews and their allies were highly successful in defeating the people who loathed them so much. In Esther 9:6, it states the Jews killed five hundred of their adversaries in Shushan alone.

Answer: Hadassah

Hadassah is the correct answer. According to 'The Bible Story', a ten-volume set of books written by Arthur S. Maxwell, Hadassah was the Hebrew name for Myrtle. After she was adopted by Mordecai, she was given the Persian name Esther, which means star. "You can recognize it in the word 'asteroid,' which is a very little star, and in 'aster,' the lovely star-like flower," Maxwell writes. "In Babylon, the morning and the evening stars were worshipped as gods under the name 'Ishtar'."

Answer: True

True. Establishment of the Feast of Purim is recounted in Esther 9:18-32.

Today, Jews around the world celebrate the Feast of Purim in a number of different ways. The ways Purim is celebrated is documented on Wikipedia:
"-- Exchanging reciprocal gifts of food and drink known as mishloach manot.
-- Donating charity to the poor known as mattanot la-evyonim
-- Eating a celebratory meal known as a se'udat Purim
-- Public recitation ("reading of the megillah") of the Scroll of Esther, known as kriat ha-megillah, usually in synagogue
-- Reciting additions, known as Al HaNissim, to the daily prayers and the grace after meals."

Wikipedia also reports other customs "include drinking wine or any other alcoholic beverage, wearing of masks and costumes, and public celebration."

Answer: Prevented an assassination attempt

Mordecai prevented an assassination attempt is the correct answer. As stated in the answer to Question 11, Mordecai learned of a plot by Bigthan and Teresh to assassinate the king and informed Esther, who in turn informed the king. The chapter ends with Bigthan and Teresh being executed.

Then one sleepless night, the king had the chronicles of the palace read to him and learned of Mordecai's heroics, as per the sixth chapter of Esther.

As notes in the NKJV Study Bible explain, the king had to be aware to some extent about Mordecai's deed when it originally occurred. For whatever reason, the king was not fully aware, or had forgotten, about the key role Mordecai played. As a result, the king agreed to honour him.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible state this is the turning point in the Book of Esther. From this point on, Esther and Mordecai would gain the upper hand and Haman would be facing a losing battle which would end in his execution.

Answer: It was OK for Esther to meet with him.

To the great relief of Esther, the golden sceptre was extended by the king indicating it was OK for her to meet with him. As explained in the answer to Question No. 9, it was strictly illegal for someone to approach the king without pre-authorized permission.

In fact, Esther 4:11-12 states that there was one law for any person who went into the inner court of the king without permission, and that one law was "put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden sceptre."

Answer: Shushan, also Susa

Shushan, also known as Susa, is the correct answer. (The NKJV uses Shushan while the NIV uses Susa.) According to Wikipedia, Shushan, or Susa, was an ancient city of the Elamite, Persian and Parthian empires of Iran. The city was located in the lower Zagros Mountains, about 250 kilometer east of the Tigris River, between the Karkheh and Dez Rivers, Wikipedia reports.

Answer: Ten

The correct answer is ten. Their names, according to the ninth chapter of Esther were Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vajezatha. Similar to their father Haman, the sons all died on the gallows.

Answer: False

There is no documentation in Scripture about Esther becoming a mother. Yes, it's quite possible. However, the answer to this question has to be false. Incidentally, there is no such passage as Esther 4:46. The fourth chapter of Esther ends at Verse 17.

Answer: She refused the king's request to show her beauty to royal officials at a banquet.

Vashti refused a request of the king to appear before a banquet and show her beauty. The king opted to depose of her after consulting with his wise men. The feeling was if she wasn't deposed, other women in the kingdom would be disobedient to their husbands.

I really like Vashti as she is a person who stood on her principles regardless of the consequences. She was the first women's libber. In my opinion, she should be looked upon as a heroine in Scripture. After all, her disobedience played a role in saving the Israelites from mass genocide because after she was deposed, Esther ascended to the throne. If Vashti hadn't taken a defiant stand, it was unlikely Esther would have become queen. Unfortunately, after Vashti is deposed, she is never again mentioned in Scripture.

Answer: Sat in the king's gate

Scripture is a little vague, simply stating n the NKJV Mordecai "sat in the king's gate." (The NIV and the Easy to Read Version of the Bible use almost similar language.)

Wikipedia has this observation of his position: "Mordecai was referred to subsequently as one of those who 'sat in the king's gate' to indicate his position of closeness to the king.

Meanwhile, notes in the NKJV Study Bible agrees the term 'sat in the king's gate' has a "special significance", indicating Mordecai had an official position in the palace.

However, it's impossible to be more specific about the type of work he did due to the limited information.

Answer: Xerxes

Xerxes is the correct answer. As per information in the answer to Question No. 1, he is known as Ahasuerus in the KJV and the NKJV. According to Wikipedia, the name Ahasuerus is equivalent to the Greek name Xerxes, both derived from the Old Persian language Xsayārsa. Ahasuerus has been used in older English Bible versions but many newer translations use Xerxes, Wikipedia states.

Answer: Zeresh

Zeresh is the correct answer. She's regarded as a wicked woman as she counselled her husband Haman to build a gallows to hang Mordecai.

Esther 5:14-15, in the NKJV, states: "Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, 'Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet'. And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made."

According to the NIV Study Bible, fifty cubits is about about 75 feet or about 23 meters. It is believed Zeresh wanted the gallows extra high so Mordecai's demise could be seen from a considerable distance. In other words, the gallows would be about as high as a seven story building, making it visible from all parts of the city where the king reigned.