Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 54 “Esther Becomes Queen”
Featured Passage: Esther 1-2
After the declaration of Cyrus the Great many of the Jews who had been carried away as captives by the Babylonians, returned from captivity to Jerusalem. Under the new Medo-Persian empire some Jews, like the man named Mordecai, chose to stay in the land. Mordecai was raising Hadassah (Esther), a very beautiful young woman who had been orphaned. During this time, Queen Vashti had refused the king’s command to come to him, and King Ahasuerus was searching the kingdom for a queen to replace her.
Discuss:
- Why was King Ahasuerus angry with Queen Vashti? What did his advisors tell him to do about it?
- Why do you think Esther was chosen to join the other young women in the palace? What special treatment was Esther given by Hegai, the custodian of the women?
- How did the King honor Esther as his chosen queen?
- Why do you think Mordecai told Esther not to reveal her Jewish identity?
- What did Mordecai do to save the king’s life?
Memory Challenge:
Esther 2:17
The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
