Lesson One:  A Providential Divorce
DAY TWO:  Party Hearty!

Please carefully read Esther 1:5–8 and answer the following questions.

1.  How did Ahasuerus wrap up this celebration, and where did this take place (v. 5)? 

NOTE: Persian palaces usually stood in the middle of a park with lovely gardens.  When the Old Testament was translated into Greek in the Septuagint, the word used for garden was paradeisos, where we get our word paradise.[vi]  Jesus used this word when He told the thief on the cross, “today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

2.  Describe the opulent display and how far Ahasuerus went to lure those attending the feast (v. 6, 7).  Probably this was not like your most recent back yard barbecue!

NOTE: Ahasuerus’ goal in all this was to sell his plans to the people.  The Persian custom was to entertain and do business at the same time, just as a salesman might take a prospective client out to an expensive dinner. “A proud man himself, he knew how to appeal to the pride in others.”[vii]

3.  The focus of this feast was alcohol.  The Septuagint translation here confirms that this was a potos, a drinking party.[viii]  What was the extent of the wine Ahasuerus provided, and what was the Persian drinking law (v. 8)?
 

NOTE: Verse 8 is difficult to translate.  It is hard to tell by comparing other translations whether it means no-one had to drink if they didn’t want to (nkjv, amp), or they were to drink but chose to what extent they did drink (niv, nlt).  The Hebrew words for not compulsory mean there was no social or royal compulsion to do this.[ix]