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Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah: Persian Period and Restoration
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Lesson OneDiaspora Stories (Esther 1–7)16 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Esther 1–7
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In | The Timeline
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In | Diaspora
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In | Diaspora Stories and Heroes
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In | Nehemiah 9
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In | Workbook: Nehemiah 9
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In | The Importance of Vindication
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In | Plot #1: Guilt and Reconciliation
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In | Plot #2: Dishonor and Vindication
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In | Plots Converge in Jesus
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Behind | Building a Home in Egypt
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Behind | iMap: Post-Exile Diaspora
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In Front | Modern-Day Dishonor and Vindication: Louis Zamperini
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In Front | Workbook: Modern-Day Dishonor and Vindication - Louis Zamperini
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson TwoOverview of Esther (Esther 8–10)14 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Esther 8–10
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In | Workbook: A Royal Beauty Pageant
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In | Chiasm in Esther
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In | A Book of 10 Banquets
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In | The Hiddenness of God
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In | Workbook: Echoes in Esther
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In | Inner-biblical Echoes in Esther
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In | Esther and Joseph
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Behind | Workbook: Editions (and Additions) of Esther
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Behind | Esther and the Canon
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In Front | Signs and Esther
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In Front | Workbook: The Hidden Hand of God in Your Life
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson ThreeThe Character of Esther (Esther Review)14 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Esther
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In | Workbook: The Courage of Esther
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In | What Else Is Esther About?
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In | Workbook: Narrative Liturgy
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In | The Gospels as Narrative Liturgy
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In | The "Meaning" of Stories
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In | Esther and Character Formation
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Behind | Workbook: The Historicity of Esther
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Behind | The Historicity of Esther
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In Front | Christianity Today: Moments of Crisis
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In Front | Crisis, Character, Calling, Competence and Community
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In Front | The Holocaust and Bible Interpretation
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FourEzra15 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Ezra
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In | Workbook: Ezra 1 and Exodus
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In | Ezra's Place in the Bible Story
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In | Introduction to Ezra
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In | Workbook: Introducing Ezra
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In | A Difficult Scene in Ezra
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In | Ezra 10
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Behind | iMap: Exile and Return
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Behind | Second Temple Period
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Behind | Persian Kings and the Bible
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Behind | The Persian Empire
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In Front | Purity and Assimilation Today
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In Front | Workbook: Purity and Assimilation in Your Life
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FiveNehemiah17 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Nehemiah
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In | Workbook: A Persian Cupbearer
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In | Introduction to Nehemiah
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In | Workbook: Comparing Three Prayers
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In | Workbook: Nehemiah's Leadership in Action
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Behind | Collective Identity
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Behind | Setting the Stage for the New Testament
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Behind | A Temple State
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Behind | The Walls of Nehemiah
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Behind | Tensions Between the Samaritans and Jews
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In Front | Nehemiah and Leadership
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In Front | Affairs of State and Favor with Those in Authority
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In Front | Workbook: The Best Citizens and the Biggest Threat
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In Front | Eschatology as "The Already" and "Not Yet"
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In Front | Workbook: Guiding Questions - Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity|1 Assessment
Participants 7
Lesson 2, Activity 8
In | Inner-biblical Echoes in Esther
Lesson Progress
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Genesis 41 is only one of a number of places we can look for echoes of Esther in other Old Testament stories. Here are a few more examples:
Esther | Joseph |
Esther 2:8-20 She attracts favor with officials (Hebrew: hen/hesed). | Genesis 39:3 Joseph gains favor (Hebrew: hen) with Potiphar. |
Esther 3:1-6 They spoke to Mordecai “day after day,” but he didn’t heed them. | Genesis 39:10 Potiphar’s wife spoke to Joseph “day after day,” but he didn’t heed her. |
Esther 3:10 King gives signet ring to Haman. | Genesis 41:42 Pharaoh gives signet ring to Joseph. |
Esther 3:15 King and Haman pass edict and “sit down to eat.” | Genesis 37:25 Joseph’s brothers “sit down to eat.” |
Esther | Moses |
Esther 3:8 Haman portrays Jews as a threat. | Exodus 1:9-10 Hebrews portrayed as threatening Egypt. |
Esther 4:8 Esther “entreats” king on behalf of her people. | Exodus 7:1, 2 Moses “entreats” Pharaoh on behalf of Hebrews. |
Esther | Saul |
Esther 2:5 Mordecai was a descendent of Kish (tribe of Benjamin). | 1 Samuel 9:1 Saul was the son of Kish. |
Esther 3:1 Haman was identified as an Agagite. | 1 Samuel 15 Saul disobeys God’s command by not killing Amalekite king, Agag. |