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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 9
Lesson 2, Activity 7
In | Workbook: Echoes in Esther
Lesson Progress
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Grab your Workbook Journal!
[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]
Much has been said about the absence of any mention of God in Esther. However, just because He’s not specifically called out doesn’t mean that the writer believed that the LORD was not involved.
One of those ways the author implies the LORD’s presence was to provide echoes with other passages in the Old Testament where his actions were either explicitly stated or very obvious.
Let’s look at one such echo.
Read Genesis 41, focusing upon verses 41-43. Then read Esther 6, focusing on verses 6-11.
- Catalog the similarities between the processional scenes in the two chapters.
- Catalog other differences between Genesis 41 and Esther 6.
- Consider how recognizing this echo in Esther illuminates God’s action in the story even though He remains unnamed.