Esther, a Jewess, is chosen to be the new queen. Mordecai informs the king of an assassination plot, which is foiled.

• In verse 3, “harem” refers to a large group of women available to him. Is that a morally, upright situation? Why?
• Does Esther’s conduct in verses 8–16 sound like one who feared the Lord? (Compare Proverbs 31; Daniel 1:8)
• Mordecai “sitting at the king’s gate” (v. 21) shows that he had some type of official position in the government.