Esther 1 - A Good and Powerful King

Intro: Are these facts about Xerxes true or false?
Xerxes was about 35 when he became King of Persia. True, although we can’t be exact.
In order to punish the sea for destroying his floating bridges he had it whipped 300 times. True, he also dropped some handcuffs into the sea.
Xerxes had an affair with his sister-in-law. False, Xerxes wanted to but she resisted. He ended up having an affair with her daughter, his niece, instead.
Because he had collected so much treasure Xerxes had to build the famous Hall of a Hundred Columns. False, the hall was originally built as a Throne room but was used by Xerxes’ son as a display room for the treasure which no longer fit in the store room.
Xerxes was assassinated by one of his own bodyguards. Probably true, the assassin was called Artabanus and was either a bodyguard or an advisor to Xerxes.
He fought against Greece, Babylon, Egypt and Israel. False, he never fought Israel since the Jews had been scattered years before he became king.
Other names for Xerxes are: Khshayarsha, Artaxerxes and Ahasuerus. False, the first is the persian version of Xerxes (which is his name in Greek), Ahasuerus is a biblical name for several kings including Xerxes and Artaxerxes was his son.
Xerxes lived half a century before Jesus did. True, he was born in approximately 519BCE and died in 465BCE.

Reading: Esther Chapter 1

Discussion Questions:
v1-8 What do you think about Xerxes? What is Xerxes doing that looks impressive?
v9-18 What are some clues that Xerxes may not be a good king? Who seems to have the most power in the kingdom?
v19-22 What does his response to Vashti tell us about him?
What does Xerxes think it means to be a good and powerful king?
How does this contrast to the kind of king that Jesus would be?

Extra Time: As a group make a playlist of songs which reflect on and praise King Jesus.