A few questions to get you started:

• How many years was chapter 1 from Chapter 2 (“…Now after these things…”) ?
• Is there any significance to Mordecai and Esther’s names? (probably transliteration of the common name for Persian gods)
• Do you think Esther was taken by force into the Harem or did Mordecai “enroll” her? (I’m not sure Scripture tells us, but the answer helps form an opinion of Mordecai’s character).
• The text mentions twice that Esther was an orphan. Besides being plain fact, why is this such an interesting detail?
• Was it acceptable for Mordecai to command Esther to conceal her nationality?
• Why do you think Esther found favor with all who *saw* her?  BTW, is it reasonable to even infer more about her character than is said???
• V 17 Esther is made queen instead of Vashti…this illustrates that Esther was now in the same honored, but perilous position as Vashti was.
• What was the second gathering of virgins (v. 19)? Was this referring to some part of the feast for Esther?
• FYI, Xerxes was killed in an assassination by someone allowed into his chambers by the chamberlain.
• Why do you think Mordecai was not honored immediately?
• If we run out of things to discuss, here is one from last Sunday… It’s easy to critique Vashti’s response to be summoned. But how about Xerxes… How often do we as men assume our wife or family even are for our own honor and pleasure and use them as such? Wasn’t that Xerxes’ motivation in summoning her?