By James Riley Strange, Ph.D. Associate Professor of New Testament, Samford University Stand Down Esther 4:1–3, 10–16 Read chapters 3 and 4 to understand the setting of today’s passages. Sometimes the Book of Esther uses hyperbole; drinking festivals and Esther’s beauty treatments last extraordinary lengths of time, and the sum of money in 3:9 is astronomical. Also, King Ahasuerus is…