![]() She begins fairly passive but becomes a more active and strong character by the end. In the narrative, Mordecai’s love for her is obvious – he checks on her when she comes to the palace ( Esther 2:11) and he gives her wisdom and direction ( Esther 2:10).Īs the story progresses, Esther’s character shines, even more than her beauty. Esther makes the cut ( Esther 2:8).Įsther was raised by her uncle as if she were a daughter ( Esther 2:7). The most beautiful women of the Empire were chosen. When King Ahasuerus’ wife Vashti refused his summons, he first exiled her and later holds a contest for who will be her replacement ( Esther 1:19 2:1-4). Initially, Esther is noted in the story for her beauty ( Esther 2:7). What Do We Know about Queen Esther in the Bible? ![]() ![]() As Queen Esther and Mordecai were contemporaries of Ezra and Nehemiah, it isn’t a stretch to connect why Ahasuerus was favorable to the Jewish people and their return to Jerusalem. In the context of other biblical writings, Esther would have fallen somewhere between Ezra 6-7, when Jews were beginning to travel back to Jerusalem ( Ezra 7:1). With such a history between Amalek and Israel and Agag in particular, Haman had plenty of motivation to hate the Jews. Old Samuel the prophet showed up and hacked Agag to pieces ( 1 Samuel 15). Saul conquered Amalek but didn’t kill Agag. Agag had been the King of the Amalekites, whom God had commanded Israel’s King Saul to kill because of the sins of Amalek against His people. The book of Esther stretches from 479-473 BC. Mordecai worked for the King in the palace ( Esther 2:5). The young woman, Hadassah, known as Esther, was a Jewish orphan raised by her Uncle Mordecai. Esther is the basis for the Jewish festival of Purim (Purim means “to cast lots”) and refers to how Haman decided what day to slaughter a whole group of people ( Esther 9:23-26).Įven though this is one of two in the Old or New Testament without a specific mention of God (Song of Solomon the other), His sovereignty is evident in the whole narrative, a stark contrast to Haman’s use of random chance. In the end, Queen Esther and her Uncle Mordecai succeed in saving their people from destruction. The story of Esther is full of drama, irony, violence, and strong characters. It landed on the 13 th of Adar ( Esther 3:7). Haman cast lots (like flipping coins) to choose the violent day. With that brave act, Esther fought for the lives of her people from Haman, a high royal official who hated the Jews and paid 10,000 talents of silver (370 tons of silver today worth over $3 billion) for the King to sign a law allowing the death and plunder of God’s people ( Esther 3:8-9). What would he do? After a frightening hesitation, the King smiled and stretched the scepter toward her ( Esther 5:1-2). Summoning her courage, she stepped forward. Esther needed to bring her concern before the King. Or he could show her mercy by extending his scepter to her. She faced execution if her presence angered him. The massive doors opened, and Queen Esther approached the King of Persia, her husband.
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