Esther: A jewish Queen who saves jews people from mass slaughter Article

The Life Journey of Esther: A Biblical Heroine

Introduction

The tale of Esther, or Hadassah, unfolds as a testament to bravery, faith, and the guiding hand of destiny. It unfolds in the biblical Book of Esther, which is part of the Ketuvim ("Writings") in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament in the Christian Bible. Esther's journey from an orphaned Jewish girl to the queen of Persia who saves her people is a tale of remarkable bravery and the mysterious ways in which God works through human actions.

Background and Historical Context

The Book of Esther is set during the reign of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), who ruled over the Persian Empire from 486 to 465 BCE. The empire spanned from India to Ethiopia, encompassing a total of 127 provinces. (Esther 1:1). The narrative takes place primarily in the Persian capital of Susa (Shushan).

Esther's Early Life

Esther, a Jewish orphan nurtured by her cousin Mordecai, a Benjaminite residing in the city of Susa, had a destiny intertwined with her heritage. Her Hebrew name was Hadassah, which means "myrtle," but she was known as Esther in the Persian court (Esther 2:7). Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter after the death of her parents.

The Persian Court and Vashti's Disgrace

The tale unfolds with an extravagant celebration thrown by King Ahasuerus, stretching across 180 days, culminating in a week-long revelry for everyone in Susa. (Esther 1:3-5). Queen Vashti, the king's wife, held a separate banquet for the women of the palace. On the seventh day, the king, in high spirits from wine, commanded Vashti to appear before him and his guests to display her beauty. Vashti refused, leading to her being deposed as queen (Esther 1:10-12).

The Search for a New Queen

Following Vashti's removal, a search began for a new queen. Young, radiant maidens from every corner of the empire were gathered for the king's harem in Susa, and among them was Esther. (Esther 2:1-4, 2:8). Esther found favor with Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the harem, and received special beauty treatments and privileges (Esther 2:9).

Esther Becomes Queen

When Esther's turn came to go before the king, she requested nothing beyond what Hegai suggested, and she won the favor of everyone who saw her. King Ahasuerus was so taken with Esther that he made her queen instead of Vashti and held a great banquet in her honor (Esther 2:15-18).

Mordecai's Loyalty and Haman's Rise

Shortly after Esther became queen, Mordecai discovered a plot by two palace officials to assassinate King Ahasuerus. He informed Esther, who reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. The conspirators met their end, their demise meticulously documented in the annals of the king's chronicles.(Esther 2:21-23).

Around this time, Haman the Agagite, an enemy of the Jews, was promoted to the highest position in the king's court. All the royal officials at the king's gate bowed down to Haman, but Mordecai refused to do so because he was a Jew (Esther 3:1-2). This infuriated Haman, and he sought to destroy not just Mordecai but all the Jews in the kingdom (Esther 3:5-6).

The Decree to Destroy the Jews

Haman convinced King Ahasuerus to issue a decree to annihilate all the Jews in the empire on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar. "Proclamations were dispatched to every province mandating the complete eradication of all Jews—regardless of age or gender—along with the looting of their possessions." (Esther 3:12-13).

Mordecai's Appeal to Esther

When Mordecai learned of the decree, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. He sent a message to Esther via one of her eunuchs, urging her to approach the king and advocate on behalf of her people.(Esther 4:1-8).

At first, Esther was reluctant, warning Mordecai that approaching the king without an invitation was a dangerous gamble, as it could result in death unless the king chose to extend his golden scepter in mercy. (Esther 4:11). Mordecai responded with a powerful message: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. “If you choose to stay silent now, salvation and liberation for the Jews will emerge from somewhere else, but you and your family may face destruction. Perhaps it is precisely for this moment that you have ascended to your royal status.”(Esther 4:13-14).

Esther's Courage and the Fast

Moved by Mordecai’s words, Esther asked all the Jews in Susa to fast for three days and nights along with her and her maids. She made a vow to face the king head-on, proclaiming, “If I meet my end, so be it.” (Esther 4:15-16).

Esther's Intervention

On the third day, Esther donned her regal attire and positioned herself in the palace's inner court, directly in view of the throne room. The king, upon spotting her, was delighted and extended his gilded scepter in welcome. Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter, indicating she had been granted an audience (Esther 5:1-2).

The king inquired of Esther her deepest wish, assuring her that he would grant her anything, even up to half of his vast realm. Esther invited the king and Haman to a banquet she had prepared (Esther 5:3-4). At the banquet, the king again asked Esther what she wanted, and she requested that they come to another banquet the next day, where she would answer the king’s question (Esther 5:6-8).

Haman's Plot Against Mordecai

At the same time, Haman was thrilled by his invitation to the queen’s feast, but his delight turned to fury when he noticed Mordecai, who still refused to bow in his presence. In response, Haman’s wife Zeresh and his friends proposed that he erect a gallows 50 cubits tall and request the king to execute Mordecai on it.(Esther 5:9-14). Haman followed their advice and had the gallows constructed.

The King's Sleepless Night

That night, King Ahasuerus could not sleep and ordered the book of the chronicles to be read to him.It was discovered in the records that Mordecai had unveiled a conspiracy against the king's life. When the king inquired about the rewards bestowed upon Mordecai for his valor, his attendants reported that no recognition had been given. (Esther 6:1-3).

Haman's Humiliation

The king asked Haman, who had just entered the court to speak about hanging Mordecai, what should be done for the man the king delights to honor. Thinking the king was referring to him, Haman suggested a royal robe, a horse the king had ridden, and a royal crest placed on the man’s head, and that he be led through the city streets proclaiming his honor (Esther 6:4-9).

To Haman’s utter dismay, the king decreed that he must do precisely that for Mordecai. Haman was compelled to publicly honor Mordecai, an act that left him profoundly humiliated (Esther 6:10-11). Afterward, Haman rushed home, mourning and covering his head, only to be hurried to Esther’s second banquet (Esther 6:12-14).

Esther's Revelation and Haman's Downfall

At the banquet, King Ahasuerus again asked Esther her request. She uncovered her Jewish heritage and begged for her own survival as well as that of her people, disclosing Haman's scheme to annihilate them. (Esther 7:3-4). The king, enraged, left the room. Haman, realizing his fate, begged Esther for his life. When the king returned, he saw Haman falling on the couch where Esther was reclining and thought he was assaulting her (Esther 7:7-8).

One of the eunuchs informed the king of the gallows Haman had prepared for Mordecai. The king ordered Haman to be hanged on those very gallows, thus executing him and averting his evil plan (Esther 7:9-10).

The Jews' Deliverance

King Ahasuerus gave Haman’s estate to Esther, and she appointed Mordecai over it. Esther pleaded again with the king to revoke the decree against the Jews. The king granted Mordecai the authority to issue a new edict, enabling the Jews to protect themselves from their adversaries on the designated day. (Esther 8:3-8, 8:11).

When the day arrived, the Jews struck down their enemies and were victorious. They established the Feast of Purim to commemorate their deliverance, which is celebrated to this day (Esther 9:1-2, 9:20-22, 9:28).

Conclusion

Esther's life journey is a powerful testament to faith, courage, and divine providence. Despite the odds and the risks, Esther's bravery saved her people from annihilation. Her story reminds us that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they trust in God's plan and act with courage and integrity.

Esther's story continues to inspire people of all faiths, demonstrating that even in the most dire circumstances, hope and faith can lead to deliverance and triumph. The Feast of Purim, observed each year, stands as a timeless testament to her bravery and the resilient spirit of the Jewish community.