Esther – The Jewish Queen!
Introduction of Esther
Esther was a very beautiful woman. She was a Jewish queen. Her original name was Hadassah, but when she went to the royal palace, her name was changed to Esther. Esther was very young when her parents died, so she lived with her uncle whose name was Mordecai. He belonged to the city of Susa and it was a city in Iran. The name of the king was Ahasuerus of the palace where she became a queen. Esther was a Jewish woman but she hid this from everyone because her uncle advised her. The story of Esther is written in the Holy Bible.
Verse
“Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died. When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem. Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.” (Esther 2:7-10)
Selection of Esther
The king needed some young girls because he had deposed the current queen named Vashti. Several girls were brought to the palace including Esther. She was extremely beautiful and charming due to which the king chose her and made her his queen a year later. But despite becoming queen, Esther did not reveal that she was from a Jewish family. Esther’s uncle found out about a conspiracy. In which a plan was being made to kill the king. Mordecai told the king about this and the status of Mordecai was elevated in the eyes of the king. Reference: (Esther 2:12-17)
Verse
“During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.” (Esther 2:21-23)
Esther’s Courage & Haman’s Conspiracy
There was a minister in the court named Haman. He was a very powerful and swift person. He had enmity with Esther because once Haman was refused to be honored by Mordecai. He was not an idolater but a Jew. Haman was very angry at this and thought that he would take revenge. For this he filled the king’s ears and told the king that we should exterminate the Jews and kill them, to which the king also agreed. When Esther got to know this news, she was very worried. Not only her people but also she can be killed. For this she decided to fast for three days to seek God’s help and then go to the king’s court.
Verse
“He sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:13-16)
Esther Bravery
There is a Jewish holiday called “festival of Purim”. This festival is celebrated because when Esther found out that Haman had conspired against her, she thought that she would seek help from God, fast for three days, and then go to the king’s court. She dared to go to the king’s court and said that Haman has conspired against me. He wants my people to be destroyed along with me. Esther pleaded with the king not to do this. The king listened and understood her then the king hanged Haman because he wanted to create a riot. In this way, Esther saved her nation along with her. At that time the Jews were very happy because the king not only saved them from being killed but also allowed them to defend themselves.
- Reference: (Esther 5:1-8)
- Reference: (Esther 7:3-10)
- Reference: (Esther 8:11-17)
Purim Festival Startup
When Haman conspired to kill the Jews, he drew lots to set the date. But because of Esther’s bravery, he failed and was killed. The Jews celebrate this victory with the name of festival of Purim, which means the drawing of lots. On this day, the Jews are very happy, they pray a lot and give gifts to each other. On this day, they remember Esther’s bravery and her uncle’s loyalty.
Verse
“Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.” (Esther 9:20-22)
Esther’s Legacy
Esther was a very brave woman, because of her bravery; she brought the Jews out of a difficult time. Esther asked God for mercy and went to the king’s court with courage because it is an insolence to go to the king’s court without being told. This risk was also taken by Esther and she jumped into danger for the survival of herself and her people. God had mercy on her and softened the king’s heart. The Jews were saved from Haman’s conspiracy. The Jews also celebrate this joy under the name of the festival of Purim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
From the story of Esther we learn that we should seek God’s help in all situations because God always opens the way for His righteous servants. The second is that one should always show bravery. Esther risked her own life to save the lives of her people and set a great example of sacrifice. Esther had a lot of faith in God, because of which God also showed mercy and helped her. It also shows the mercy of God that God keeps making ways for His righteous servants in all situations. The character of Esther tells us that no matter how difficult the situation is, we should always fight it and raise our voices for our rights.
