Esther
Reference: The Entire Book of Esther
Jump directly to previous:  Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah, Jochebed, Deborah, Miriam, Delilah, Naomi, Hannah, Michal, Bathsheba, Queen of Sheba, Widow of Zarephath, The Widow and Her Pot of Oil,
The Woman of Shunem (Part I), The Woman of Shunem (Part II)

This last woman of the Old Testament about whom we intimately know nothing, was related to a family carried away captive with Jeremiah about 600 BC and remained in the land of captivity rather than return to Jerusalem. Her parents died and her uncle, Mordecai became her guardian. He asked her not to reveal her nationality to the king whem she was recruited for the King's harem. The fact that she was taken into the palace was not her fault. When a king commanded, one obeyed. She gained favor of the eunuch in charge of the women and he gave her careful instructions when she was summoned to go to the king. After she had been there a year he "loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins." She was chosen to replace Vashti, the current queen. Mordecai heard of a plot to overthrow the king and told Estheer who conveyed the message to the king and the men were put to death, but it was written down and Mordecai's name was mentioned.

The king promoted a man named Haman and all the servants bowed down to him, except Mordecai. Knowing that he was a Jew, Haman went to the king and told him about these people who were disloyal and a threat to the king and asked for permission to send out an edict "to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews". The king agreed, still not knowing Esther was a Jew. When Esther heard of it she asked all her people to pray and fast with her for three days and then requested an audience with the king. If she entered the king's presence without his requesting her and he did not extend his scepter to her, she would be put to death. The king extended his scepter for her and asked what her request was, and she said she wanted him and Haman to come to a feast she had prepared for them. They did. She requested that they come again the next day. Haman went home bragging about her private invitation to the feast with the king and queen. Meantime Mordecai had refused to bow down to him. Haman's wife and friends suggested he have a gallows made and ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it the next day.

That night the king could not sleep and asked for the book of records and read about the plot that Mordecai had revealed and asked what had been done for him. He asked who was in the court and was told Haman was there (he had come to ask for Mordecai to be hanged) but the king instead told him to honor Mordecai. At the feast Esther revealed to the king that she was a Jew and what had been published about the destruction of all her people. Haman came to the queen to beg for his life and fell on her bed and the king came in and accused him of trying to rape his queen. He was hanged on the gallows prepared for Mordecai. He gave haman's house to Esther and his ring to Mordecai.

Because she saved the Jews from destruction, the book of Esther is is read every year by Jews at the Feast of Purim held on the 14th day of Adar. God used her as an instrument of His providence for the working out of a glorious purpose. As Mordecai said to her," who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

In His fellowship, Celeste