The Story of Queen Esther

QUEEN ESTHER

The Book of Esther

There was once a beautiful girl named Esther. When her father and mother died, her cousin Mordecai brought her up as his very own daughter.

Esther lived in Persia. But, Esther was not Persian. She was Jewish. Her ancestors came to Persia as prisoners of war. In Esther's day, many Jews lived in Persia.

One day the King of Persia held a huge banquet for princes from all over the world. His wife, Queen Vashti, also held a banquet with the women apart from the men.

The king allowed everyone to drink as much wine as they wished. Later, the King became drunk on wine and ordered Queen Vashti to wear the royal crown and show her beauty before them. Queen Vashti refused.

The king was livid. Afraid that other women would disobey their husbands just as Queen Vashti did, the king passed a law which took the crown from Vashti. To show that women were to honor their husbands, she was no longer queen.

Later when the king’s anger abated, he began to think about Vashti and what had been done to her. So his servants began to encourage him to look for a new wife and queen.

So a search was made for a new queen. Esther was very beautiful and fair to look upon, so it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and decree was heard, that Esther was also brought into the king’s house.

When Esther’s turn came to go before the king, she required nothing, and Esther was favored by all who saw her. Out of all the beautiful girls in the kingdom, the king loved and chose Esther as his wife. He set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

But Esther did not reveal that she was Jewish because Mordecai had told her not to. Esther honored Mordecai as a good daughter and did just as he had taught her.

Mordecai must have missed Esther very much because he spent his time at the entrance to the palace to hear news of Esther. One day he overheard two palace servants planning to murder the king. Mordecai told Queen Esther who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. The report was investigated and found to be true. The servants were hanged, and Mordecai's name was written in the king's record book.

Second in command to the king was a rich man called Haman. Everybody bowed when Haman passed by. Everyone that is except Mordecai he worshiped only the living God.

When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow to him, he began to hate him so much he came up with a plan to kill him and all the Jews in Persia. Haman was so wicked that he tricked the king into signing a law that at a certain time every Jew in the kingdom would be killed.

When Mordecai heard the news he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went about the city mourning and crying in a loud voice. There was great mourning among the Jews, they were fasting, weeping, and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

When Esther’s maids came and told her about what was going on, she was very distressed. She sent clothes for Mordecai to put on, because no one was allowed inside the king’s court in sackcloth, but he refused them.

So Esther summoned one of her servants and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai. Mordecai told the servant everything and showed him the decree declaring the death of all the Jews.

Mordecai instructed the servant to return to Esther and ask her to beg the king for mercy and plead for her people. The servant return and told Esther all that Mordecai had instructed him.

But Esther replied back to Mordecai with a message, “Everyone knows there is a law that no one is allowed to approach the king without being summoned, or they will be put to death. But the king has one law that if he holds out his golden scepter to them they may live. But as for me, I have not been summoned to come to the king for the last thirty days.”

So the servant told Mordecai and he replied back with this message, “Don’t think just because you are in the king’s palace that you will escape death. For if you remain silent at this time, it will rise up against you at another time, and you and your father’s house will perish because you did not help your people when you had the chance.” He asked, “And who knows you didn’t come into the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther sent them with this answer, “Go and gather all the Jews and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days and nights. I and my servants will fast as you do. Then I will go into the king, which is not lawful, and if I perish, I perish.”

So Mordecai went on his way and did just as Ether had commanded him.

And it came to pass that on the third day, that Esther dressed in your royal clothes and came into the king’s court. When the king saw her standing in the court, she found favor in his eyes. He held out his golden scepter to her so she came forward and touched the top of his scepter.

The king said to her, “What is it Queen Esther? What is your request? Even if it is half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

“If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”

The kings said, “Bring Haman at once so that we may do what Esther asks.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet of wine Ester had prepared.

The king asked, “What is your petition so that I shall grant it? And what is your request? Even if it is half the kingdom it shall be done.”

Esther answered, “If I have found favor in the sight of the king, please grant my petition and fulfill my request. Let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

When Haman left to go home that day he was happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and that he did not reverence him he was filled with rage. But he restrained himself and went on his way.

That evening Haman called his wife and friends together. He bragged to them about his much wealth, many sons, and all the ways the king honored him.

Haman told them, “Yea, even Esther the queen let no one come to the banquet today with the king, but myself. And tomorrow she has invited me alone to the banquet she has prepared for the king.”

Then he replied with jealous anger, “But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate!”

Then said his wife and friends to him, “Have a gallows set up and in the morning speak to the king that Mordecai may he hanged upon it. Then you can go in happy to the banquet with the king.” This pleased Haman very much and he had the gallows to be made.

That night the king could not sleep so he ordered the book of his reign to be brought and read to him. When it was read about what Mordecai had exposed of his servants that conspired to kill him. The king asked, “What honor was given to Mordecai for this?” “None was given to him,” they answered.

Just about that time Haman entered the outer court to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai when the king asked, “Who is in the court?” His servants answered, “It is Haman standing in the court.” “Bring him in.” the king ordered.

When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king wishes to honor?”

Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” So he answered the king, “For the man the kings wishes to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, with a royal crest placed upon his head. And let him be led thru the city streets by a royal prince proclaiming, “This is what is done for the man the king wishes to honor!”

The kings commanded, “That’s good. Go at once and do all you suggested for the Jew Mordecai who sits at the king’s gate.”

Haman was mortified! But he went and did just as the kings had told him. He went home in shame and grief. When he told his wife she said to him, “Before you has your downfall began, and since Mordecai is the seed of the Jews, you cannot stand against him. You will surely fall before him!”

While they were yet talking the king’s servants came and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.

And the king said again unto Esther that day, ““What is it Queen Esther? What is your request? Even if it is half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

She answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases you, grant me my life, this is my petition. And spare my people this is my request. For, I and my people, have been sold to be destroyed. If we would have just been sold for slaves, I would have kept quiet, but the enemy can not be rewarded for the king’s damage.”

The king asked, “Who is he? Where is he? This man who has dared to do such a thing?” And Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!”

Then Haman was afraid before the king and queen. And the king was very angry and he rose up and went into the gardens. Haman, realizing the king had already decided his fate fell to the couch where Queen Esther was sitting to beg for his life.

When the king re-entered the room, he cried out, “Will he force himself upon the queen before me in my own house?”

As the words went from the king’s mouth, his servants covered Haman’s face. One of the servants said to the king, “A gallows has already been set up by Haman to hang Mordecai who spoke up to help the king.” Then the king said, “Hang him upon it!”

So they hanged Haman for the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s anger satisfied.

That day the king gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. Mordecai came into the presence of the king and Esther told the king how he was related to her. The king took off the ring he had re-claimed from Haman and gave it to Mordecai.

Esther then fell at the king’s feet, weeping she begged him to put an end to the evil plan Haman had devised against her people. She said, “How can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”

The king replied to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have hanged him on the gallows he set up. Now write another law in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring. For no document written and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”

All this was carried out in the king’s name. Mordecai left wearing royal garments and a large crown. He became great in the king’s house and his fame went throughout the whole land.

The Jews had light, gladness, joy, and honor. Many people in the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

Esther took her life in her hands and decided to intercede with the king on behalf of her beloved people, Israel, no matter the consequences to herself. She believed in her God and knew just who to call upon in times of trouble. She knew her outcome was destined by the Lord and she trusted it to the point that she said “if I perish, then I perish.”

Her bravery and faith in God are a testament to the trust this young woman had in the living God. She is a lesson in God’s supreme authority over His creation. He gently guides every aspect of life to position people, governments, and situations for His plan and purpose.

We may never know or understand what God is doing, but a time may come when we realize why we have gone through certain situations and met certain people.

The time may come when everything comes together, and we look back and see that we, too, were put in that moment of time, just as Esther. We too, may see that we were put there “for such a time as this.”