During the reign of king Ahasuerus of Persia, a search is made for the most beautiful young girls in the kingdom, one of whom will become queen: for the haughty queen Vashti has been deposed.
In Shushan, the capital, live a Jew of the captivity named Mordecai and his orphaned cousin, Esther, a girl of rare beauty whom Mordecai has raised as his own child. She is chosen among the others to be brought to the king’s palace; but Mordecai counsels her to say nothing of her nationality.
So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal. . . . And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.2:16–17
Meanwhile Mordecai, sitting in the king’s gate, overhears a plot to kill Ahasuerus. He tells Esther, who goes at once to the king and, in Mordecai’s name, warns him of his danger. The story is found to be true. The conspirators are seized and hanged.
The king’s grand vizier, Haman, is a man of such power that all men bow down before him: all but Mordecai, who refuses to bow. Haman is full of wrath. But he disdains to punish this one Jew, instead he will destroy all the Jews in the kingdom.
Having cast Pur (that is, lots) to find the auspicious day on which to act, Haman petitions the king for his consent to destroy the Jews out of the land. In return he promises to pay ten thousand talents of silver into the king’s treasury. The king gives him his signet ring, saying, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.3:11
Haman’s decree, sealed with the king’s ring, goes out to the governors of all the provinces: To destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women . . . and to take the spoil of them for a prey.3:13
There is great mourning and anguish among the Jews.
Esther sends to Mordecai, who tells her she must go and plead with the king for her people.
To enter unbidden the inner court of the palace, unless the king, by holding out his golden sceptre, gives permission, means death.
But Esther sends word to Mordecai, Go, gather together all the Jews . . . and fast ye for me. . . . I also and my maidens will fast. . . .4:16
Dressed in her royal robes, she goes and stands in the inner court of the palace. Here, from his throne, the king can see her. Raising the golden sceptre that is in his hand, he holds it out toward her.
As Esther draws near, the king says, What wilt thou, queen Esther? And what is thy request? It shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. She replies, Let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.5:3–4
Afterwards Haman boasts to his wife and his friends of Esther’s request, which the king has granted. Yet all this availeth me nothing, he complains, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.5:13 Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, they advise him, and tomorrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet.5:14
The king, reading meanwhile in the book of records, learns it was Mordecai who saved his life from the conspirators. He sends for Haman and says, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor?6:6 This man whom the king would honor, proudly replies Haman, should first be arrayed in royal apparel; he should be mounted on the king’s own horse; he should then be led through the streets by one of the king’s most noble princes who will proclaim, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor.
The king says to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai, the Jew. . . .6:9–10
ESTHER DELIVERS HER PEOPLE
At Esther’s banquet, which is attended by the king and Haman, the king asks, What is thy petition, queen Esther?7:2 She begs him to save her life and the lives of her people: For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish.7:4
Who dares to do this, the king asks; and Esther says, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman.7:6
Then the king learns of the gallows built in Haman’s house to receive Mordecai.
Hang Haman thereon, orders the king.
So they hang Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.
The decree which Haman issued against the Jews cannot however be changed: it was made in the king’s name and sealed with his ring.
Esther falls weeping at the king’s feet. Though he cannot change the decree, he can issue a new one: The Jews are now permitted to defend themselves, even to the death, against the enemies who would destroy them.
The danger is past. The days of their deliverance the Jews name Purim, after Haman’s casting of Pur, or lots, to find the auspicious time for their destruction; and these days they set aside for feasting and gladness. And the Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honor.8:17
For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews . . . and speaking peace to all his seed.10:2–3