Exile and return · Esther 1–10
Esther Saves Her People
In Susa, the Persian king Ahasuerus sets aside Queen Vashti, who refused to appear before him. From among the young women gathered for him, he chooses Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, and makes her queen; she keeps her heritage secret. Mordecai refuses to bow down to Haman, the king’s favorite. Furious, Haman gets a decree issued to wipe out all the Jews on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, a date chosen by lot. Mordecai urges Esther to step in: “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” After three days of fasting, she goes to the king without being summoned: “If I perish, I perish.” The king extends the golden scepter to her. At the second banquet, she exposes Haman, who is hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Permitted to defend themselves, the Jews are saved: this is the origin of the feast of Purim.
What happens
- Esther becomes queen in place of Vashti Esther 2:17
- Haman wants to destroy Mordecai’s whole people Esther 3:5–6
- “For such a time as this” Esther 4:14
- The king extends the golden scepter to Esther Esther 5:2
- Esther pleads for her people’s lives and exposes Haman Esther 7:3–6
- Haman is hanged on the gallows prepared for Mordecai Esther 7:10
Who is in this story
The lesson
Even when his name is never mentioned, God directs history behind the scenes to protect his people. Each of us is placed where we are “for such a time as this”: the courage of faith means seizing that moment, whatever it costs.
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Quick quiz on this story
How was Mordecai related to Esther?
Esther was “his uncle’s daughter”: Mordecai was therefore her cousin, and he had taken her as his own daughter when her parents died. Esther 2:7
What drives Haman to want to destroy all the Jews?
Mordecai would not bow or pay homage to Haman; scorning to lay hands on Mordecai alone, Haman sought to destroy his whole people. Esther 3:5–6
What does the king do when Esther appears before him without being summoned?
Esther found favor in the king’s sight, and he held out the golden scepter to her; she approached and touched the top of it. Esther 5:2
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