Esther Saves

the Jews
Summary
by Enikő Demjén
Reformed Theology III.
 Rebellious Vashti

King Xerxes, the king of Persia, a great empire, lived in the capital city
of Susa. Once he gave a banquet for all his people to boast with his
richness. Meanwhile his wife, Queen Vashti was giving an other
banquet for the women. When the King called for her, she refused to
come.
 Esther become
queen

Because of the disobedience of Vashti, the King choosen an other girl

of the most beautyful girls of his empire for himself to be his wife. This
women was Esther, the cousin of the Jew named Mordecai, who
adopted her.
 Mordecai’s find

Meanwhile Esther became the Queen, Mordecai had an administrative

position at the palace. Here he learned about a conspiracy against the
King. He told it to Esther, she told it to the King, and when it was
discovered that the report was true, it was written down in the official
records of the empire.
 Mordecai resists

Some time later the King promoted a man named Haman to the
position of prime minister. The King ordered to show the respect for
Haman by kneeling and bowing to him, but Mordecai didn’t do so,
because of his faith in God. So Haman would kill all Jews in revenge. He
ordered the lots to be cast („purim”, they were called) and the 13th day
of the month of Adar was decided on.
 Haman lies

He cheated the King, he said that the Jews are dangerous for his
empire, so the King took off his ring, which was used to stamp
proclamations and make them official, and gave it to Haman, and told
him, „The people and their money are yours; do as you like with them.”
So Haman proclaimed for all people of the empire in every language
and system of writing of every nation of the empire, that all Jews were
to be killed.
 Esther talks to Mordecai

When Mordecai learned of all had been done, dressed in sackcloth, covered
his head with ashes and walked through the city, walking loudly and bitterly,
until he came tot he entrance of the palace. When Esther heard about it, she
sent her servant to talk with Mordecai. He send a message to Esther about
the proclamation, so Esther sent a message back, and asked for all the Jews
to hold fast and pray for her for three days and nights.
 Esther’s first banquet

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and went to the King, who saw her
standing outside, he held out to her his gold scepter, so she could came in. Esther
invited him and Haman to be her guests that night at a banquet she was preparing
for them. There Esther had only one whish: an other invitation for them for the
next day. When Haman went home and met with his friends, he was very proud of
him, because of his importance in the palace. But was furious with Mordecai. His
wife and friends suggested him that he build a gallows and ask the King to have
Mordecai hanged on it.
 Mordecai’s
benefaction

The same night the King could not sleep, and he read Mordecai’s story at the
official records of the empire. When he learned that Mordecai’s deed has not
honored, the King asked the entering Haman about the reward. Haman tought that
the King would honor him, so he answered what he want: royal robes, horse and
respect from everyone.
The king is agree and send Haman to get the robes, horse and provide
all these honors for the Jew.
Haman all these does the way the King wished, and at home his wife
and his friends told him that the jew will defeat him.
 Haman’s reward

Later that day at Esther’s banquet, when the King asked Esther, what she wants,
Esther said she want only the life of the jews, so Haman’s plan reveals. The King is
fury, leave the room, and Haman tries to beg for his life for the Queen, but the King
returns and thinks that Haman want to hurt the Queen, so Haman was hanged ont
he gallows that he had built for Mordecai. All of his property was given to Esther by
the King, and she put Mordecai in charge of this property.
 Esther’s request

But the proclamation was valid and Esther bagged the King to do
something against it. The only soulution was that the King issued an
other proclamation, according to that the jews can organize for self-
defense and they can fight back and destroy the attackers. So the 13th
day of Adar in Susa the Jews killed 500 people, among them were the
ten sons of Haman too, and had the bodies of Haman’s sons were
publicly displayed.
 Púrím

The same day the Jews in the provinces also organized and defended themselves
and they killed 75.000 people who hated them. On the next day there was no more
killing, and they made it a joyful day of feasting, a time for giving gifts of food to
one another. Mordecai wrote letters to all Jews of the empire, telling them to
observe the 14th and 15th of Adar as holidays every year, and the Jews followed his
instructions, and the celebration became an annual custom named Púrím, because
of Haman’s lots. Esther’s command confirmed the rules for Púrím, was written
down on a scroll.
After that Mordecai was second in rank only to the King himself.
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