3 Review(s)

The Book of Esther tells the story of a Jewish woman named Esther who becomes queen of Persia and uses her position to save her people from annihilation. The narrative unfolds during the reign of King Ahasuerus (often identified with Xerxes I) and begins with a lavish banquet that leads to the queen Vashti being deposed for refusing to appear before the king.In search of a new queen, Esther, a beautiful Jewish woman raised by her cousin Mordecai, is chosen for her beauty and grace. As queen, Esther initially conceals her Jewish identity. Meanwhile, Mordecai uncovers a plot by Haman, the king's advisor, to destroy all the Jews in the Persian Empire due to Mordecai's refusal to bow to him.Mordecai urges Esther to use her influence to intervene with the king. After much deliberation and fasting, Esther courageously approaches the king without being summoned, which could have resulted in her death. She invites the king and Haman to a series of banquets, cleverly revealing her Jewish identity and Haman's plot against her people during the second feast.