Queen Esther Saves Her People

Esther 4:14

     Cyrus, the Persian king who conquered Babylon, made a law allowing the Jews to go back to their home in the land of Judea and the city of Jerusalem. Many Jews returned, but others had been living in Babylon for so long that they decided to stay there.

     One of these was a man from the tribe of Benjamin named Mordecai. He lived with his young cousin, Esther, whose own parents were dead.

     By this time, King Darius, who had put Daniel in the den of ions, had died; and in his place, his son Ahashuerus was ruling. During a great dinner that Ahashuerus gave for his princes and noblemen, he asked that his beautiful wife Vashti come before the group. When Vashti refused to come as he had asked, he became very angry. He decided that she would no longer be queen. but that he would have a contest and select the most beautiful girl in his kingdom to take her place.

     Among the girls brought to the palace from whom Ahashuerus would select his new queen was the Jewess, Esther. Her heart was as pure and lovely as her face; and when the king saw her, he loved her. She was the one he chose to be his bride. 

     Now Haman was the most powerful man in the kingdom besides the king. He was an evil man who hated the Jewish people and plotted to have them killed.

     Mordecai persuaded Esther to go to the king and plead for the lives of the Jewish people. She could be killed herself for going before the king without being called. But she was brave and went to see the king.

     Esther invited the king and the evil man Haman to a banquet. During the meal she revealed the evil plot against the Jews and accused Haman. Haman was hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai, and the Jews were allowed to defend themselves. And Mordecai was honored.