He had a war against Greece in 480-470BC, when he was 39-49. She appears to be a loyal wife to Mordecai, as she supports him throughout his efforts to save the Jewish people from Hamans plot. Designation of the five scrolls of the Bible (Ruth, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther). BC (he would have already been well over 90 years old at this The Rabbis view this as self-sacrifice on Esthers part, since she was willing to die herself, provided that Haman would also perish; (4) Esther sought to turn Haman into her ally, so that he would not rebel against Ahasuerus the king (and thereby become even more dangerous); (5) Esther wanted to obscure her identity and prevent any suspicion of her being a Jew (since Haman was an antisemite); (6) Esther desired to arouse the Jews to pray and cry out to God, so they would not think that her presence in the royal palace sufficed to neutralize Hamans activity; (7) Esther sought to arouse Gods compassion, to show that the Jews did not oppose Haman, that no one stood in Hamans way, and therefore only He could deliver Israel; (8) Esther hoped that Ahasuerus, who was a capricious king, would change his opinion of Haman (BTMegillahloc. In one exegetical expansion, the women in the harem would adorn Esther, for they said to themselves: This one will certainly be married to the king, so it is worth our while to honor her (Midrash Panim Aherim, version B, para. assumed in to the next King's harem (also possiblealthough a The grave of Mordecai and Esther still stands in Hamadan; and the Jews of Iran, to this day, are referred to as "the children of Esther.". Queen Esther and Mordecai were given Haman's estate. Esther took her turn after 12 months of preparation, and she was chosen as queen: "She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. The Coronation of Queen Esther, from the 1617 Scroll of Esther from Ferrara, Italy. In order to recognize Mordecais efforts, the king made him his minister and gave him a royal robe and princely apparel. The best. Most people have never heard of Queen Shelamzion Alexandra. Immediately upon her death, her sons fought over the throne, eventually inviting in Rome, and Judea never regained full independence until the modern state of Israel. extended into the reign of her stepson, Artaxerxes. The situation was even more serious according to the tradition that Esther was married to Mordecai (the Babylonian tradition), for then, as a married woman, she committed adultery. The Jews were well acquainted with the command of God, which stated that they must not bow down to false gods nor to those enemies of God who idolized them. Vintage colour lithograph from 1882 of Esther standing in the Inner Court of the King's House. 20). He even granted permission for the Jews to arm themselves with weapons and deliver the kings edicts throughout the kingdom. Since Nehemiah was a leading figure in Jerusalem by 432 BC, The regimen of rituals, songs and textual readings performed in a specific order on the first two nights (in Israel, on the first night) of Passover. Queen Esther and Bella Abzug: Costumes, Leadership, and Identity, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. [5] Ilan discusses variants of the same traditions inSilencing the Queen, 35-42, drawing attention to how later rabbinic sources gradually eliminate Shelamzion from this tradition and replace her with her contemporary Shimon ben Shetach. Esther then initiated a covert plan to defeat Haman using her grace and beauty. Even after she becomes queen because of the disobedience of Queen Vashti, Esther remains modest and down-to-earth. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. [11] Elias J. Bickerman, The Colophon of the Greek Book of Esther,Journal of Biblical Literature63.4 (1944): 339-62. They were in no way penalized for being ruled over by a queen rather than a king.[5]. In the Erez Israel tradition, she miscarried the fetus she bore in her womb (the offspring of Ahasuerus) (Esth. The Queen described in the Book of Nehemiah is Queen Esther. Save the flock of Your pasture from these foes who have arisen against us, for nothing prevents You from winning a victory by many or by few. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. After more than 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022. The Book of Esther, which does When events took a turn for the worst and Esther learned that Prime Minister Haman planned to kill all Jews in the Persian Empire, on a single day, she decided to act quickly to prevent the genocide. One school of thought takes the numerical value ofHadassah= 74 (or 75, including the name itself as a unit) to determine Esthers age(Gen. Rabbah39:13; see below: Esthers Age). Rabbah6:4). Because of Haman's law, she and all the Jews in the kingdom would be killed. The ancient Jewish historian Josephus provides some details. Rabbah28:6). Mordecai held a position inside of the king's palace, and he went their every day to perform his duties. Historians say there never was a Queen Vashti of Persia. However, later scribes, as the manuscript evidence suggests, no longer understood it. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'coalitionbrewing_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',146,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-coalitionbrewing_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Queen Esther was a brave and courageous woman who risked her life many times to save the Jewish people. She was the daughter of the infamous King Henry VIII and his second wife the illustrious Queen Anne Boleyn, who was executed when Elizabeth was just two years old. During the Temple period, the dough set aside to be given to the priests. She remained passive to the moody King and obedient to her authoritarian uncle, Mordecai. [6] Josephus writes: Alongside Queen Alexandra, and gaining power with her, were the Pharisees, an important sector of the Jewish community who were considered more religious than the rest of the nation and stricter in the observance and interpretation of the Laws (trans. Lastly, Mordecai helped the Jews to establish their rights, which became to be known as the Purim festival. The Talmud reveals that Esther's relationship with Ahasuerus wasn't a romantic one. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. See Ilana Pardes,Countertraditions in the Bible: A Feminist Approach(Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1992), 126 ff. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. brought him up to be favorable to the Jews and he later rebuilt the Furthermore, the Jewish people had a special holiday to commemorate their deliverance and celebrate the bravery of Mordecai. Upset, the king stepped out into the palace gardens. Rabbah26:8;Lam. Rachel was silent when she saw that Jacob married her sister instead of herself. Esther is noteworthy for her beauty, intelligence, and courage, along with her humility. We don't know, though tradition teaches that she lived a long life. Queen Esther died in 473 BCE, so she was likely in her late fifties or early sixties at the time of her death. Ahasuerus is moved by her words and instead orders Haman to be hung on the gallows he had built for Mordecai. This prayer also mentioned her situation, which contrasted with that of Sarah andRebekah: they were taken for a single night to the court of a foreign king and miracles were performed for them. The Book of Esther reports that when Esther learned that Mordecai was wearing sackcloth, the queen was greatly agitated (4:4). The Jews honored God and knew that one should not bow down to Haman, or any of his gods, for it was a sign of idolatry and would directly break the command of God. The Jewish festival ofPurimcelebrates this event. Mordecais refusal to bow to Haman displayed his firm faith and commitment to his people and to the God of Israel. The enraged King ordered Haman's hanging, elevated Mordecai to prime minister and gave Jews the right to defend themselves against any enemy. Esther: Nice Jewish Girl, Married to a Goy? My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? Jesus or Esther? She invited both Haman and Ahasuerus to a private banquet, stirring up jealousy in the King's mind. Read a brief summary of this topic. Esther 7:1-6, 9-10. [12] Ilan, Esther, Judith and Susanna as Propaganda for Shelamzions Queenship,Integrating Women, 135. 49). As Ahasuerus enjoyed only 14 more years on the throne, we conclude that Esther was but 28 years. King Xerxes: King Xerxes married Esther when he was 41 years old. The bleeding jar in Esthers story is significant because of the deep symbolism behind it. Torah and history converge in a remarkable way in the life of Shelamzion. Rabbah1:41; BT Megillah 16a). Esther despaired throughout her first six years in the palace. Esther herself observed the commandment of searching for thehamez(Esth. [10] Frymer-Kensky,In the Wake of the Goddesses: Women, Culture, and the Biblical Transformation of Pagan Myth(Free Press, 1992), 130. According to one tradition, she was forty years old, while another places her age at seventy-four, which is the numerical value of the name Hadassah (Esthers second name), or, according to another calculation of this numerical value, seventy-five (see above). The historical reality of this biblical episode, and whether or not Esther actually existed, has often been questioned. [12] Queen Shelamzion Alexandra certainly stood to benefit from Esthers precedent. older than her (do the math a 37 year old king marrying a 14 year Esther may or may not have reflected the historical reality of the Persian period, but her story provided a model for a new reality in Shelamzions lifetime. Additionally, Hamans royal throne and belongings were given to Mordecai, and he was honored by the people of the city. What is the answer punchline algebra 15.1 why dose a chicken coop have only two doors? It is also thought that Mordecai may have had additional children, as it is not explicitly mentioned that Esther is his only child. Dont miss the latest essays from TheTorah.com. In various sources the Rabbis relate to the question of the Book of Esthers acceptance as Scripture and to the establishment of the holiday ofPurim. [13] The analogy of Israel to a sinful adulteress in the prophets is more prominent. Horev], chap. She was placed with her adoptive family, the Kings, on the orders of Queen Esther of Persia, who held a grudge against all Jews. Rabbah5:3). Plath famously battled depression and other mental illnesses, and the same is true of Esthers condition in the novel. Do you, or does someone you know, demonstrate the same total commitment to a mission, even at the cost of sacrificing personal happiness? She ordered her uncle: "Go, gather together all the Jews and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day." One advantage to welcoming Shelamzion back into Jewish memory is making space for a role model of diplomacy and peace. but the date of She notes that Josephus only knew this queen by her Greek name, Alexandra, while the Rabbis only knew her by her Semitic name. The Jews receive permission to defend themselves against their oppressors, and many of the enemies of the Jews are killed. This shows that her selection was part of the divine plan; Esther was meant to rule in order to bring deliverance to all Israel (Lit. How old was King Xerxes when he married Esther? In Megillat Esther, we encounter another heroine who maneuvers royal protocol to save her people. Rabbah 6:5; BT. Commenting on Deuteronomy 11:13-14, which describes rain falling in its season as a reward for keeping the commandments, Sifre Deuteronomy writes (42): In other words, Rabbi Nathan observes that in the days of Queen Shelamzion, the people actually obeyed the commandmentsthey were all good for a change!and God rewarded the Israelites with plentiful rain from heaven. Even though Esther and Mordecai werent directly related, their close relationship was very strong and continued throughout their lives. She was in a foreign land without the protection and support of her people. The King also issued a proclamation throughout the land to honor Mordecai. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Esther-biblical-figure, McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia - Esther. It is believed that Mordecai was married before the events of the book, as the King of Persia issues a decree for all unmarried women to come to the palace for beautification treatments. In contrast, the BT also cites a tradition that Esther had a greenish [sallow] complexion, and therefore was called Hadassah; according to this tradition, Ahasuerus was drawn to her because she was endowed with great charm (BTMegillahloc. It is known that Esther was the daughter of Abihail, and she had married King Xerxes of Persia around the age of 18. When Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman at the gate, Haman was extremely offended and sought to have Mordecai killed. According to one tradition, Esther was responsible for Mordecais being seated at the palace gate, since she told Ahasuerus that all the great kings seated a Jewish advisor at the gate (Midrash Abba Gurionloc. She also exhibits symptoms of agoraphobia, suicidal ideation, and feelings of overwhelming guilt and worthlessness. The Rabbis also relate to Esthers sexuality: if Ahasuerus wanted to find in her the taste of a virgin, he found it; if the taste of a non-virgin, he found it(BTMegillah13a;Esth. Darius must be 37 years old (62 minus 25) when he got married to Esther. All Her . Guy Siverson Graceful Touch | Massage Therapy Therapist (s) | Rapid City Author has 5.2K answers and 2.7M answer views 7 mo Esther 2:7 King James Version She had two grown sons (Aristobulus and Hyrcanus II), but she decided not to step aside for them; perhaps she foresaw that the rivalry between the younger and older son would not end well. 464 BC. In the Book of Lamentations Israel bemoan (5:3): We have become orphans, fatherless, and God promises them the redemption of the fatherless and motherless orphan (Lam. [2] See Ilan,Integrating women, 127, commenting onJewish War1.71 andJewishAntiquities13.302. What is the moral of the story of Esther? They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. When Esther's parents died, I adopted Esther and took care of her like she was my daughter. cit.). What happened to Queen Esther in the Bible? Esthers secret was that she was a Jew, which she was able to hide from her adoptive family and community. With great courage, Esther fasts for three days, arranges a banquet with the king and Haman, then pleads with the king to save the Jews. Esther probably didn't live to see the events of the book of . Consequently, Esther was not considered to be a married woman who willingly engaged in adultery, and she was therefore permitted to Mordecai; indeed, the Rabbis maintain that she continued to live with the latter, at the same time that she was married to Ahasuerus (BT Megillah 13b). The murdered queens name does not survive in the historical record. 2:7states: Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter [literally: took herle-vat], which the midrash understands as: Mordecai took herle-bayit, that is, as a wife (BTMegillahloc. She overtook Queen. "scroll." Designation of the five scrolls of the Bible (Ruth, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther). It can also be assumed from the story that Mordecai was well aware that bowing to Haman may compromise his loyalty to the Jews and God, and thus put him in a dangerous situation. Though she may have been elderly at the time of her death, her legacy continues to live on. Queen Esther is an orphan raised by her uncle Mordecai and is eventually married to King Ahasuerus. Rabbah6:5; BTLit. "Esther: Midrash and Aggadah." How can a woman test for infertility at home? It was Mordecai who helped Esther win the favor of the King, who then chose her to be his queen. 2:22): and Esther reported it to the king in Mordecais name, from which the Rabbis learned that whoever properly attributes a statement brings redemption to the world, since, by merit of this act, the king wished to give honor and advancement to Mordecai, which began Hamans downfall (Codification of basic Jewish Oral Law; edited and arranged by R. Judah ha-Nasi c. 200 C.E.Mishnah Avot6:6). The Rabbis also offer various proofs that the Book of Esther was written with the spirit of divine inspiration. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. Esther standing in the Inner Court. This means she had been married to the king for approximately 40 years at the time of her death. Yes, Mordechai was indeed Esthers cousin. The Rabbis compare Esther to the son of the uncle who redeems an ancestral landholding(Lev. The BT lists a number of possible reasons: (1) she wanted Haman to be near her (so that she could say what she wanted about him at the appropriate moment); (2) she wanted to set a trap for him; (3) she planned to act toward Haman in a way that would lead Ahasuerus to suspect that she had engaged in an improper relationship with the former and thus cause the king to kill them both. Mordechai and Esthers relationship was an important part of the events of the Book of Esther. After Esthers coronation, the king continues to gather virgins in his palace, which the Rabbis understand as an activity meant to reveal Esthers identity. The answer is yes. Her reign lasted less than a decade but still longer than a two-term presidency. Her son Charles, 73, is now king. [6], Typical of his time period, Josephus was uncomfortable with the idea of a woman in charge of political affairs but admits that. 2). 10:3) was able to have interceded for the welfare of all his kindred (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, chap. Warrior-kings tend to figure largely as models of leadership in the Western imagination. Also called the "Festival of Mazzot"; the "Festival of Spring"; Pesah.Passover. Queen Esther by Edwin Long in 1878. But she does not reveal her Jewish heritage to the king and learns of a plan to kill all Jews by the kings advisor, Haman. There is support for this too in the Talmud (Yoma 29a).4) Esther comes from the Median "astra," meaning "myrtle." Hatach and Esther. Mordecai argued that these three days fast happened to include the Passover night, which shouldn't be a night of fasting. 28 BC) was the daughter of Hyrcanus II (died 30 BC), who was the son of Alexander Jannaeus. 22:25). The Rabbis even find proof that God concurred with the activity of Mordecai and Esther, since it is written(Esth. In their commentary on the Book of Esther, the Rabbis expand upon and add details to the Biblical narrative, relating to her lineage and history and to her relations with the other characters: Ahasuerus, Mordecai, and Haman. Help JWA continue to lift up Jewish womens stories, this month and every month, by. This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Then the queen gave Haman's estate to Mordecai and prayed the king to deliver the nation of the Jews from the fear for their lives, and she showed him what the letter that had been sent throughout the country by Haman, the son of Ammedatha; for, she said, if her country were destroyed and her countrymen were to perish, she could herself bear to . The verse (5:1) Esther put on royal apparel is interpreted as her assuming the spirit of prophecy (BTMegillahloc. Her name was Shelamzion Alexandra. He was a Jew living in the Persian city of Susa, and he became a prime minister in the Persian court of King Ahasuerus. Prof. Mika Ahuvia is Associate Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Washington and currently holds the Marsha and Jay Glazer Endowed Chair in Jewish Studies. case we can not say how old she was. The Bible depicts Esther as an orphan who was raised in the house of her uncle Mordecai ( Esth. Esther, heroine and central figure in the Book of Esther of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament. How can we explain Esther's abrupt change in behavior from deep despair to determined action and from passiveness to leadership? In Jacobs blessing to his sons, he blesses Benjamin(Gen. 49:27): Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he consumes the foe, and in the evening he divides the spoil, which the Rabbis applied to Mordecai and Esther. Queen Esther is the reluctant heroine of the Purim story. Notably, Shelamzion maintained peace through defensive measures and diplomatic outreach rather than outright acts of aggression. Hearing the horror of the planned genocide, the light went on: Esther connected with her inner self and understood why she had been made queen. Esther gained even greater favour with Ahasuerus after she helped thwart an assassination plot against him that Mordecai overheard at the palace gate. The jar symbolizes Esthers grief, fear, and pain, which stems from her captivity in King Xerxes harem. In the midrashic expansion, on her way to the king Esther encountered various obstacles and she had to pass through seven departments in the palace. 12:2], 5:11). Rabbah6:5). The Babylonian tradition maintains that Esther was Mordecais wife. Narrator: After Haman died, King Ahasuerus gave a second decree to preserve the Jews and give them power to destroy their enemies within the kingdom. Kings David and Solomon had many wives, some more influential than others, but they are never represented as ruling in their husbands stead. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Esther was born about 492BC and was 14 when she became Queen. She was compared to a hind, for just as a hind has a narrow womb and is as desirable to her mate at all times as at the first time, so, too, was Esther as desirable to Ahasuerus at all times as at the first time. Ahasuerus promised Esther that he would grant her request, even to half the kingdom(Esth. Theritualobservance of Purim begins with a day of fasting,Taanit Esther(Fast of Esther) on Adar 13, the day preceding the actual holiday, in honour of the fast Mordecai and the other Jews held on Esthers behalf when she went uninvited to the king. Princess Margaret, the Queen's younger sister, was born in 1930. Sort by: Most popular. In a risky move, Esther reveals her Jewish heritage to Ahasuerus and pleads with him to spare her people, despite the risk of death. The Rabbis then mention an additional argument that is raised by the people, that the writing of the Book of Esther will arouse the enmity of the non-Jewish nations. Her jar represented her strength and her resilience and gives a powerful message of hope to all those facing oppression. Esther was given seven maids to serve her in the harem; the Rabbis comment that she used them in order to count the seven days of the week [to know when the Sabbath fell, so that she could observe it even in the harem]. Persians are modern day Iranians and they are not Jews. What is the answer punchline algebra 15.1 why dose a chicken coop have only two doors? The Rabbis were concerned about the question of Esthers marital status. Mordecai was an important figure in the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible. In this article: Her Name Early Life Palace Life Esther and Mordechai Save the King's Life She understood that she had a mission and that she could shape reality rather than passively suffer through it. The Book of Esther relates that Esther told no one of her Jewish origins, as Mordecai had ordered her. The answer she gave was that anasmakhta(Scriptural support) for the writing of the Book of Esther is to be found in the verses mandating that the memory of Amalek be blotted out, with the explicit command(Ex. Esther had been made queen to save her people. Queen Elizabeth, who reigned for 70 years as Britain's monarch, died Thursday at Balmoral, her estate in the Scottish Highlands. 22:7, 2426). [3] See discussion in Ilan, Daughters of Israel, Weep for Rabbi Ishmael!: The School of Rabbi Aqiva vs. the School of Rabbi Ishmael,Silencing the Queen: The Literary Histories of Shelamzion and Other Jewish Women(Tbingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2006). Considering that she was likely in her mid-teens when she met King Ahasuerus, she lost her parents before that point. The Babylonian tradition (according to which she was Mordecais wife) understands this apprehension as her awareness that she would thereby lose her status as one compelled [a married woman living with another man against her will] and become a woman who does so freely. When Esther is chosen as the queen, unknown to her, Mordecai discovers a plan by the kings wicked advisor, Haman, to kill all the Jews. In spite of its origins it soon became the basis of the Jewish festival of Purim.According to the book, Vashti, Esther's predecessor as queen of Persia, was divorced by her husband, King Xerxes (Ahasuerus), who then sought a suitable virgin for his wife, finally choosing Esther. Abraham, "fell on his face and laughed" while Sarah, "laughed to herself" and even tried to deny it. The book of Esther (2:7) states that she had both names, Esther and Myrtle (Hadassah in Hebrew). Just as the myrtle is sweet-smelling but has a bitter taste, so Esther was sweet to Ahasuerus, but bitter to Haman (Esth. The recitation of Megillat Esther during the topsy-turvy holiday of Purim can distract us from the serious side of this story and Queen Esthers example. Mordecai is promoted to the second highest ranking position in the empire, and Esther is given control of the household of Haman. What is the labour of cable stayed bridges? We can adjust the hypothetical ages and birth dates of Mordecai, Esther and their parents by a few years and still keep it . According to the Bible, Mordechai was a Jew who lived in the Persian city of Susa, the modern-day city of Shush, Iran. He became King of Persia in 485BC at the age of 33. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'coalitionbrewing_com-leader-2','ezslot_12',154,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-coalitionbrewing_com-leader-2-0');Throughout the course of the story, Esther suffers from a major depressive episode, possibly accompanied by severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. 100-105 and 127-154. Sadly, Queen Elizabeth II passed away, aged 96, on September 8, 2022. Esther risked her life to save the Jews, thus, she became an example of unselfishness and faithfulness. The Rabbis devote extensive attention to Esthers observance of the laws of niddah. Esther had been made queen to save her people; her mission and her faith shaped her character and inspired her to act and succeed. 5:3), but not things that were opposed to the kingdom, such as her asking him to rebuild the Temple (BT Megillah loc. [3] Queen Shelamzion Alexandra reigned as queen of Judea from 76 to 67 BCE. Another tradition compares Esther, who ruled one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, toSarah, who died at the age of one hundred and twenty-seven(Gen. Rabbah58:3). The midrash compares Esther to a hind and to the dawn, based onPs. As early as 1215, Rabbi Menachem Ha-Hevroni wrote that while visiting the Galilee, he came across the tomb of Queen Esther, "who, during her lifetime, had instructed her son Cyrus to bring her there [for burial]". She was living there as part of the harem of the king, but was singled out by the King who was so taken with her beauty that he chose her to be his queen. After the immediate danger to her community passed, Queen Esther stayed with Ahasuerus. She she fasts for three days, she goes to the king, enduring many obstacles while traveling through the palace but protected by angels. Given new belongings (Esther 2:9). I'm going to guess that Esther probably died with her husband in Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. Whereas her husband had persecuted the Pharisees, in her reign as solitary queen, Shelamzion was particularly supportive of the Pharisees, promoting their vision of Judaism and perhaps ensuring their popularity for generations to come (Josephus, Jewish War 1:110). On March 30, 2002, the Queen Mother died aged 101 years and 238 days old. Seeking a new queen, the king appointed commissioners to bring all the beautiful young virgins from every province into his harem for a year of cosmetic treatments so that he might select a new bride. She recognizes that she needs to personally plead the king to save her people but knows this act is a grave transgression. Rabbah8:3). The story of Esther happened after Cyrus, the first Persian King, called for all deported Jews to return to Jerusalem to build the House of God (538 B.C., Ezra 1:2). The story of the underdog, of the weaker winning against the stronger, is the quintessential biblical and Jewish theme, but it is not often that Israel is figuredliterarily or in realityas a woman and still praised as pious, divinely appointed, and beloved.[13]. Rabbah8:6). Another tradition has Mordecais wife nursing the infant (Midrash Tehilim, onPs. He also appointed her as queen of the Persian Empire and gave her a royal medal of honor. Esther had When word of the planned massacre reachedEsther, she risked her life by going uninvited to the king to suggest a banquet that Haman would attend. She was 96 years old. After she came to the fourth department, Ahasueruss ire was aroused and he remembered Vashti, who did not come into him despite his repeated requests, while Esther came into him without permission, like a harlot.
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