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In the kingdom of Persia, King Xerxes held a feast to show off his wealth. Queen Vashti refused to come when summoned, so she was removed. Esther, a Jewish girl raised by her cousin Mordecai, was chosen to be the new queen. Haman, an official, became angry when Mordecai refused to bow to him. Haman convinced the king to issue a decree to destroy all the Jews. Mordecai urged Esther to plead for their lives. Esther risked her life and approached the king, who granted her favor. At a banquet, Esther revealed Haman's plan, and the king had him hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. The Jews were saved, Mordecai became an advisor to the king, and Esther's bravery showed that God always makes a way for his people. The story of Queen Esther In the ages of the kingdom of Persia, there reigned a powerful and wealthy king, King Xerxes. He reigned over a 127 provinces, from India to Ethiopia. One day, King Xerxes decided to make a feast to all his princes and servants to display his riches and his glorious kingdom which lasted for many days. When the days were over, King Xerxes commanded his seven close men to bring his queen Vashti before him and his guests, wearing her loyal crown to showcase her beauty. But Queen Vashti refused to come at king's command, which quickly made the king burn to anger. After consulting the wise men about what could be done to the Queen Vashti according to the law, a loyal commandment was made to remove Queen Vashti from the palace and find a new queen for the king. After this, the king appointed officers in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all beautiful young women into the palace. Among the young women who were brought to the palace was Esther whose Hebrew name was Hadassah. Esther was a Jewish young girl who was raised by her cousin Mordecai. Esther was fair, beautiful and kind. She obtained favor in the sight of the young women's keeper Hagai. Hagai gave her the best sweet odors and oils, and assigned seven maids from the palace to take care of her. Esther never told anyone about her Jewish heritage as her cousin Mordecai had instructed her not to reveal. Each young woman was prepared for a period of a year before going to meet the king. When it was Esther's turn to go to the king, she required nothing except what Hagai appointed. This shows her wisdom and humility. When the king saw Esther, he was extremely captivated by her beauty. The king loved her above all women and chose her to be queen and set the royal crown upon her head. To celebrate the new queen, the king held a great feast in Esther's honor and declared a holiday over the whole kingdom. Mordecai, who always sat at the king's gate, overheard the two kings' officers' plan to assassinate the king, and Mordecai told this to Esther, who informed the king in Mordecai's name. When the king found out that it was true, the two chiefs were hanged, and this was written in the Book of Chronicles before the king. There was a king official whose name was Haman. Haman was promoted by the king to be above all the princes that were with him. He was so proud and ambitious and all king's servants that were in the gate bowed to reverence him. Mordecai, who also served at the king's gate, he was so faithful and loyal to God and didn't bow down before Haman. This made Haman so furious, and he sought to destroy not only Mordecai, but all the Jewish that were in the kingdom of Xerxes. He went to the king and accused the Jewish as the people against the king and the king's law, and he requested the king to write a decree to destroy them, and the king did. Letters were sent into all the provinces to destroy all the Jewish both young and old. The news spread quickly, and the Jewish people were so afraid. Mordecai tore his clothes and laden sackcloth and ashes and went out into the city crying. The Jewish people fasted and wept seeking God's relief and deliverance. Queen Esther heard of Mordecai's distress and sent him clothes to replace his thorn garments, but Mordecai refused them and sent a message to her to go to the king and plead for the lives of the Jews. He reminded her why God placed her in the palace for such a time as this. Esther knew all the risks involved in approaching the king without his consent. She knew it was against the law. He told Mordecai to gather all the Jews that were present in Shushan to fast for her, to neither eat nor drink for three days. And Mordecai went and did as Esther had said, and Esther also did the same with her maids. After the three days, Esther wore her royal apparel and stood in the inner court of the king's house, and the king sat on his royal throne. When the king saw Esther standing in the court, she obtained favor and kindness in his sight. The king held out to Esther his golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached the king and touched the tip of the scepter. The king asked Esther about her request, that it will be granted unto her even up to the half of the kingdom would be given to her. Esther replied, If it would please the king, let the king and Haman come to the banquet which the queen had prepared. Haman was joyful and happy, and he became more proud that queen would only invite him and the king to her banquet. On his way home that evening, he saw Mordecai against Siddur at the king's gate, and he still refused to bow down to him. Haman was filled with indignation against Mordecai. When he came home, he called his friend and his wife and boasted about his riches and glory, but he was still not satisfied as long as Mordecai was not bowing down to him. His friends advised that Mordecai should be hanged. On that night, the king could not sleep, and he commanded to bring the Book of Records of the Chronicles, and they were read before him. It was found out that Mordecai had exposed the two officers who wanted to assassinate him. What honor and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this? The king asked. The king's servant that was attending to him replied, There's nothing that was done for him. The king said, Who's in the court? Now Haman had just come in the outward court of the king's house to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him, and the king told his servant to let him in. The king asked Haman, What shall be done to the man who the king delights to honor? Hermon thought in his heart, Who else would the king's delight to do honor except myself? Haman answered the king, For the man that the king delighted to honor, let the royal apparel be brought which the king used to wear, and the horse that the king rider upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head. And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of the king's most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the streets of the city and proclaim, This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor. Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, go and get the robe and a horse, and do as you said to Mordecai the Jew who sits it at the king's gate. Let nothing fail of all you have spoken. Then Haman took the apparel and the horse and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on the horse through the streets of the city, proclaiming before him, This is what is done to the man who the king delights to honor. After that, Haman went to his house to mourn, and in so much shame, he told his wife Zeresh and his friend what had happened to him. His friends told him, If Mordecai is one of the Jews, you will not prevail against him, you will surely fall before him. While they were still talking, one of the king's servants was sent to bring Haman to the second day of the banquet that Esther had prepared. The king and Haman came to the banquet of Queen Esther, and king said unto Esther the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, and it shall be granted to you, even to the half of my kingdom. Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold as servants, I would have held my tongue, because no such distress will justify disturbing the king. The king Xerxes asked Queen Esther, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? Esther replied, The adversary and the enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was so terrified before the king and the queen. The king arose from the banquet of wine with so much anger, and went to the palace garden. Haman seeing how angry the king was, he begged Esther to spare his life. When the king returned he saw Haman fallen upon the chair where Esther was, and the king's anger even increased. They immediately covered Haman's face. Harbona, one of the king's chiefs, said to the king, Behold also the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who spiked good for the king. Then the king said, Hang Haman on them. They hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's anger vanished. On that day, the king handed over all that Haman possessed to Esther, and Mordecai was brought before the king. For Esther had told the king their relation. The king took off his ring from Haman and gave it to Mordecai, and Esther sent Mordecai to the house in possession of Haman. The king made a new decree allowing Jewish people to stand up for their life and to destroy their cause of perish. The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. All the officers of the king helped the Jews. Mordecai was made a great advisor of the king, and his fame was known through the kingdom. Esther's story is one of bravery, faith, and God's provision. It reminds us that all things work together for those who love God. Esther's courage to allow God to use her even in unfavorable circumstances is an inspiration to us in our journey of faith. God will always make a way for his people. Let's keep trusting in him, for his plans for us are good. Thanks for watching. Please subscribe, like and share.