You might be interested: Where Does The Bible Say Heaven Is? Loud voices, laughter, food being eaten with noisy slurps and burps may have filled the air. Something went wrong. But what made him marry Esther, a Jewish woman? The fact that she could persuade him to reverse an edictsomething that was considered irreversiblespeaks volumes about her influence over him. Although some contend the Book of Esther ought not to be in the Bible because it never mentions God by name, his presence is clear through the unlikely heroine, Esther. Esthers birth name was Hadassah. Another angel pushed Haman onto Esthers couch (BTMegillahloc. Esther is also compared to a wolf, to the moon (see below: Esther as the Deliverer of Israel) and to a stove on which everyone places his pots (Midrash Tehilim, onPs. The king asked his advisors for their opinion on how to deal with Vashti. Vashti was brave in her decision. Amestris, Esther, and others. Who is Esther in the Bible and Why is She Important? All rights reserved. tradition - What was Esther's relationship to Mordecai? - Christianity cit.). After her parents died, she was adopted by her cousin, a man named Mordecai. The deliverance of the Jewish people from annihilation is a profound example of Gods saving power, which echoes the Christian belief in Gods salvation through Jesus Christ. When Church Becomes Political:Between Prayer and Politics: 13 Truths: Who Married Ruth in the Bible? In the midrashic reenactment, Esther sent a message to Mordecai in which she asked him whether Israel had transgressed one of the commandments of the Torah. Some are easy. According to one, Hadassah, which appears first in the verse, was Esthers real name, and the reason why she was called Esther requires clarification. 49). For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. Mordecai is mentioned inEsth. Would he forget about Vashti as the new queen took her place? When Esther pointed and declared(Esth. Verily, I seek Your mercy from window to window in the house of Ahasuerus. As Asimov notes, Mordecai is close to Marduk, the name of the chief Babylonian god who replaced the earlier Elamite god, Hamman. Esther responds by putting her hope in God and sends word to Mordecai for everyone to fast and pray for three days saying, If I die, I die(Esther 4:16). Also remembered for his role in the story of Esther. 5). This was a way of life. According to the Megillah, Esther is the daughter of Mordechai's uncle, and thus . You, O Father of orphans, stand at the right hand of this orphan, who trusts in Your compassion. However, once again Asimov finds a Babylonian precursor to all this: Purim may have had its earliest origins in a Babylonian spring festival involving Marduk and Ishtar. He refused to accept them. They were honored with royal garments and a decree was written to protect all Jews. Why Was Vashti so Important in Esthers Story? 2:7). We do not learn many specific details about Vashti. Esthers husband in the Bible was King Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes I, who was a Persian king reigning from 486465 BC. She wasnt just a queen by title, but she held a position of influence and favor in his court. During that time in history, women were expected to obey whatever theirhusbands demanded. In short, she prevented the first holocaust. A yearly celebration called Purim was instituted because of Esther that reminds us that nothing is impossible with God. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. A seven-day festival to commemorate the Exodus from Egypt (eight days outside Israel) beginning on the 15. The Rabbis relate to Esther as the one responsible for the deliverance of Israel and compare her to the moon, which shone for Israel in the darkness of night. replaced the Elamite deity Vashti as the chief goddess. And the king gave a great banquet, Esthers banquet, for all his nobles and officials. And Esther won the favorof everyone who saw her (Esther 2:15). QueenEsther, the central character in the Biblical book named after her, is extensively and sympathetically portrayed in the Rabbinic sources. An additional stratagem employed by Esther against Haman was connected with his leading Mordecai on the horse. 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. here is a table featuring the rulers of the Persian Empire that are mentioned in the Old Testament: These Persian kings had significant interactions with the Jewish people during the post-exilic period, and their policies had a lasting impact on the Jewish community and their homeland. This tradition results from the desire to equate Esthers age with that of Abraham when he left his native land forThe Land of IsraelErez Israel upon Gods command. But instead of death, the king granted her favor asking her what she wanted. When we go to the Father and ask for His help, we are able to listen and be alert for His way. 15 Remarkable Women Bible Characters: Their Stories and Impact | Bible | Women. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the kings eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. Healing Prayers to Heal the Body, Mind, and Soul. Designation of the five scrolls of the Bible (Ruth, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther). Book of Esther, book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. Ad revenue is generated off of page views. She wanted to stop an evil plot designed by Haman. Sure, here is a table highlighting the key facts related to King Ahasuerus choosing Esther as his queen: The story of Ahasuerus and Esther is a testament to Esthers courage and intelligence. Unraveling the Mystery: What is the Meaning of Esther? He suggested that she might be Jewish, which implied some sort of relationship between them, since he was from the offspring of Amalek, the grandson of Esau (Jacobs brother) (Esth. Esther, in the book of Esther, was a biblical heroine who saved the Jewish people. King Solomon's Story in the BibleWho Was Lot's Wife in the Bible?Who Was Jezebel in the Bible?Who Was the Prodigal Son? It narrates the story of numerous heroic individuals, and among them, Queen Esther holds a special place. However, even Ahasuerus himself couldnt revoke the decree calling for the Jews to be killed, but they were allowed to defend themselves against their attackers. When Vashti, the former queen, fell out of King Ahasuerus favor, he decreed that a new queen should be chosen among the beautiful maidens of the land. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality(Esther 2:17-18). During the 12 months that Esther was put through the beauty treatments required, it was her character that gained the favor of those in authority. Esther, who according to the midrash was one of the four most beautiful women in the world, was a married woman, the wife of Mordechai, but she nonetheless had sexual relations with another man,. Her strategic revelation of her Jewish identity and Hamans plot led the king to order Hamans execution. Therefore, a major decision was given. Was the king pleased with his decision after the effects of the wine wore off? The Rabbis describe at length Esthers activities after she learned of Hamans decree against the Jews. She did not want to appear wearing only the royal crown. Since the king had commanded Haman to have Mordecai dressed in the kings clothes, Esther ordered the bathing attendants not to work that day, so that Haman would be forced to serve Mordecai himself (Lev. Purim is the plural of the Hebrew word pur, which means lot. 22:26). She was able to halt the plot and save her cousin Mordecai from death. Esther in the Bible Husband: The Unveiling of King Ahasuerus, Rulers of the Persian Kings In the Old Testament, King Ahasuerus and Esther: An Unlikely Union, Facts about Ahasuerus Picking Esther as his Queen, A Contest of Beauty: The Path to Becoming Queen, Unraveling the Power Dynamic: Esther and Ahasuerus, Esthers Bravery: For Such a Time as This, Esther and Ahasuerus: A Deeper Look at Their Relationship, Decision Making Effects that Godly Women had on Bible Leaders, Spiritual Implications of Esther in the Lineage of Christianity. 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. Esther found favor in the eyes of everyone who gazed upon her; every person thought that she was one of the women of his nation, whom he found comely. She was an orphan who was raised by her cousin Mordecai, who had been carried away from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar (Esther 2:6). Hearing the news, all the Jews began to mourn in sackcloth and ashes, including Mordecai. Scripture tells us that all the young virgins were brought to the king so he could choose a replacement. - Quora. Indeed, even the name of Hamans wife, Zeresh, is suspiciously close to Kirisha, the name of Hammans wife in Babylonian myth. Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it(Esther 2:2-4). We can find comfort in knowing that God is with us. Although we dont know the exact amount of time between the banishment of Vashti and the choosing of the next queen, we can wonder about the emotions of everyone involved. Each woman had unique qualities, yet their stories are intertwined. 20). It invites us to ponder the implications of her relationship with her husband, King Ahasuerus, and the crucial role it played in the preservation of the Jewish people. Haman had intended to kill the Jews. Esther - Wikipedia Esther was brought to the king, along with other young women. Three ministering angels were appointed to aid her at that moment: one made her head erect, one endowed her with charm, and one stretched out the scepter(BTMegillah15b). Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Esther was a young orphan who became the Persian queen. The spirit of divine inspiration descended on Esther shortly before she went to Ahasuerus, thus leading to her inclusion in the list of the seven women prophets(BTMegillah14a; 15a). Also called the "Festival of Mazzot"; the "Festival of Spring"; Pesah.Passover. It belongs to the third section of the Judaic canon, known as the Ketuvim, or "Writings." In the Jewish Bible, Esther follows Ecclesiastes and Lamentations and is read on the festival of Purim, which commemorates the rescue of the Jews from Haman's plottings. Episode 96: Can We Talk?

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