PERSON · QUEEN
Esther
Esther was a Jewish orphan of the tribe of Benjamin who became queen of Persia and used her position to petition King Ahasuerus, thereby thwarting Haman's decree to annihilate all Jews throughout the Persian Empire (Esther 7:3–6; Esther 8:5–8). Her intervention resulted in a royal edict allowing the Jews to defend themselves and in the execution of Haman and his sons (Esther 7:10; Esther 9:5–14). The book bearing her name records these events as the foundation of the Feast of Purim (Esther 9:26–28).
Esther 4:1–17
- Capital
- Susa
The Story
She had no mother, no father, and no country she could call her own by name. The book of Esther introduces her with a handful of plain facts: a Jewish girl named Hadassah, known also as Esther, raised in the Persian city of Susa by her older cousin Mordecai after both her parents had died. She was of the tribe of Benjamin, that smallest and most unlikely of Israel's tribes, and she was beautiful — the text notes both her figure and her appearance. From these spare beginnings, one of the most remarkable stories in all of Scripture unfolds.
The story opens in the court of King Ahasuerus, ruler of a vast Persian empire stretching from India to Ethiopia. After a prolonged dispute with his queen Vashti, the king's servants proposed a search throughout the provinces for beautiful young women, from among whom a new queen would be chosen. Esther was among those gathered and brought to the palace at Susa. What she carried into that court, however, was a secret: at Mordecai's instruction, she had told no one of her Jewish identity or her family background.
Inside the king's house, something about Esther drew favour from every quarter. The keeper of the women, Hegai, showed her kindness and moved her quickly to the best place in the harem. When her turn came to appear before the king, she asked for nothing beyond what Hegai recommended — a detail the text offers without commentary, but which one senses reflects both her trust and her wisdom. King Ahasuerus loved her above all the other women, set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen in Vashti's place.
17And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Esther 2:17·KJV
Life & Legacy
Death
ScriptureScripture does not record the death of Esther.
Scripture does not record
Legacy
ScriptureEsther, together with Mordecai, instituted the annual Jewish festival of Purim to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman's plot (Esther 9:20–32). Her letters confirming the observance of Purim were sent to all Jews in the provinces of Ahasuerus (Esther 9:29–32).
Esther 9:20–32
Character
ScriptureEsther is described as having a beautiful figure and appearance (Esther 2:7), and she won favor in the eyes of all who saw her, including the king's eunuch Hegai and King Ahasuerus himself (Esther 2:9, 2:17). She kept her Jewish identity and family background secret at Mordecai's instruction (Esther 2:10, 2:20), and upon being urged by Mordecai, she resolved to approach the king unsummoned despite the mortal risk, saying 'if I perish, I perish' (Esther 4:16).
Esther 2:7–17; Esther 4:16
Significance
ScriptureEsther was a Jewish orphan of the tribe of Benjamin who became queen of Persia and used her position to petition King Ahasuerus, thereby thwarting Haman's decree to annihilate all Jews throughout the Persian Empire (Esther 7:3–6; Esther 8:5–8). Her intervention resulted in a royal edict allowing the Jews to defend themselves and in the execution of Haman and his sons (Esther 7:10; Esther 9:5–14). The book bearing her name records these events as the foundation of the Feast of Purim (Esther 9:26–28).
Esther 2:5–7; Esther 7:3–6; Esther 9:26–28
DeathScripture
Scripture does not record the death of Esther.
Scripture does not record
LegacyScripture
Esther, together with Mordecai, instituted the annual Jewish festival of Purim to commemorate the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman's plot (Esther 9:20–32). Her letters confirming the observance of Purim were sent to all Jews in the provinces of Ahasuerus (Esther 9:29–32).
Esther 9:20–32
CharacterScripture
Esther is described as having a beautiful figure and appearance (Esther 2:7), and she won favor in the eyes of all who saw her, including the king's eunuch Hegai and King Ahasuerus himself (Esther 2:9, 2:17). She kept her Jewish identity and family background secret at Mordecai's instruction (Esther 2:10, 2:20), and upon being urged by Mordecai, she resolved to approach the king unsummoned despite the mortal risk, saying 'if I perish, I perish' (Esther 4:16).
Esther 2:7–17; Esther 4:16
SignificanceScripture
Esther was a Jewish orphan of the tribe of Benjamin who became queen of Persia and used her position to petition King Ahasuerus, thereby thwarting Haman's decree to annihilate all Jews throughout the Persian Empire (Esther 7:3–6; Esther 8:5–8). Her intervention resulted in a royal edict allowing the Jews to defend themselves and in the execution of Haman and his sons (Esther 7:10; Esther 9:5–14). The book bearing her name records these events as the foundation of the Feast of Purim (Esther 9:26–28).
Esther 2:5–7; Esther 7:3–6; Esther 9:26–28
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