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During the reign of Ahasuerus (king of Persia) ~100 years after the exhile of the Jews to Babylon, many Jews had returned to the promised land though many still remained in Persia.
King Ahasuerus held a 180-day banquet for his princes, officers and nobles from all his 127 provinces where he displayed riches and royal glory. He held another banquet for all the people of the citadel in Susa which lasted 7 days.
On the seventh day of the banquet, a drunkened Ahasuerus summoned Queen Vashti to display her beauty before all the people. Vashti refused which angered the king greatly. Ahasuerus pronounced that Vashti would no longer be allowed in his presence and that her royal position would be given to another.
Beautiful virgins were gathered from all the provinces, from which the king would choose a new queen.
A Jewish daughter Esther was being taken care of by her cousin Mordecai since her parents had died. Esther was brought to the king's palace as one of the young virgins where she did not make known that she was Jewish.
King Ahasuerus favored Esther more than all other virgins...making her his new queen.
Beginning at the time Esther had been gathered as a virgin for the king, Mordecai checked every day on Esther. One day Mordecai became aware that two of the king's officials plotted to kill King Ahasuerus. Esther informed the king in Mordecai's name. As written in the Book of the Chronicles, the two officials were hung.
Haman was an Agagite (descendent of the Cananites)...recall that King Saul had rejected the LORD by not utterly destroying King Agag after defeating the Amalekites ~500 years earlier (see 1 Samuel 15). King Ahasuerus advanced Haman, establishing his authority over all the princes commanding all to bow and pay homage. Mordecai refused to pay homage, which enraged Haman. Haman sought to destroy all Jews (the people of Mordecai) throughout the kingdom. Haman convinced th king to make an decree to annihilate all Jews in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month.
There was great mourning among all Jews in every province where the decree came. Mordecai tore his clothes and wailed at the king's gate. Esther's maidens told her what had happened.
Esther planned a banquet for the king and Haman. Recalling that Mordecai had saved his life from an assassination plot, King Ahasuerus honored Mordecai by ordering Haman to lead Mordecai through the city square on the king's horse...Haman felt very shamed.
Esther pleaded with the king to save her people from Haman's plans to annihilate the Jewish people. Haman begged Esther to spare his life.
King Ahasuerus became infuriated accusing Haman of assaulting Esther. He ordered Haman to be hung on the gallows which Haman had prepared for Mordecai.
The king gave the house of Haman to Queen Esther and promoted Mordecai to the position previously held by Haman.
Honoring the wishes of Esther, Ahasuerus instructed Mordecai to write to the Jews however he saw fit in the king's name. With the full authority of the king, Mordecai granted the Jews throughout the kingdom one day to defend themselves and annihilate any army who attacked them.
Esther with Mordecai ensured a great deliverance of the Jewish people (Purim would be established). Purim is a holiday to commemorate the day the Jews rid themselves of their enemies.
The story of Esther is a great example that God has not abandoned his promises of hope as the Jewish people are saved.