Part 2 -Esther, An Orphan becomes Queen - Part 2 of 5

Esther - Part 2 of 5

The Story of Esther - An Orphan becomes Queen of Persia 

Esther Chapter 3

At this time, the king's highest official was a wicked man named Haman. He hated the Jews, especially Mordecai, who had refused to bow down to him as the King had commanded all the people to do. But Mordecai continued to refuse to bow down to him and this enraged Haman. The people saw that Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman. 

Haman and Mordecai

At first, Haman wanted to just kill Mordecai, but later Haman devised a scheme to have every Jew in Persia killed. Haman told the King in the 12th year of his reign that there was a group of people that did not obey the king’s laws, have their own customs, and keep themselves separate from the other people.  Haman convinced the king it was not in his best interest to tolerate these people’s behavior.  The king agreed to his plan to annihilate the Jewish people on a specific day.  Haman used the King’s ring to issue a script sealed with the King’s sign, ordering the murder of all Jews including women and children on the 13th day of the 12th month.   

Chapter 4

When Mordecai learned of Haman’s plans, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.  When  Ruth heard what Mordecai was doing she immediately became concerned and sent her female servants to see what was bothering him. She sent clothes for him to wear but he would not accept them.

Then she sent one of the king’s eunuchs to see what was troubling him and why. Hathak went to see why Mordecai was so upset. Mordecai told him of what Haman’s plan was to kill all of the Jews and showed the edict to Esther that Haman had published and for her to go to the King and beg for mercy for her people. 

Queen Esther and the Eunuch

Esther was afraid to go before King Xerxes without being summoned by him. For it was a law in those days to approach the King in the inner court without being summoned, you could be put to death, unless the king extended the gold scepter to them.  

Mordecai sent a message to Esther, challenging her with these famous words:

"Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:13-14, NIV)

Esther urged all of the Jews to fast and pray for deliverance for 3 days and nights and she and her attendants would do the same. Then, risking her own life, brave young Esther approached the king with a request, saying to Mordecai, “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law.  And If I perish, I perish.”

So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

.......more to come.....