I simply cannot do the story of Esther justice here, so I won’t even pretend. I’ve decided on a skeletal version of the story–one that most kids would hear in church. Interestingly, there is no mention of God in the book of Esther. A committed reader of any age interested in the story should give the book of Esther a thorough reading.
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The story by introducing King Ahasuerus. He’s having a glorious feast. Why? Because he’s a King I suppose, and that’s what Kings do! Really, it was to” all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him.” (Ester 1: 3) In other words, because he was King.
He called for Queen Vashti, ordering her to come before him and the other Princes and ‘shew the people and the princes her beauty; for she was faith to on. But the Queen Vashti refused.” (Esther 1: 11-12) No self-respecting woman appreciates being ordered to give lap dances for people they don’t know.
The King would eventually fall in love with, Esther, our protagonist of this Biblical tale. The king doesn’t know, however, that Esther is a Hebrew! Hebrews were not well liked in the kingdom, and Esther, who is being raised by her cousin Mordecai, was given strict instructions as a child NOT to reveal her Hebrew background to anyone.
It comes to pass that the Hebrews were being targeted by Haman, the Kings assistant. Apparently, Esther’s brother had a bit too much pride for Haman, and Haman decided the Jews needed to die for his lack of humility. This where Esther must make a decision: allow her people to die by her silence, or ask the king to spare her people.
Esther could be killed for lying to the king about her Hebrew background. Still, she decides to visit the king unannounced–also a crime punishable by death.
Esther decides to invite the King and Haman to TWO banquets–might as well make sure he’s in a good mood before she drops the bomb, eh? While at the banquets, Esther reveals Haman’s plot to kill the Jews, and the king sides with brave Esther. Haman is hung with the same rope he’d plan to kill Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, with by hanging.
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This is a story about bravery and the deeds of women. If my outline didn’t convey that, just think about this: women had practically no rights than 100 years ago. Beating your wife was legal (and encouraged). Women could be sold, almost as property, as adolescents. How much rights do you think Esther and Vashti had? Yet still, they did what they knew was right.
Esther and Vashti shine as women who willingly take their life into their own hands–because they choose to stand up for what they believe in. Esther knows the truth, understands that if she tells the king, if she ‘outs’ herself, death is a strong possibility. She also knows that the lives of many other people hang on the balance of her choice; Esther is morally compelled to help those in need.
Vashti, on the other hand, is dealing with a different kind of morality. She is essentially forced to dance, and ‘entertain’ a group of strange men because her husband wants her to. Vashti, which some argue is the real heroine of the story, has a sense of self-respect that no one can weaken, including a king.
I think young people can learn a lot from the perdicament of these women.
There are things about the book of Esther that are not so great: abuse of women, the killing of people, condoned in part by Esther herself, and a few other not so nice things. But in terms of the basic theme–women standing up for their moral principles–I think the story of Esther is not so bad.
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