Day 173 · Part 10: The Return
Esther Made Queen · Haman’s Plot
In the Story
In context
Esther is set in Susa, a royal city of Persia, under King Ahasuerus, who ruled “from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces” (Esther 1:1–2), often identified with Xerxes. When the king, “merry with wine,” sends for Queen Vashti and she refuses, she loses her crown (1:10–19). Esther, a Jewish orphan, is raised by her cousin Mordecai, who “took her for his own daughter”; she is taken into the king’s house and made queen, keeping her people a secret (2:7–17).
Haman, raised above all the princes, is enraged when Mordecai will not bow to him, has Pur, the lot, cast to choose a day, and gets the king’s ring to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom (3:1–11). It is a hard reading: the letters order them killed, “both young and old, little children and women, in one day” (3:13).
Mordecai tells Esther, “Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” and she answers that she will go to the king, “and if I perish, I perish” (4:14–16). The Hebrew book never names God. Catholic and Orthodox Bibles add Greek passages, among them Mordecai’s dream and the prayers of Mordecai and Esther, who prays, “help me who am alone and have no one but you, O Lord” (Esther (Greek) 4:18–47).
My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
Psalms 31:15 · Mordecai told Esther she may have come “for such a time as this”; the psalm says, “My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies.”
For families
Esther “had neither father nor mother,” so her cousin Mordecai “took her for his own daughter” (Esther 2:7). After she was taken to the king’s house, “Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women’s house, to find out how Esther was doing” (2:11).
Mordecai looked out for Esther every day. Who has looked out for you, and whom have you looked out for?
In the Bible
World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).
Esther (Greek) 1:1
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Esther 1
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Esther 2
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Esther 3
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Esther 4
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Esther (Greek) 3:13
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Esther (Greek) 4:18–47
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A hymn for today
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God · words by Martin Luther
- A mighty fortress is our God,A bulwark never failing;Our helper He, amid the floodOf mortal ills prevailing:For still our ancient foeDoth seek to work us woe;His craft and pow'r are great,And, armed with cruel hate,On earth is not his equal.
- Did we in our own strength confide,Our striving would be losing;Were not the right Man on our side,The Man of God's own choosing:Dost ask who that may be?Christ Jesus, it is He;Lord Sabaoth His name,From age to age the same,And He must win the battle.
- And though this world, with devils filled,Should threaten to undo us,We will not fear, for God hath willedHis truth to triumph through us:The prince of darkness grim,We tremble not for him;His rage we can endure,For lo, his doom is sure;One little word shall fell him.
- That word above all earthly pow'rs,No thanks to them, abideth;The Spirit and the gifts are oursThrough Him who with us sideth:Let goods and kindred go,This mortal life also;The body they may kill:God's truth abideth still;His kingdom is forever.