The Book of Esther is a work in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. It is one of the five Megillot, or scrolls, and tells the story of Esther, a Jewish woman who became the queen of Persia and saved her people from destruction. The book begins with a brief description of the Persian Empire and its king, Ahasuerus. Ahasuerus is looking for a new queen and chooses Esther, a young Jewish woman who is living in exile in the kingdom. Esther's cousin Mordecai encourages her to keep her Jewish identity a secret. Meanwhile, the king's advisor, Haman, plots to have all the Jews in the kingdom killed. Mordecai discovers the plot and informs Esther, who then goes to the king and reveals her identity. She pleads with the king to spare her people, and he agrees. The king then orders Haman to be hanged and the Jews are saved. The book ends with a celebration of the Jews' deliverance and the establishment of the festival of Purim. The book is traditionally read aloud on the holiday of Purim.
By Mordecai · First published -1900 · Genre: Religious Fiction, Historical Fiction, Drama · 10 chapters