The story of Esther: Part 1

Esther becomes queen Esther Chapters 1-3

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Esther Chapters 1-3

1 Chapter 1: King Xerxes

(also known as
Ahasuerus) was the
most powerful man in
the world. In the third
year of his reign he
invited the nobles and
princes to a feast, which
lasted 180 days.

2 King Xerxes ruled over

the empire of the Medes
and Persians, which
stretched over 127
provinces from Ethiopia
to India. Living in his
empire were many
Jews.
3 After the feast the King
invited everyone at his
palace in Susa
(Shushan) to another
feast which lasted 7
days. There were white,
green and blue
hangings fastened with
fine linen cord to silver
rings. There were beds
of silver and gold on
pavements of red, blue,
black and white marble.

4 Everyone drank from

cups of gold. Queen
Vashti gave a party for
the women in another
part of the palace.

5 At the end of the 7 days

the King, who was
drunk, ordered his 7
servants to fetch Queen
Vashti so he could show
off her beauty.

6 But they reported back

that the queen refused
to join him.
 7 The King was furious.
His wise men advised
him saying, ‘The queen
has not only insulted
you but everyone. She
has set a bad example
in not showing honour
to her husband.’ The
Queen’s title and estate
was taken away from
her.

8 A law was made and

read aloud throughout
the land that all wives
must honour and obey
their husbands.

9 Chapter 2: Who would

replace Vashti as
queen? A search took
place throughout the
land for the most
beautiful young women
and they were brought
to the palace under the
supervision of Hegai,
the King’s servant.

10 Working in the palace

was a Jew called
Mordecai. Mordecai had
a cousin named Esther
(also known as
Hadassah), whom he
had brought up because
her parents had died.
Esther was a beautiful
young girl and chosen
to join the other
contestants at the
palace for 12 months of
beauty treatments.
Mordecai advised her
not to tell anyone she
was a Jew.
11 Of the many women
chosen, Esther was the
one the King loved most
and she was was
crowned as queen
instead of Vashti. A
feast was given in her
honour. But she told no
one she was a Jew.

12 A little while later

Mordecai was guarding
the King’s gate and
overhead two servants,
Bigthan and Teresh
plotting against the king.
Mordecai immediately
warned Esther of the
plot and she told the
King.

13 The two plotters were

arrested, found guilty
and hung on a tree.
Their plot was recorded
in the chronicles of the
King’s reign where it
was noted that
Mordecai had
uncovered the plot.

14 Chapter 3: The king

promoted Haman above
all the other princes to
be the second most
powerful man in the
Kingdom. All the
servants working at the
king’s gate would bow
to Haman when he
entered. However
Mordecai would not bow
before Haman or show
him reverence.
15
Why do you break the
King’s command and
not bow down and
honour Haman?’ the
servants asked. They
knew Mordecai was a
Jew. They kept asking
him but Mordecai would
not listen to them.

16 They reported the

matter to Haman who
was furious to find
Mordecai the Jew did
not bow or revere him.

17 Haman schemed to find

a way to punish not only
Mordecai but his people
the Jews also.

18 Haman went to the King

and said, ‘There are
people living in the land
who have their own
laws and obey them
rather than the King’s
commands.

19 ‘A law must be passed

so they can be
destroyed. I will give ten
thousand talents of
silver to the King’s
treasury to get this
done.’
20 The King took off his
signet ring and gave it
to Haman. ‘Keep the
money and do to these
people what you think is
best.’

21 The King’s scribes were

instructed to write a law
th
that on the 13 day of
th
the 12 month the Jews
were to be attacked and
killed and their
possessions taken as
plunder. The law was
sealed with the King’s
ring. A law of the Medes
and Persians could not
be changed or altered.
The new law was
announced throughout
the empire

22

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