She risked death with her refusal, but the king only banished her, using this as an example to all wives living in his empire. Haman was hanged accordingly. Esther replaced Queen Vashti, who had been sentenced to death because she had refused to display her beauty to the King's feast attendants. Of all the biblical heroines Esther has enjoyed greatest popularity among writers, artists, and musicians, representing feminine modesty, courage, and self-sacrifice. After Haman was executed, the king chose Mordecai to fill the empty position. ." She became involved in politics and diplomacy, and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of her people. Esther was not only beautiful but had a good character. Thats amazing! On the advice of Mordekai, Esther kept her Jewish identity hidden. Jodi has over 20 years experience teaching children in large and small group settings. The tribes were split up and taken to Babylon. They are not living pure lives. As believers, God calls us to be different. She was Jewish but never revealed her nationality or family background as Mordecai had. Further, he sent an edict throughout his kingdom that gave male subjects the right to rule over their wives in all matters. Know that God works with ALL kinds of people with ALL kinds of families! It became a frequent pilgrimage destination for Iranian Jews. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Finally, the king amended the law and saved the Jews thanks to Esther's courage and power. He then started searching for a new queen from a selection of beautiful virgins from across the empire (2:14). It has been suggested that "Esther" and "Mordechai" are Hebrew forms of the names "Ishtar" and "Marduk." Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. After his marriage the statue was replaced by one of Esther (Midrash Abba Guryon, Parashah 2). 10th century BCE)known also as Bilqis and as Makedafigures prominently in Judaic, Islamic, and, Solomon JEZEBEL (Heb. "Esther For the production of K.J. the queen was 23 when she. Haman cunningly obtained the king's unwitting consent for a general massacre, to take place in one day, of all the Jews. Jerome (d. 420) added the larger segments at the end of his translation of the book. The Queen had a strong faith. Here is where Esther entered the scene. Persians are modern day Iranians and they are not Jews. He deposed Queen Vashti in 483/482BC when he was 36 ().He had a war against Greece in 480-470BC, when he was 39-49. They choose to hurt other people. 1 After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus had abated, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her. In art the Book of Esther is represented in the cycle of paintings from the third-century synagogue at *Dura-Europos and also in the ninth-century mural in the basilica of San Clemente in Rome. ESV - Nahum *Nardi's songs to Levin *Kipnis' kindergarten Purim play Misak Purim, written in the early 1930s, have become Israel folksongs. Did Esther have sex with Xerxes before they were married? Esther 2 NIV - Esther Made Queen - Later when King - Bible Gateway However, the tradition is evident in Isaac Offenbach's play Koenigin Esther (manuscript dated 1833, at the Jewish Institute of Religion, New York), which includes some "couplets" and in which the court jester seems a more important figure than the biblical personages. Mordecai, the son of Jair, of the tribe of Benjamin, raised Esther as his own daughter. Esther's day to appear before the King drew nearer, and she knew that every woman who went in to see the king was allowed to bring whatever she wanted with her. She possessed the trait of patience. The latter, which entirely omitted the character of Vashti and muted the role of Mordecai, contained marked political undertones reflecting popular dissatisfaction with King Henry viii and his ministers of state. At the time, she was only 25 years old a 25-year-old woman . How did the spirit of God move upon the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2? - Esther 1:3-4. 15a), though some say that she was of sallow complexion but endowed with great charm. A trickster's manipulative conduct, coupled with seductive beauty, are viewed to have been part of Esther's only available means to carry out her unselfish purpose through powerful but vulnerable men. Esther and Mordecai in the Book of Esther. How old were they? - Tripod MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE "Esther He was immediately condemned to be hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. The Jewish Feast of Purim celebrates this particular deliverance of the Jews. Mordecai understood and canceled the Passover festivity, replacing it with a fast (Esth. She was crowned queen in place of Vashti. Moreau's choruses for Racine's Esther; A. Lotti's oratorio L 'umilit coronata in Esther (1712); and A. Caldara's oratorio Ester (1723). ), daughter of Abihail, an exile at *Susa, and heroine of the Book of Esther. The dark room does not dim the candle flame. Rather than growing rebellious and bitter as a result of her difficult upbringing, Esther was obedient to Mordecai and a strong believer of God, according to the Bible. When the king ordered the search for beautiful women, many were taken to the kings palace in Susa, and Esther was one of them. Some of these include a series of six panel paintings by Filippino Lippi and Sandro Botticelli of the 1470s, known as Life of Esther, or Three Scenes from the Story of Esther; Esther before Ahasuerus (15461547) by Venetian painter Tintoretto; Ahasveros and Haman at the Feast of Esther (1660) by Rembrandt van Rijn; Esther before Ahasuerus by 17th-century Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi; and Queen Esther (1878) by Edwin Long. Copyright 1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society / Used by permission of IBS-STL. Then the other people will be drawn to us, and we can point them to Jesus (1 Peter 2:12). ." Born of Bath-Sheba, Solomon was so named by David (ii S, Jezebel Esther had no parents, according to the Bible. They had formed a bond based on love and trust, which when combined produces faith. This was why the sages said: "whoever repeats something in the name of one who said it brings redemption to the world" (Perek Kinyan Torah = Avot 6:6 in the prayer book version; Esth. . Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender: Culture Society History. King Ahasuerus has been described as a sensualist who enjoyed drinking and other forms of debauchery. She had been orphaned as a child and raised by her cousin Mordecai. 1 (1956), 33542, includes bibliography; E. Kirschbaum (ed. When Vashti, the first wife of Ahasuerus, defied the king's wish to appear at his banquet and display her beauty, she was banished. Vaillant's Romanian Legenda lui Aman i Mardoheu (1868), Joseph Shabbetai Fari's Italian Alegria di Purim (1875), and the U.S. writer Frank C. Bliss' verse drama Queen Esther (1881). . Many paintings made by prominent artists over the centuries depict parts of the stories of Esther. Following this, Ahasuerus wanted a new wife and selected Esther, smitten by her beauty when she and other beautiful virgins were presented before him. For performances of Racine's play at the Comdie Franaise during this period the choruses were composed by several undistinguished musicians; later contributions include those by Reynaldo *Hahn (1905) and Marcel Samuel-Rousseau (1912). It appears that each of these women had sexual relations with the king. Because Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live inside of every believer (Romans 5:5), we are able to live pure lives, no matter where we are (1 Corinthians 10:13, Titus 2:11-12). While Esther keeps her secret at the court, Mordecai uncovers a plot to kill the king. Esther was not in her homeland. Encyclopedia.com. Thus Esther became responsible for deliverance from extinction not only of herself but also of her entire people. From the late 17th century onward the Esther story attracted the attention of many serious composers. ." Still, there are many scholars who believe that Queen Esther really did exist, as events of her life show up in other historical records besides the Bible. Many of the Jewish males had already served in the Persian army and they benefited from their military training. He wanted to show off her beauty to the people and nobles. The name Purim, or "lots," was likely given in a sense of irony, because Haman, the enemy of the Jews, had plotted to completely destroy them by casting the lot (Esther 9:24). And finally, Esther (and the festival of Purim) was a great favorite of the Marranos in Spain and in their far-flung dispersion; they saw in her disguised condition the factual and psychological prototype of their own disguised condition. The outraged king then ordered that Haman be hanged on the same gallows that the latter had prepared for Mordecai (7:810). Esther was one of the four most beautiful women in the world (ibid. 3). As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. The Venetian painters Tintoretto and Veronese treated the Esther story as an occasion for pomp and pageantry, Tintoretto painting the Swooning of Esther (1545), a subject later treated by Poussin. It had been over 70 years since the Lord had commanded the Jews to leave Persia and return to Jerusalem, yet some of the Jews were STILL living in Persia. 2:118). Now, hold up your bottle of salad oil. The girl who is taken to Persian King Xerxes' palace rises to become queen and the one who works valiantly to protect her people from the enemy's evil schemes. . 22 Feb. 2023 . In 473 B.C., Esther managed to save the Jewish people of the kingdom from a massacre, a liferisking accomplishment that made her famous. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. However, reversing the decree regarding the slaughter of the Jews would be complicated. It is believed that her life extended into the reign of her stepson, Artaxerxes. The Talmud said she was 75, based on gematria, although it was totally implausible. We must ask ourselves why these Israelites were still living in a foreign land where they did not belong. Esther's motive in inviting Haman to the banquet was that he should not discover that she was Jewish, and that the Jews should not say: "We have a sister in the king's palace," and so neglect to pray for God's mercy. At first she was reluctant, since anyone who went into the kings presence without being summoned faced the death penalty unless he extended his gold scepter to them. In the third year of his rule King Xerxes gave a big dinner. At one time, God wanted His people to be separated from those around them to keep them pure (Deuteronomy 7:16, Judges 2:2-3). "Esther." Previously, she was a member of the harem of the Persian king Ahasuerus, who was also known as King Xerxes. He has appointed me to build a temple for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. She also criticized him for killing Vashti and for following the brutish advice of the Persian and Median nobles, pointing out that the earlier kings (Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar) had followed the counsel of prophets (Daniel). Early Life Doubly orphaned as a young girl, Esther was raised by her cousin Mordechai, a wise and saintly Torah scholar and the leader of the Jewish people. One of these included Esther. King Xerxes plan of controlling Greece had failed. ." 726. Esther must have been a "teenager" based on the historical and Biblical facts above. Esther and Mordecai then sent letters across the provinces and declared the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar a Jewish holiday named Purim. Various additions to Esther have been incorporated into the Apocrypha and Septuagint, and there are numerous expansions in the Aramaic Targum sheni. Here are some interesting facts about Esther's story that you may not have known. April 24 2017 She risked her life to save her people, the Jews, from being massacred. Esther's adopted uncle Mordecai remained constantly near the palace, so that he would be able advise her in all matters. The Bible depicts Esther as an orphan who was raised in the house of her uncle Mordecai ().The A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). Esther: Midrash and Aggadah | Jewish Women's Archive , perhaps from , "the exalted one" with the prefix [i;] meaning "Where is the Exalted One / Prince?" Vashti (Hebrew: , romanized: Vat; Koin Greek: , romanized: Astn; Modern Persian: , romanized: Vti) was a queen of Persia and the first wife of Persian king Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther, a book included within the Tanakh and the Old Testament which is read on the Jewish holiday of Purim.She was either executed or banished for her . We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. Esther just took in what her tutor, Hegai, recommended. Upon becoming queen, Esther was overjoyed. . Although it is never stated who wrote the book of Esther, it is feasible to make some educated estimates regarding the author and when it was written based on internal evidence. She was rector of the Jewish section of the "Communist University of the National Minorities of the West" (kunmz) from 1925 to 1936. Queen Vashti was beloved by her husband and by the people. What Became of Esther? Ask The Rabbi Ohr Somayach https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/culture-magazines/esther, "Esther Esther is one of the Tanakh's few true queens. Jesus compared Christians to salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). Mordecai revealed this information to Esther, who then told the king about the plot. (February 22, 2023). This Portuguese play, later revised by Leone *Modena, was remarkably successful and attracted many non-Jews to its performances. Say: Esther was chosen! ESTHER (Heb. It has everything a tale should have: tension, tragedy, and intrigue. Albany: State University of New York Press. Why did Esther's story mean so much to Jews? Ahasuerus' grand vizier, Haman, is offended by Esther's cousin and guardian, Mordecai, due to his refusal . So were the princes and the nobles of the territories he ruled over. A Yiddish play, Esther, oder di belonte Tugend (1827, 18543), was written by J. Herz, and Hebrew adaptations of Racine's classic drama made by S.J.L. as Hadasseh (a Jewish name meaning myrtle). Esther knew where she could draw power. History records nothing about 'Queen Esther', who many scholars Two early works on this theme were La Representatione della Reina Hester (c. 1500), an Italian verse mystery that went through several editions during the 16th century, and the last of the 43 plays of the French Mistre du Viel Testament, a work of the later Middle Ages. The subject gave rise to a series of dramatic interpretations in France, beginning with the Huguenot playwright Antoine de Montchrtien's three verse tragedies, Esther (1585), Vashti (1589), and Aman (1601). The discord between the former queen and the king arose from Vashti's refusal to appear before his people at a great banquet, a one hundred and eightyday feast held in Susa. After the Middle Ages the story of Esther was treated in a less symbolic manner and was used instead as a storehouse of picturesque episodes. According to some sources, the tomb of Esther and Mordecai in Hamadan, Iran, which is considered the most important pilgrimage site for Iranian Jews, houses the remains of Esther and Mordecai. Encyclopedia.com. In fact, he burned with anger. Ask: How do you respond when things dont go your way, or when youre embarrassed in front of your friends? The Israelites, or Jews, became a sad race. Mordecai raised her as his daughter, and they became residents of Susa (Shushan), which was formerly the capital of Elam. Encyclopedia.com. Mordecai persuaded Esther to intervene with the king on behalf of her people. But when the former queen, Vashti, fell into disfavor with her husband, Ahasuerus, the king chose Esther to be his wife and queen. According to one translation of events, she refused to appear at the banquet "wearing her royal crown." 24:1719). We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! Have you ever hurt someones feelings with something you said? (The water should be very dark by now.) She published two books on the subject in Yiddish: "On the Question of the Jewish National School" (1910) and "What Kind of National School Do We Need" (1917). Empresses & Queens Historical Significance: The story of Esther forms the origin of the Jewish festival of Purim. Unless otherwise noted the Scriptures taken from: Holy Bible, New International Readers Version, (NIrV). 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. Esther then revealed all to the king: her petition for the Jewish people, her own Jewish heritage, and Haman's deceit in obtaining the decree.