Information Related to "Profiles of Faith - Esther: A Queen Offers Her Life For Her People"
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Queen Esther: a Woman Willing to Save Others
by Jerold Aust
The Jewish exile Mordecai knew the
situation was dire and dangerous. Through a sinister plot, the Jews in Persia were
secretly condemned to death (Esther 3). Mordecai pleaded with Queen Esther to risk
her life: "If you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will
arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish.
Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14).
The story of Esther and Mordecai transcends time and culture. The situation they
faced still applies and teaches valuable spiritual lessons.
Setting for the Story
Esther's story takes place near the end of the events described in the Old Testament.
The two kingdoms of Israel and Judah had fallen and been taken into captivity in
Assyria and Babylon, respectively.
By this time, several hundred years after their fall, the descendants of Israel--the
"lost 10 tribes"--had scattered and disappeared from the Middle Eastern map. The
descendants of Judah, however, had maintained their beliefs and way of life while
in Babylon. However, Babylon, too, had fallen, and now the Jews lived under the benign
rule of the Persian Empire.
The Persians had allowed Jews willing to make the long overland journey the opportunity
to return to Jerusalem and their homeland. Although many had made the trip, many
more had decided to remain where were and put down roots.
The book of Esther is a complement to the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Although those
books describe life for the Jews who returned to Palestine, Esther is the only Bible
book that offers a portrait of those who chose to remain in Persia.
The book of Esther introduces us to a great king of Persia known as Ahasuerus (Hebrew),
or Xerxes (Greek). In 479 B.C. the Greeks defeated Ahasuerus in the battle at Salamis.
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