Esther

A queen who saves her people

Esther tells how a young Jewish woman becomes queen of Persia and risks her life to stop the destruction of her people, planned by the minister Haman. The story explains the origin of the feast of Purim.

Historical context

Remarkably, the Hebrew text of Esther never mentions God; the Greek versions add prayers.

Explanation

Best-known passages

Esther becomes queen (ch. 2)
“For such a time as this” (ch. 4)
The fall of Haman (ch. 7)
The feast of Purim (ch. 9)