Editing Esther (section)

== Narrative ==
{{Main|Book of Esther}}
[[File:Esther Denouncing Haman.jpg|thumb|''Esther Denouncing Haman'' (1888) by [[Ernest Normand]]]]
{{Wide image|Mordecai and Esther.jpg|300|Early 3rd century CE Roman painting of Esther and Mordechai, [[Dura-Europos synagogue]], [[Syria]].|5=right|alt=3rd century CE Roman fresco of Esther and Mordechai from Dura-Europos Synagogue, Syria}}
[[File:Tomb of Esther and Mordechai exterior.jpg|thumb|The Shrine venerated as the [[Tomb of Esther and Mordechai]] in [[Hamadan]], [[Iran]]]]

In the third year of the reign of King [[Ahasuerus]] of Persia the king banishes his queen, [[Vashti]], and seeks a new queen. Beautiful maidens gather together at the [[harem]] in the citadel of [[Susa]] under the authority of the eunuch [[Hegai]].{{sfn|Solle|2006|p=107}}

Esther, a cousin of [[Mordecai]], was a member of the [[Persian Jews|Jewish]] community in the [[Exilic Period]] who claimed as an ancestor [[Kish (Bible)#Other biblical figures named Kish|Kish]], a [[Benjamite]] who had been taken from [[Jerusalem]] into captivity. She was the orphaned daughter of Mordecai's uncle, Abihail, from the tribe of Gad. Upon the king's orders, Esther is taken to the palace where Hegai prepares her to meet the king. Even as she advances to the highest position of the harem, perfumed with gold and myrrh and allocated certain foods and servants, she is under strict instructions from Mordecai, who meets with her each day, to conceal her Jewish origins. The king falls in love with her and makes her his Queen.{{sfn|Solle|2006|p=107}}

Following Esther's coronation, Mordecai learns of an assassination plot by [[Bigthan and Teresh]] to kill King Ahasuerus. Mordecai tells Esther, who tells the king in the name of Mordecai, and he is saved. This act of great service to the king is recorded in the Annals of the Kingdom.

After Mordecai saves the king's life, [[Haman]] the [[Agagite]] is made Ahasuerus' highest adviser, and orders that everyone [[Proskynesis|bow down]] to him. When Mordecai (who had stationed himself in the street to advise Esther) refuses to bow to him, Haman pays King Ahasuerus 10,000 [[Talent (measurement)|silver talents]] for the right to exterminate all of the Jews in Ahasuerus' kingdom. Haman casts lots, [[Purim]], using supernatural means, and sees that the thirteenth day of the Month of [[Adar]] is a fortunate day for the genocide. Using the seal of the king, in the name of the king, Haman sends an order to the provinces of the kingdom to allow the extermination of the Jews on the thirteenth of Adar. When Mordecai learns of this, he tells Esther to reveal to the king that she is Jewish and ask that he repeal the order. Esther hesitates, saying that she could be put to death if she goes to the king without being summoned; nevertheless, Mordecai urges her to try. Esther asks that the entire Jewish community [[Fast of Esther|fast]] and pray for three days before she goes to see the king; Mordecai agrees.

On the third day, Esther goes to the courtyard in front of the king's palace, and she is welcomed by the king, who stretches out his scepter for her to touch, and offers her anything she wants "up to half of the kingdom". Esther invites the king and Haman to a banquet she has prepared for the next day. She tells the king she will reveal her request at the banquet. During the banquet, the king repeats his offer again, whereupon Esther invites both the king and Haman to a banquet she is making on the following day as well.

Seeing that he is in favor with the king and queen, Haman takes counsel from his wife and friends to build a gallows upon which to hang Mordecai; as he is in their good favors, he believes he will be granted his wish to hang Mordecai the very next day. After building the gallows, Haman goes to the palace in the middle of the night to wait for the earliest moment he can see the king.

That evening, the king, unable to sleep, asks that the Annals of the Kingdom be read to him so that he will become drowsy. The book miraculously opens to the page telling of Mordecai's great service, and the king asks if he had already received a reward. When his attendants answer in the negative, Ahasuerus is suddenly distracted and demands to know who is standing in the palace courtyard in the middle of the night. The attendants answer that it is Haman. Ahasuerus invites Haman into his room. Haman, instead of requesting that Mordecai be hanged, is ordered to take Mordecai through the streets of the capital on the Royal Horse wearing the royal robes. Haman is also instructed to yell, "This is what shall be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!"

After spending the entire day honoring Mordecai, Haman rushes to Esther's second banquet, where Ahasuerus is already waiting. Ahasuerus repeats his offer to Esther of anything "up to half of the kingdom". Esther tells Ahasuerus that while she appreciates the offer, she must put before him a more basic issue: she explains that there is a person plotting to kill her and her entire people, and that this person's intentions are to harm the king and the kingdom. When Ahasuerus asks who this person is, Esther points to Haman and names him. Upon hearing this, an enraged Ahasuerus goes out to the garden to calm down and consider the situation.

While Ahasuerus is in the garden, Haman throws himself at Esther's feet asking for mercy. Upon returning from the garden, the king is further enraged. As it was the custom to eat on reclining couches, it appears to the king as if Haman is attacking Esther. He orders Haman to be removed from his sight. While Haman is being led out, Harvona, a civil servant, tells the king that Haman had built a gallows for Mordecai, "who had saved the king's life". In response, the king says "Hang him (Haman) on it".

After Haman is put to death, Ahasuerus gives Haman's estate to Esther. Esther tells the king about Mordecai being her relative, and the king makes Mordecai his adviser. When Esther asks the king to revoke the order exterminating the Jews, the king is initially hesitant, saying that an order issued by the king cannot be repealed. Ahasuerus allows Esther and Mordecai to write another order, with the seal of the king and in the name of the king, to allow the Jewish people to defend themselves and fight with their oppressors on the thirteenth day of Adar.

On the thirteenth day of Adar, the same day that Haman had set for them to be killed, the Jews defend themselves in all parts of the kingdom and rest on the fourteenth day of Adar. The fourteenth day of Adar is celebrated with the giving of charity, exchanging foodstuffs, and feasting. In [[Susa]], the Jews of the capital were given another day to kill their oppressors; they rested and celebrated on the fifteenth day of Adar, again giving charity, exchanging foodstuffs, and feasting as well.{{sfn|Hirsch|Prince|Schechter|1936}}

The Jews established an annual feast, the feast of [[Purim]], in memory of their deliverance. Haman having set the date of the thirteenth of [[Adar]] to commence his campaign against the Jews, this determined the date of the festival of Purim.<ref name="Crawford">[[Sidnie White Crawford|Crawford, Sidnie White]]. "[http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/esther-bible Esther: Bible]", [[Jewish Women's Archive]].</ref>