Summary...
What it may have meant to its original audience...
How Jesus might have read it...
What it might mean for our faith today...
Some important themes in this book...
Some important questions to ask about this book...
Esther is set in the time of a Persian ruler named Ahasuerus (there’s a range of discussions about whether this is meant to be an actual Emperor named either Xerxes or Artaxerxes), set in the time of the Persian Empire’s dominance over Babylon. The story follows the experiences of a young Jewish woman, Esther, who is married to the king who is unaware of her nationality. Through a series of events, an evil advisor to the king named Haman forms a plan to kill all the Jews in Persia. With the encouragement of her uncle, Esther reveals her Jewish identity to the king. Ahasuerus executes Haman, and gives the Jews permission to defend themselves in the attacks. The defence of the Jews is thereafter celebrated at the festival of Purim.