BIBLE STORY

 I hope the title Bible Story didn't put anyone off.  Here goes my capsule of the Book of Esther.

About 500 years before Christ was born, the great kingdom of the known world was Persian Empire. (of course, this is what we now call Iran).  The King of Persia, the most powerful person in the world, had a beautiful wife plus a harem.  He had a real spat with his wife when she refused to do something he ordered her to do.  He sent out an order to all the land that forever more the men would be the head of the household and all women better do what they say.  

He had it in his mind to replace the queen, so he had his men search the kingdom for the most beautiful virgins and bring them to the palace.  There they underwent a year's study, training, grooming, feeding, etc. to bring them to the height of their beauty.  One of the girls was named Esther.   She was a Jew but didn't let anyone know that.  Her uncle who raised her had warned her never to disclose it.  

The king picked Esther as his new queen and took the crown off his old wife and gave it to the Jew.  (The plot thickens.)  Now Esther's uncle was given a job in the palace.  Another man (a bad guy) in the Palace was real wicked.  He decided that the Persians should kill all the Jews.  Esther's uncle found out what was going on and told Esther about the plans to kill all Jews.  The king liked Esther's uncle even though he was a Jew, and honored him with a feast.  This really pissed of the bad guy who now wanted to kill the uncle most of all. 

Esther pleaded and convinced the king that killing all the Jews was a bad idea.  He relented but said "an order is an order" and I've already given the order.  Esther's uncle had her ask if the king would allow the Jews to defend themselves - which they did, and they were saved for the most part.  

The Jews have a memorial of this event which they celebrate yearly - it is called Purim and the day before they practice the "fast of Esther" in her honor (no food).  

Now you know that once there was a Jew as queen of Persia and that empire was full of Jews.  Surely we can have peace there again.