Esther
The story of Esther is unique in several respects. It does not set forth any important moral or religious ideals. No mention is made of Yahweh, nor is anything said about rewards for righteous living or punishment for evil deeds. In the story, a Jewish maiden named Esther is made queen in the court of the Persian king Xerxes; she is instrumental in defeating a plot intended to bring about the complete slaughter of the Jewish people. In the end, the people who plotted against the Jews suffer defeat, while at the same time the Jews achieve a remarkable victory over their enemies. In many respects, the story resembles the typical historical novel, for while there may be some basis in history for the events that are related, the details of the account cannot be regarded as historical fact. The author has constructed the kind of story suited to the purpose he had in mind.
The setting of Esther's story is in the court of a Persian king. The narrative opens with an account of a royal feast that lasts for seven days. On the last day of the feast, the king asks his queen, Vashti, to display her royal beauty before the guests. She refuses, and the king becomes so angry that he issues a decree that a new queen shall reign in her place. To this end, he orders that beautiful maidens shall be brought to his court from various parts of his realm; from these women, one shall be selected as the new queen. A Jew named Mordecai has a beautiful niece named Esther, whom he presents before the king, taking special care not to reveal that she is a Jew. After Esther is made queen, her uncle, who is now employed as one of the king's gatekeepers, learns of a plot made against the king's life. He reports it to Esther, who makes it known to the king, and the plotters are put to death.
